Fear and Feeble Knees

While researching my talk for this Sunday, I ended up reading Elder Marvin J. Ashton's talk from 1991 about "Strengthening the Feeble Knees." I remember talking about this talk in my seminary class when I was in high school and it seems to apply more even now than it did then.  Here are some excerpts from the talk that go right along with a conversation I had with a friend yesterday.

There is a phrase used four times in the standard works which has always intrigued me. It is the expression “feeble knees.”

By definition, feeble means weak, not strong, without force, easily broken, frail.

When Frederick G. Williams was called to be a counselor to Joseph Smith, he was given this charge: “Wherefore, be faithful; stand in the office which I have appointed unto you; succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.” (D&C 81:5.)

Coupled with the word strengthen, which is to make or become stronger, the phrase led me to contemplate the meaning of these words.

Early on, I assumed “feeble knees” meant weak or exhausted. However, the context of its use in Isaiah (see Isa. 35:3–4) suggests that it may have a somewhat richer meaning, something more like fearful. I actually favor this latter interpretation. Today we often hear such expressions as “weak in the knees” or “knocking knees” to denote fear.

It would seem that no one escapes some uncertainty, insecurity, doubt, and even fear. This mortal existence is invariably challenging and unpredictable. An honest person who is acquainted with the characteristics of life cannot ever be completely confident that his circumstances will not change unexpectedly.

How do we deal with the inevitable moments of fear or “feeble knees”? It is vital that we not face them alone. Always it is helpful and comforting to be able to confide in a loving and trusted friend or relative who empathetically listens to our uncertainties. We often find that our confidant has experienced similar fears, and we may even share in his wise counsel.

Life is never easy, and we cannot escape our own case of feeble knees from time to time. It is thus essential that we love and support one another.

Favorite Quotes from the talk:

•  Anger is a poor substitute for self-mastery and compassionate service.
• Sabbath days can be lost an hour at a time.
• A "coach told his players, “Life isn’t always fair, but we can still expect excellence from ourselves.”