How Can We Overcome Pride? and A Personal Checklist for Pride

Pride

See Also: Humility and Meekness

Pres. Benson, Chapter 18: Beware of Pride

https://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-of-presidents-of-the-church-ezra-taft-benson/chapter-18-beware-of-pride?lang=eng

President Uchtdorf’s talk on pride – Oct. 2010:

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/10/pride-and-the-priesthood?lang=eng

Pride a gateway sin that leads to a host of other human weaknesses. In fact, it could be said that every other sin is, in essence, a manifestation of pride. -Uchtdorf

Video clip of this quote 8:42 minutes – 10:19

We Must Not Inhale

When I was called as a General Authority, I was blessed to be tutored by many of the senior Brethren in the Church. One day I had the opportunity to drive President James E. Faust to a stake conference. During the hours we spent in the car, President Faust took the time to teach me some important principles about my assignment. He explained also how gracious the members of the Church are, especially to General Authorities. He said, “They will treat you very kindly. They will say nice things about you.” He laughed a little and then said, “Dieter, be thankful for this. But don’t you ever inhale it.”

That is a good lesson for us all, in any calling or life situation. 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.

Uchtdorf on how do we Conquer pride?  

So how do we conquer this sin of pride that is so prevalent and so damaging? How do we become more humble?

It is almost impossible to be lifted up in pride when our hearts are filled with charity. “No one can assist in this work except he shall be humble and full of love.” 22 When we see the world around us through the lens of the pure love of Christ, we begin to understand humility.

Some suppose that humility is about beating ourselves up. Humility does not mean convincing ourselves that we are worthless, meaningless, or of little value. Nor does it mean denying or withholding the talents God has given us. We don’t discover humility by thinking less of ourselves; we discover humility by thinking less about ourselves. It comes as we go about our work with an attitude of serving God and our fellowman.

Humility directs our attention and love toward others and to Heavenly Father’s purposes. Pride does the opposite. Pride draws its energy and strength from the deep wells of selfishness. The moment we stop obsessing with ourselves and lose ourselves in service, our pride diminishes and begins to die.

Elder Bednar:

We will only receive spiritual gifts and talents when we are in the right place at the right time so that the Lord can use us to bless somebody else.

I think in the culture of the Church we have a peculiar way of talking about talents like, “I have these talents” and sometimes there is an arrogance about that, like “Aren’t you so lucky that I am bringing my talent to bless you?”  In which case I think there is no talent, it has been removed.

So it is not just that you have one talent or a particular capacity, there is a wide range of talents and capacities with which the Lord can bless you with because you will be in the right place at the right time and that talent or gift will be used to bless someone else. We only have these so we can be the conduit through whom God can bless people.

So if you are striving not to get them as if they are trophies to display, but if the real intent of our heart is to be good, to be worthy, so that God if he needed me could use me.

How Do We Combat Pride?

1-      Uchtdorf - Charity Conquers pride:  

So how do we conquer this sin of pride that is so prevalent and so damaging? How do we become more humble?

It is almost impossible to be lifted up in pride when our hearts are filled with charity. “No one can assist in this work except he shall be humble and full of love.” 22 When we see the world around us through the lens of the pure love of Christ, we begin to understand humility.

Some suppose that humility is about beating ourselves up. Humility does not mean convincing ourselves that we are worthless, meaningless, or of little value. Nor does it mean denying or withholding the talents God has given us. We don’t discover humility by thinking less of ourselves; we discover humility by thinking less about ourselves. It comes as we go about our work with an attitude of serving God and our fellowman.

Humility directs our attention and love toward others and to Heavenly Father’s purposes. Pride does the opposite. Pride draws its energy and strength from the deep wells of selfishness. The moment we stop obsessing with ourselves and lose ourselves in service, our pride diminishes and begins to die.

2-      Recognize the enabling power of the atonement in our lives.

When we can recognize the enabling power of the atonement in our lives this solves the problem of pride. We realize how much the Lord is helping us to improve and do well which keeps us from getting puffed up about ourselves.

Read Jacob 4:6

 6 Wherefore, we search the prophets, and we have many revelations and the spirit of ^aprophecy; and having all these ^bwitnesses we obtain a hope, and our faith becometh unshaken, insomuch that we truly can ^ccommand in the ^dname of Jesus and the very trees obey us, or the mountains, or the waves of the sea.

Jacob 4:6-7, 8-10– notice that verse 7 begins with “Nevertheless” - “Nevertheless” is what they call a connecting word because it shows that the two sentences are a related thought.  

