Talking with friends one day, we were conjecturing that if it could be like Christmas Eve. When everyone could open just one gift. Insomuch that God has promised us ALL that He has, what would we open first? Without hesitation, I said, “The baseball bat He often has to use to get my attention.”
Alma taught the Zoramites that he who truly humbled himself and repented of his sins will be blessed, in fact much more than those who were compelled to be humble because of their poverty. About every time I think I’ve achieved humility, out comes the “baseball bat” and I realize how prideful I really am. Now, I have learned that humility isn’t a lack of self esteem and that you can have self confidence and still be humble. The trick is recognition of the source of all your possessions and talents. Elder Oaks has some interesting things to say about how, if not careful, our strengths can be perverted by the adversary to being our downfall. The following is an excerpt from a talk he gave in 1994.
(http://web.mac.com/gemcquain/iWeb/Site/11-Humility.html)“How, then, do we prevent our strengths from becoming our downfall? The quality we must cultivate is humility. Humility is the great protector. Humility is the antidote against pride. Humility is the catalyst for all learning, especially spiritual things. Through the prophet Moroni, the Lord gave us this great insight into the role of humility: “I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them” (Ether 12:27).
We must learn to be humble in all we do that we can have direction of the Spirit. Guard against pride in our own wisdom and strength. I recognize all the good in my life comes as a special gift from God. Forever in His debt - I am..
Hear President Eyring in the following quote:
"Having listening ears requires humility. You remember the Lord's warning to Thomas B. Marsh. He was then the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The Lord knew that President Marsh and his Brethren of the Twelve would be tested. He gave counsel about taking counsel. The Lord said, 'Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers' (D&C 112:10)."The Lord added a warning that is applicable to any who follow a living prophet: 'Exalt not yourselves; rebel not against my servant Joseph; for verily I say unto you, I am with him, and my hand shall be over him; and the keys which I have given unto him, and also to you, shall not be taken from him till I come' (D&C 112:15)."
Henry B. Eyring, "Safety in Counsel," Ensign, June 2008, 7-8
3 comments:
I found especially interesting part of the full text of Elder Oakes' talk linked here to your website...
In the same way, we should not feel alienated from our Church or its leaders when they refrain from using the rhetoric of the social gospel or from allocating Church resources to purposes favored by others.
Coupled with Elder Maxwell's talk/devotional from BYU that both Abram and I have passed along to others I find the irony in embracing irreligion as our nation's religion both prophesied but scary nonetheless. It will lead us into the power of the adversary to abandon precious truths for secular counsel and ideas.
That whole talk is interesting and I can definitely see where I need to improve my behavior-- even well intentioned at times is not always consistent with gospel teachings.
I'm reading the talk but have to go attend to my worldly duties...
I'll try to comment later if I have anything intelligent to say (don't hold your breath).
Nicole,
since when is having something intelligent to say a requirement for commenting? Have you read my comments? I write the first thing that comes to mind--how ever trivial or with out consequence it may be. And I never check my spelling or grammar either because really, we aren't trying to impress anyone right? So come on, let's hear the unfiltered and uncensored thoughts from Colie that we all love.
Post a Comment