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Quiet Disciples: How Everyday Acts of Faith Shape God's Work
Amid the legacies of remarkable figures and renowned Church leaders, it’s easy to wonder whether humble, everyday acts of faith really make a difference. But for every Latter-day Saint who serves in the spotlight, there are countless others whose quiet contributions shape the course of God’s work.
This powerful collection of stories celebrates faithful disciples who, though they may be considered ordinary, have contributed to the building up of the kingdom in extraordinary ways. From lesser-known scriptural figures to humble pioneers to modern-day Saints, each account showcases the incomparable power of quiet discipleship. For those who feel their efforts are unnoticed or their sacrifices too small to matter, the message is God sees you, and your faithfulness is never in vain.
This powerful collection of stories celebrates faithful disciples who, though they may be considered ordinary, have contributed to the building up of the kingdom in extraordinary ways. From lesser-known scriptural figures to humble pioneers to modern-day Saints, each account showcases the incomparable power of quiet discipleship. For those who feel their efforts are unnoticed or their sacrifices too small to matter, the message is God sees you, and your faithfulness is never in vain.
279 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 2, 2026
3 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
About the author
Mary Jane Woodger
54 books18 followersDr. Mary Jane Woodger is an Associate Professor of Church History and Doctrine at Brigham Young University. Born and raised in American Fork and Salt Lake City, Utah, Dr. Woodger has always had a great love for teaching. After obtaining a B.S. in Home Economics Education, Dr. Woodger taught Home Economics and American History in Salt Lake City where she received the Vocational Teacher of the Year Award from Jordan School District. In 1992, she completed her M.Ed. at Utah State University. In 1997, she received from Brigham Young University an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, with a minor in Church History and Doctrine.
In 1998 Dr. Woodger was honored by Kappa Omicron Nu, with an Award of Excellence for her dissertation research, entitled "The Educational Ideals of David O. McKay." Since then she has had three books published about the life and teachings of David O. McKay. She has also authored numerous articles on doctrinal, historical, and educational subjects. These articles have appeared in various academic journals, as well as venues for the LDS audience including the Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, Deseret News Church News, and The Religious Educator. She was recently honored with the best article of the year award from the Utah Historical Society. Her current research interests include twentieth century Church history, Latter-day Saint women's history, and Church education.
(from https://religion.byu.edu/mary-jane_wo...)
In 1998 Dr. Woodger was honored by Kappa Omicron Nu, with an Award of Excellence for her dissertation research, entitled "The Educational Ideals of David O. McKay." Since then she has had three books published about the life and teachings of David O. McKay. She has also authored numerous articles on doctrinal, historical, and educational subjects. These articles have appeared in various academic journals, as well as venues for the LDS audience including the Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, Deseret News Church News, and The Religious Educator. She was recently honored with the best article of the year award from the Utah Historical Society. Her current research interests include twentieth century Church history, Latter-day Saint women's history, and Church education.
(from https://religion.byu.edu/mary-jane_wo...)
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April 27, 2026
This is a sweet book about the quiet, ordinary disciples who steadily and faithfully follow Jesus Christ. Their actions bless many others in miraculous ways. Even when something seems small, it's not unimportant. Here are some quotes I liked:
"The people who really make a difference here and hereafter are quiet disciples of Jesus Christ. They simply, quietly, humbly go about doing good, as the Savior did... Sometimes, the most extraordinary things happen in the most ordinary places... A mother tenderly cares for a sick child. A father plays catch with his son. A widow invites friends to her home. A neighbor shovels the snow. A teacher explains a concept at a child's desk. A husband lovingly cares for his sweetheart through her final years (p. xi)."
"Genuine disciples go about their quiet way following their Master, who said, 'He that is greatest among you shall be your servant.'... Christ is the greatest example of quiet meekness and kindness worthy of emulation... Jesus Christ is the Quiet Disciple. He said, 'I seek not mine own glory' or 'to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me' (p. xiii)."