 7 Nevertheless, the Lord God showeth us our ^aweakness that we may know that it is by his ^bgrace, and his great condescensions unto the children of men, that we have power to do these things.

Ether 12:27 has a similar theme.

I think there are many times when Grace and the enabling power are operating in our lives and it is like when “as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not.” In our pride, we think we are becoming something on our own.

Pride - A Personal Checklist (list taken from Pres. Benson’s talk)

·         Pride is a very misunderstood sin, and many are sinning in ignorance. In the scriptures there is no such thing as righteous pride. Therefore, we must understand how God uses the term so we can understand the language of holy writ and profit thereby. 

·         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.

·         Pride is a sin that can readily be seen in others but is rarely admitted in ourselves. 

General categories of pride:

   Disobedience is essentially a prideful power struggle 

   Selfishness is one of the more common faces of pride. 

§  self-conceit, self-seeking

§  self-gratification, worldly self-fulfillment

§  self-pity

Pride in not just those on the top looking down; far more common is pride from the bottom looking up, it is manifest in:

·         faultfinding, gossiping, backbiting

·         murmuring

·         living beyond our means

·         envying, coveting

·         withholding gratitude and praise that might lift another

·         being unforgiving and jealous

Another face of pride is contention:

·         arguments

·         fights

·         unrighteous dominion

·         generation gaps

·         divorces

·         spouse abuse

·         riots, disturbances

·         Contention in our families drives the Spirit of the Lord away. It also drives many of our family members away. 

Our enmity toward God takes on many labels:

·         rebellion

·         hard-heartedness

·         stiff-neckedness

·         unrepentant

·         puffed up

·         easily offended

·         sign seekers

·         wish God would agree with them

·         aren’t interested in changing opinion to agree with God’s

Enmity toward our fellowmen:

·         tempted daily to elevate ourselves above others 

·         desire to diminish others

·         pit their intellects, opinions & works against others

·         compare wealth, talents, or any other worldly measuring device against others

·         stand more in fear of men’s judgment than of God’s judgment

·         “What will men think of me?” weighs heavier than “What will God think of me?”

·         The proud love “the praise of men more than the praise of God.

·         Our motives for the things we do are where the sin is manifest. 

“Pride a gateway sin that leads to a host of other human weaknesses. In fact, it could be said that every other sin is, in essence, a manifestation of pride.”  –President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Pres. Uchtdorf – The Gift of Grace - Apr. 2015

What does the story of Simon teach us about pride?

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/04/the-gift-of-grace?lang=eng

 

In the Bible we read of Christ’s visit to the home of Simon the Pharisee.

Outwardly, Simon seemed to be a good and upright man. He regularly checked off his to-do list of religious obligations: he kept the law, paid his tithing, observed the Sabbath, prayed daily, and went to the synagogue.

But while Jesus was with Simon, a woman approached, washed the Savior’s feet with her tears, and anointed His feet with fine oil.

Simon was not pleased with this display of worship, for he knew that this woman was a sinner. Simon thought that if Jesus didn’t know this, He must not be a prophet or He would not have let the woman touch him.

Perceiving his thoughts, Jesus turned to Simon and asked a question. “There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: … one owed five hundred pence, … the other fifty.

“And when they [both] had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?”

Simon answered that it was the one who was forgiven the most.

Then Jesus taught a profound lesson: “Seest thou this woman? … Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.”24

Which of these two people are we most like?

Are we like Simon? Are we confident and comfortable in our good deeds, trusting in our own righteousness? Are we perhaps a little impatient with those who are not living up to our standards? Are we on autopilot, going through the motions, attending our meetings, yawning through Gospel Doctrine class, and perhaps checking our cell phones during sacrament service?

Or are we like this woman, who thought she was completely and hopelessly lost because of sin?

Do we love much?

Do we understand our indebtedness to Heavenly Father and plead with all our souls for the grace of God?

When we kneel to pray, is it to replay the greatest hits of our own righteousness, or is it to confess our faults, plead for God’s mercy, and shed tears of gratitude for the amazing plan of redemption?25

Salvation cannot be bought with the currency of obedience; it is purchased by the blood of the Son of God.26 Thinking that we can trade our good works for salvation is like buying a plane ticket and then supposing we own the airline. Or thinking that after paying rent for our home, we now hold title to the entire planet earth.

Humility vs. Meekness

See also: How Can We Overcome Pride? and A Personal Checklist for Pride

What is Humility?

