Humility
Young Single Adult Gems - 23 October 2009
Humility
“The second key to an adequate self-esteem is humility. I do not mean the breast-beating, sackcloth-and-ashes kind of humility. I mean the humility that comes with inner strength and peace. It is the humility that allows us to accept and live with our own warts, without cosmetics to hide them.”
Topics: Humility
Daily Gems - 1 October 2009
The Lord’s Will Be Done
“When should we pray? Whenever we desire! Alma taught, ‘Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good’ (Alma 37:37). . . . Jesus reminded His disciples ‘that they should not cease to pray in their hearts’ (3 Nephi 20:1). The practice of Church members is to kneel in family prayer each morning and evening, plus having daily personal prayers and blessings on our food (see Ensign, Jan. 1976, 11).”
Church History Gems - 23 September 2009
Humblest of All Servants
"Daniel Tyler, an associate of the Prophet, recalled an important occasion: '. . . I attended a meeting . . . where "Joseph" [Smith] presided. Entering the school-house a little before [the] meeting opened, and gazing upon the man of God, I perceived sadness in his countenance and tears trickling down his cheeks. . . . A few moments later a hymn was sung and he opened the meeting by prayer. Instead of facing the audience, however, he turned his back and bowed upon his knees, facing the wall. This, I suppose, was done to hide his sorrow and tears.
" 'I had heard men and women pray . . . from the most ignorant, both as to letters and intellect, to the most learned and eloquent, but never until then had I heard a man address his Maker as though He was present listening as a kind father would listen to the sorrows of a dutiful child. Joseph was at that time unlearned, but that prayer, which was to a considerable extent in behalf of those who accused him of having gone astray and fallen into sin, [was] that the Lord would forgive them and open their eyes that they might see aright—that prayer, I say, to my humble mind, partook of the learning and eloquence of heaven. There was no ostentation, no raising of the voice as by enthusiasm, but a plain conversational tone, as a man would address a present friend. It appeared to me as though, in case the vail were taken away, I could see the Lord standing facing His humblest of all servants I had ever seen. . . . It was the crowning . . . of all the prayers I ever heard' (Juvenile Instructor, Feb. 1892, 127–28)."
Topics: Humility
Young Single Adult Gems - 18 September 2009
The Sea of Life
“Life is a sea upon which the proud are humbled, the shirker is exposed, and the leader is revealed.”
Topics: Humility, Leadership
Church History Gems - 24 August 2009
Humility
"There is a guide for receiving the Lord's power of deliverance from opposition in life. It was given to Thomas B. Marsh, then the president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He was in difficult trials, and the Lord knew he would face more. Here was the counsel to him that I take for myself and offer you: '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 always wants to lead us to deliverance through our becoming more righteous. That requires repentance. And that takes humility. So the way to deliverance always requires humility in order for the Lord to be able to lead us by the hand where He wants to take us through our troubles and on to sanctification."
Topics: Humility
Family Gems - 10 August 2009
Parents Teach Reverence through Example
“We can exemplify reverence as we pray humbly, use the proper language of prayer, and speak the names of Deity appropriately. We can handle the scriptures with respect and teach doctrine from them with conviction.”
Topics: Humility
Daily Gems - 21 July 2009
Navigating Our Mortal Journey
"In our search to obtain relief from the stresses of life, may we earnestly seek ways to simplify our lives. . . . May we be worthy to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost and follow the guidance of the Spirit as we navigate this mortal journey."
Topics: Humility
Church History Gems - 29 June 2009
Humility
"There is a guide for receiving the Lord's power of deliverance from opposition in life. It was given to Thomas B. Marsh, then the president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He was in difficult trials, and the Lord knew he would face more. Here was the counsel to him that I take for myself and offer you: '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 always wants to lead us to deliverance through our becoming more righteous. That requires repentance. And that takes humility. So the way to deliverance always requires humility in order for the Lord to be able to lead us by the hand where He wants to take us through our troubles and on to sanctification."
Topics: Humility
Daily Gems - 28 April 2009
Answers to Prayer
"The object of our prayers should not be to present a wish list or a series of requests but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is eager to bestow, according to His will and timing. Every sincere prayer is heard and answered by our Heavenly Father, but the answers we receive may not be what we expect or come to us when we want or in the way we anticipate."
Topics: Humility, Prayer, Gifts of the Spirit
Church History Gems - 24 April 2009
Humility and Submissiveness
"If we have strong feeling about the way something should be and are unwilling to listen, we may lose the opportunity to get an answer.
