Move the audience: 5 rows min from where you're sitting.
Now that you're out of your "comfort zone" and completely awake (and maybe even a little ruffled and irritated) let's take a minute and examine this thing called humility. Since you're now sitting in a different seat you have a different vantage point, I'm hoping by the end of my talk you'll have a different and better idea about humility itself.
How many of you have ever sat down to a meal and had dessert first? Don't answer that out loud! Just smile if the answer is yes and scowl if the answer is no! If you're scowling, maybe you should consider it! It's pretty cool!!
Have you ever noticed how when someone is concluding their talk and they begin their testimony you can hear scriptures being closed, hymn books rustling, and attention spans diminishing to near zero?
Have you ever been truly challenged by a talk to change one or more things within your life and then in response gone out and did what you resolved to do?
Have you ever sat through a Sacrament Talk and not once been asked to or felt inclined to open your scriptures and reference a verse?
Have you ever heard a Sacrament talk that poses more questions than it answers?
Have you ever just kind of mentally went on auto pilot in Sacrament because:
- either you already know this and/or this doesn't apply to me
- Especially for Mormons is so "yesterday" or that was taught in Sunday School/Priesthood/YW/YM etc.. just last week
- Ensign is pronounced "N'Sign" and not "ensun" or you've heard the poem about the race only about 1,000 times (and you're a convert)
- Because sitting in Sacrament Meeting is something you do each week never really expecting anything remarkable to happen?
- You are sitting in the same exact spot as ALWAYS seeing every speaker from the exact same vantagepoint?
- You are thinking to yourself: "Who is this crackpot"? and where does he/she get off saying this or that when I know he/she has this or that problem or situation that clearly indicates they are NOT qualified to speak on this topic.
- Because you were up too late last night and even though the Church is only a stones throw from home 0900 is still too early for the sane and civilized to gather for a meeting.
- Any of another hundred reasons…
To those of you who sit still, pay strict attention to every speaker, and get volumes out of every talk: I salute you! This talk is for you too!
Since I have pretty much your complete attention and as your probably wondering what I'll do next, let me Bear Testimony of 4 important principles of the Gospel (not the big 4):
- Love of God
- Patience of our Heavenly Father
- Grace of God as manifest by the gift of His Only Begotten Son
- Cleansing power of repentance
How many of you have fallen into a routine in your life that you'd like to get out of?
How many of you would like to improve yourself, your appearance, your education, lose 10 or 30 or 50 pounds, gain some hair, or anything else one might want in this life?
How many of your "to do's" could be considered to be of a spiritual nature?
How many of you consider yourself to be humble?
OH YEAH! That's what I'm supposed to be speaking on!!
Did you realize when it comes to humility, if you say or think you are, you probably aren't?
Speaking on Humility is no small task.
My brain went "SPOROOOINNNG" when Bro Harrison asked if I'd speak on "Ether 12 something". Why don't you just assign me morality and get it over with Bro H! Holyt Smokes!
In some ways speaking on humility like handling a snake (without having the skills of a snake charmer)…hoping to gain control of the topic, while not letting go, and importantly not getting bit!
Maybe there's a hint in there for me, a personal message (BTW I'll be going inactive right after this meeting, so I guess this is GOODBYE; a farewell talk of sorts!!!) or am I just the messenger (don't shoot by the way)!
Although I may offend one or two of you I think we'll all make it through this just fine! I've never been one to duck when someone yells "INCOMING" I'm more likely to want to stand up and look to see where EXACTLY danger is coming from. I guess there's one of the true thrills of skydiving…only 2 pulls lie between you and being a cartoon character, but then I digress…
I have struggled since the moment I was asked to think of something intelligent to say about humility….
Do you know what I came up with?
VERY LITTLE!!
I know what you're thinking…great! This'll be a short talk and we'll be out of here in no time! (just kidding)
So as time went on throughout the week I continued to ponder and indeed pray concerning what I might say on this topic.
I asked myself a few questions, which I will now pose to you…
Don't feel you need to answer out loud but do please think about what you might say if I questioned each of you individually and you felt inclined to answer.