John 8:28–29, 50 “I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things … for I do always those things that please him. … And I seek not mine own glory.”

Preach My Gospel, Chapter 6: Humility is:

·         willingness to submit to the will of the Lord

·         to give the Lord the honor for what is accomplished.

·         It includes gratitude for His blessings

·         acknowledgment of your constant need for His divine help.

Meekness

Elder Maxwell, “Meekness—a Dimension of True Discipleship” 

The Greek rendition of the word "meek" in the New Testament, by the way, is “gentle and humble.”  Actually, meekness is not an attribute which is essential only in itself, said Moroni. It is also vital because one cannot develop those other crucial virtues—faith, hope, and charity—without meekness. In the ecology of the eternal attributes, these cardinal characteristics are inextricably bound up together. Among them, meekness is often the initiator, facilitator, and consolidator.

Meekness, however, is more than self-restraint; it is the presentation of self in a posture of kindness and gentleness, reflecting certitude, strength, serenity, and a healthy self-esteem and self-control. Furthermore, not only are the meek less easily offended, but they are less likely to give offense to others. Meekness also cultivates in us a generosity in viewing the mistakes and imperfections of others.  

Elder Bednar, “Meek and Lowly of Heart,” 4-18

Meekness is a defining attribute of the Redeemer and is distinguished by righteous responsiveness, willing submissiveness, and strong self-restraint.

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.

Whereas humility generally denotes dependence upon God and the constant need for His guidance and support, a distinguishing characteristic of meekness is a particular spiritual receptivity to learning both from the Holy Ghost and from people who may seem less capable, experienced, or educated, who may not hold important positions, or who otherwise may not appear to have much to contribute.

How do I get Humility?

·         Fast & Pray –

o   Helaman 3:35 “Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God."

·         Remember –

o   Alma 62:49 -50 "But notwithstanding their riches, or their strength, or their prosperity, they were not lifted up in the pride of their eyes; neither were they slow to remember the Lord their God; but they did humble themselves exceedingly before him. Yea, they did remember how great things the Lord had done for them, that he had delivered them from death, and from bonds, and from prisons, and from all manner of afflictions, and he had delivered them out of the hands of their enemies."

o   Mosiah 4:11–12 I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and our own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily. And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins.

·         Listen to the Word

o   Alma 48:20 “And thus they went forth, and the people did humble themselves because of their words, insomuch that they were highly favored of the Lord,"

·         Acknowledge that my Strength Comes from the Lord

o   Alma 26:12 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.

o              

What are the signs that I am Humble?

·         “Seeketh not her own” Moroni 7

o   Helaman 5:8 "that ye may not do these things that ye may boast, but that ye may do these things to lay up for yourselves a treasure in heaven, yea, which is eternal, and which fadeth not away; yea, that ye may have that precious gift"

o   John 7:16,18 “My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. … He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him”

·         Listens to the Counsel of the Lord

o   2 Nephi 9:28–29 When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves. But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God.

·         Accepts His Will

o   Matthew 26:39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

·         Accepts Corrections – Doesn’t Take the Word to be Hard

o   1 Nephi 16:1–3 And now my brethren, if ye were righteous and were willing to hearken to the truth, and give heed unto it, that ye might walk uprightly before God, then ye would not murmur because of the truth, and say: Thou speakest hard things against us.

o   2 Timothy 3:1–4

o   Proverbs 13:10

o   Proverbs 15:10 Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.

o   Proverbs 28:25

What Blessings Come from Humility?

·         Mosiah 4:11–12 Humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come. If ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins; and he shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true.

·         Alma 32:1–16 And now when Alma heard this, he turned him about, his face immediately towards him, and he beheld with great joy; for he beheld that their afflictions had truly humbled them, and that they were in a preparation to hear the word.

14 And now, as I said unto you, that because ye were compelled to be humble ye were blessed, do ye not suppose that they are more blessed who truly humble themselves because of the word?

Therefore, blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble; or rather, in other words, blessed is he that believeth in the word of God, and is baptized without stubbornness of heart, yea, without being brought to know the word, or even compelled to know, before they will believe.

Ether 12:27

D&C 12:8

D&C 67:10

D&C 112:10

D&C 136:32–33

Matthew 23:12

How can you recognize pride in yourself?

1 Nephi 15:7–11 Behold, I said unto them: How is it that ye do not keep the commandments of the Lord? How is it that ye will perish, because of the hardness of your hearts? Do ye not remember the things which the Lord hath said?—If ye will not harden your hearts, and ask me in faith, believing that ye shall receive, with diligence in keeping my commandments, surely these things shall be made known unto you.

