Book of Mormon: Day 241: The Danger of Pride

Today’s Reading: Helaman 3:1-17

1 And now it came to pass in the forty and third year of the reign of the judges, there was no contention among the people of Nephi save it were a little pride which was in the church, which did cause some little dissensions among the people, which affairs were settled in the ending of the forty and third year.

I cannot remember much from my days as a seminary student. I was never a morning person in my teenage years, and I’m still not a morning person as an adult with three young children. Seminary was absolutely a trial of faith and often a power-struggle between my mother and I. Begrudgingly, I attended those early morning classes, but my poor attitude and sleepiness prevented me from being receptive to learning. However, I will never forget the lesson about the Pride Cycle that plagued the Nephites and Lamanites civilizations.  The Pride Cycle, which is applicable in our day, begins when blessings and prosperity allow pride to creep into our hearts. This is when we credit ourselves for our prosperity, marginalize or completely forget our blessings, leave no room for the Lord in our lives, and choose wickedness over righteousness. This pride leads to a withdraw of the Lord’s spirit, suffering, and eventual destruction, either societal, personal, or a combination of both. It is in the depths of humility that repentance is sought.

Pride Cycle, Book of Mormon Student Manuel

As Proverbs attests: “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” [1] This is particularly true among the Nephites in the third chapter of Helaman. The chapter begins with “no contention” among the people, but “a little pride” threatened their tranquility and spirituality.  Their peace, civility, and spirituality were, in fact, momentary; pride had crept into their hearts and wickedness began to divide the people. Only two verses separate their peace from “much contention” and, at the core, was this little sampling of pride.

In his iconic address on pride, President Benson said that pride is the great universal sin, a vice of which we partake in to varying degrees at different times, and a stumbling block for all mankind. Because pride is so misunderstood and seen readily in others while difficult to detect within ourselves, it is something that we should give considerable time and study.

“Pride is a very misunderstood sin, and many are sinning in ignorance. (See Mosiah 3:11; 3 Ne. 6:18.) In the scriptures there is no such thing as righteous pride—it is always considered a sin… 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… Pride is essentially competitive in nature. We pit our will against God’s. When we direct our pride toward God, it is in the spirit of “my will and not thine be done.”… 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.” [5]

I agree with C.S. Lewis who said that “pride is a spiritual cancer”. We cannot thrive spiritually or live harmoniously within our families, our marriages, or our communities if we love ourselves more than we’re able to love others. Love and humility are overshadowed by defensiveness, competitiveness, worldliness, or resentfulness. It is impossible to love and serve God if we are paralyzed by our self-indulgence, impatience, or faithlessness.

Speaking of pride, President Uchtdorf said:

“Pride is sinful, as President Benson so memorably taught, because it breeds hatred or hostility and places us in opposition to God and our fellowmen. At its core, pride is a sin of comparison, for though it usually begins with “Look how wonderful I am and what great things I have done,” it always seems to end with ‘Therefore, I am better than you.’ When our hearts are filled with pride, we commit a grave sin, for we violate the two great commandments. Instead of worshipping God and loving our neighbor, we reveal the real object of our worship and love—the image we see in the mirror. Pride is the great sin of self-elevation. It is for so many a personal Rameumptom, a holy stand that justifies envy, greed, and vanity.” [6]

It is no wonder that the Lord warns three times in the Doctrine and Covenants to “beware of pride”. [2, 3, 4] The sin of pride is easily committed, hard to identify, yet spiritually destructive. It begins in our hearts, creeps into our thinking, eventually manifests in our actions, and has far reaching impact. I think after careful self-evaluation, we can each identify aspects of pride within our hearts. These realizations aren’t meant to discourage us, but to help us become the better versions of ourselves.