Aaron Rebukes Ammon for Boasting
Alma 26:10–12
10 And it came to pass that when Ammon had said these words, his brother Aaron rebuked him, saying: Ammon, I fear that thy joy doth carry thee away unto boasting.
11 But Ammon said unto him: I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God.
12 Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.
President Wilford Woodruff said:
“We have no chance to be lifted up in the pride of our hearts with regard to the position we occupy. If the President of the Church or either of his counselors or of the Apostles or any other man feels in his heart that God cannot do without him, and that he is especially important in order to carry on the work of the Lord, he stands upon slippery ground. I heard Joseph Smith say that Oliver Cowdery, who was the second Apostle in this Church, said to him, ‘If I leave this Church it will fail.’
“Said Joseph, ‘Oliver, you try it.’ Oliver tried it. He fell; but the kingdom of God did not. I have been acquainted with other Apostles in my day and time who felt that the Lord could not do without them; but the Lord got along with His work without them. “I say to all men—Jew and Gentile, great and small, rich and poor—that the Lord Almighty has power within Himself, and is not dependent upon any man to carry on His work; but when He does call men to do His work they have to trust in Him.”
(The Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, comp. G. Homer Durham [1946], 123–24.)
