I rejoice in the opportunity to sustain our Church leaders,
and I wholeheartedly welcome Elder Gong and Elder Soares
to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
The ministries of these faithful men
will bless individuals and families all over the earth.
And I am eager to serve with and learn from them.
I pray that the Holy Ghost will teach and enlighten us
as we now learn together about a vital aspect of the Savior's
divine nature that each of us should strive to emulate.
I will present several examples that highlight this Christlike
quality before identifying the specific attribute later
in my message.
Please listen to each example and consider with me
possible answers to the questions I will pose.
EXAMPLE NUMBER 1: In the New Testament
we learn about a rich young man who
asked Jesus, "Good Master, what good thing shall
I do, that I may have eternal life?"
The Savior first admonished him to keep the commandments.
The Master next gave the young man
an additional requirement customized
to his specific needs and circumstances.
"Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell
that thou hast, and give to the poor,
and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
"But when the young man heard that saying,
he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions."
Compare the response of the rich young man
with the experience of Amulek, as described
in the Book of Mormon.
Amulek was an industrious and prosperous man
with many kindreds and friends.
He described himself as a man who was called many times
but would not hear, a man who knew the things of God
but would not know.
A basically good man, Amulek was distracted
by worldly concerns much like the rich young man
described in the New Testament.
Even though he had previously hardened his heart,
Amulek obeyed the voice of an angel,
received the prophet Alma in his home,
and provided nourishment to him.
He was spiritually awakened during Alma's visit
and was called to preach the gospel.
Alma then forsook "all his gold, and silver,
and his precious things ... for the word of God,
[and was] rejected by those who were once his friends and also
by his father and his kindred."
What do you think explains the difference
between the responses of the rich young man and Amulek?
EXAMPLE NUMBER 2: During a perilous period
of war described in the Book of Mormon, an exchange of epistles
occurred between Moroni, the captain of the Nephite armies,
and Pahoran, the chief judge and governor of the land.
Moroni, whose army was suffering because of inadequate support
from the government, wrote to Pahoran
"by the way of condemnation" and accused
him and his fellow leaders of thoughtlessness, slothfulness,
neglect, and even being traitors.
Pahoran easily might have resented Moroni
and his inaccurate allegations, but he did not.
He responded compassionately and described a rebellion
against the government about which Moroni was not aware.
And then Pahoran declared, "Behold,
I say unto you, Moroni, that I do not
joy in your great afflictions, yea, it grieves my soul.
...
"In your epistle you have censured me,
but it mattereth not; I am not angry, but do rejoice
in the greatness of your heart."
What do you think explains Pahoran's measured reply
to Moroni's accusations?
EXAMPLE NUMBER 3: In general conference six months ago,
President Russell M. Nelson described his response
to President Thomas S. Monson's invitation
to study, ponder, and apply the truths contained
in the Book of Mormon.
He said: "I have tried to follow his counsel.
Among other things, I've made lists
of what the Book of Mormon is, what it affirms,
what it refutes, what it fulfills, what it clarifies,
and what it reveals.
Looking at the Book of Mormon through these lenses has been
... insightful and inspiring ... !
I recommend it to each of you."
In the same conference, President Henry B. Eyring
likewise emphasized the importance
in his life of President Monson's request.
He observed: "I have read the Book of Mormon every day
for more than 50 years.
So perhaps I could have reasonably thought
that President Monson's words were for someone else.
Yet, like many of you, I felt the prophet's encouragement
and his promise invite me to make a greater effort.
...
"The happy result for me, and for many of you,
has been what the prophet promised."
What do you think explains the immediate and heartfelt
responses to President Monson's invitation
by these two leaders of the Lord's Church?
I am not suggesting that the spiritually strong responses
of Amulek, Pahoran, President Nelson, and President Eyring
are explained by only one Christlike quality.
Certainly, many interrelated attributes and experiences
led to the spiritual maturity reflected in the lives
of these four noble servants.
But the Savior and His prophets have highlighted
an essential quality that all of us
need to more fully understand and strive
to incorporate into our lives.
Please notice 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."
Instructively, the Savior chose to emphasize meekness
from among all the attributes and virtues He potentially
could have selected.
A similar pattern is evident in a revelation received
by the Prophet Joseph Smith in 1829.
The Lord declared, "Learn of me, and listen to my words;
walk in the meekness of my Spirit,
and you shall have peace in me."
Meekness is a defining attribute of the Redeemer
and is distinguished by righteous responsiveness,
willing submissiveness, and strong self-restraint.
This quality helps us to understand more completely
the respective reactions of Amulek, Pahoran, President
Nelson, and President Eyring.
For example, President Nelson and President Eyring
righteously and rapidly responded
to President Monson's encouragement to read and study
the Book of Mormon.
