Mildness is not weak, it's gentle power

Dear friend

In the movies the power or voice of God is usually represented by deep, loud, earth-shattering utterances that terrify the people and cause ostentatious displays of omnipotence. How real is this? Consider the example of two humble missionaries, imprisoned for imparting the word of God, and who were in mortal danger from a massive mob closing in to inflict their death. This would surely make an ideal setting for some Godly grandstanding through an impressive intervention. At the point of the malicious mob nearing, the incident is described in the Book of Mormon, Helaman 5:28-30.

28 And it came to pass that they were overshadowed with a cloud of darkness, and an awful solemn fear came upon them.
29 And it came to pass that there came a voice as if it were above the cloud of darkness, saying: Repent ye, repent ye, and seek no more to destroy my servants whom I have sent unto you to declare good tidings.
30 And it came to pass when they heard this voice, and beheld that it was not a voice of thunder, neither was it a voice of a great tumultuous noise, but behold, it was a still voice of perfect mildness, as if it had been a whisper, and it did pierce even to the very soul—

So the Hollywood hullabaloo of divine displeasure didn't materialise. Mildness, perfect mildness, masked the manifestation of God's authority. He didn't need to shout. That's not how Spirit speaks to spirit.

King David recognised this principle of peaceful preternatural presence even in his own monarchical majesty; as from the Old Testament, 2 Samuel 22:36.

36 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great.

God's preferred personality trait is gentleness; a mildness sustained by underlying magnificence. The lesson for us is to mimic His mildness. For example, even when raising a proselytising warning voice, as taught in Doctrine and Covenants 38:41.

41 And let your preaching be the warning voice, every man to his neighbour, in mildness and in meekness.

So mildness is not weakness but meekness. Gentleness is understated might. I pray we will continually seek to develop the Messiah's mild manner.

Samuel.