Podcast Summary: “Simplicity That Is in Christ”

Speaker: Steven D. Shumway
Date: February 4, 2026
Podcast: BYU Speeches

Overview

In this inspiring BYU devotional, Elder Steven D. Shumway, General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, explores the theme of simplifying our lives by prioritizing our relationship with Jesus Christ above all else. Through personal stories, scriptural allegory, and counsel from Church leaders, Elder Shumway teaches that abundance, clarity, and peace come when we deliberately prune away distraction and consecrate the best of our time and energy to eternal things. The message is one of hope and encouragement—inviting listeners to “lay aside what is unnecessary, choose what is eternal, and center our lives more fully on Jesus Christ.”

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Testimony and Introduction (00:36–03:06)

• Elder Shumway invites his wife, Heidi (“the Three Scoop Ice Cream Girl”), to bear her testimony, emphasizing the perfection of God's plan and the centrality of Jesus Christ.
  • Notable Quote:
    “We can trust in Jesus Christ. I testify that he is the way, the truth, the light…We belong in our heavenly home. And I testify that following Jesus Christ will lead us there.” —Heidi Shumway (01:23–02:50)
• Elder Shumway expresses heartfelt gratitude to those who supported the devotional, illustrating the value of gratitude.

2. Confidence in the Rising Generation (04:04–05:00)

• Recounts counsel from President Nelson about the “mounting task” of building God’s kingdom and the Lord’s trust in “brighter souls,” referring to the current generation of young adults.
  • Notable Quote:
    “The Lord has immense confidence in you…You will do a mighty work to dispel the gross darkness that is covering this earth.” (04:23–04:42)

3. Approachability as a Christlike Attribute (04:44–06:15)

• Shares a story about BYU’s President and Sister Reese, highlighting their “approachability” as a Christlike trait.
• Links true leadership to pointing others to Christ, not oneself.
  • Notable Quote:
    “Leadership in God’s kingdom is never about being seen, but about helping others see the Savior.” (05:19–05:43)

4. Personal Experience With President Oaks (06:15–10:27)

• Shares a touching account of President Oaks making time for his family, especially his daughter, Callie, demonstrating the impact of Christlike love and availability.
  • Notable Moment:
    President Oaks tells a struggling daughter, “Oh, sweet Callie, I have all the time in the world for you.” (09:04–09:11)
• The experience spurs Elder Shumway to ask: Why do Christlike leaders seem “so calm, so available, so interruptible,” while others feel hurried?

5. The Key: Deliberately Simplifying and Prioritizing (10:27–13:40)

• Elder Shumway identifies intentional simplification and daily focus on eternal things as the answer to “calm, available lives.”
• Introduces the wisdom of Sister Patricia T. Holland:
  • Notable Quote:
    “If I could live any part of my life over again, I would do one thing differently. Very differently. Simplify…it seems to me that everything is better in simplicity…What I regret most is that in my youth, I didn’t see the simple beauty of the gospel. He wants us to know that the gospel is beautifully simple and simply beautiful.” —Sister Holland (12:15–13:35)

6. The Allegory of the Olive Tree: Three Symbols (13:40–15:45)

• Tree = our individual lives
• Branches = pursuits and responsibilities (school, work, hobbies)
• Roots = our covenant relationship with God and Christ
• Lesson: Imbalance (branches outgrowing roots) leads to spiritual instability and collapse.

7. Lesson 1: Pruning and Grafting (15:45–17:42)

• Pruning (sacrifice) and grafting (consecration) are critical to simplify and “cultivate the abundant life.”
• Do we prune away lesser pursuits and deliberately consecrate time to the things of eternity—especially at the start of each day?
  • Notable Quote (President Benson):
    “When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives.” (17:44–17:53)

8. Lesson 2: Staying Rooted in Christ (17:53–21:18)

• Activities and “good branches” only bear fruit when connected to the roots (our relationship with the Savior).
• Warns of Satan’s tactic: distraction via excess, busyness and “the lust of other things” (19:12–19:53).
• Notable Quotes:
  • “You focus on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will know how to resolve every challenge you have.” —President Nelson (20:05–20:09)
  • “I invite you to examine what branches in your life have taken strength unto themselves. What can you prune? What can you graft back to the Savior?” (20:54–21:10)

9. Lesson 3: Decisions Rooted in Covenants Lead to Simplicity (21:18–24:16)

• Real change comes from covenant-based decisions, not just behavioral tweaks.
• Illustrates with a parenting example: lasting change in children’s behavior comes as they connect their choices to covenants with God, not just restrictions.

10. Prayer as a Tool for Simplification (24:16–28:28)

• Prayer is described as a “form of work” that helps us discern what needs pruning and what to prioritize.
• Details President Oaks’ habit: praying in the morning, pondering, and praying again for direction (24:59–25:24).
• Stresses the importance of “patiently waiting upon the Lord” and not giving up before receiving an answer (26:23–27:47).
  • Notable Quote:
    “Prayer helps us to know what to trim and what to prune. It helps us to know what to graft in so that we can preserve what matters most.” (28:28–28:44)

11. The First Vision: Deliverance Through Prayer (29:15–30:50)

• Draws a parallel between Joseph Smith's First Vision and our own efforts to find simplicity in Christ: distress, then deliverance, comes as we call upon God.
• Encourages listeners to “come unto him in prayer” for clarity, peace, and the power to move forward.

Memorable Quotes and Moments

• On approachability:
  “The Savior’s approachability is what gives the sinner comfort and the timid confidence to come unto him.” (04:44–05:12)
• On worthiness and gospel living:
  “I made the gospel too complex…I had to climb a mountain of righteousness…He wants us to know that the gospel is beautifully simple and simply beautiful.” —Sister Holland (12:15–13:35)
• On pruning distraction and choosing Christ:
  “We lose what Paul calls the simplicity that is in Christ and we begin to perish under the weight of our many complex endeavors.” (18:53–19:12)
• On personal revelation and waiting:
  “For the people of the Lord are they who wait for Him.” (27:47–27:52)
• On deliverance and simplicity:
  “When we kneel in sincerity and call upon God, he delivers.” (29:53–30:09)

Important Timestamps

• 00:36–03:06 — Heidi Shumway’s testimony: God’s plan and the simplicity of following Christ.
• 06:15–10:27 — Personal experience with President Oaks: compassion, time, and spiritual leadership.
• 12:15–13:35 — Sister Holland’s counsel on simplification.
• 13:40–15:45 — Olive Tree allegory introduced (tree, branches, roots).
• 17:44–17:53 — President Benson quote on putting God first.
• 24:59–25:24 — Elder Shumway describes President Oaks’ daily pattern of prayer and seeking direction.
• 29:15–30:09 — Parallel to Joseph Smith’s First Vision and personal deliverance through prayer.
• 31:00–31:08 — Closing invitation to focus on what’s eternal and center our lives on Jesus Christ.

Final Exhortation

Elder Shumway leaves a moving invitation:

“May we each find the quiet courage to lay aside what is unnecessary, choose what is eternal, and center our lives more fully on Jesus Christ, who I witness is the Great Deliverer.” (31:00–31:09)

Summary prepared for those seeking spiritual direction, clarity in daily living, and practical Christian leadership. Listening to (or reading) this devotional offers both reassurance and a clear path to an abundant, simple, Christ-centered life.