As part of the perfection process, the Book of Mormon instructs us that we must be humble in order to learn (see 2 Nephi 9:42). “And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them” (Ether 12:27).
Certainly the people in the Book of Mormon had a hard time with humility, and we have a hard time, too. But we are told that when God loves a people, He chastens them (see Hebrews 12:6), often resulting in humility, without which we cannot grow.
Humility is the beginning virtue, the precursor of all spiritual growth. Elder Richard G. Scott describes this virtue in even greater detail:
Humility is the precious, fertile soil of righteous character. It germinates the seeds of personal growth. When cultivated through the exercise of faith, pruned by repentance, and fortified by obedience and good works, such seeds produce the cherished fruit of spirituality. (See Alma 26:22.) Divine inspiration and power then result. Inspiration is to know the will of the Lord. Power is the capability to accomplish that inspired will. (See D&C 43:15–16.) Such power comes from God after we have done “all we can do” (2 Nephi 25:23). (Ensign, May 1981, 11ff) (Ed J. Pinegar, Especially for Missionaries, 4 vols. [American Fork, UT.: Covenant Communications, 1997], vol. 4)