After listening to my biography, I have a little funny I would like to tell. My legal name is Dora Jolene, but growing up I always went by my middle name. My grandma, Dora Green, passed away before I was born. My grandma, Dora Erickson, was a well-known educator in eastern Idaho. She has a school named after her in Idaho Falls: Dora Erickson Elementary.
It was my first day at Ricks College, my first semester, and my first class when our instructor began taking the roll. I was nervous to say the least, and when the instructor called the name “Dora,” no one replied. He repeated two, three times until it dawned on me. I raised my hand and said, “Oh . . . I think that is me!” The silent classroom was no longer quiet; you could hear laughter coming from our room. I told the instructor—and the rest of the class—that I go by my middle name “Jolene.” I’m sure I made a lasting impression on everyone. In fact, I think I even got a couple of dates out of it.
I recently re-read a classic folktale, The Little Engine That Could, by Watty Piper. It has been one of my favorite stories since I was a child. This folktale has helped me to understand motivation and how to believe in yourself. I would like to share a short version and quote from this story.
It starts with a happy little train with her cars carrying toys and food to the boys and girls on the other side of the mountain. They are trying to climb the mountain and get to their destination before morning. Then suddenly, this little train stopped. She simply could not go another inch. She tried and she tried, but her wheels would not turn. The toys then began pleading with the various passing engines to help their stranded train over the mountain. Included was a passenger engine, a freight engine, and a rusty, old engine, all who denied helping this little train.
Approaching down the track was a little, blue engine and as she approached, she asked, “What is the matter my friends?” They proceeded to tell her and she replied, “I’m not very big; they use me only for switching trains in the yard. I have never been over the mountain.” She thought about the little boys and girls on the other side of the mountain who would not have any toys or food unless she helped. She said, “I think I can. I think I can.” And she hitched herself to the little train. She tugged and pulled and tugged, and slowly—slowly—they started off, all the while telling herself, “I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.”
Up, up, up, faster and faster the little engine climbed until at last they reached the top of the mountain, and happily headed down into the valley where the food and toys were delivered to the children. The Little Blue Engine smiled and seemed to say as she puffed down the mountain, “I thought I could. I thought I could.” [1]
The moral of this story is believe in yourself. This is a step we need to help us accomplish great things within ourselves, our families, our school, our work, our community, and anything else we are involved in. The Little Blue Engine had the knowledge of who she was, what her purpose was, and where she was going. We too need to know who we are, what our purpose is, and where we are going. This can apply to each trial we face. We need to know we have a Heavenly Father who loves us. Our purpose in life is to grow and develop the talents we have been given. Our goal is to overcome each trial we face and return to our heavenly home. Our Heavenly Father, our Savior, and the Holy Ghost all lead and direct us, and want us to return to Them.
The Little Blue Engine knew she was not alone in facing the trial ahead of her. She had the love and support of all the toys on the train. This knowledge that others stood beside her helped her to complete her task. We also need to know we are not alone in facing our trials. We have parents, spouses, children, friends, and others in our lives who are cheering us on and want us to succeed. We need to help each other along the way. Knowing we are not alone will help us.
When it came to finding the strength needed to pull the train over the mountain, the Little Blue Engine repeated over and over, “I think I can. I think I can.” She developed more and more strength as she went faster and faster.[2] We read in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me”.[3] We need to know Christ, establish a relationship with Him, communicate with Him. By doing so, we will establish this strength He has to offer us.
The ability to go forward even when facing a difficult challenge is courage. The Little Engine worked hard in her original job of switching trains in the train yard. Because she never quit and had always done her best, she faced the challenge with courage. To develop courage to face hard things, we must learn to fulfill our responsibilities in small things. Each small accomplishment we make builds up our confidence in ourselves so that we can overcome the mountains we face in life. There is a quote by President Thomas S. Monson:
Don’t limit yourself and don’t let others convince you that you are limited in what you can do. Believe in yourself and then live so as to reach your possibilities.[4]
Once the Little Engine reached her destination, she felt joy for the trial being over, for a job well done, and joy for those who were counting on her. The joy of enduring was not only felt by her but by all those who cheered her on and believed in her. Faced with a challenge, the Little Blue Engine was able to succeed beyond her expectations by knowing her values and allowing that to guide her to success. I would like to share a video from President Henry B. Eyring in general conference April 2012 “Mountains to Climb.”