What is humility?
Why should I care?
If humility is something I should value how do I get it?
Can I get it by myself?
What can I say about humility?
How should I demonstrate that I am cultivating this virtue in my life?
What do I know of this topic?
Easy stuff right?
As soon as I put my mind around it, it slips away…
Ether 12:27:
And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness.
Said another way: "If men come not unto me I will show them nothing. They won't have the first clue about their weakness (humility) or much of anything else.
For they are carnal and devilish, and the devil has power over them; yea, even that old serpent that did beguile our first parents, which was the cause of their fall; which was the cause of all mankind becoming carnal, sensual, devilish, knowing evil from good, subjecting themselves to the devil.
Mosiah 16:3
Therefore, as they had become carnal, sensual, and devilish, by nature, this probationary state became a state for them to prepare; it became a preparatory state.
Alma 42:10
And now, my son, all men that are in a state of nature, or I would say, in a carnal state, are in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity; they are without God in the world, and they have gone contrary to the nature of God; therefore, they are in a state contrary to the nature of happiness.
Alma 41:11
And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well--and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.
2 Ne 28:21
Remember that he that persists in his own carnal nature, and goes on in the ways of sin and rebellion against God, remaineth in his fallen state and the devil hath all power over him. Therefore, he is as though there was no redemption made, being an enemy to God; and also is the devil an enemy to God.
Mosiah 16:5
Remember, to be carnally-minded is death, and to be spiritually-minded is life eternal.
2 Ne 9:39
I give unto men weakness that they may be humble
Some men have said concerning humility:
"True humility is not an abject, groveling, self-despising spirit; it is but a right estimate of ourselves as God sees us."
— Tryon Edwards
A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small bundle.
--Benjamin Franklin
Life is a long lesson in humility."
- James M. Barrie
"After crosses and losses men grow humbler and wiser."
— Benjamin Franklin
"Humility is royalty without a crown."
— Spencer W. Kimball (Improvement Era, August 1963, Page 704)
"True humility is not an abject, groveling, self-despising spirit; it is but a right estimate of ourselves as God sees us."
- Tryon Edwards
"Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right."
- Ezra Taft Benson
Do you suppose that the Lord has given us the right to forget about his promises?
Has he placed us here on the earth in this fallen state with no safety net; to forever drift further and further away from Him and His kingdom?
In what ways do we neglect to remember our place within the universe?
"Many people believe that humility is the opposite of pride, when, in fact, it is a point of equilibrium. The opposite of pride is actually a lack of self-esteem. A humble person is totally different from a person who cannot recognize and appreciate himself as part of this worlds marvels."
— Rabino Nilton Bonder
Think of this…
There are a billion people in China. It's not easy to be an individual in a crowd of more than a billion people. Think of it. More than a BILLION people. That means even if you're a one-in-a-million type of guy, there are still a thousand guys exactly like you. ~A. Whitney Brown, The Big Picture
You and I tend to value and revel in our individuality and pride oursleves with a measure of sanctimoniousness when we consider how smart or wealthy or handsome or whatever else it may be that others don't share. Taken to it's extreme the sin of pride consumes the container of it similar to some highly toxic acid. Continual striving to rid ourselves of this enticing bondage is required of all who would enter His Kingdon and with Him there partake of Eternal Life.
"Pride goeth before destruction"
(Prov. 16:18).
Pride was the primary fault within the heart of Lucifer
(cf. Moses 4:1-3; 2 Ne. 24:12-15; D&C 29:36; 76:28)
Pride destroyed the city of Sodom
(Ezek. 16:49-50).
The prophet Mormon wrote, "Behold, the pride of this nation, or the people of the Nephites, hath proven their destruction"
(Moro. 8:27).
Pride makes us incapable of seeing things as they really are and indeed incapable of caring enough about things that really matter that we neglect life's important lessons and flunk some of life's most valuable teaching moments. If we would be humble we in turn become teachable.
