The LDS Daily WOOL© Archive - Pride 


(6/1/98)
"Pride affects all of us at various times and in various degrees. Now you can see why the building in Lehi's dream that represents the pride of the world was large and spacious and great was the multitude that did enter into it (see 1 Nephi 8:26, 33; 11:35-36). Pride is the universal sin, the great vice. Yes, pride is the universal sin, the great vice."— Ezra Taft Benson, "Beware Of Pride," General Conference, April 1989 

(6/2/98)
"Perhaps the greatest obstacle to our ability to hearken courageously to the word of the Lord involves our egos, vain ambitions, and pride. It seems that the proud find it burdensome to hear and accept the instruction of God. We are told in Proverbs that 'pride goeth before destruction' (Prov. 16:18). The proud are more anxious about man's judgment than they are of God's judgment."— H. David Burton, "Ensign," May 1994 (April Conference) page 68 

(6/3/98)
"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."— Ezra Taft Benson, "Beware Of Pride," General Conference, April 1989 

(6/4/98)
"Satan uses that very delicate line between self-confidence and pride to blind us. He can keep us so frenzied in our efforts to protect our self-esteem that we are blinded to the one quality that would assure it—true dependence upon the Lord."— Patricia T. Holland, "Becoming 'Meek and Lowly in Heart'," BYU Speeches of the Year, 21 January 1986 

(6/5/98)
"When the Twelve or any other witnesses stand before the congregations of the earth, and they preach in the power and demonstration of the Spirit of God, and the people are astonished and confounded at the doctrine, and say, 'That man has preached a powerful discourse, a great sermon,' then let that man or those men take care that they do not ascribe the glory unto themselves, but be careful that they are humble, and ascribe the praise and glory to God and the Lamb; for it is by the power of the Holy Priesthood and the Holy Ghost that they have power thus to speak. What art thou, O man, but dust? And from whom receivest thou thy power and blessings, but from God?"— Joseph Smith, "Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith," p. 155 

(6/15/04)
"Essentially, pride is a 'my will' rather than 'thy will' approach to life. The opposite of pride is humbleness, meekness, submissiveness (see Alma 13:28), or teachableness." - Ezra Taft Benson, "Cleansing the Inner Vessel," Ensign, May 1986, p. 6

1/26/06
"Pride and vanity, the opposites of humility, can destroy our spiritual health as surely as a debilitating disease can destroy our physical health." - Joseph B. Wirthlin, "The Straight and Narrow Way," Ensign (CR), November 1990, p.64

6/11/07
"A little prosperity and peace, or even a turn slightly for the better, can bring us feelings of self-sufficiency. We can feel quickly that we are in control of our lives, that the change for the better is our own doing, not that of a God who communicates to us through the still, small voice of the Spirit. Pride creates a noise within us which makes the quiet voice of the Spirit hard to hear. And soon, in our vanity, we no longer even listen for it. We can come quickly to think we don't need it." - Henry B. Eyring, "Prayer," Ensign (CR), November 2001, p.15


8/9/07
"While on our spiritual flight, let us totally empty our ballast bag of pride and be more humble in all things, always remembering the Saviors glorious promise to all: 'And inasmuch as you have humbled yourselves before me, the blessings of the kingdom are yours.' (
D&C 61:37.)" - Jacob de Jager, "Climbing to Higher Spirituality," Ensign (CR), May 1983, p.75


9/11/09
“And so I repeat, do not let pride stand in your way. The way of the gospel is a simple way. Some of the requirements may appear to you as elementary and unnecessary. Do not spurn them. Humble yourselves and walk in obedience. I promise that the results that follow will be marvelous to behold and satisfying to experience.” - Gordon B. Hinckley, “Everything to Gain-Nothing to Lose,” Ensign (CR), November 1976, p. 95


9/23/10
"I also remember one interesting side effect of President Benson’s influential talk [, Beware Of Pride]. For a while it almost became taboo among Church members to say that they were 'proud' of their children or their country or that they took 'pride' in their work. The very word pride seemed to become an outcast in our vocabulary.

"In the scriptures we find plenty of examples of good and righteous people who rejoice in righteousness and at the same time glory in the goodness of God. Our Heavenly Father Himself introduced His Beloved Son with the words 'in whom I am well pleased.'

"Alma gloried in the thought that he might 'be an instrument in the hands of God.' The Apostle Paul gloried in the faithfulness of members of the Church. The great missionary Ammon gloried in the success he and his brothers had experienced as missionaries.

"I believe there is a difference between being proud of certain things and being prideful. I am proud of many things. I am proud of my wife. I am proud of our children and grandchildren.

"I am proud of the youth of the Church, and I rejoice in their goodness. I am proud of you, my dear and faithful brethren. I am proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with you as a bearer of the holy priesthood of God.” - Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Pride and the Priesthood,” Ensign (CR) October 2010


1/12/12
All too frequently, one who has done many splendid things in life and made an excellent contribution will let pride cause him to lose the rich reward to which he would be entitled otherwise. We should always wear the sackcloth and ashes of a forgiving heart and a contrite spirit, being willing always to exercise genuine humility, as did the publican [see Luke 18:9-14], and ask the Lord to help us to forgive. - "Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball," p.101


4/21/16
Pride is short-tempered, unkind, and envious. Pride exaggerates its own strength and ignores the virtues of others. Pride is selfish and easily provoked. Pride assumes evil intent where there is none and hides its own weaknesses behind clever excuses. Pride is cynical, pessimistic, angry, and impatient. Indeed, if charity is the pure love of Christ, then pride is the defining characteristic of Satan. - Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “In Praise of Those Who Save,” Ensign (CR) May 2016


 
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