I heard President Spencer W. Kimball, in a session of conference, ask that God would give him mountains to climb. He said: “There are great challenges ahead of us, giant opportunities to be met. I welcome that exciting prospect and feel to say to the Lord, humbly, ‘Give me this mountain, give me these challenges.’”[5]
We all have our own mountains to climb. We are all individuals with different challenges we face. What may be hard for one person may be easy for another. For example, I grew up in a family that we knew we were loved; we just didn’t verbally express it. In a Young Women lesson, we were challenged to go home and tell our parents we loved them. This might have been easy for some in my class, but for me, it was a mountain I had to climb. My mother was cleaning up in the kitchen as I paced the kitchen floor back and forth when finally, I spoke those three words: “I love you.” Why was that so hard? It was only three simple words. After that challenge, “I think I can” turned to “I knew I could,” which, from then on, I was able to verbally tell my parents I loved them on a regular basis. Because of repetition, those three words became easier to express through the years.
Something to think about: how many of us have made “good” choices and while repeating it over and over, they turned into something easy to do? And just the opposite, how many of us have made “bad” choices and while repeating it over and over, it has turned into something easy to do? We must be aware of the choices we make and how those choices can be a positive or a negative influence in our lives. I heard this advice: “Rather than taking the easy road, true growth occurs when we welcome challenges.” Ask yourself, “What can I learn from this?” rather than asking “Why me?”
There are three lessons I would like to point out from The Little Engine that Could:
1) Never pass an opportunity to help someone out.
2) If you are a friend or co-worker, encourage and motivate those around you.
3) If you don’t try something you’ll never know if you can do it.[6]
If you will go outside of your comfort zone, you might just surprise yourself. Remember: you can if you think you can.
In general conference in October 2002, President James E. Faust, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, gave a talk referring to the story of The Little Engine That Could. I would like to quote President Faust.
At times all of us are called upon to stretch ourselves and do more than we think we can…. We develop our talents first by thinking we can. The Lord tells us that He will give more to those who are willing. They will be magnified in their efforts, like the little blue engine as it pulled the train up the mountain. Like the ‘Little Engine that could,” we need to be on the right track and develop our talents.” [7]
I would like to refer to a quote from Brother Brian Carter’s talk from devotional last week:
Seek to know the individual and personal thoughts and desires the Savior has for you, and you will build a stronger understanding of who you truly are, and why you face the struggles that you do.
Brother Mitch Nelson commented on our devotional discussion board:
If we can help others around us be grateful for everything they have, then we can help them to be motivated . . . . Every day, we have so much to be thankful for. Our lives could always be worse. If we can recognize that, then our attitude and outlook will change to become more motivated with a desire to help others recognize their own blessings.
One of my favorite books in our church is our hymnal. I have suggested to my grandkids as they have served missions if they are ever called upon to speak on short notice, open the hymn book. Every hymn is loaded with inspiration and valuable lessons to be taught. I took my own advice and would like to refer to Hymn #223.
Have I done any good in the world today? Have I helped anyone in need? Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad? If not, I have failed indeed. Has anyone's burden been lighter today Because I was willing to share? Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way? When they needed my help was I there? Then wake up and do something more Than dream of your mansion above. Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure, A blessing of duty and love.[8]
This hymn is an encouraging reminder for each of us to give service to others. In the first verse of this hymn, it asks many questions, which we should be asking ourselves. “Have I done any good in the world today?”
We need to convince ourselves that we can do hard and great things! We need to build self-confidence, self-worth, and believe in ourselves. We are children of God! He knows our potential; we need to strive to do better and be better. Quoting President Gordon B. Hinckley:
Please don’t nag yourself with thoughts of failure . . . . Simply do what you can do, in the best way you know, and the Lord will accept of your effort.[9]
Quoting Charlie Wardle:
A bird sitting on a tree is never afraid of the branch breaking, because her trust is not on the branch, but on her own wings. Believe in yourself.[10]
I would like to share a poem that most of us have heard. It is one that is used frequently to reinforce the importance of motivation, endurance, and another resource to help you believe in yourself.