Though both men were serving in important and visible Church
positions and had studied the scriptures extensively
for decades, they demonstrated in their responses
no hesitation or sense of self-importance.
Amulek willingly submitted to God's will,
accepted a call to preach the gospel,
and left behind his comfortable circumstances
and familiar relationships.
And Pahoran was blessed with perspective
and strong self-restraint to act rather than react
as he explained to Moroni the challenges arising
from a rebellion against the government.
The Christlike quality of meekness
often is misunderstood in our contemporary world.
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 accomplishments of others.
Whereas humility denotes generally a dependence upon God
and the constant need for His guidance and support,
a distinguishing characteristic of meekness
is a particular spiritual receptivity
to learning both from the Holy Ghost and from people
who may seem less capable, experienced,
or educated, who may not hold important positions,
or who otherwise may not appear to have much to contribute.
Recall how Naaman, captain of the king's army in Syria,
overcame his pride and meekly accepted
the advice of his servants to obey Elisha
the prophet and wash in the river Jordan seven times.
Meekness is the principal protection
from the prideful blindness that often
arises from prominence, position, power, wealth,
and adulation.
Meekness is an attribute developed through desire,
the righteous exercise of moral agency,
and striving always to retain a remission of our sins.
It also is a spiritual gift for which we appropriately
can seek.
We should remember, however, the purposes for which
such a blessing is given, even to benefit and serve
the children of God.
As we come unto and follow the Savior,
we increasingly and incrementally
are enabled to become more like Him.
We are empowered by the Spirit with disciplined self-restraint
and a settled and calm demeanor.
Thus, meek is what we become as disciples of the Master and not
just something we do.
Moses "was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians,
and was mighty in words and in deeds."
Yet he "was very meek, above all the men
which were upon the face of the earth."
His knowledge and competence could
have caused him to be prideful.
Instead, the attribute and spiritual gift
of meekness with which he was blessed
attenuated arrogance in his life and magnified Moses
as an instrument to accomplish God's purposes.
The most majestic and meaningful examples of meekness
are found in the life of the Savior Himself.
The Great Redeemer, who "descended below all things"
and suffered, bled, and died "to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness," tenderly
washed the dusty feet of His disciples.
Such meekness is a hallmark characteristic
of the Lord as a servant and leader.
Jesus provides the ultimate example of righteous
responsiveness and willing submission
as He suffered intense agony in Gethsemane.
"And when he was at the place, he said unto [His disciples],
Pray that ye enter not into temptation.
"And he ... kneeled down, and prayed,
"Saying, Father, if thou be willing,
remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will,
but thine, be done."
The Savior's meekness in this eternally
essential and excruciating experience
demonstrates for each of us the importance
of putting the wisdom of God above our own wisdom.
The consistency of the Lord's willing submission
and strong self-restraint is both awe-inspiring and
instructive for us all.
As an armed company of temple guardsmen and Roman soldiers
arrived at Gethsemane to seize and arrest Jesus,
Peter drew his sword and cut off the right ear
of the high priest's servant.
The Savior then touched the servant's ear and healed him.
Please note that He reached out and blessed
His potential captor using the same heavenly power that
could have prevented Him from being captured and crucified.
Consider also how the Master was accused and condemned
before Pilate to be crucified.
Jesus had declared during His betrayal,
"Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father,
and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions
of angels?"
Yet the "Eternal Judge of both quick and dead" paradoxically
was judged before a temporary political appointee.
"And [Jesus] answered him to never a word; insomuch
that the governor marvelled greatly."
The Savior's meekness is evidenced
in His disciplined response, strong restraint,
and unwillingness to exert His infinite power
for personal benefit.
Mormon identifies meekness as the foundation
from which all spiritual capacities and gifts arise.
"Wherefore, if a man have faith he must needs have hope;
for without faith there cannot be any hope.
"And again, behold I say unto you that he cannot have faith
and hope, save he shall be meek, and lowly of heart.
"If so, his faith and hope is vain,
for none is acceptable before God,
save the meek and lowly in heart;
and if a man be meek and lowly in heart,
and confesses by the power of the Holy Ghost
that Jesus is the Christ, he must needs
have charity; for if he have not charity he is nothing;
wherefore he must needs have charity."
The Savior declared, "Blessed are the meek:
for they shall inherit the earth."
Meekness is an essential aspect of the divine nature
and can be received and developed in our lives
because of and through the Savior's Atonement.
I testify that Jesus Christ is our resurrected and living
Redeemer.
And I promise that He will guide, protect, and strengthen
us as we walk in the meekness of His spirit.
I declare my sure witness of these truths and promises
in the sacred name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.