Pride

Pride is very misunderstood. Before I studied pride, I thought it was being boastful, or thinking you are better than other people. I did not understand that pride is the root of all sin. I heard a quote, "If you scratch a sin, you will find pride." I fully agree with this statement. Pride is detrimental to all people, and has been the downfall of every nation that has fallen. Pride has cost us greatly in our lives, in the church and family relationships. I have committed to read "Beware of Pride" by President Benson at least once per week. Every week the Lord points out something I need to work on to learn to humble myself. It has been so eye opening, I am so prideful! And I am eternally grateful that I understand pride and can learn to be a better person by learning to be humble. I hope everyone will learn to conquer their pride, I know we can do it!

Most of us think of pride as self-centeredness, conceit, boastfulness, arrogance, or haughtiness. All of these are elements of the sin, but the heart, or core, is still missing. The central feature of pride is enmity—enmity toward God and enmity toward our fellowmen. Enmity means “hatred toward, hostility to, or a state of opposition.” It is the power by which Satan wishes to reign over us. (Ezra Taft Benson - April 1989 General Conference “Beware of Pride” https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1989/04/beware-of-pride?lang=eng)

“Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man. … It is the comparison that makes you proud: the pleasure of being above the rest. Once the element of competition has gone, pride has gone.” (Ezra Taft Benson quoting C.S. Lewis - April 1989 General Conference “Beware of Pride” https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1989/04/beware-of-pride?lang=eng)

Pride is a sin that can readily be seen in others but is rarely admitted in ourselves. Most of us consider pride to be a sin of those on the top, such as the rich and the learned, looking down at the rest of us. (See 2 Ne. 9:42.) There is, however, a far more common ailment among us—and that is pride from the bottom looking up. It is manifest in so many ways, such as faultfinding, gossiping, backbiting, murmuring, living beyond our means, envying, coveting, withholding gratitude and praise that might lift another, and being unforgiving and jealous. (Ezra Taft Benson - April 1989 General Conference “Beware of Pride” https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1989/04/beware-of-pride?lang=eng)

The scriptures testify that the proud are easily offended and hold grudges. They withhold forgiveness to keep another in their debt and to justify their injured feelings. (Ezra Taft Benson - April 1989 General Conference “Beware of Pride” https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1989/04/beware-of-pride?lang=eng)

In the scriptures there is no such thing as righteouspride. It is always considered as a sin. We are notspeaking of a wholesome view of self-worth, which isbest established by a close relationship with God. Butwe are speaking of pride as the universal sin, assomeone has described it. (Ezra Taft Benson - April 1986 General Conference “Cleansing the Inner Vessel” https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1986/04/cleansing-the-inner-vessel?lang=eng)

Pride does not look up to God and care about what isright. It looks sideways to man and argues who is right.Pride is manifest in the spirit of contention.(Ezra Taft Benson - April 1986 General Conference “Cleansing the Inner Vessel” https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1986/04/cleansing-the-inner-vessel?lang=eng)

I believe there is a difference between being proud of certain things and being prideful. I am proud of many things. I am proud of my wife. I am proud of our children and grandchildren. I am proud of the youth of the Church, and I rejoice in their goodness. I am proud of you, my dear and faithful brethren. I am proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with you as a bearer of the holy priesthood of God. (Dieter F. Uchtdorf- October 2010 General Conference, “Pride and the Priesthood” https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/10/pride-and-the-priesthood?lang=eng)

We can be grateful for our health, wealth, possessions, or positions, but when we begin to inhale it—when we become obsessed with our status; when we focus on our own importance, power, or reputation; when we dwell upon our public image and believe our own press clippings—that’s when the trouble begins; that’s when pride begins to corrupt. (Dieter F. Uchtdorf- October 2010 General Conference, “Pride and the Priesthood” https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/10/pride-and-the-priesthood?lang=eng)

Pride is a switch that turns off priesthood power. Humility is a switch that turns it on. (Dieter F. Uchtdorf- October 2010 General Conference, “Pride and the Priesthood” https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/10/pride-and-the-priesthood?lang=eng)

Remember, brethren, “God resist[s] the proud, but give[s] grace unto the humble.” (Dieter F. Uchtdorf- April 2015 General Conference, “On Being Genuine” https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/04/on-being-genuine?lang=eng#14-12565_000_34uchtdorf)