"Like Joseph the humble carpenter, 'quiet, plain, unpretentious people have moved this majestic work forward from the very beginning, and still do so today. If you are serving almost anonymously, please know that so, too, did one of the best men [Joseph] who has ever lived on this earth' (Jeffrey R. Holland, p. xv)."
"The God of Israel blessed Shiphrah and Puah for standing up for the right (p. 3)."
"During intense pressure and difficulties, these quiet disciples stood up against the oppression and victimization of a people living in the margins of their society... These quiet disciples played key roles in God's plan and helped bring about events that led to the deliverance of the Israelites (p. 4)."
"Despite lacking notable position, power, or personal characteristics, Abish was a believer, and she is remembered because she was ready when God needed her, because someone left a record, and because she invited ordinary people to join a beloved community (p. 7)."
"Besides being a lowly outsider servant woman in the land of Ishamel, Abish was 'converted unto the Lord for many years, on account of a remarkable vision of her father' (p. 8)."
"Abish acts on what she believes without fear, whether that is running to spread the news of a gospel of miracles or reaching out to take a queen by the hand (p. 9)."
"The miracle of Abish--what makes her extraordinary--is her absolute ordinariness. She does not have a sword; she has patience. She does not have money; she has belief. She does not have fame, royal blood, or an entourage; she is a servant who has courage.... She maintains her faith in secret. She knows God. And so she waits. For many, many long years, she waits. She is the ultimate quiet disciple (p. 10)."
"Abish looks around, and she recognizes this moment. This is the godly moment she has been waiting for... She has been ready for years. Without hesitation, she runs (p. 10)."
"When he faced his greatest challenges, he could persevere (p. 14)."
"They were mothers who taught their sons (p. 17)."
"The mothers of the stripling soldiers were women who had lived through trials and knew the cost of their conversion (p. 20)."
"Consider those in wards and branches around the world today who do not hold prominent callings or positions of leadership but consistently serve and sacrifice in ways unseen by the world, those whose 'unpretentious, consecrated lives' inspired Elder David A. Bednar to declare, 'their steady, quiet, and typically unrecognized sustaining influence makes possible the blessing of many individuals and families in ways that will be fully known only in eternity' (p. 25)."
"Tabitha's 'good works' in life were extended to include an expansion of faith far beyond it (p. 29)."
"Our humility in serving, like Phebe's, lifts us to serve as the Savior did, wherever we are needed by Him (p. 32)."
"Even the most willing givers can experience feelings of resentment when their sacrifices appear to be greater than other's, are unnoticed or unrecognized, or don't prevent trials (p. 35)."
"The Lord was interested in the state of their hearts (p. 37)."
"The sacrifices Isaac made during these years developed within him the heart of a leader and the skills necessary to have a lifelong impact on the Saints (p. 38)."
"Without hesitation, Vienna offered all her savings--$1,400 (p. 42)."
"'She was true to her covenants and esteemed the restoration of the gospel as a priceless treasure' (. 44)."
"Although [Polly Peck Knight] did not leave a personal narrative or memoir of her spiritual journey, many aspects of her discipleship can be reconstructed and brought to life from the historical records left by her contemporaries (p. 45)."
"The decision to leave their New York home was painful for Polly and Joseph (p. 49)."
"Zion was the creation of a people and place where the Lord could dwell among humankind (p. 53)."
"Edward chose commitment to God and His prophet over personal pride and power (p. 56)."
"Amid all the suffering and opposition he encountered, Willard was struck by what he perceived as the obvious inspiration of the Book of Mormon (p. 61)."
"Joseph said Willard was 'a man in whom I have the most implicit confidence and trust' who 'has done me great good and taken a great burden off my shoulder' (p. 65)."
"Willard Richards bore incomprehensible health challenges for decades and yet he unfailingly served; he fulfilled his callings when he had every reason to say, 'I'm too sick to serve' (p. 66)."
