Humble or be humbled

Humble to Accept and Follow  

By Elder Joni L. Koch

Alma 5:27

We all like to think we are sufficiently humble, but some experiences in life make us realize that the natural, prideful man or woman often is very much alive within us.

2 nephi 25:23

He tells about catching a taxi to the airport. The driver asks elder koch if he's ok because he has a negative aura around him. Elder koch says he is actually on the way to try and deal with a really difficult business situation and he isn’t sure how to deal with it.

The driver asks him if he's done everything he can about the situation. Elder koch says that he has. The driver answers, “So leave this in God’s hands, and everything will work out fine.”

Elder koch spends the entire flight humbling himself and praying for help. He says, "As I left the airplane, I learned that the difficult situation to be solved was already in order and that my presence wouldn’t even be necessary anymore."

Psalm 46:10

This makes me think of zion's camp. They had stopped between the big and little fishing rivers. Five men ride across the river and told the group they would return with over 300 men. They threatened Joseph and the rest of the men, telling them they'd be dead before morning. The men were ready to fight. The saints had been pushed around for years and they were ready to fight back. Joseph told them to "Stand still and see the salvation of God." It took incredible humility to accept God taking care of them instead of fighting back themselves.  

There was an intense storm that raised the river to 40 feet. The mob was unable to cross and did not return.

Humility in anger might be the hardest.  

Alma 32:16 

Humble or be humbled.  

helaman 11

helaman 11

you may remember that in the last post, God gave nephi the power over the land.    this time, nephi uses it. 

the people are killing each other so nephi goes to God to ask for a famine instead. nothing like a good famine to chill people out. at least they are not killing each other, they are starving instead. 

imagine how bad it had to be for him to ask for such a thing. imagine how hard it was for him to watch the people starve, knowing that he had brought it upon them.(reminds me of fast sunday, "mom, i'm starving. / we don't force anyone to fast in this house") 

the famine killed off thousands of people and finally brought the people to humility. everyone thinks nephi is awesome when he calls for an end to the famine. 

they follow him for a while, everything goes well which always leads to pride and people being jerks again. this cycle goes around a couple times in this chapter until it ends on a low note in the 85th year.

we see this pride cycle going around and around in the book of mormon. do we recognize it in our own lives? i know i have started to. i have really started to be more watchful for it in myself and have a little sit down with myself. because you can humble yourself, or God can humble you. the diy is much less painful.

helaman 6 - WWJD

helaman 6

things start off good but then the good old pride circle continues. the nephites go bad but the lamanites stick with the gospel. 

i love the recurring example of the word of God being stronger than the sword. the nephites convert those who are tickin' them off. who is your biggest pain in the patootie? i often ask myself, "what would Jesus do?" only to come up with an answer along the lines of "strike them dumb" or some other power of Christ but not the ways of Christ.   often, i feel that "WWJD" isn't really helping me because i am just not Him.   so i have to do a little self adjusting first.

*personal testimony time-
i have some people that work my nerves and i have learned to pray for them. 

over the last few years, we have struggled with certain people. some have had progress and others not.  changing them isn't the point though.   that is probably the first point.   it's not about them.

here are some things we have done that have helped us.

prayer.   praying for them really helps.   this is really hard with some people.   we have had some people that have out right done some bad things to our family and it was hard to pray for them.   i don't pray for them to be better, just for them in general.   this is probably the most important thing you can do though.   praying for someone changes your heart.   that is the most important part.  changing your own heart.

(for family) expressing love for them.    saying i love you has made a difference in one in particular.   it is such a small thing but showing kindness to someone who is not kind to you, makes a difference.  if nothing else, you know you are doing the right thing . . .no matter how hard it is.

allowing them space, i know that seems like a cop out but there are some things that need time and space. we are finally seeing some more progress in another person.    it is slow and simply being able to talk to a person without a fight breaking out may seem a small thing but it is something that i wondered if it would ever happen. 

none of these changes came from me changing them. they came from me changing me. i changed how i dealt with them. i really found the WWJD.    i am sure He would be better and more powerful than i am, but i am doing what i can do. i am grateful for the little progress, the little things.    it takes patience . . .A LOT ....but it does make a difference. even if it doesn't make a difference in their lives, it makes a difference in mine.

back to the top, it doesn't take a preaching of the word as such. it takes a practicing of the word towards those around us to make a difference. might feel like it is never going to happen but look for the little tender mercies and change will come in you. that's really what matters, the rest has to just be trusted to the Lord.

helaman 4

helaman 4

the lamanites come up against the nephites again and again. 

when the nephites are faithful, they win and when they are not, they don't. 

verse 13 is great! it is so poignant and blunt.   kind of sums it all up -

13 And because of this their great wickedness, and their boastings in their own strength, they were left in their own strength; therefore they did not prosper, but were afflicted and smitten, and driven before the Lamanites, until they had lost possession of almost all their lands.

this is one of the things i have struggled with and am trying to overcome. when i start to think i am pretty smart, i have a little talk with myself and remind me how i got to where i am and who put me there and that i would like to not be left to my own strength.

alma 34-36

alma 34 - 36

34 the zoramites have lost all sense of reason and want to fight. 

1-6 they find out who in the land likes what alma and amulek have said and then throw them out.

7-9 of course the people of ammon take them in and their relief society holds a clothing drive, the elders quorum finds or builds places for them live, the young men go prep lands for them to till, and the young women baby sit and help out all the new families coming into the ward. 

10-13 this kindness just irritated the zoramites. they huffed and puffed and threatened the people of ammon and they just went about continuing their service. the zoramites have a totally insane anger because they are not getting their way so they decide to go to war over some people that they didn't want to be around them anyway. the people of ammon and all those who fled and joined them get out of the way so the army can take over and protect them. 

14-16 alma sees the zoramites throwing a temper tantrum and being totally unreasonable and just basically jerks. instead of going out and calling them jerks and making nice hand signs at them, he sorrows over them. he sees past their actions into their hardened and empty hearts. 

in chapter 36 alma explains this to helaman. 3-4 alma tells heaman that he needs to rely on God when these trials come. 

6-24 alma gives a more personal account of his wickedness, the angel, his three day torment and his repentance. 

17-21 are especially beautiful. i gave this to a friend of mine when he said he couldn't forgive himself.   might give it a read of you feel you can't forgive yourself too.

the lesson in these chapters is two fold. we have to look into the base of why people do things and not just wave our fists and call them names. but see past the actions to the child of God in need of something. the next is that we have to be just as kind to ourselves. we have to look past our sins (once we have repented) and find the place in us that needs mending so we can take positive action instead of just continuing to tear ourselves down.

alma 32-34 - humble or be humbled

alma 32 - 34
32:12-16 humble or be humbled. humbling yourself might be hard to do, but it less painful and reaps more reward than being forced into humility.
33:3-11, 34: 17-27 zenos and alma speak about where the Lord has heard his prayers. i love this part! i can pray over my job, my family, my bills, my mundane and important. God, my Father, wants to hear from me about everything. everything. lost legos, safety, health, garden, hobby, complexion, grades, everything.
it takes humility to go to God with everything. He wants you to do the work, He wants you to self motivate and get on your feet, but first, get on your knees.