- Meekness is a defining attribute of the Redeemer and is distinguished by righteous responsiveness, willing submissiveness, and strong self-restraint.
He spoke about examples in our day of President Nelson and President Eyring studying the Book of Mormon at President Monson's request.
- 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.
In our day, meekness is sometimes look at as a weakness. Elder Bednar defines meekness for us and compares that to the attribute of humility.
- 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 generally denotes 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.
He reminds us that meekness is a protection from many negative things of the world.
- Meekness is the principal protection from the prideful blindness that often arises from prominence, position, power, wealth, and adulation.
Elder Bednar speaks about how we develop meekness in our lives. He teaches us that meekness is a spiritual gift and can be sought after in our lives.
- 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.
Meekness is a characteristic of who we are and not just something we exercise at times in our lives. Elder Bednar reminds us that meekness is a defining characteristic of becoming Christlike.
- 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.
During the life of the Savior, he demonstrated this attribute at the most challenging time in His life. As an example of meekness, Elder Bednar talks about the betrayal of the Savior and the response of Peter.
- 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.
Elder Bednar concludes by encouraging us to turn to the Savior to develop this important attribute in ourselves.
- 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.
When I think about meekness, I think about what I can learn from others that might not seem in a position to teach me much. I look to people that cross my path throughout the day and seek to understand why the Lord puts specific encounters in my life. From these encounters, I try to learn what is happening spiritually in their lives and how I can become a better person from their examples. I appreciate Elder Bednar using examples from the scriptures to teach us that meekness is not weakness but a spiritual gift from the Savior. I learned that meekness is a spiritual gift and one that I can seek to have more of in my life. I am going to include in my prayers that I learn even more about this characteristic and seek learning from the spirit. As I do, I am confident that the Lord will bless me to more deeply understand where I am lacking and help me develop spiritually.