MEEKNESS OF SPIRIT

 

I have always seen ‘power’ in the way Alma delivered himself and Amulek from prison. Consider the powerful expression of his faith in Jesus Christ by which a miracle of freedom was brought about: “O Lord, give us strength according to our faith which is in Christ….” (Alma 14:26). This year, however, I saw something else. I saw meekness.

In light of Elder Bednar’s definition of meekness which is ‘distinguished by righteous responsiveness, willing submissives, and strong self-restraint’ (Meek and Lowly of Heart, General Conference 2018), Alma possessed this attribute in fulness. Alma and Amulek were verbally abused for many days by many lawyers and judges and priests and teachers (Ala 14:18,22). It was not until ‘the power of God’ was upon them that ‘they rose and stood upon their feet’ (v25). This should have been a hint for them all to scatter….. Waiting upon the Lord to deliver them showed incredible submissiveness, righteous responsiveness and strong self-restraint.

A close friend of mine defines meekness as ‘strength turned tender’. I love that definition.  Meek is being powerful and knowing when that power should be used and how it should be used. It means exercising incredible self-restraint in your strength. Elder Bednar defines it well: Meekness is strong, not weak; active, not passive; courageous, not timid; restrained, not excessive; modest, not self-aggrandizing; and gracious, not brash. A meek person is not easily provoked, pretentious, or overbearing and readily acknowledges the accomplishment of others.”

Meekness is a Christlike attribute. This is the characteristic the Lord used to describe Himself above all others He possessed: “Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:29). Imagine if the Saviour did not possess meekness. I think He would have wiped us off the face of the earth a long time ago…. Lucky for us, His self-restraint when it comes to our wickedness, stubbornness and human weakness, affords us time to repent and change the course of our lives before the day of destruction.

The promise is if we walk in the meekness of the Saviour’s spirit, we will have peace (D&C 19:23). Think what that means in relation to righteous responsiveness to others, willing submissiveness to God’s plan for your life; and strong self-restraint when it comes to disciplining the desires of the flesh. Would not all these things give us peace?

Now consider what great gift to us the Saviour’s meekness was when He exercised righteous responsiveness and willing submission as He confronted the agonies of humanity in Gethsemane. And imagine if there was no self-restraint in Him when, despite all His power, He allowed weak, mere mortals to scourge Him and crucify Him. Imagine if He walked off that cross before He could say: “It is finished” (John 19:30). Where would we be today? I think the Saviour was chosen to be our Redeemer on the basis of His meekness as opposed to Lucifer who could never have subjected himself to such an unjust death because of His pride.

Mormon identified meekness as the foundation of all spiritual capacities and gifts and accentuated that none of us are acceptable before God ‘save the meek and lowly in heart’ (Moroni 7:42-44). This is the character of Christ, our Redeemer, who can gift us this attribute by virtue of our discipleship, if we seek it with all our hearts and desire to be like Him.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Be Still My Soul by Mark  Missman)