Pride, the most important spiritual warning? What a value judgment. But there are reasons why it might be so. The spiritual warning in the Book of Mormon is as follows:
“They wear stiff necks and high heads; yea, and because of pride, and wickedness, and abominations, and whoredoms, they have all gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ; nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men. Oh, the wise, and the learned, and the rich, that are puffed up in the pride of their hearts, and all those who preach false doctrines, and all those who commit whoredoms, and pervert the right way of the Lord, wo, wo, wo be unto them, saith the Lord God Almighty, for they shall be thrust down to hell.” (2 Nephi 28: 14-15.)”
“Behold, the pride of this nation, or the people of Nephi, hath proven their destruction except they should repent.” (Moroni 8:27)
Pride has Four Great faults
1. Pride does not acknowledge that the advantages one has (health, strength, intelligence, wealth) are all gifts from God. To acknowledge those gifts would be humility, the opposite of pride.
2. Pride keeps us from seeing ourselves as we truly are, in great need of being saved from ourselves.
3. Pride justifies us in trespassing against our neighbor, advancing ourselves at our neighbor’s expense.
4. Pride blocks us from receiving the Holy Spirit, that companionship that is essential to salvation.
Pride Does Not Acknowledge Gifts From God
1. Pride does not acknowledge that the advantages one has (health, strength, intelligence, wealth) are all gifts from God. To acknowledge those as gifts would be humility, the opposite of pride.
The “natural man,” a human being who has not been rescued from spiritual death through faith in Jesus Christ, usually thinks of himself or herself as a product of nature. Blind chance has brought him or her into this world and has given all that the person has, and therefore there is no gratitude due to anyone for any advantages one may have.
Pride Keeps Us From Seeing Ourselves
2. Pride keeps us from seeing ourselves as we truly are, in great need of being saved from ourselves. Our only real enemy is the character weaknesses that allow us to break the commandments of God. One part of Christ’s mission is to direct the Holy Spirit to labor with each of us to give up our weaknesses and gain the strength to become like Jesus Christ. Then we also will only do the will of the Father. Then the world will be at peace and we will have a heaven on earth. If we would each give up our pride in our sinning and become like little children, meek, submissive, and obedient to the Savior, then the millennium would come without the need to cleanse the earth of all pride and arrogance.
Pride Justifies Us Against Our Neighbor
Pride justifies us in trespassing against our neighbor, advancing ourselves at our neighbor’s expense. The proud person thinks to himself “I deserve what I want” and proceeds to take what he wants by any means. This proud person does not know God but does listen to the voice of Satan. Satan assures him that he does indeed deserve what he wants. And Satan always confirms him in his selfish desires, a most desirable companion to those who see themselves as the most important person on the scene.
Pride Blocks Us From Receiving the Holy Spirit
Pride blocks us from receiving the Holy Spirit, that companionship that is essential to salvation. The proud person cannot receive the ministrations of the Holy Spirit because he does not want to do so. He wants to see himself as more, not less, and the Holy Spirit always enjoins one to be humble, as a little child, and to sacrifice to bless others. But the proud person always wants to be more, not less, and to help someone else only if the deed will renown to his own glory.
Remember: The ultimate pride is to reject Jesus Christ and to pretend that we don’t need Him.
Chauncey C. Riddle
“Guest Post”
P.S. Chauncy C. Riddle’s understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ and his political awareness is unmatched. Chauncey C Riddle is a Professor Emeritus of Philosophy from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. He is a religious leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He has written many articles for the Ensign, Sunstone Magazine, and BYU Studies. He has also written countless articles and has published the milestone book entitled, “Think Independently,” which can be purchased at Amazon
You may be interested in additional “Guest Posts” by Chauncey C. Riddle.
“Two Hearts and Two Minds”
“The Most Important Verse in the Book of Mormon”
“The Great And Abominable Church”
“The Most Important Temporal Warning In The Book of Mormon”
His website, “Learning To Think”, has several fascinating articles: chaunceyriddle.org