With patience and persistence, even the smallest act of

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, a voice of faith and wisdom in our age, once declared: “With patience and persistence, even the smallest act of discipleship or the tiniest ember of belief can become a blazing bonfire of a consecrated life. In fact, that's how most bonfires begin – as a simple spark.” These words are like a lamp lit in the night, reminding us that greatness is seldom born in a moment of grandeur, but in small beginnings nurtured with faith, endurance, and unwavering devotion. The spark, though fragile, carries within it the promise of fire; so too does the smallest act of goodness carry within it the seed of holiness.

When Uchtdorf speaks of “patience and persistence,” he reveals the two guardians of spiritual growth. Patience teaches us to wait upon the Lord, to trust that what is small today may grow mighty tomorrow. Persistence calls us to act again and again, even when progress seems invisible, even when the flame threatens to fade. Together they transform the tiniest ember into a fire that cannot be quenched. Without them, sparks die in the cold wind of discouragement; with them, sparks grow into flames that light the way for others.

The image of the bonfire is powerful. It begins with a single spark, easily overlooked, easily dismissed. Yet when tended with care, fed with wood, protected from the storm, it grows into a roaring flame. This is the story of every life of faith, every work of greatness, every transformation of the human heart. No saint, no leader, no builder of nations began fully ablaze—they began with sparks: small acts of kindness, whispered prayers, quiet moments of belief. The fire came because they did not abandon the spark, but nurtured it with patience and persistence.

History offers us a shining example in the life of Mahatma Gandhi. He did not begin as the liberator of a nation. His journey began with small acts of conviction: refusing injustice in South Africa, choosing nonviolence in a world of violence, fasting in silence when words could not reach. These sparks, tiny at first, seemed powerless against empires. Yet through patience and persistence, they grew into a movement, and that movement became a blazing bonfire that lit the path of freedom for millions. Gandhi’s life proves Uchtdorf’s truth: sparks become fire when tended with devotion.

We may also see this principle in the lives of ordinary men and women, unseen by history’s pages. A mother kneels at night to teach her child to pray, a student quietly chooses honesty when deception would be easier, a worker offers kindness in a world of cruelty. These acts seem small, even invisible. Yet each one is a spark. With patience, they endure; with persistence, they multiply. In time, they grow into a consecrated life, a fire that warms all who draw near.

The wisdom here is clear: do not despise small beginnings. The tiniest ember of belief is precious, for it carries within it infinite possibility. A spark of faith, though fragile, can outlast despair. A spark of kindness, though quiet, can ignite love in another. A spark of courage, though trembling, can inspire generations. The great mistake is to dismiss the spark because it seems too small. The great wisdom is to see its potential, to guard it, and to nurture it until it burns with holy fire.

The lesson for us is this: in your life, seek not the instant blaze, but the faithful spark. Begin with small acts of goodness, small steps of faith, small choices of courage. Then be patient when the fire grows slowly, and be persistent when the world’s winds threaten to extinguish it. Trust that in time, what begins as a spark will grow into a bonfire that lights not only your path, but the paths of all who walk with you.

So let Uchtdorf’s words echo across the generations: “Most bonfires begin as a simple spark.” Do not wait for greatness to arrive in a single moment. Begin today with the smallest act, the tiniest ember of belief. Guard it. Feed it. Persist with it. And one day, you will look back and see that your life has become a consecrated fire, burning bright with meaning, warming and guiding countless souls in the dark.