I have been impressed lately by a certain specific quality found in all powerful and effective leaders. It’s a quality such that we can identify those who have it and those who don’t – but we just “can’t put our finger” on what the separating factor is. It is a quality that is overlooked and misunderstood by almost everyone. Well, maybe not misunderstood, maybe just not grasped in its full potential. I am confident to say that if more of us had this quality, many of the world’s problems would diminish greatly.
I speak today of meekness. I do so humbly and even tentatively, knowing full well that my grasp of the subject is minimal, but I also do so passionately, having recently understood just how powerful of a quality this really is.
For greater authorities on the topic than I, refer to Elder David A. Bednar HERE and Elder Neal A. Maxwell HERE. These two talks, specifically the latter, have changed my life and influenced my vision of who I want to become more than almost any other talk. I hope you will check them out.
In order to share what I know of meekness, I would like to highlight the lives of three people – one fictional, the other two historical – that I think highlight the quality remarkably.
Merlin
My little sister and I have spent our spare time doing two things during this quarantine – play ping pong and watch BBC’s Merlin on Netflix (seriously, that’s about all we do). But Merlin is a wonderful show! I watched the whole series when I was 12 and now thought I’d rewatch it with my sister.
As silly as it sounds, I’ve learned a great deal from the character of Merlin. He is a young adult who finds himself working as a servant to then-Prince Arthur, also a young adult. Merlin has magic and uses it often but must do so secretly because all magic is banned in Camelot – were he to be discovered, he would be executed. Arthur is arrogant, cocky, and quite often a total jerk, yet Merlin dedicates much of his energy not only polishing his armor but saving his life almost every episode, risking his own life by using magic to do so.
Merlin is a hero, but Arthur sees him as only an awkward, even pathetic servant. Yet, Merlin never becomes bitter – rather, he takes the abuse and continues to save Arthur’s life. Because of this, Arthur grows fond of Merlin, though he never admits it openly. In fact, I’m tempted to say that Arthur begins to love Merlin even against his own will! His arrogant character opposes the idea of befriending a servant, yet he does so anyway.
And why does this happen?
Because of the power of meekness.
If meekness is abundant in our relationships – that is, if we act selflessly and lovingly for others – contention will diminish, and we will be happier. Yes, we will often encounter frustrations, such as people not appreciating us, but rewards for the meek will outweigh all of those frustrations.
Indeed, it is said “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matt. 5:5)
Elder Maxwell said, “true meekness has a metabolism that actually requires very little praise or recognition”. Merlin functioned not out of a desire for praise and recognition, but out of a desire to serve his master, a man he viewed as a friend even when Arthur did not (And as I said, because Merlin saw Arthur as a friend, soon Arthur reciprocated that view). That kind of a mentality carries with it a dose of self-esteem and joy which is independent of the thoughts of others - by being meek, we allow ourselves to control our self-esteem rather than others. Merlin was often mistreated, yet he was happy, and his service led to Arthur being happy.
There, everyone wins, all thanks to meekness.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Everyone knows this man and what he did. We recently studied him in American Heritage, and I was impressed once again with his approach to dealing with the fierce racism thrown his way. He had a great task in front of him – indeed, a task that seemed impossible at times, a task that seemed to create never-ending violence and persecution. Yet, his approach was patient and even loving. Many of his contemporaries, including Malcolm X, disagreed that a loving approach could ever destroy the effects of racism – but alas, it worked!
And how did it work?
Well, I submit that meekness is once again the correct answer!
I have learned that a measure of the amount of meekness we have is seen in how we deal with injustice in our lives. We all face injustice – fired from a job for no reason, graded poorly on an assignment because the teacher doesn’t like us, betrayed by a friend – and the way we respond to that injustice shows the depth of our meekness and our character. Jesus Christ, He who faced injustice almost every day of His ministry, often in unspeakable amounts, chose not to open His mouth. He took it, all of it, and even helped those who persecuted Him (healing the ear of His captor, for example).
We would do well to remember the example of Jesus Christ when we face injustice. For, if we deal with injustice righteously – that is, choosing not to lash out and often just “taking it” – the reward will be worth it.
