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Consider this little story:

An arrogant government employee stopped at a farm and talked with an old farmer.

He told the farmer, "I need to inspect your farm for a possible new road."

The old farmer said, "OK, but don't go in that field."

The government agent said, "I have the authority of the State Government to go where I want to go. See this card? I am allowed to go wherever I wish on farm land."

So the old farmer went about his farm chores. Later he heard loud screams and saw the government employee running for the fence. Close behind was the farmer's prize bull. The bull was madder than a nest full of hornets and the bull was gaining on the employee at every step.

The old farmer called out, "Show him your card!"

I laughed when I read this. But it caused me to reflect on the “cards” carried that we mistakenly feel give us authority or power. If we had spiritual eyes to see clearly, how many times might that haughtiness place us in danger? Like a mad bull chasing after us, the adversary finds delight in staying on our heels. How many times have we learned the hard way, because we would not pay proper attention to a warning given? Especially if that warning came from a source we considered unworthy of entertaining?

“She's only Twelve”

At a youth conference where I was teaching, I watched an interesting drama unfold.  Some younger girls were grouped with a few older ones for an activity. Because of the age difference, the older young women assumed leadership roles. That is all fine and good. But they would not listen to the younger ones, when trying to figure out a certain puzzle given them.

Because of their refusal to give heed to the advice of one young woman — who, by the way, knew exactly what should have been done and how to do it — the buzzer rang while they were still murmuring over the activity. “She's only twelve; what does she know?” they whined. As it turned out, more than they were willing to give credit for!  What could have been a unifying, fun activity turned out to be a bust. 

Amazing information and insight can come “out of the mouths of babes.” Or twelve- year olds.

“Me versus Thee”

“Pride says to itself, ‘My will be done.' Humility says to God, ‘Thy will be done.'” I recently came across this quote by a man named Kent Crockett. There is great truth here!

In a world where many believe themselves to be the center of the universe, there follows a tug of war — sometimes emotional, sometimes mental, sometimes spiritual, sometimes physical — concerning each person's will. “Every man for himself” seems to translate into a scuttle for personal power.

This may create a cycle of seeking to satisfy ourselves rather than satisfy the qualifications for fulfilling the tasks given us by our Father. Indeed, Father's loving desires for us may be forgotten as some chase after their own agenda.

The government employee in the farmer's pasture learned one lesson the hard way, considering his station to be above that of the farmer. His card did not do him a bit of good out in the field! Out in the field of life, do we sometimes assume that we are more prepared, powerful, or poised than we are?

Even though we are lent our very breath (see Mosiah 2:21) by our Creator, yet we sometimes insist on doing things our way, kicking against the very One who loves and knows us best. 

The Savior taught by example that we should continually seek for our Father's will to be known, understood, and done. Focusing on Him, and on eternal things, we are less apt to worry about what we want. President Era Taft Benson said it this way:

One of Satan's greatest tools is pride — to cause a man or woman to center so much attention on self that he or she becomes insensitive to the Creator or fellow beings (General Conference, April, 1979).

“My Dog's Smarter than Your Dog”

Do you remember the old dog food commercial with the song that began, “My dog's smarter than your dog!”? The apparent reason for this mighty brilliance was the kind of dog food that the owners fed their pooch. The message was wrapped in a cutesy little song, sung by small and adorable children. 

The ad celebrated a ridiculous premise, and propagated the message that there is competition even in the brand of food we provide for our animals. Arrogance based upon brand! An “I am better than you because” mentality that builds upon pride.

This same train of thought meanders through society, with self-exultation because of the cars we drive, the money in the bank, the titles, the awards won, the educational prowess, the physique, and — according to Elder Marvin J. Ashton, “Even his works of righteousness,” which keep us out of tune with the Lord.

“Thank Goodness I am not like ‘Those' People”

There was once a television show that was presented to cleverly skewer the ills of society. It centered on the comments offered by a biased and obnoxious man who had a decent heart but continually stuck his foot in his mouth. This character, Archie Bunker, once said, “I'm not prejudiced. I love all those inferior people.”

In Jesus' day, the Jews looked down on the Samaritans. In our day and time, the “Samaritan” groups may be looked down upon because of the clothes they wear, the color of their skin, the side of town they live in, the kind of language they speak, or any number of factors that might cause us to pull out our “card” and pull rank.

King Benjamin's beautiful sermon (please read the entire second chapter of Mosiah) included a reminder that we are all “unprofitable servants.” And yet our Father, and our Savior, look upon each one of us with love and acceptance.

Why?

In the story, one government employee learned too late that his card did not matter as much as he thought it did. How differently would this story have gone had the state employee asked the farmer why he suggested he should not go in the field? Asking questions of others, especially when we are not clear on a matter, is an opportunity to learn something as we show consideration. It takes little effort, and offers us a chance to build bridges of kindness and mutual respect to others as we gain humility.

Elder Heber J. Grant offered these insightful words regarding the blessing of humility:

I firmly believe that no man who honestly bows down every day of his life and supplicates God in sincerity for the light of the Holy Spirit to guide him will ever become proud and haughty. On the contrary, his heart will become filled with meekness, humility, and childlike simplicity.

“I can do what I want.” “I can go wherever I choose.” “I have the authority.” As we embrace Elder Grant's counsel, our need to use such phrases dwindles away. We may find ourselves in dangerous fields on fewer occasions. And with no bulls!