Updated 4/4/2023 – V2

Too often, in our worldly desires for public dignity, prestige, competence, confidence, and accomplishments, we tend to neglect the superlative wisdom and necessity for having humility. It really does not matter how much we have achieved, or how awesome we think we are, or how wise we think we are, having appropriate humility should always be at the top of our list of imperative priorities.

Just to be clear, having humility does not mean being insecure, effeminate, or in any way weak or timid. Humility is not putting on a display of personal insecurity, self-depreciation, or inferiority.

Humility and meekness are virtues we are encouraged to manifest in relation to God, in acknowledging his infinite goodness compared with our finite and corruptible nothingness.

Humility should define one’s relationship with God.

Humility is an awareness of one’s limitations, fallibility, precarious existence, and inexorable dependence on God.

Humility is appropriately characterized by deep reverence and gratitude toward God.

Humility entails a profound respect for God and for God’s laws.

Humility also generally implies a cordial relationship of basic equality with others. Humble people typically do not act like they are better than others. They typically do not impose themselves as more deserving than others. Humble people are inclined to treat others with kindness, patience, dignity, and respect. They care about others more than they care about themselves.

That being said, the humble are impeccably honest. They are just. And their primary interest is in pursuing the highest good and the best benefit for those they serve. As such, they can easily be misperceived and misinterpreted as mean-spirited, impatient, proud, vain, judgmental, and disrespectful. Throughout history, the Lord and His prophets have often been misperceived in these ways, even though they are the most humble, kind, and loving of us all.

So often, charity and humility are not perceived as kind,[1] and kindness, so often, is not perceived as charity or humility.

As can be seen, humility can be complicated.

Humility is appropriately manifest by deference toward God, not man. This being the case, their love for God’s goodness sometimes requires them to be bold against man’s sin. Those with appropriate humility and meekness are very humble and open about their vulnerabilities, weaknesses, shortcomings, failings, and human inadequacies. But when it comes to standing for truth, teaching the truth, and declaring the virtue and goodness of God, such is not the time to vainly put on a display of meekness and humility just for the sake of not offending human sensibilities. True teachers and messengers of God will display courage, confidence, authority, and power. We should be careful not to accuse courageous teachers and messengers of vanity or lacking humility. This is discussed at length in my essay on vanity.

Humble people are not self-aggrandizing. They do not seek fame, fortune, lavish possessions, or the honors of men. They live simply and unpretentiously as humble servants of God.

Truly great men and women show their greatness by being humble. They show their greatness by how they treat others, especially how they treat those who might be considered far inferior. They show their greatness by not being materialistic, extravagant, selfish, or self-appreciating. And they show their greatness by how they treat little people. After all, the peasant who is honored by his king is likely to be inspired to rise far above his station, in faith and virtue, as inspired by the honor he has so graciously been given. Truly great men and women will function to lift and inspire all those around them.

God ceaselessly honors the dignity of man, even in our nothingness in comparison with His infinite greatness. As spirits coeternal with Him, He honors us with grace and goodness, doing all He can for our undeserved benefit.

Humble people respect the dignity, agency, and fundamental rights of others. They will not elevate themselves over others, nor will they have any inclination to lord it over others. How disappointed the ancient Jews were when their Messiah refused to Lord it over others, but with meekness and humility debased Himself by associating himself with harlots and sinners, an itinerant teacher, rejected in the house of his kindred and friends.

Humble people are not competitive in nature. Rather, they are helpful, supportive, and honestly affirming. They want others to have success, happiness, and nice things. They do not try to be better than others, or to get more than others, or to in any way belittle or diminish others. Rather, they are eager to help facilitate the progression, growth, and happiness of others, as loving parents sacrifice and serve the best interests of their children.

Humble people place great value on seemingly little things. They see the value in things other people do not readily notice or appreciate. They are filled with gratitude and appreciation for all elements of existence.

One of the worst mistakes you can ever make is to forget to be humble. Fools lack humility, it’s that simple.

Especially, in leadership settings, lacking humility is a massive, massive, massive mistake. Leaders who lack humility will not be respected, they will not command loyalty, and they will be deficient in leadership effectiveness.

Inasmuch as you lack humility, you will be damned. You will not progress. You will be unteachable, uncorrectable, and unchangeable for the better. In this condition, you will inevitably make many mistakes, and you will do much harm to yourself and others.

Only humble people can admit that they are wrong. Only humble people can let go of false beliefs in order to grasp hold of new truths that might contradict what they once thought was true.

A humble society is a polite and righteous society. Having a good government structure is never enough. Unless the people are humble and God-fearing, they will never attain or retain good government. And without good government, they will be the victims of despots and tyrants.  This is one of the many reasons I emphatically promote the doctrine of humility.

Again, one of the biggest mistakes you can ever make is to forget to be humble, teachable, and correctable. We should never forget how critical this is.

Speaking of humility, in the next several chapters we are going to explore several universal principles and laws that need to be understood within the context of God’s universal truth. As we discover and unravel these mysteries, we will understand, better and better, what we must believe and do in order to fully repent, have faith in Christ, and to prepare ourselves for the establishment of Zion and the Kingdom of God.

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[1] Moroni 7:45

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