"Although facing difficult circumstances, Jane said, 'We went on our way rejoicing, singing hymns, and thanking God for his infinite goodness and mercy to us in blessing us as he had, protecting us from all harm, answering our prayers, and healing our feet' (p. 68)."
"How did Nancy do it? In the face of adversity, she persistently chose faith (p. 75)."
"'There was a God that watched over us and He would provide for us if we would put our trust in Him... The Lord fought our battles, and we returned to our homes again... The Lord blessed every move we made' (Drusilla Hendricks, p. 80)."
"Quiet disciples trust God and allow the Spirit of the Lord to buoy them up (p. 80)."
"Joseph was 'faithful over a few things,' a trait that would lead to a lifetime of quiet discipleship through service, perseverance, sacrifice, tolerance, and meditation (p. 84)."
"President Brigham Young called Lucy and Andrew and a few other members of the Church to settle on 'The Muddy.' Life was extremely difficult there... Lucy's wonderful faith in God helped her carry on courageously (p. 105)."
"'Isn't it remarkable what people with five loaves and two fishes do to build up the kingdom of God?' (Spencer J. Condie)... 'This kind of quiet, devoted service to me is surely a fulfillment of the word of God 'that the fulness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world, and before kings and rules' (James E. Faust, p. 111)."
"In his prayers Emile told the Lord that if He would help him learn the language, he would stay in Tonga as long as the Lord wanted him to (p. 113)."
"It certainly is amazing what couples can do with merely five loaves and two fishes (p. 119)."
"'We must meditate on the things God has revealed to us and remain firm in the faith and be faithful in keeping his commandments. We must each be a spark of light in this great work and keep this branch strong' (p. 125)."
"Although Guadalupe expressed pain over not marrying during her life, she recognized the hand of the Lord in her conversion and trusted that He would provide for her in the eternities... Guadalupe lived and served the people of San Marcos and the surrounding area as an active member of the Church. She not only accepted the callings she was asked to fill but did so with vigor and love for the Lord and all people (p. 125)."
"Paul acknowledges that Timothy has the same unfeigned (or sincere) faith that his mother and grandmother had (p. 127)."
"It would be nice to know more about Lois and Eunice and how they gained and passed along their faith and testimony, but at least their legacy is briefly appreciated and recorded by Paul (p. 127)."
"Karen found power and peace in Christ's charity: His pure love (p. 150)."
"Karen taught us to recognize and embrace God's encouragement in times of discouragement; to open our eyes to the hope found in Christ; to serve and treat others according to their divine identity as precious children of God; to say thank you often to those who do the small and simple things in our behalf; and to be patient... with God and His plan for us (p. 155)."
"Her favorite Church service... was as a temple worker (p. 174)."
"There is a wonderful phrase in the New Testament that states, 'some have compassion, making a difference'--that describes Sherilee perfectly (p. 175)."
"She would not let cancer define her attitude and approach toward life (p. 177)."
"She prayed to Heavenly Father. She knew she was blessed, but she needed help (p. 193)."
"They walk as quiet disciples of Christ and have blessed others through their faith and examples (p. 205)."
"'If I chose to be offended, I wouldn't be on a mission... We come to church for Him. We come to church to worship, to consecrate our life' (p. 207)."
"It is with his loving kindness that he has served the people of this small area of the world with a lasting influence that will bless generations to come (p. 213)."
"'One of the most precious gifts I was given was to know how to love the elderly people and how to make them happy.'... Janet found true joy in her calling--not just her callings at church but her calling in life (p. 230)."
"The people who really make a difference here and hereafter are quiet disciples of Jesus Christ. They simply, quietly, humbly go about doing good, as the Savior did... Sometimes, the most extraordinary things happen in the most ordinary places... A mother tenderly cares for a sick child. A father plays catch with his son. A widow invites friends to her home. A neighbor shovels the snow. A teacher explains a concept at a child's desk. A husband lovingly cares for his sweetheart through her final years (p. xi)."
