Be Cautious of Pride

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Hi, Everyone,

This week I wanted to use to consider pride. One cannot, or dare I say should not write about pride without at least one quote from President Ezra Taft Benson. His talk “Beware of Pride” gives the ultimate definition of pride. I have not found another person grasp the essence of this emotion with such clarity. In writing this post I wanted to share my understanding of pride through insights’ I have gained. One thing I know about pride is it has many faces, it slithers into our lives like an invisible boa constrictor tempting mankind, nobody is exempt. As it coils around us and gently squeezes, “the four horsemen” (Gottman) hear our whimpers and sobs and galloping to us.

I have been thinking about this topic and mentioned it last week in a post. On Sunday I referred to it again as I taught the Elders Quorum. Therefore, it was on the forefront of my mind and I have been doing a mental appraisal on my spiritual and emotional state. It is in this mind-set that I learned two key points.

I reflected on the word enmity and enmity being an enemy to God. Then I asked myself, “Self, how are you an enemy to God?”

I thought about wanting to do things my way and excluding Heavenly Father. “How can I exclude the Lord in my life?” By not praying, I said to myself. Light-bulb moment, I immediately realised that I had been neglecting to involve Heavenly Father in my calling.

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“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.” As Paul said, they “seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.” (Philip 2:21).” (Benson, Apr. 1989).

We have a busy household which includes two borders, a non-member and a less active member. Last Saturday, my daughter really needed an administration. I feared man for a split second. I didn’t know whether I should give Bethany the blessing in front of the non-member. In fact, I set the study up to give her the blessing. I knelt in prayer and asked for guidance and the spirit.

The spirit whispered to me quote, “This is your home, Nick respects you … remember you discussed with him about keeping the Sabbath day holy in your home and he positively responded?” I went to give my daughter the blessing and she set the chair up in the middle of the living room like we always do. I anointed her head and gave her blessing like I would normally. I experienced a form of pride. “The proud stand more in fear of men’s judgment than of God’s judgment. (See D&C 3:6–7, D&C 30:1–2, D&C 60:2. “What will men think of me?” weighs heavier than “What will God think of me?” (Benson, 1989).

“God has graciously given each of us an early warning system. When we are feeling irked, annoyed, or irritated with our spouse, we have our backs toward heaven. We are guilty of pride.” (Goddard p. 69). I have learned through the years if either my wife or I are annoyed then it’s time to say, “I am sorry sweetheart, I didn’t mean to upset you, please forgive me.” I would never make a family decision without consulting my wife.