2025-11-07_email_its-me-again
From: jason.heywood@gmail.com To: kaitlynn.heywood@missionary.org CC: kaitlynn.heywood@gmail.com Date: 2025-11-07 Subject: Its me again
Oh Hello! It's me again! I just saw your pictures of you guys eating rolls. It looked good. Last night was activity days with the boys. Sky Grant was in charge of it. We hiked up on a little trail above Blackridge reservoir and talked about letting your light shine before men. He also talked about spiritual stuff about airplanes, but the kids kept talking over him, ignoring us and being wild little hooligans so I didn't get much out of that other message as you can see. It's ok, they are just rambunctious little boys. They are all good kiddos - none of them are trying to be naughty they are just naturally dumb, you know, as boys are.
Ok, so where I left off:
- When we are faced with criticism, it is best to respond, not react.
- Seek the Spirit Before You Speak or React
- Focus on Eternal Principles, Not Petty Disputes
4. Respond with Meekness and Quiet Confidence
Meekness is not weakness, it is controlled, godly strength under the influence of the Spirit. When you speak, let your voice reflect calm conviction more than defensiveness.
When faced with criticism, what do you think would invite the Spirit, and subsequently be edifying and encourage growth "responding with meekness and quiet confidence" or conversely, "reacting with arrogance and loud insecurity". Think about the end of the road on both responses. One ends in growth the other in regret and anger. (Thank goodness for repentance because unfortunately I have taken the second option more than the first).
I find it amazing in the scriptures and in life - the world would have us believe that meekness is weakness, but when faced with opportunities to respond with meekness or react with swift deserved justice, I find that it takes INCREDIBLE strength to be meek. It truly is a Christlike attribute.
Let's look at some scriptures to better understand meekness.
Mosiah 3:19
For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him…"
Here is another one, where our guy Alma was going around to different cities, assessing their needs and sharing messages with them. In this scripture he just finished talking to the people of Zarahemla - it was rough. They were pretty arrogant and needed a lot of humbling to get back to where they needed to be. It took him quite a deal of patience in working with them. In fact, I think it shows the internal strength it takes to be meek and patient when working with people that are arrogant and loud. In Alma 7:5 he is describing the inner turmoil and strenght he had to muster in working with the people of Zarahemla. These people were supposed to be good! Yet they were arrogant and not Christlike - at any rate this is how he described to the people of Gideon what he went through in Zarahemla:
Alma 7:5
5 And I trust, according to the Spirit of God which is in me, that I shall also have joy over you; nevertheless I do not desire that my joy over you should come by the cause of so much afflictions and sorrow which I have had for the brethren at Zarahemla, for behold, my joy cometh over them after wading through much affliction and sorrow.
I'm sure Alma was very justified in yelling at those people that what they are doing is wrong and stupid. And perhaps he did, but it matters how he did that. The Lord knew the heart of those people, and knew best what they would respond to to help them get out of that state. The Lords hands were Alma, and unless Alma made himself worthy of the Spirit to be the Lords hands, the Lord couldn't work through Alma. Unfortunately that means Alma couldn't go around telling everyone to neck themselves, but had to muster inner strength and wade through affliction, sorrow, patience, disappointment and so forth, until people could see in him how they wanted to be and made the efforts to change. Again, meekness is incredible strength that is often not understood when we are in the mind of the natural man.
Moving along - here is another scripture:
Ether 12:27
"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness… for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."
How does this fit with meekness? I propose this - Meekness allows us to see our weakness—not with shame, but with trust that Christ will refine and strengthen us. How amazing and patient is our father in heaven with US! He is the ultimate example of meekness and patience when it comes to working with me. So many times I will say or do something and immediately get the impression - "Jason, I love you, but … really?" Thank goodness for 2nd, 12ths and 2383th chances.
How do we gain meekness? Daily repentance, daily effort. God knows it's not going to happen in a day. But he will be patient with us as we diligently try, quickly admit our own mistakes when we make them, humble ourselves daily, listen and learn.
Helaman 3:35
Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God.
Here are a couple conference quotes:
Your comps dad, or brother, or uncle or whatever she says he is to her ha… Elder Ulisses Soares, said this:
Being meek does not mean weakness, but it does mean behaving with goodness and kindness, showing strength, serenity, healthy self-worth, and self-control. - Soares - "Be Meek and Lowly of Heart"
Elder Bednar:
The meek think of themselves less but not less of themselves. Meekness enables us to remain firm and steadfast, even when we are misunderstood or misrepresented. - Bednar - "Meek and Lowly of Heart"
That's the message for today. Meekness and Quiet Confidence. Some questions to think about: 1. How did the Savior show meekness and quiet confidence when he was attacked? - How about Alma and Amulet? Abinidi? Ammon? Lehi, when Sariah yelled at him? 2. What are some ways you can immediately think of how to respond with meekness, before being in the situation? 3. What things could you work on to gain those attributes? What do the scriptures say?
I sure love you Kaitlynn! Have an amazing day!!
Here are pictures of our adventures last night at the activity days thing.
Attachments: IMG_7660.jpeg, IMG_7661.jpeg, IMG_7663.jpeg, IMG_7665.jpeg, IMG_7666.jpeg (not downloaded)