Humility in the Book of Mormon

Another principle that the Book of Mormon affirms—and which is quickly losing value in our society—is that of humility.  In a day when political leaders readily take credit for any positive occurrence while at the same time rarely admitting to ever making a single mistake, the Book of Mormon firmly declares the need for humility before God in this life and condemns those who will not humble themselves.  Perhaps the angel to King Benjamin put it most succinctly: “Men drink damnation to their own souls except they humble themselves and become as little children, and believe that salvation was, and is, and is to come, in and through the atoning blood of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent” (Mosiah 3:18).  While today’s society finds little value in the virtue of humility, the Book of Mormon affirms it as a trait essential for our mortal existence. 

               Many passages of the Book of Mormon invite us to be humble, warn us of the consequences of not being humble, and promise great blessings when we are humble.  Alma invited the people of Ammonihah with these words, “And now, my brethren, I would that ye should humble yourselves before God, and bring forth fruit meet for repentance, that ye may also enter into that rest” (Alma 13:13).  Amulek similarly invited the Zoramites, “That ye contend no more against the Holy Ghost, but that ye receive it, and take upon you the name of Christ; that ye humble yourselves even to the dust” (Alma 34:38).  King Benjamin invited his people in these words: “And again, believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God….   Always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility” (Mosiah 4:10-11).  Mormon warned us in stronger language: “Therefore, repent ye, and humble yourselves before him, lest he shall come out in justice against you—lest a remnant of the seed of Jacob shall go forth among you as a lion, and tear you in pieces, and there is none to deliver” (Mormon 5:24).  He also promised us of the blessings of humility with these words: “Teach parents that they must repent and be baptized, and humble themselves as their little children, and they shall all be saved with their little children” (Moroni 8:10).  Humility is not just for the next life; he also commented on the joy of the sons of Mosiah after their missionary success: “Now was not this exceeding joy? Behold, this is joy which none receiveth save it be the truly penitent and humble seeker of happiness” (Alma 27:18).  To find joy in this life and eternal life in the world to come we must be truly humble. 

               Perhaps the most famous verse on humility in the Book of Mormon comes from the Lord Himself to Moroni: “And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them” (Ether 12:27).  This affirms the key reason that humility is essential for our lives: if we want help from the Lord in overcoming what challenges we are facing, we must humble ourselves before Him.