More About Humility

I liked reading about Humility yesterday and want to do more research on the subject.  President Ezra Taft Benson wrote one of the best talks on the subject of Humility and Pride.  It’s called "Beware of Pride".   Side note, just now the song "In the Hollow of Thy Hand" came on the radio (Sounds of the Sabbath).

Dear Lord who blesses us with love
Please send this day thy spirit from above
As this thy son, accepts a call from thee
Help him we pray to learn humility

Direct his footsteps everyday
And keep him ever walking in thy ways
Inspire him as he spreads the gospel plan
Lord, hold him in the hollow of thy hand

Chorus:
In the hollow of thy hand as he grows from boy to man
Help his understanding deepen and increase
In the hollow of thy hand as he grows from boy to man
Let him know the special blessing of thy peace

Dear Lord, who hears and answers prayers
Please keep thy servant always in thy care
As he prepares to teach his fellow men
Oh keep him safe and bring him home again

Protect him from all worldly ways
And always send thy spirit when he prays
Give him the courage of a righteous man
Just hold him in the hollow of thy hand

Chorus:
In the hollow of thy hand as he grows from boy to man
Help his understanding deepen and increase
In the hollow of thy hand as he grows from boy to man
Let him know the special blessing of thy peace

As he faces life’s demands
May he take a valiant stand
Give him shelter in the hollow of thy hand

This makes me almost cry.  I can just imagine when Caleb is preparing to go on a mission – it’d be great if we could have someone sing this song.  This line is interesting: "Help him we pray to learn humility".  Humility is a key part of the gospel, an integral part of effective mission work.  As I think about Ammon and his successful mission work to the Lamanites, he definitely had humility.

Now these sons of Mosiah were with Alma at the time the angel ^a first appeared unto him; therefore Alma did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren; and what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren in the Lord; yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had ^b searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God.

But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and ^a fasting ; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with ^b power and authority of God. (Alma 17: 2-3)

So, one "Equation of Humility " is:

"(Search the Scriptures Diligently = Know the Word of God) +

(Much Prayer + Fasting = Spirit of Prophecy, Spirit of Revelation, Power and Authority of God)=

Humble Servants of the Lord

And here was one of the counsels they received from the Lord as they went forth to the Lamanites:

And the Lord said unto them also: Go forth among the Lamanites, thy brethren, and establish my word; yet ye shall be ^a patient in long-suffering and afflictions, that ye may show forth good ^b examples unto them in me, and I will make an instrument of thee in my hands unto the salvation of many souls. (vs. 11)

They had to be patient, long-suffering and show forth good examples; then Heavenly Father made them an instrument in His hands to bring forth many souls unto salvation.

20 And as Ammon entered the land of Ishmael, the Lamanites took him and ^a bound him, as was their custom to bind all the Nephites who fell into their hands, and carry them before the king; and thus it was left to the pleasure of the king to slay them, or to retain them in captivity, or to cast them into prison, or to cast them out of his land, according to his will and pleasure.

21 And thus Ammon was carried before the king who was over the land of Ishmael; and his name was Lamoni; and he was a descendant of Ishmael.

22 And the king inquired of Ammon if it were his desire to dwell in the land among the Lamanites, or among his people.

23 And Ammon said unto him: Yea, I desire to ^a dwell among this people for a time; yea, and perhaps until the day I die.

24 And it came to pass that king Lamoni was much pleased with Ammon, and caused that his bands should be loosed; and he would that Ammon should take one of his daughters to wife.

25 But Ammon said unto him: Nay, but I will be thy servant. Therefore Ammon became a ^a servant to king Lamoni. And it came to pass that he was set among other servants to watch the flocks of Lamoni, according to the custom of the Lamanites.