Text from President Dallin H. Oaks, RootsTech 2018

President & Sister Oaks - RootsTech Family Discovery Day 2018

When individuals and families search out their ancestors’ inspiring actions and words, they will receive strength and direction for their own lives.

25:45 As we observed youth doing family history, we saw them:

·         experience almost instantaneous joy and

·         increased confidence.

·         They become more connected to their families.

·         They no longer feel so alone.

·         They begin to feel a celestial kinship.

·         They learn what it means to feel the Spirit.

·         Family history offers a healing influence and an assurance that each person is precious in the eyes of our Heavenly Father.

An important part of learning about our ancestors should occur in the home. That is where the hearts of the children can most effectively turn to their fathers.

14:00 Emphasize their abilities to bounce back and thrive. Family stories count.

16:58 When individuals and families search out their ancestors' inspiring actions and words, they will receive strength and direction for their own lives.

26:40 To help in our reading to children, we created a compilation of family experiences, spiritual promptings, and miracles called “Tell Me a Story.” Sister Oaks: We recommend that everyone create their own family history book.

34:35 The youth came to understand who they are and came to feel a closeness to their Savior. Share these ideas with your families.

41:34 Brothers and sisters, we live in the last days, wonderful days in which the Lord has promised that knowledge will flow down from Heaven until nothing shall be withheld from those who have endured valiantly for the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Technological resources unthinkable only a short time ago have been revealed and are being eagerly used by the rising generation. We must teach that generation to use it for holy purposes like FamilySearch, not for the evil or even the trivial.

Family history also connects us to heaven. It gives us an eternal perspective. As President Russell M. Nelson has said:

While temple and family history work has the power to bless those beyond the veil, it has an equal power to bless the living. It has a refining influence on those who are engaged in it.

Blog post: The Blessings of FamilyHistory Work and Temple Work

How to Improve our Scripture Study

1.     Do We Feel Like We Fail at Scripture Reading?

LDS.org - Understanding the Difference Between Guilt and Shame, Davis

“For most of my life, I’ve misunderstood guilt. I knew on some level I needed to feel guilt in order to bring me to repentance. I thought true repentance meant I had to feel really bad about myself for a long time. That’s how it works, right?    Wrong. I was mistaking guilt for shame. 

Guilt = I did something bad, something not in line with my values.

Shame = I am bad.

For example, let’s say you haven’t read your scriptures all week. If you think, “Ugh! I’m the worst! I’m never righteous enough,” that is shame. If you think, “Hmm, this business of not reading my scriptures all week—that is not in line with my values. I made a mistake. I better fix it,” that is guilt.”

2.     Why Study our Scriptures More Deeply?

Elder Kim B. Clark, “Encircled About with Fire”

Whatever level of spirituality we now enjoy in our lives; whatever degree of faith in Jesus Christ we now have; whatever strength of commitment and consecration, whatever degree of obedience or hope or charity is ours..., it will not be sufficient for the work that lies ahead.... •We need to educate the rising generation more deeply and more powerfully than we have ever done before or than anyone has ever done before.... •The rising generation needs that deep learning.

Deep learning is inherently a spiritual experience. The rising generation will learn deeply only insofar as the redeeming and strengthening powers of Christ work in their lives, purifying, sanctifying, and qualifying them to receive His grace and the gifts He has prepared for them. They must diligently work and seek learning, but they must also be cleansed through the atoning blood of Christ so that they can receive more light and be taught by the Holy Ghost.

The rising generation needs that deep learning because the world they will face will be both great and terrible—there will be increased light and power from heaven, and there will be even more terrible wickedness and turmoil and confusion. They will need to be grounded in the plain and simple truths of the gospel, the gospel will need to be deep in their hearts, and they will need what President Russell M. Nelson has called resilient faith in Christ: “Why do we need such resilient faith? Because difficult days are ahead. Rarely in the future will it be easy or popular to be a faithful Latter-day Saint.

President Russell M. Nelson, “A Plea to My Sisters”

Attacks against the Church, its doctrine, and our way of life are going to increase. Because of this, we need women who have a bedrock understanding of the doctrine of Christ and who will use that understanding to teach and help raise a sin-resistant generation.

