When we think of control, we can easily picture dominance or the ability to bend situations to our will. However, true internal control looks completely different. While reviewing my notes on the Let Them theory, I wrote down a profound truth about choosing peace. It is not weakness; it is the ultimate form of control. I thought about how the Savior demonstrated this during His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. He did not arrive on a war horse, which was the traditional symbol of worldly power and military might. Instead, He entered on a donkey. Biblical scholars Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan detail this deliberate choice in their book The Last Week. They emphasize that Jesus intentionally orchestrated a counter procession to subvert the imperial display of military might, proving that His kingdom is built on the deliberate strength of peace rather than forceful oppression.
That image fundamentally changes how I view my own reactions. As noted in the Let Them theory, “The source of your power is not in managing other people; it’s in your response.” Giving up the need to manage everyone else is not surrendering your power. It is actually claiming it. The power lies entirely in how you choose to react to the chaos around you. Do you respond meekly or lash out?
For me, this brings a new layer of meaning to Alma 38:12. While Alma the Younger is counseling Shiblon, it equally applies to us; “Use boldness, but not overbearance; and also see that ye bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love…” For a long time, I viewed bridling my passions as simply suppressing my emotions or biting my tongue. Now I see it as actively channeling them. When we bridle a horse, we do not take away its strength; we direct that strength with purpose. By channeling our emotions, we can choose a powerful and peaceful response. This deliberate channeling is the essence of meekness. Elder David A. Bednar perfectly defined this attribute when he taught, “The Christlike quality of meekness often is misunderstood in our contemporary world. Meekness is strong, not weak; active, not passive; courageous, not timid; restrained, not excessive; modest, not self-aggrandizing; and gracious, not brash. A meek person is not easily provoked, pretentious, or overbearing and readily acknowledges the accomplishments of others.” (Meek and Lowly of Heart, April 2018) Choosing peace is never passive. It is the ultimate expression of spiritual and emotional strength.