Jesus said:
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Matthew 11:29
The Greek word translated “meek” in this passage, praus (πραΰς), can also be translated “gentle.” It has a connotation of disciplined strength, of power without harshness.
The word translated “lowly,” tapeinos (ταπεινός), refers literally to being physically low. The implication is of modesty or unpretentiousness, of flying under the radar and not drawing attention to yourself.
The Old Testament prophet Zechariah taught that the Savior would be lowly, as evidenced by his willingness to enter Jerusalem on a simple donkey. (See Zechariah 9:9, Matthew 21:5.)
The Book of Mormon prophet Alma encouraged his son Helaman to teach their people “to humble themselves and to be meek and lowly in heart.” Then, he added, “for such shall find rest to their souls” (Alma 37:33-34).
Why do meekness and lowliness lead to rest? Maybe because you have a lot less to worry about when you’re focused on accomplishing things instead of trying to look like you’re accomplishing things.
The prophet Mormon explained that meekness and lowliness of heart are interdependent with faith, hope, and charity:
And again, behold I say unto you that he cannot have faith and hope, save he shall be meek, and lowly of heart.
If so, his faith and hope is vain, for none is acceptable before God, save the meek and lowly in heart; and if a man be meek and lowly in heart, and confesses by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, he must needs have charity; for if he have not charity he is nothing; wherefore he must needs have charity.
Moroni 7:43-44
Why would meekness and lowliness help us develop other Christlike attributes? Maybe because they clear a lot of clutter out of our lives. Ronald Reagan was fond of the saying, “There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he does not mind who gets the credit.” Worrying less about who gets credit frees up time and energy, increasing our capacity to do God’s work and receive gifts from Him.
Today, I will strive to follow the Savior’s example of meekness and lowliness of heart. I will work on accomplishing good things without drawing undue attention to myself.