The Mighty Man Shall be Humbled

It's been depicted, in film and otherwise, that a person who displays pride and strength is shown to be submissive to a mother or perhaps father (often to comical effect).  It's striking in a way, because these people are regarded as people of great presence, and as people who are pursuing a course deemed justifiable by many or perhaps even all, but then they are made very humble due to a natural relationship that existed before they ever came to have strength or influence.  The mothers or fathers knew them from when they were at their most weak and dependent point in their lives; beyond simply not being fooled by the image the sons or daughters present, they are also in a position of trust from which they can dispense humbling advice and correction.

Yet there are many in the world who decide to put themselves beyond this kind of vulnerability.  They are submissive to no one, and can be humbled by no one--not even parents.  Often enough they commit acts of great evil while in pursuit of some sort of worldly greatness.

It seems a fairly simple matter, to me, for people to convince themselves of something.  Especially given that we, in general, don't like to be wrong, it's really very common for us to cling all the more fiercely to ideas when they are threatened.  I'm reminded of the end of the Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis.  I hope to not make this a book spoiler.  At the end, a number of characters have effectively passed on to the next life, including a group of dwarves.  While others see beautiful countryside around them, the dwarves see only the filthy inside of a stable.  Some, including Aslan himself, want the dwarves to see things as they really are, but Aslan explains that they cannot be convinced.  The basic scenario, while tragic, is not hard to believe.

I wonder, though, how long such obstinacy can last.  It is written many times in scripture that "every knee shall bow" to God and that "every tongue shall confess" that Jesus is the Christ (Romans 14:11, Isaiah 45:23, Doctrine and Covenants 76:110, Mosiah 27:31, Doctrine and Covenants 88:104, Philippians 2:10-11).  It is also written that "the mighty man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled" (Isaiah 5:15).  I get the idea that no matter how prideful a person may be, no amount of pride and obstinacy will endure forever.  Eventually God will give us his perspective on our lives, and we'll see how unimportant some of our supposedly great achievements were, and how terrible our evil acts were that we thought so little of.  Eventually we'll have to hear His words that we cannot dispute, and we'll know that they come from someone who is both perfectly wise and loving.  We will have no reason to do anything but trust those words.  "When our heavenly parents we meet" (Hymn 286, Oh, What Songs of the Heart) we'll know again that we are still children to Them.

Of course, having faced the truth, it always still remains for us to not only accept it but also to act upon it.  Many times in these films or other media we get the impression that a humbled villain will never really learn; that simply having their power or influence removed is resolution enough of the problems in the story.  Again, it's not hard to believe that some people, after having been humbled, will "be filthy still" (Revelation 22:11, Mormon 9:14, 2 Nephi 9:16, Doctrine and Covenants 88:35, 102).  But even if these people do not gain the faith and glory that God would otherwise desire for them, they eventually will no longer be able to deny the truth.

Last thoughts for now:
Someday we will all be brought low.  It will be better for us if that happens sooner, rather than later.  It will be better for us if we gain knowledge in our humility, and better for us if we use that knowledge to grow in righteousness.

Meriting Great Gifts

God told Nephi, son of Helaman, the following:
"...I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed. in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word...I give unto you power..." (Helaman 10:5, 7)
And He states that Nephi will have the power to seal and loose things in earth and in heaven, to speak and make mountains flat or cause the people to be smitten.

Nephi received this gift only after being imprisoned for teaching the gospel, after preaching for six years in a land where the people didn't listen to him, and after being faithful despite having his country overtaken and perverted by the Gaddianton robbers.

I guess I might normally want to be blessed to be "mighty in word and deed" before serving as a missionary for six years. Little do I know what kind of effort and righteousness are required before we receive such gifts.

It certainly makes sense in a basic sort of way. How can one expect to be blessed without showing some effort to do God's will?

Interestingly, after being given such power, Nephi still was tasked with preaching repentance he faced rejection as he carried out that preaching. Even though he had been given great power, he still had difficult work to do.

It seems to be the basic flow in life: Do what is right, and you will be blessed with more opportunities to do what is right.

Last thoughts for now:
I admire Nephi's dedication. I know I must resolve myself to live righteously and share the gospel, even if it takes years to receive all the blessings my Father in Heaven has in store for me.