Moroni is imbued with a compelling desire to impart the lessons of truth that the Lord wants future generations to receive through the account of the Jaredite experience. However, Moroni also has a keen sense of his own inadequacy in writing; he agonizes that future readers will mock his performance: “Behold, thou hast not made us mighty in writing like unto the brother of Jared, for thou madest him that the things which he wrote were mighty even as thou art, unto the overpowering of man to read them” (verse 24).
It is at this point that the Lord teaches Moroni, and by extension all of us, a powerful and comforting lesson about the operation of faith and eternal gift of grace. The Lord gives men weaknesses that they may be humble, and if they are humble and apply faith to their service, the Lord will provide, through grace, the compensatory gifts essential for turning weaknesses into strengths. When we acknowledge our weaknesses in all humility and exercise our faith in the Lord, He will strengthen us. Humility—the ability to understanding our relationship to God and be totally dependent upon Him—is the empowering agent of existence whereby we can receive the power of God in our lives.
Heber C. Kimball expresses with memorable clarity the difference between humility and pride:
The Holy Ghost dwells only in hearts that are pure and humble. Humility, next to virtue, is the one grand requisite of a servant of God. Pride and vanity are synonyms of weakness; humility, another name for strength. Men of learning and language, whom nature and education have made “spokesmen,” need not be any less humble—though men of little learning and much language are very apt to be. Pride, in rags or in purple, is the offspring of ignorance; while learning is the parent of humility. (In Orson F. Whitney, Life of Heber C. Kimball [Salt Lake City: Kimball Family, 1888], 176)
How do we respond when we are called to a position in the kingdom of God and feel inadequate? Elder Marvin J. Ashton uses the example of N. Eldon Tanner to illustrate a proper approach:
President Tanner follows closely the counsel in the Doctrine and Covenants: “Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers.” (D&C 112:10.) We would serve ourselves and others well if we could humbly say, “I don’t know why I’ve been called, but I’m going to do the best I can.” We should not let ourselves be concerned about our limitations or lack of talent; rather, we should resolve positively, with vigor and determination, to say, “I may not be much, I may not have much going for me, but in His strength, I can do all things.” As I think of President Tanner, I see that humility is not a weakness—it is a strength. I have often heard him say, “God cannot answer our prayers unless we are humble.” (Ye Are My Friends [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1972], 142–143)