"One only has to remember when Martin Harris wanted to take home pages of the Book of Mormon translation to show to others. Joseph Smith prayed to the Lord a number of times to finally be allowed to let the man do it. The Lord knew that the pages would be lost. But sometimes we want something so much and keep praying about it that the Lord lets us do it for our learning experience.
"Sometimes we are drawn into seeking and giving answers that bring recognition or notoriety to 'our' thinking and to 'our' opinion. Don't look for signs or answers that build you up. Humility and submissiveness to God will always be fundamental in receiving direction from Him."
Topics: Humility
Church History Gems - 5 December 2008
Lord's Warning
"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)."
Topics: Humility
Daily Gems - 30 September 2008
Recognizing Our Total Dependence on Him
"I wonder if we can ever really fathom the immense power of prayer until we encounter an overpowering, urgent problem and realize that we are powerless to resolve it. Then we will turn to our Father in humble recognition of our total dependence on Him. It helps to find a secluded place where our feelings can be vocally expressed as long and as intensely as necessary."
Church History Gems - 8 August 2008
Dramatic Growth
"Under the inspiration of the Lord and the courageous action of Joseph Smith, the first Latter-day Saint missionaries ever to serve beyond North America brought the restored gospel to the British Isles in 1837. Heading that first group of elders was Heber C. Kimball, who set a great example for all newly called missionaries. Humbled by the responsibility and fully aware of his limitations, he poured out his heart in prayer.
" 'O, Lord,' he cried, 'I am a man of stammering tongue, and altogether unfit for such a work; how can I go to preach in that land, which is so famed throughout Christendom for learning, knowledge and piety; the nursery of religion; and to a people whose intelligence is proverbial!'
"But rising from his knees and accepting his duty, he said, 'The moment I understood the will of my Heavenly Father, I felt a determination to go at all hazards, believing that He would support me by His almighty power, and endow me with every qualification that I needed' (Life of Heber C. Kimball, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1945, p. 104). Surely God responded to the faith of that young elder, because Brother Kimball and his companions were endowed, 'with every qualification' they needed."
Topics: Proclaim the Gospel, Faith, Humility
Daily Gems - 9 July 2008
Receiving Help the Lord Is Ready to Give
"With all the strength of my soul I testify that our Heavenly Father loves each one of us. He hears the prayers of humble hearts; He hears our cries for help. . . . His Son, our Savior and Redeemer, speaks to each of us today: 'Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him' (Revelation 3:20).
"Will we listen for that knock? Will we hear that voice? Will we open that door to the Lord, that we may receive the help He is so ready to provide? I pray that we will."
Topics: Humility, God the Father, Love
Daily Gems - 13 June 2008
The Savior's Broken Heart and Contrite Spirit
"What are a broken heart and a contrite spirit? And why are they considered a sacrifice?
"As in all things, the Savior's life offers us the perfect example: though Jesus of Nazareth was utterly without sin, He walked through life with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, as manifested by His submission to the will of the Father. 'For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me' (John 6:38). To His disciples He said, 'Learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart' (Matthew 11:29). And when the time came to pay the ultimate sacrifice entailed in the Atonement, Christ shrank not to partake of the bitter cup but submitted completely to His Father's will."
Topics: Jesus Christ, Humility, Atonement
Daily Gems - 30 May 2008
Humble, Trusting Prayer
"We pray to our Heavenly Father in the sacred name of His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. Prayer is most effective when we strive to be clean and obedient, with worthy motives, and are willing to do what He asks. Humble, trusting prayer brings direction and peace."
Youth Gems - 8 April 2008
Grace for Those Who Are Humble
"Should there be anyone who feels he is too weak to do better because of that greatest of fears, the fear of failure, there is no more comforting assurance to be had than the words of the Lord: '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)."
Church History Gems - 31 December 2007
Yielding to the Will of the Lord.
"Let us be humble, fervent, submissive, yielding ourselves to the will of the Lord, and there is no danger but that we shall have his Spirit to guide us. If we will open our lips and call upon our Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus, we will have the spirit of prayer."
Young Single Adult Gems - 9 July 2007
Submitting Our Wills to God
"As you submit your wills to God, you are giving Him the only thing you can actually give Him that is really yours to give. Don't wait too long to find the altar or to begin to place the gift of your wills upon it! No need to wait for a receipt; the Lord has His own special ways of acknowledging."
Topics: Humility
Church History Gems - 11 June 2007
Be Faithful and Humble.
"I wish to say to the Latter-day Saints, all that we have to do is to be faithful, to keep His commandments, to be humble, to seek Him in mighty prayer, and all will be well with us."
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