The Man Who Thinks He Can by Walter D. Wintle If you think you are beaten, you are; If you think you dare not, you don’t; If you’d like to win, but think you can’t It’s almost a cinch you won’t. If you think you’ll lose, you’ve lost, For out in the world we find Success begins with a fellow’s will, It’s all in the state of mind. If you think you’re outclassed, you are; You’ve got to think high to rise. You’ve got to be sure of yourself before You can ever win a prize. Life’s battles don’t always go To the stronger or faster man, But soon or late the man who wins Is the man who thinks he can. [11]
I would like to share a clip of Elder Lawrence E. Corbridge of the Seventy’s talk “The Way,” at general conference in October 2008.
The Lord’s way is not hard. Life is hard, not the gospel…Life is hard for all of us, but life is also simple. We have only two choices. We can either follow the Lord and be endowed with His power and have peace, light, strength, knowledge, confidence, love, and joy, or we can go some other way, any other way, whatever other way, and go it alone—without His support, without His power, without guidance, in darkness, turmoil, doubt, grief, and despair. And I ask, which way is easier? He said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; … and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Life is hard, but life is simple. Get on the path and never, ever give up. You never give up. You just keep on going. You don’t quit, and you will make it. There is only one way to happiness and fulfillment. Jesus Christ is the Way. Every other way, any other way, whatever other way is madness.[12]
May we be reminded of the following quote by President Hinckley:
Believe in yourself! Believe in your capacity to do great and good things! Believe that no mountain is so high that you cannot climb it! Believe that no storm is so great that you cannot weather it! [13]
I recall President Hinckley giving a powerful conference talk in April 1996, “Stand True and Faithful”.
To be true to ourselves means being an example of righteous living in all situations and circumstances . . . . Be true to our Eternal Father and His Beloved Son . . . . In all of living have much of fun and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured.[14]
In conclusion, a short summary: you can if you think you can. "Have I done any good in the world today—” and every day? Life is hard, but life is simple; get on the path and never, ever give up. Believe that no mountain is so high that you cannot climb it. Believe in yourself and be true to our Eternal Father and His Beloved Son. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Notes
[1] Watty Piper, The Little Engine That Could, Little Golden Books, Platt & Munk, 1930.
[2] See Robyn Carr, “I Think I Can: Lessons Learned From the Little Engine Who Could,” Family Today.com, https://www.familytoday.com/family/i-think-i-can-lessons-learned-from-the-little-engine-who-could/.
[3] Philippians 4:13.
[4] Thomas S. Monson, “Living the Abundant Life,” Liahona, January 2012.
[5] Henry B. Eyring, “Mountains to Climb,” Ensign, May 2012.
[6] See Dave Rhodes, “3 Vital Lessons from The Little Engine That Could,” Deliberate Development.org, July 29, 2020, https://deliberatedevelopment.org/2020/07/29/3-vital-lessons-from-the-little-engine-that-could/.
[7] James E. Faust, “Come Listen to a Prophet’s Voice: The Little Engine That Could,” Liahona, Oct. 2003.
[8] Hymn #223 “Have I Done Any Good?,” Hymns, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1985.
[9] Gordon B. Hinckley, “Rise to the Stature of the Divine within You,” Ensign, Nov. 1989.
[10] Charlie Wardle, Understanding and Building Confidence, Good Reads.com, https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/7946971.Charlie_Wardle.
[11] Walter D. Wintle, “The Man Who Thinks He Can,” Word Information, https://wordinfo.info/unit/4356.
[12] Lawrence E. Corbridge, “The Way,” Ensign, Nov. 2008.
[13] Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Gordon B. Hinckley, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2016.
[14] Gordon B. Hinckley, “Stand True and Faithful,” Ensign, May 1996.