Humility in Contemporary Society:
- Regarded as weakness
- Scorned
- Taken advantage of
- Looked upon with disgust by the loud and obnoxious the irreverant and spiritually dumb (and I should say numb too)
They are indeed "past feeling"
This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
But ye have not so learned Christ;
If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Ephesians 4:17- 24
For those of us who indulge in the appetites and passions of this world without restraint and a good sound judgement which can be borne LITERALLY only by and through the promptings of the Holy Ghost and the Light of Christ within us we do indeed see only through the "glass darkly".
One example I think most of us can relate to is the remarkable upswing of intelligence that is noticed in our parents and other authority figures about the time we leave our teens. How did they get so smart and so "dead-on" all of the sudden? The reality of it all is that our parents and others simply have a clearer more unobstructed view of the road on which we travel due largely to the fact that they themselves passed this very way at some point in the past. We are fools of the first order if we do not anticipate and know that the Father and His Son, our Lord does not see AND understand ALL THINGS and is therefore in the most specific way of highlighting for us (if we will allow it) all things pertaining to our eventual perfection. Is this without pain and lumps?
I think not!
Alma asked:
"Are ye stripped of pride?" (Alma 5:27–28).
The phraseology he uses is interesting…The term "stripped" appears exactly 2 times in the Book of Mormon in adjacent verses: once referring to pride and the other questioning about stripping oneself of envy (which is the evil step-mother of pride).
The imagery brings to mind the idea that it is not easy to rid oneself this condition.
Have we not all been (or continue to be) afflicted with pride?
Are there not some who commit sin or fail to commit righteousness because of their own personal avarice?
Of course they do! We ALL do! We get caught up in OUR OWN agenda and forget about God!
Some neglect or outright fail to honor and respect their spouses. I am personally growing weary of hearing the Brethren (& others) of the General leadership of the Church exhort the brethren of the Priesthood (as they tend to be the main culprits in this department)…
Does this sound familiar?
From "Dad Are You Awake" by Elder Melvin Hammond: (Oct 2002 GC)
If a father is guilty of inflicting verbal or physical abuse in any degree on his companion, his sons will resent him for it, perhaps even despise him for it. But interestingly enough, when they are grown and marry, they are likely to follow the same pattern of abuse with their wives. There is an urgent need in our society for fathers who respect their wives and treat them with sweet, tender love.
Recently I heard of a father who foolishly called his beautiful, intelligent wife "stupid" and "dumb" in a most degrading manner for some small mistake that she had innocently made. The children listened, embarrassed and frightened for their mother. She was belittled in front of those that she loved most. Although an apology and forgiveness were expressed, there still remained the hurt and shame of a senseless moment.
From "To the Men of the Priesthood" by President Hinckley:
Stay away from the erotic stuff of the Internet. It can only pull you down. It can lead to your destruction...
To you mature men I extend the same plea and the same warning. Small beginnings lead to great tragedies. We deal with them constantly. There is so much of heartache, resentment, disillusionment, and divorce among us....
May I again mention a matter with which I have dealt at length in the past. I speak of the evil and despicable sin of child abuse. We cannot tolerate it. We will not tolerate it…Child abuse is an affront toward God…To anyone who has an inclination that could lead to the abuse of childr4en, I say in the strongest language of which I am capable, discipline yourself. Seek help before you do injury to a child and bring ruin upon yourself."
(Oct 2002 GC)
Sister Chieko N. Okazaki:
…Mortality is designed as part of the gospel plan to bring us mingled experiences with good and evil, that we may learn from experience to make wise choices. And many of these experiences are painful. In most congregations of sisters, even in hearts and homes in apparently ideal circumstances, there are hidden heartaches and taxing challenges. At least some among you are survivors of abuse and other crimes of personal violence. Death or divorce can visit any home. Suffering comes from wasted potential, faltering faith, the decisions of a loved one who has used his or her free agency to make terrible choices that have wounded himself or herself and others. In your family, or in the family of someone close to you, is someone dealing with chronic mental, physical, or emotional illness; chemical dependency; financial insecurity; loneliness, sorrow, or discouragement?
(Ensign Nov 1995)
Some while not physically abusive leave deep, painful wounds with their mouths which ultimately don't heal half as well as a bruise or broken bone.
