(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