Elder Neil L. Andersen, “A Compensatory Spiritual Power for the Righteous”

When I was a young man growing up in southeastern Idaho, I remember frequently hearing a quote from Elder Heber C. Kimball given in 1867: 

“To meet the difficulties that are coming, it will be necessary for you to have a knowledge of the truth of this work for yourselves. The difficulties will be of such a character that the man or woman who does not possess his personal knowledge or witness will fall. … The time will come when no man nor woman will be able to [stand] on borrowed light.”¹²

More than ever in the 64 years of my life, this prophetic statement by Heber C. Kimball is coming to pass. Deep, continuing conversion is becoming much more important for those desiring to keep their covenants. It is becoming more and more precarious to stand on borrowed light.

As evil increases in the world, there is a compensatory spiritual power for the righteous. As the world slides from its spiritual moorings, the Lord prepares the way for those who seek Him, offering them greater assurance, greater confirmation, and greater confidence in the spiritual direction they are traveling. The gift of the Holy Ghost becomes a brighter light in the emerging twilight.

My brothers and sisters, as evil increases in the world, there is a compensatory power, an additional spiritual endowment, a revelatory gift for the righteous.

I like to think of it this way: If two people are walking together along a very gentle terrain, one lantern is often sufficient. But when the time comes, as it does with each child, that he or she steps away from us to take his or her own journey, our light is no longer sufficient to light his or her way. And while one may be linked tightly to a companion—if you are fortunate enough to have a companion of faith—if we unexpectedly face jagged rocks and uneven cliffs, each needs his or her own lantern to light the path.

3.     How Can We Improve our Study? Here are a couple of ideas that have worked for me. Bring some ideas that have worked for you.

1.      Pray to know how to study better: Pres. Nelson, The Price of Priesthood Power

Are you willing to pray to know how to pray for more power? The Lord will teach you. Are you willing to search the scriptures and feast on the words of Christ—to study earnestly in order to have more power? If we will humbly present ourselves before the Lord and ask Him to teach us, He will show us how to increase our access to His power.

2

.      Use Colors to Mark Your Scriptures

Example:

·         The Strengthening aspect of Christ’s Atonement

o   Strength, power, grace

·         The Redeeming Aspect of Christ’s Atonement, repentance

·         The Savior

·         Holy Ghost, revelation

·         Strategies of Satan, sin, and evil

·         Family

3.      Three Approaches to Scripture Study – Elder Bednar, Reservoir of Living Water

I want to review with you three basic ways or methods of obtaining living water from the scriptural reservoir:

(1) reading the scriptures from beginning to end,

(2) studying the scriptures by topic, and

(3) searching the scriptures for connections, patterns, and themes.

4.      Always begin with some time in the Book of Mormon:

PRESIDENT MONSON:

This morning I speak about the power of the Book of Mormon and the critical need we have as members of this Church to study, ponder, and apply its teachings in our lives. If you are not reading the Book of Mormon each day, please do so. If you will read it prayerfully and with a sincere desire to know the truth, the Holy Ghost will manifest its truth to you.

My dear associates in the work of the Lord, I implore each of us to prayerfully study and ponder the Book of Mormon each day. As we do so:

1.      We will be in a position to hear the voice of the Spirit,

2.      to resist temptation, to overcome doubt and fear, and

3.      to receive heaven’s help in our lives.

I so testify with all my heart.

PRESIDENT NELSON

3 Promises by President Nelson: My dear brothers and sisters,

1)    I promise that as you prayerfully study the Book of Mormon every day, you will make better decisions—every day. 

2)    I promise that as you ponder what you study, the windows of heaven will open, and you will receive answers to your own questions and direction for your own life.

3)    I promise that as you daily immerse yourself in the Book of Mormon, you can be immunized against the evils of the day, even the gripping plague of pornography and other mind-numbing addictions.

PRESIDENT HINCKLEY:  I promise you [if you] read the Book of Mormon, there will come into your lives:

1.      An added measure of the Spirit

2.      A strengthened resolution to obey

3.      A stronger testimony of Jesus

   

    PRESIDENT BENSON: 

    President Ezra Taft Benson, Cleansing the Inner Vessel, April 1986

“ I counsel you... to make reading in the Book of Mormon a few minutes each day a lifelong practice. 

There is a power in the book which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book.  The power:

1.      To resist temptation

2.      To avoid deception

3.      Stay on strait path

When you begin to hunger and thirst after the Book of Mormon, you will find life in greater and greater abundance. 

PRESIDENT KIMBALL:

Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball

I find that when I get casual in my relationships with divinity and when it seems that no divine ear is listening and no divine voice is speaking, that I am far, far away.  If I immerse myself in the scriptures the distance narrows and the spirituality returns.