What are the fruits of Pride? Is this not a classic example? The man thinking he is "Lord and King" when in very fact he has his very life not to mention his spouse and family on loan for a finite amount of time designated by the one and only "Lord & King"?
Some decide they require all 100% of their income rather than rendering to the Lord that part that he requires. They can't afford tithing when the exact opposite is in fact true!
Some hold back their talents and abilities from those uses to which the Lord and His appointed servants might put them.
Some look down their "Mormon Nose" at their Non-Mormon neighbors with a sanctimonious pity so putrid and distasteful that conversion is frustrated or negated by their very attitude. This "Us" and "them" mentaility runs directly counter to the Lord's continual effort to demonstrate the marked difference between the "sinner and the sin".
Did you ever notice how many times he "hung out" with those of the "them" category?
The twin of this attitude is the prevalence of gossiping and backbiting among the "very elect". Are we immune to this foul & repugnant practice?
Do we raise our voices when we ought not? When they are raised is it in praise of our Redeemer or is it in the commission of castigating our neighbor for some real or merely perceived sleight?
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.
Said another way: "For those who humble themselves not, even My grace will not be sufficient to bring you back into my presence for without faith your weakness will remain yours forever."
The LORD [is] nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
(Psalms 34:18)
For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name [is] Holy; I dwell in the high and holy [place], with him also [that is] of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
(Isa 57:15)
Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered.
(2 Ne 2:7)
But blessed are the poor who are pure in heart, whose hearts are broken, and whose spirits are contrite, for they shall see the kingdom of God coming in power and great glory unto their deliverance; for the fatness of the earth shall be theirs.
(D&C 56:18)
Thou shalt offer a sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in righteousness, even that of a broken heart and a contrite spirit.
(D&C 59:8)
Verily I say unto you, all among them who know their hearts are honest, and are broken, and their spirits contrite, and are willing to observe their covenants by sacrifice--yea, every sacrifice which I, the Lord, shall command--they are accepted of me.
(D&C 97:8)
For my Spirit is sent forth into the world to enlighten the humble and contrite, and to the condemnation of the ungodly.
(D&C 136:33)
Blessed [are] the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
(Matt 5:5)
Alas, none of us is exempt from the lifelong pursuit of humility. To me it's a journey on which never quite arrive. If we think we are there; we're probably not!!
We try and try and try and hope that after all of the trying we do become stripped of all of our pride! We hope to find ourselves in His courts above as a result of all of our effort and His infinite grace that makes up the difference!
Within the sacred life & ministry of our Lord we find a blueprint for success in this matter. Was it not He, the only sinless one, the only purely motivated one, the only one who ever was who was truly stripped of pride?
NO ONE compares to His PERFECT example!
Born in a manger in a stable with farm animals? Why not in a mansion befitting royalty?
A Carpenter's son? Why not a lawyer, a governer, or something more prominent?
Lived a life of relative anonymity what by some might be considered obscurity?
He had a gentle, loving, compassionate, long-suffering personality? Why not the assertive, aggressive attitude usually associated with great power or influence?
He surrounded Himself with everyday disciples who had many weaknesses to deal with? Where were the rich and learned among them?
Why when he performed His many miracles did He almost invariably end with the injunction: "See that you tell no man"?
Why did He say "Thy faith hath made thee whole"? Wasn't it more specifically a matter of His Divine power?
When the time of His great sacrifice came He allowed all manner of indignities to be heaped upon Him? Why when He had the power to vaporize His accusers and tormentors where they stood?
Why did He come forth on the 3rd day and appear even to those who had so much doubt still within their hearts?
Why does he STILL love us so much? Why does he unconditionally offer us the perfect way?
The answer to these questions and so many more are the reason why we are commanded in these terms:
Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.
Luke 18:17
And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily, I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
JST Matt 18:2
Wherefore, I give unto them a commandment, saying thus: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy might, mind, and strength; and in the name of Jesus Christ thou shalt serve him.
D&C 59:5
Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days.
D&C 64:34
And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God.
D&C 14:7
Personal examples of humility
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