Lindy's focus on meekness has had me pondering on it, too. Elder Bednar compared humility and meekness, indicating that humility informs our attitude toward God, and meekness, our attitude toward other people. I've been thinking about this passage, which I think illustrates another difference:
25 And the first fruits of repentance is baptism; and baptism cometh by faith unto the fulfilling the commandments; and the fulfilling the commandments bringeth remission of sins;
26 And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/moro/8?lang=eng&verse=25&context=25-26#p25
I like putting things in order. The order I see here is:
Faith leads to repentance,
Faith leads to repentance,
repentance to fulfilling the commandment to be baptized,
baptism to remission of sins.
Remission brings meekness,
meekness brings the Spirit,
the Spirit fills with hope and charity,
hope and charity endure through diligent prayer.
Where does humility fit? I believe it goes at the first, with faith. Humility is acknowledging that you have a problem, and need help, and are willing to accept help; faith is counting on the Savior to help enough to repent.
I've always been intrigued by remission of sins bringing meekness. If you think of meekness as humility, it is out of order. I think I understand better now, though. Sin is the state of our hearts - our wills, our desires - being in rebellion and pride, unwilling to conform to the Lord's will. Taking the sin out of our hearts - taking out the willful, ungovernable aspect of us, which Lamoni's father described having "this wicked spirit rooted out of my breast" - leaves us meek, or lowly of heart; no longer prone to press for our own will. In the state of willingness to be led, the Spirit can come and enter us, and fill us with Christlike, loving desires, that now have no selfish desires to conflict with.
Having been made meek and lowly of heart through the remission of sin, our pride is disengaged, and we don't have ego involved when others have something to teach us. It isn't that we become easily manipulated, but rather since we have already given control of our lives over to the Lord, we don't need to defend that control from other people who want to influence us; we can listen and value input and accept what is in consonance with the Lord's will, because we are already in consonance with His will.
So humility includes the willingness to have our hearts changed; meekness is the result of having our hearts changed.
On Wed, Jan 6, 2021 at 6:07 AM lindyjtaylor <lindyjtaylor@gmail.com> wrote:
Meekness is so important that it's the primary and first characteristic the Lord used to describe himself. (Elder Bednar quoted here.)"..the characteristic the Lord used to describe Himself in the following scripture: "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.".... the Savior chose to emphasize meekness from among all the attributes and virtues He potentially could have selected."Meekness is a beautiful characteristic. I hope I can become more meek. The Savior never felt superior but he didn't brook nonsense with hypocrites either.Just some thoughts.LoveMom
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