meekness doesn't hurt

"...Govern your house in meekness..." Doctrine & Covenants 31:9

"But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price" 1 Peter 3:4

There is not doubt in these teachings. As mothers [and fathers] we are to be meek and quiet in governing our children and spouses. So what does it mean to be meek?

"Godfearing, righteous, humble, teachable, and patient under suffering. The meek are willing to follow gospel teachings" Meekness-Guide to Scriptures-LDS.org

"To make meek and teachable, or the condition of being meek and teachable. Humility includes recognizing our dependence upon God and desiring to submit to his will." Humble-Guide to Scriptures-LDS.org

In dealing with those in our families, we are to follow gospel teachings and submit to God's will. We are to be patient under suffering. I don't know about other people, but when my child refuses to obey I am patient under suffering. We would have so much more fun it they would simply do what they are supposed to do. That's not the way it works though.

Being patient and long suffering with a child or spouse, we are more likely to see the results we desire, find joy in our families, and live without regret. I think of the serene smile of Sister Hinckley and her life story. She had a happy life, because she lived these principles.

Can we adopt a similar countenance of serenity? Can we find peace and joy as we strive to teach our children with meekness and firmness? Can we patiently love our husbands as we allow them to grow into great men. Nagging will never accomplish this. Yelling may relieve our frustration for a moment--it may even work for awhile; in the long run meekness, patience, long-suffering or whatever you want to call it is the best course. Impatience will destroy our good intentions. Regret will be the reward if we choose contention, overbearance, or permissiveness.

“One apparent impact of the women’s movement has been the feelings of discontent it has created among young women who have chosen the role of wife and mother. They are often made to feel that there are more exciting and self-fulfilling roles for women than housework, diaper changing, and children calling for mother. This view loses sight of the eternal perspective that God elected women to the noble role of mother and that exaltation is eternal fatherhood and eternal motherhood." (‘To the Elect Women of the Kingdom of God,’ Nauvoo Illinois Relief Society Dedication, 30 June 1978)” (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, 548)

“Beware of the subtle ways Satan employs to take you from the plan of God [2 Nephi 9:13] and true happiness. One of Satan’s most effective approaches is to demean the role of wife and mother in the home. This is an attack at the very heart of God’s plan to foster love between husband and wife and to nurture children in an atmosphere of understanding, peace, appreciation, and support. Much of the violence that is rampant in the world today is the harvest of weakened homes. Government and social plans will not effectively correct that, nor can the best efforts of schools and churches fully compensate for the absence of the tender care of a compassionate mother and wife in the home...As a mother guided by the Lord, you weave a fabric of character in your children from threads of truth through careful instruction and worthy example. You imbue the traits of honesty, faith in God, duty, respect for others, kindness, self-confidence, and the desire to contribute, to learn, and to give in your trusting children’s minds and hearts. No day-care center can do that. It is your sacred right and privilege...Of course, as a woman you can do exceptionally well in the workplace, but is that the best use of your divinely appointed talents and feminine traits? As a husband, don’t encourage your wife to go to work to help in your divinely appointed responsibility of providing resources for the family, if you can possibly avoid it. As the prophets have counseled, to the extent possible with the help of the Lord, as parents, work together to keep Mother in the home.²² Your presence there will strengthen the self-confidence of your children and decrease the chance of emotional challenges. Moreover, as you teach truth by word and example, those children will come to understand who they are and what they can obtain as divine children of Father in Heaven” (Richard G. Scott, Conference Report, Oct. 1996, 102; or Ensign, Nov. 1996, 74–75).