"Genuine disciples go about their quiet way following their Master, who said, 'He that is greatest among you shall be your servant.'... Christ is the greatest example of quiet meekness and kindness worthy of emulation... Jesus Christ is the Quiet Disciple. He said, 'I seek not mine own glory' or 'to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me' (p. xiii)."
"Like Joseph the humble carpenter, 'quiet, plain, unpretentious people have moved this majestic work forward from the very beginning, and still do so today. If you are serving almost anonymously, please know that so, too, did one of the best men [Joseph] who has ever lived on this earth' (Jeffrey R. Holland, p. xv)."
"The God of Israel blessed Shiphrah and Puah for standing up for the right (p. 3)."
"During intense pressure and difficulties, these quiet disciples stood up against the oppression and victimization of a people living in the margins of their society... These quiet disciples played key roles in God's plan and helped bring about events that led to the deliverance of the Israelites (p. 4)."
"Despite lacking notable position, power, or personal characteristics, Abish was a believer, and she is remembered because she was ready when God needed her, because someone left a record, and because she invited ordinary people to join a beloved community (p. 7)."
"Besides being a lowly outsider servant woman in the land of Ishamel, Abish was 'converted unto the Lord for many years, on account of a remarkable vision of her father' (p. 8)."
"Abish acts on what she believes without fear, whether that is running to spread the news of a gospel of miracles or reaching out to take a queen by the hand (p. 9)."
"The miracle of Abish--what makes her extraordinary--is her absolute ordinariness. She does not have a sword; she has patience. She does not have money; she has belief. She does not have fame, royal blood, or an entourage; she is a servant who has courage.... She maintains her faith in secret. She knows God. And so she waits. For many, many long years, she waits. She is the ultimate quiet disciple (p. 10)."
"Abish looks around, and she recognizes this moment. This is the godly moment she has been waiting for... She has been ready for years. Without hesitation, she runs (p. 10)."
"When he faced his greatest challenges, he could persevere (p. 14)."
"They were mothers who taught their sons (p. 17)."
"The mothers of the stripling soldiers were women who had lived through trials and knew the cost of their conversion (p. 20)."
"Consider those in wards and branches around the world today who do not hold prominent callings or positions of leadership but consistently serve and sacrifice in ways unseen by the world, those whose 'unpretentious, consecrated lives' inspired Elder David A. Bednar to declare, 'their steady, quiet, and typically unrecognized sustaining influence makes possible the blessing of many individuals and families in ways that will be fully known only in eternity' (p. 25)."
"Tabitha's 'good works' in life were extended to include an expansion of faith far beyond it (p. 29)."
"Our humility in serving, like Phebe's, lifts us to serve as the Savior did, wherever we are needed by Him (p. 32)."
"Even the most willing givers can experience feelings of resentment when their sacrifices appear to be greater than other's, are unnoticed or unrecognized, or don't prevent trials (p. 35)."
"The Lord was interested in the state of their hearts (p. 37)."
"The sacrifices Isaac made during these years developed within him the heart of a leader and the skills necessary to have a lifelong impact on the Saints (p. 38)."
"Without hesitation, Vienna offered all her savings--$1,400 (p. 42)."
"'She was true to her covenants and esteemed the restoration of the gospel as a priceless treasure' (. 44)."
"Although [Polly Peck Knight] did not leave a personal narrative or memoir of her spiritual journey, many aspects of her discipleship can be reconstructed and brought to life from the historical records left by her contemporaries (p. 45)."
"The decision to leave their New York home was painful for Polly and Joseph (p. 49)."
"Zion was the creation of a people and place where the Lord could dwell among humankind (p. 53)."
"Edward chose commitment to God and His prophet over personal pride and power (p. 56)."
"Amid all the suffering and opposition he encountered, Willard was struck by what he perceived as the obvious inspiration of the Book of Mormon (p. 61)."
