Visiting Teaching Handout - August - Meek and Humble

This month's Visiting Teaching: Attributes of Christ are meekness and humility.

Are you meek?  Are you humble?

There is just always something to work on isn't there?

In 3 Nephi Chapter 4 the Nephites are preparing to defend themselves against the Gadianton robbers.  At this point the war is just beginning.  The Nephites see the robbers in their breastplates, loin cloths and blood painting...

4:8 And it came to pass that the armies of the Nephites, when they saw the appearance of the army of Giddianhi, had all fallen to the earth, and did lift their cries to the Lord their God, that he would spare them and deliver them out of the hands of their enemies.

The approaching army certainly gained confidence as they saw their opponents kneeling before them.  They thought the Nephites were afraid as they were running towards them.  Maybe they thought the Nephites would submit to them.

4:10 But in this thing they were disappointed, for the Nephites did not fear them; but they did fear their God and did supplicate him for protection; therefore, when the armies of Giddianhi did rush upon them they were prepared to meet them; yea, in the strength of the Lord they did receive them.

The enemy coming at the Nephites saw them kneeling, humbled before their God, asking in faith for his strength and protection.

The opponent saw this as a weakness.  And, they grew in their own pride thinking they would overcome.

Is humility a weakness?  I don't think so.  Not in every day life, not in terms of gospel living.  Humility is a noble character trait.

Is kneeling down to call upon God a weakness?  Is needing Him a weakness?  Is it sometimes viewed that way today?  Are there some that think needing or regarding a God is silly?  Why is it social taboo to mention Him, to generalize, to believe?

I believe that God is there, that He is omnipotent.

  I believe needing Him and calling upon Him strengthens  me, humbles me and teaches me.

Does pride weaken us?  I think it does, in terms of every day life, and in terms of gospel living. 

In this record we see that God gave strength to his people to overcome their enemy.  Not just strength of spirit, but literal, physical strength to overcome.  The didn't fear.  They had faith.  They knew they would be supported in their cause... by God. 

How did this battle end?  They won!

31 And it came to pass that they did break forth, all as one, in singing, and praising their God for the great thing which he had done for them, in preserving them from falling into the hands of their enemies.

32 Yea, they did cry: Hosanna to the Most High God. And they did cry: Blessed be the name of the Lord God Almighty, the Most High God.

33 And their hearts were swollen with joy, unto the gushing out of many tears, because of the great goodness of God in delivering them out of the hands of their enemies; and they knew it was because of their repentance and their humility that they had been delivered from an everlasting destruction.

And they humbled themselves again, in thanks.

I don't think I tap into that power often enough.

I love seeing the literal strength that came to these people because they humbled themselves.

Is this part of our Savior's power?

There are times when I drop to my knees, as the Nephites did, humbled by what is coming at me.  I call upon my Savior and receive strength, literal strength.

Humility and meekness in day to day life, submitting my will always, recognizing His hand in all things, shaping and molding who I am, through Him, these are areas I need to work on.

I attached the printable up top to a 'power bar'/protien bar!

Here is a sheet of this quote if you'd like to hand these out to your RS sisters.