Solomon recognized that even a king needs to listen to corrective feedback. “Better is a poor and a wise child,” he wrote, “than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished” (Ecclesiastes 4:13).
Alma believed the same. As he worked to regulate behavior within the church, he understood that everyone benefits from constructive criticism. Speaking of Alma and his fellow church leaders, Mormon wrote:
They did admonish their brethren; and they were also admonished, every one by the word of God, according to his sins, or to the sins which he had committed.
Mosiah 26:39
In March 1833, the Lord advised Joseph Smith and his two counselors, Sidney Rigdon and Frederick G. Williams, to adopt the same practice. He reiterated that they held “the keys of the kingdom,” and presided over the church (Doctrine and Covenants 90:1-6). Nevertheless, He directed them to accept feedback graciously and humbly:
Be not ashamed, neither confounded; but be admonished in all your high-mindedness and pride, for it bringeth a snare upon your souls.
Doctrine and Covenants 90:17
The first part of this passage forbidding them to be “ashamed” or “confounded” hearkens back to two passages from the book of Isaiah, both of which are quoted in the Book of Mormon:
For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.
Isaiah 50:7; 2 Nephi 7:7
Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.
Isaiah 54:4; 3 Nephi 22:4
It seems clear that the Lord wants us to have confidence. Not cockiness, based on an illusion of superiority, but rather genuine confidence grounded in our trust in Him. President Russell M. Nelson taught:
Disciples of Jesus Christ have access to a different kind of confidence.
When we make and keep covenants with God, we can have confidence that is born of the Spirit.
“Confidence in the Presence of God,” General Conference, April 2025
This kind of confidence is resilient. It doesn’t fall to pieces when challenged, nor does it rely on praise and admiration for its durability. People who have this confidence can receive correction without becoming defensive or feeling ashamed. As a result, they can take feedback in stride and incorporate it more quickly into their actions and character. So the Lord’s guidance to Joseph Smith and his associates provides a practical strategy for rapid improvement: Listen to feedback from others. Don’t let it discourage you. Just accept it, act upon it, and move forward.
Today, I will accept corrective feedback without shame. I will remember that my confidence rests upon my covenant relationship with God, and I will welcome opportunities to improve myself with His help.
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