Wax Strong

The scriptures are full of the term "wax". It can be used in a good way, as in Alma 17:2 speaking of a group of young men that "waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth".  It can also be used in a bad way, as in Alma 8:28, "the people did wax more gross in their iniquities." A good example of both is found in the Old Testament, 2 Samuel 3:1 "but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.".
I love the term "to wax". I think of Elementary School when we learned about the Pilgrims. For a fun activity our teacher had us dip candles. She handed us a long string and set us up in a line and had us dip that string in the wax and then go to the back of line. Eagerly we began and rushed up to make our first dip and then get back in line, visions of our very own hand made candle dancing in our minds. By the third dip we all began to realize that candles aren't made in seconds. Each dip added a nearly undetectable layer to our candle and soon I began to care less if my candle was too thin to even stand on its own; I was BORED. But, I reminded myself how much I would love to have my own candle and so, I continued to wait my turn in line over and over and over again.
And that is how it works in life. None of us become candles over night; it takes a lot of time and patience. Every action we take either adds a layer of good or bad wax to us. In many cases what may seem to be an overwhelming task is just a task meant to be done over time. When we look at the candle making process dip by dip it is far less overwhelming than thinking about trying to make it a candle all at once. Similarly, when we begin to slack off just a "dip" we know we must be careful where each dip might take us. The Book of Mormon tells us:
"Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise. And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls."

-Alma 37:6-7

Mosiah tells us to "watch ourselves" that we "perish not" (Mosiah 4:30). It is the little things that matter-nothing is too little to make a big difference. As we watch each "dip" we make we will begin to see just how much the little things shape our lives-that it isn't "foolishness" to believe they do. We will also see that through very small steps God can help us achieve great things and to become great-nothing is too big for Him. Through Him and through careful diligence to His word, we can all "wax strong".