Lessons for Our Day from the Book of Mormon Another Testament of Jesus Christ - 2024
Lesson No. Seven
Sam the Brother of Nephi and Hyrum the Brother of Joseph Smith were, Like Jesus, Meek Men
Sam, the brother of Nephi was a meek man – Sam did not have the visions that his younger brother Nephi had, but unlike Laman and Lemuel, when Nephi told him of his visions, Sam believed and faithfully followed Nephi as a great prophet of the Lord. Sam married one of Ishmael’s daughters (1 Nephi 16:7), and he and his wife raised a righteous family. We know this because after Lehi’s death Sam and his family followed Nephi (2 Nephi 5:6). Nephi saw in his vision of the tree of life (see 1 Nephi 8) that Sam along with Lehi and Sariah partook of the fruit of the tree. Furthermore, Sam was not among those who partook of the fruit and fell away. Also, when Lehi blessed his family before he died, “he spake unto Sam saying: Blessed art thou, and thy seed; for thou shalt inherit the land like unto thy brother Nephi. And they seed shall be numbered with his seed; and thou shalt be even like unto thy brother, and thy seed shall be like unto his seed; and thou shalt be blessed in all they days” (2 Nephi 4:11). What a blessing!
Still image of Sariah, Nephi, and Sam from Lehi’s dream of the Iron Rod as depicted in the “Book of Mormon Videos.” (Image sourced from churchofjesuschrist.org)
Painting of Joseph Smith Jr. and Hyrum Smith. (Image sourced from churchofjesuschrist.org.)
Hyrum, the brother of Joseph was a meek man– Hyrum loved and supported his younger brother Joseph during all of the trials Joseph passed through. He was martyred, along with Joseph, as a testament of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Lord gave Hyrum the greatest complement possible: “And again, verily I say unto you, blessed is my servant Hyrum Smith: for I, the Lord, love him because of the integrity of his heart, and because he loveth that which is right before me, saith the Lord” (D&C 124:15).
Lessons for the latter days:
1. The word “meekness” as used in scripture is opposite of how it is often used today – Today meekness can mean weakness, overly submissive, docile, spiritless, tame. Meekness, as used in the scriptures, is a fruit of the Spirit and is included with “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance” (Galatians 5:22-23). The Lord said that His grace is sufficient for the meek (Ether 12:26), and that in eternity they shall have an inheritance in the celestial kingdom. (Psalms 149:4, D&C 88:16-32) The strength of those who are meek is often manifested by being in control of their thoughts, words, and actions. This is a good example of why it is so important to know how words are used by the Lord and in scripture.
2. We should distance ourselves from people in politics, business, entertainment, and society in general who, rather than being meek, do the “works of the flesh” (Galatians 5:1) – These works include “adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like” (Galatians 5:19-21).
3. Those who are familiar with the sealing ordinance of the temple will remember that meekness is an essential virtue of worthy husbands and fathers.
4. We should want to become more like Jesus, and Jesus described Himself as being meek – “Few virtues have such inherent worth as meekness, for the meek are the God fearing and the righteous. They are the ones who willingly conform to the gospel standards, thus submitting their wills to the will of the Lord. They are not the fearful, the spiritless, the timid. Rather, the most forceful, dynamic personality who ever lived – He who drove the money changers from the temple, and threw down their merchandising equipment (Matthew 21:12-13) – said of Himself, ‘I am meek and lowly in heart’ (Matthew 11:29)” (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, Meekness, p.474).
Testimony – We should strive to be among the meek who the Lord said His grace was sufficient for. (See Ether 12:26)
We should strive to be among the meek who the Lord said would inherit the earth. (See Matt 5:5; 3 Nephi 12:5; D&C 88:17)
We should strive to be among the meek to whom the Lord said He would give salvation. (See Psalms 149:4)
Released on February 18th, 2024.