Uncle Merlin

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

This morning Kira sent me a link to a story about Uncle Merlin. Of all my aunts and uncles, Uncle Merlin and Aunt Nola were always closest to me. After my parents passed away I kind of adopted them as my surrogate parents and they were happy to accept the job. They were like grandparents to my kids but unfortunately, only my older kids got to know Uncle Merlin well before he passed.

This was posted on Instagram

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Have you heard the story of when Elder Packer told another General Authority he needed more faith?

Elder Lybbert of the Seventy was serving as Area President of Asia. Back-to-back emergencies—a mission president imprisoned, missionaries lost in Korea—had left him running on empty.

Elder Lybbert showed up at a stake conference in Taiwan completely exhausted. Then-Elder Dallin H. Oaks took one look at him and sent him back to the hotel to rest.

When Elder Oaks later shared the experience with Elder Boyd K. Packer, Elder Packer said: “The next time you see Elder Lybbert, tell him he needs to have more faith.” And then Elder Packer told Elder Oaks what he meant by that.

At the next General Conference, Elder Oaks pulled Elder Lybbert aside and delivered the message: “You need to have more faith.”

Elder Lybbert was astonished. “How can I work any harder than I already am?” “Exactly,” said Elder Oaks.

Then he explained what Elder Packer meant.
Elder Packer wasn’t saying to do more. True faith is understanding that the Lord expects a reasonable effort and then we trust that He will get His work done.

“Let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.” — D&C 123:17

This is what Jethro taught Moses. Moses was doing righteous work but carrying it all alone. Jethro’s counsel wasn’t to work harder. It was to trust God enough to share the load.

True faith isn’t always doing more. Sometimes the way to have more faith is to do less and trust God more.

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To give credit where it is due, I have since learned the background behind this story. While this story is known within Uncle Merlin’s family, it is not recorded anywhere outside his family. Dale Renland (Uncle Merlin’s son-law) shared the story at a couple of training meetings he was involved in and John Hilton III (a popular blogger) attended one of those meetings. With Dales’ permission he shared it on Instagram.