Martin Luther King Jr. demonstrated this principle in the correct amount. He “took” the injustice thrown his way, yet he was not walked over. He “killed them with kindness”, demonstrating Christian charity always. Yet, he knew justice had to be found. He never gave up. He continued leading his people in non-violent boycotts and marches, sit-ins and protests, showing love but also exposing the injustice.
And because of his meekness, his people loved him. Because of meekness, his “I have a Dream” speech is one of the most important in our nation’s history. And because of meekness, he was so influential of a leader that his adversaries had to kill him in an attempt to stop his profound influence.
Elder Maxwell said, “Meanwhile, the world regards the meek as nice but quaint people, as those to be stepped over or stepped on. Nevertheless, the development of this virtue is a stunning thing just to contemplate, especially in a world in which so many others are headed in opposite directions.”
The world tries to portray the meek as “easily walked over”. However, as in the case of Martin Luther King Jr., we know that is false. The meek are powerful as a lion.
George Washington
We all know the impact that George Washington has had on America and on the world. It can be argued that no other man in the history of our nation is as important as him. How can this be? Is it because he was key to our winning the Revolutionary War? Is it because his role as our first president set standards we still follow today? Yes, I believe it is all of these things, but each hinge on one key element:
His meek character.
The powerful character of George Washington is powerful because of his meekness. A “Virginia Gentleman”, he sought to better himself each day by striving for qualities such as patience, courage, temperance and charity. I believe that in doing so, ever so humbly, meekness became a part of who he was.
No story better demonstrates this than one that Elder Maxwell shares in his talk. In the story, a group of Revolutionary veterans are demanding unreceived payment from the government for their time in the war. With the threat of mutiny scarily high, General Washington steps in to intervene:
“Washington called together the grumbling officers on March 15, 1783.... He began to speak—carefully and from a written manuscript, referring to the proposal of “either deserting our Country in the extremest hour of her distress, or turning our Arms against it....” Washington appealed simply and honestly for reason, restraint, patience, and duty—all the good and unexciting virtues.
And then Washington stumbled as he read. He squinted, paused, and out of his pocket he drew some new spectacles.
“Gentlemen, you must pardon me,” he said in apology. “I have grown gray in your service and now find myself growing blind.”
Most of his men had never seen the general wear glasses. Yes, men said to themselves, eight hard years. They recalled the ruddy, full-blooded planter of 1775; now they saw... a big, good, fatherly man grown old. They wept, many of those warriors. And the Newburgh plot dissolve.
[Bart McDowell, The Revolutionary War: America’s Fight for Freedom (Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society, 1967), pp. 190–91]
This simple story gets me every time. I heard it for the first time when I read Elder Maxwell’s talk about a year ago on my mission, and it touched me significantly. I thought about it almost daily for months as I sought to share the gospel humbly and meekly. And then, about a month ago, my American Heritage professor shared it at the end of class. As he shared the story, he had to pause multiple times to control his emotions – by the end, he was obviously in tears and could hardly speak.
Very rarely have I seen a teacher cry during class – I can remember almost every time it’s happened in my classes. My 9th grade Geography teacher cried when he discussed Abraham Lincoln one day. My seminary teachers have cried when they’ve testified of Jesus Christ and His Atonement. My 11th grade history teacher cried when he taught about Gettysburg. And quite honestly… I think that’s all. Until my American Heritage professor cried when he taught about George Washington. That was actually a very impactful moment for me.
And all because of the meekness of George Washington! He earned the respect of every rough and tough soldier in his army, a respect so powerful that he could stop mutiny simply by putting glasses on. His influence was so strong not because of what he said but because of who he was. This is why he is one of the greatest leaders in the history of the world. Truly, he was a man prepared by God to found the unique American nation. How did he do it? How could he accomplish so great a task?
Meekness! It’s all about meekness!
The power of this quality can never be overstated. I am confident that this quality is THE difference between a good leader and a great one.
I mentioned Him before but remember Jesus Christ. He who is “meek and lowly of heart”, truly the greatest leader this world has and will ever know. He is all-powerful because He is all-meek. Let us strive to be like Him as we seek meekness in our relationships with others and in our personal lives.
Adam Simpson
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