By Jane Putnam
In remembering conflicts and reflecting on them, they are like mirrors that can teach things about oneself that are very difficult to discover, said Gerald R. Williams, a BYU law professor, at Tuesday's (June 27, 2006) Devotional.
'If we permit them, our conflicts will show us where we are weak, or defensive, or prideful or otherwise prone to overreact,' he said.
Conflicts are particularly calculated to teach the necessity of humility and meekness before the Lord so that he might teach his ways.
'We learn by experience, but experience is not a very good teacher unless we remember our conflicts,' Williams said. 'It is a mark of greatness to remember and to learn from our conflicts.'
Williams said the examples of Joseph Smith Jr. and Moroni brought to his mind Ether 12:27, a memorable scripture. As stated in this verse, it is a gift from heaven to be shown weaknesses.
'If we will reflect upon our weakness, as the Prophet Joseph did upon his, the Lord will make us strong where we are weak,' Williams said.
Williams cited the teachings of President Kimball, who taught this principle in terms of mirrors.
Our vision is completely obscured when we have no mirror to show us our own faults, and we look only for the foibles of others, Williams said, quoting President Kimball.
'We should think of our conflicts as mirrors, which reflect back upon us things about ourselves we would rather not know,' Williams said.
Williams said Joseph Smith Jr. encountered conflicts when translating the Book of Mormon. When reflecting on what he learned from his experiences, he noted conflicts arise 'in presumption and rash judgment,' and conflicts, once understood, are calculated to teach.
'We come to the ultimate question: what are the Lord's ways for dealing with conflict?' Williams asked.
Joseph Smith Jr. taught rather than reacting defensively, we ought to seek counsel from the Lord, Williams said.
The Lord's counsel to the prophet is now recorded in Doctrine and Covenants section 28. The Lord counseled him to instruct and correct in a loving and reaffirming way, Williams said.
'To learn from our conflicts, we must be willing to see our own faults, and we need the Lord's help to do that. Only then can he begin to 'teach us of his ways,'' he said.
Williams also mentioned a scriptural conflict that arose between Moroni and Pahoran in Alma. Moroni's army was caught in a dangerous situation and their requests for aid had not been answered. Moroni became angry with Pahoran, the chief judge and governor, for neglecting his duties and not helping.
Williams said he was surprised that Mormon would include, as a part of his abridged record, such a vivid account of Moroni's conflict with Pahoran. He wondered if this was where Joseph Smith Jr. had gained his own understanding of the importance of conflicts and learning from them.
'I expect it was for at least two reasons,' he said. 'One would be to show us that none of us is immune from presumption and rash judgment. what a comfort it is to me, and I hope to you, that we are in the best of company when we make errors of this kind.'