"Joseph said Willard was 'a man in whom I have the most implicit confidence and trust' who 'has done me great good and taken a great burden off my shoulder' (p. 65)."
"Willard Richards bore incomprehensible health challenges for decades and yet he unfailingly served; he fulfilled his callings when he had every reason to say, 'I'm too sick to serve' (p. 66)."
"Although facing difficult circumstances, Jane said, 'We went on our way rejoicing, singing hymns, and thanking God for his infinite goodness and mercy to us in blessing us as he had, protecting us from all harm, answering our prayers, and healing our feet' (p. 68)."
"How did Nancy do it? In the face of adversity, she persistently chose faith (p. 75)."
"'There was a God that watched over us and He would provide for us if we would put our trust in Him... The Lord fought our battles, and we returned to our homes again... The Lord blessed every move we made' (Drusilla Hendricks, p. 80)."
"Quiet disciples trust God and allow the Spirit of the Lord to buoy them up (p. 80)."
"Joseph was 'faithful over a few things,' a trait that would lead to a lifetime of quiet discipleship through service, perseverance, sacrifice, tolerance, and meditation (p. 84)."
"President Brigham Young called Lucy and Andrew and a few other members of the Church to settle on 'The Muddy.' Life was extremely difficult there... Lucy's wonderful faith in God helped her carry on courageously (p. 105)."
"'Isn't it remarkable what people with five loaves and two fishes do to build up the kingdom of God?' (Spencer J. Condie)... 'This kind of quiet, devoted service to me is surely a fulfillment of the word of God 'that the fulness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world, and before kings and rules' (James E. Faust, p. 111)."
"In his prayers Emile told the Lord that if He would help him learn the language, he would stay in Tonga as long as the Lord wanted him to (p. 113)."
"It certainly is amazing what couples can do with merely five loaves and two fishes (p. 119)."
"'We must meditate on the things God has revealed to us and remain firm in the faith and be faithful in keeping his commandments. We must each be a spark of light in this great work and keep this branch strong' (p. 125)."
"Although Guadalupe expressed pain over not marrying during her life, she recognized the hand of the Lord in her conversion and trusted that He would provide for her in the eternities... Guadalupe lived and served the people of San Marcos and the surrounding area as an active member of the Church. She not only accepted the callings she was asked to fill but did so with vigor and love for the Lord and all people (p. 125)."
"Paul acknowledges that Timothy has the same unfeigned (or sincere) faith that his mother and grandmother had (p. 127)."
"It would be nice to know more about Lois and Eunice and how they gained and passed along their faith and testimony, but at least their legacy is briefly appreciated and recorded by Paul (p. 127)."
"Karen found power and peace in Christ's charity: His pure love (p. 150)."
"Karen taught us to recognize and embrace God's encouragement in times of discouragement; to open our eyes to the hope found in Christ; to serve and treat others according to their divine identity as precious children of God; to say thank you often to those who do the small and simple things in our behalf; and to be patient... with God and His plan for us (p. 155)."
"Her favorite Church service... was as a temple worker (p. 174)."
"There is a wonderful phrase in the New Testament that states, 'some have compassion, making a difference'--that describes Sherilee perfectly (p. 175)."
"She would not let cancer define her attitude and approach toward life (p. 177)."
"She prayed to Heavenly Father. She knew she was blessed, but she needed help (p. 193)."
"They walk as quiet disciples of Christ and have blessed others through their faith and examples (p. 205)."
"'If I chose to be offended, I wouldn't be on a mission... We come to church for Him. We come to church to worship, to consecrate our life' (p. 207)."
"It is with his loving kindness that he has served the people of this small area of the world with a lasting influence that will bless generations to come (p. 213)."
"'One of the most precious gifts I was given was to know how to love the elderly people and how to make them happy.'... Janet found true joy in her calling--not just her callings at church but her calling in life (p. 230)."
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