When two of Jesus’ disciples asked to have places of honor in heaven, Jesus said he could not arbitrarily give that privilege to people, but suggested that if they were willing to “drink of the cup” that was required to obtain that outcome, they could have it:
20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.
21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.
22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.
23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. (Matthew 20)
Here, Jesus was teaching his disciples that greatness—like everything else in this life—is a matter of cause and effect. Those desiring a certain outcome need only discover and follow the recipe for obtaining that outcome.
There is a belief that Jesus was divine because of the virgin birth. Jesus did not come to the earth with any special powers. He “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15) He obtained special powers by learning more than any other man had ever learned, in the same way that all men must learn:
For all who will have a blessing at my hands shall abide the law which was appointed for that blessing, and the conditions thereof, as were instituted from before the foundation of the world. (D&C 132:5)
He learned incrementally, line upon line through dedicated selfimprovement and through dedication to the benefit of others: “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” (Luke 2:52)
The driving differentiation in Jesus’ life was not magic capability, but rather a relentless drive to learn and do all that he could. Jesus was divine not because he had magic powers, but because he was humble.
The Lord taught his disciples that if they wanted to share the glory and honor he possessed, they needed to do the things he did.
The world needs you to do more. The world needs you to get more from God. The sheep need to be fed, and there are things that will never happen if you don’t do them.
Are you overwhelmed by the charge to be like him? Good. You should be. This very feeling of nothingness is what will enable you to follow his example.
It is because we recognize the greatness of God that we feel weak. Jesus called himself the least of all:
Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. (Matthew 11:11)
He “descended below all things, in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth....” (D&C 88:6) His power was the result of his humble submission to the Father. Like Jesus, if you submit yourself completely to God, you will be enabled to receive all he has.
Being elite looks and feels the opposite of what many would assume. It is not the belief that you are special. Rather, it is the belief that you are nothing connected with the belief that God is everything connected with the belief that he wants to give you all things by making you like he is. When you subscribe to these beliefs, you open the gates of what God can give you, and you will do amazing things because he is amazing and because you don’t inhibit him by asserting your own supposed goodness.
Being elite is not a quality; it is a choice. It is about what you are willing to subject yourself to. He who submits himself most fully to God will be greatest among men.
The greatest strength of men is nothing compared to the greatness of God. The Lord followed this path in his mortal ministry by submitting to the Father in all things.
Similarly, we can do the same by submitting to the Lord in all things:
`For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father. (Mosiah 3:19)`
It is only through an ever-increasing knowledge of our own nothingness that we can access ever-increasing quantities of God’s greatness in our lives:
And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them. (Ether 12:27)
One man of God described this attitude as follows:
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. (Alma 26:12)
Greatness is not about being better than others. Greatness is about what you are willing to be responsible for.
Greatness is not found in seeking for experiences to meet inflated selfperception of qualifications. Rather, it is found in seeking qualifications to fit your desires to help others.
It is not our “specialness” that qualifies us for the work, but our desire—our willingness to assume responsibility. If you don’t desire to be great, you never will be. Meanwhile, “...if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work.” (D&C 4:3)
The Lord said: “...If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.” (Mark 9:35) If you are willing to truly consider yourself the least of all, willing to descend below all things, you will fully open the gates to receiving God’s goodness in you, and you will do God’s works. Jesus said: “...the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.” (John 14:10)
Rising to your true potential is not about being better than others. It is about helping them to the extent of your capability and seeking greater capability for that purpose. When his disciples were arguing over who was the greatest, Jesus said:
25 ...Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. (Matthew 20)
Being elite is not about exercising dominion. It is about serving others. The Lord said: “...if any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.” (Mark 9:35)
Being elite is about “...doing these things thou wilt do the greatest good unto thy fellow beings, and wilt promote the glory of him who is your Lord.” (D&C 81:4) It is about a consummate focus on what benefits the world without regard to what it costs you (see 2 Nephi 26:24).
Those who are willing to seek God with full purpose of heart and who do everything he says will encounter the greatest joy available. They will be the most improved and they will be of the greatest service to their fellowmen. They will find themselves doing great things—not of their own goodness, but because of what God gives them.