Pride is a sin that comes in many forms. Sometimes people aren’t even aware that they are guilty of sin. What is pride? President Ezra Taft Benson(President of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints from 1985-1994) explains what the sin of pride is, “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. 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.”[i]
Whenever we are showing hatred towards our fellow man or not obeying God’s will, we are guilty of the sin of pride and sinning against God. I sometimes forget that it is a commandment to” love our neighbor as ourselves,” and if we are angry, and have hate in our heart towards another person, even if they did something to hurt us, we are committing sin because we are required not to judge and to forgive those who have wronged us.
President Benson warns us about the damage; pride does to relationships, families, communities, and societies. “Another face of pride is contention. Arguments, fights, unrighteous dominion, generation gaps, divorces, spouse abuse, riots, and disturbances all fall into this category of pride. Contention in our families drives the Spirit of the Lord away. It also drives many of our family members away. Contention ranges from a hostile spoken word to worldwide conflicts. The scriptures tell us that “only by pride cometh contention.” (Prov. 13:10; see also Prov. 28:25.) The scriptures testify that the proud are easily offended and hold grudges. (See 1 Ne. 16:1–3.) They withhold forgiveness to keep another in their debt and to justify their injured feelings. The proud do not receive counsel or correction easily. (See Prov. 15:10; Amos 5:10.) Defensiveness is used by them to justify and rationalize their frailties and failures. (See Matt. 3:9; John 6:30–59.) Pride adversely affects all our relationships—our relationship with God and His servants, between husband and wife, parent and child, employer and employee, teacher and student, and all mankind. Our degree of pride determines how we treat our God and our brothers and sisters. Christ wants to lift us to where He is. Do we desire to do the same for others?”[ii]
[i] “Beware of Pride”, Ezra Taft Benson, General Conference the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1 April 1989.
President Benson has warned us of how pride can damage relationships and how by letting go of pride and lifting others up as Christ lifts us up, we will know happiness and love. He encourages us all to lift each other up. Will you except President Benson’s invitation to follow the Savoir by lifting others up and turning away from pride?
[ii] “Beware of Pride”, Ezra Taft Benson, General Conference the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1 April 1989.
[iii] Pride image , https://pxhere.com/en/photo/334547
Happy Eternal Marriage and Family 