Ezra Taft Benson said that pride manifests itself in different ways, which he called the "faces of pride." Some of the manifestations he identified were selfishness, contention, defensiveness, and unwillingness to repent. (See "Beware of Pride," General Conference, April 1989.) I've been thinking today about a few other manifestations of pride. These thoughts were prompted... Continue Reading →
Thousands vs. Ten Thousands
How easily we can become unsettled when we compare ourselves with others. Saul, who was king of Israel, heard that women across his country were singing, "Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands." How could this be? He was the king; he was supposed to get the most "likes." He thought to himself,... Continue Reading →
“Vaunteth Not Itself”
The word "vaunt" appears twice in the Bible: once when the Lord tells Gideon to reduce the size of his army, "lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me" (Judges 7:2), and again when the apostle Paul tells the Corinthians, "Charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up...seeketh not her... Continue Reading →
“Up, Make Us Gods”
Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made.Isaiah 2:8, 2 Nephi 12:8 When Moses delayed coming down from Mount Sinai, the Israelites became restless. Turning to Moses' second in command, Aaron, they demanded that he create idols for them to worship, following the pattern... Continue Reading →
A Tower to Get to Heaven
Sometime after the Great Flood, the descendants of Noah were gathered in a place called Shinar, which later became known as Babylonia. They collectively resolved to build "a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven." They viewed this project as a way to avoid being "scattered abroad upon the face of the... Continue Reading →
Equal
In 1832, Joseph Smith received a revelation instructing church leaders to organize themselves more fully to ensure that the needs of all church members could be met. In that revelation, the Lord taught the following principle: If ye are not equal in earthly things ye cannot be equal in obtaining heavenly things;Doctrine and Covenants 78:6 What does... Continue Reading →
Stripped of Pride, Stripped of Envy
There are some things we need to acquire as we prepare to meet God. There are also things we need to abandon. As Alma spoke to the people of Zarahemla, he specifically identified two things they needed to eliminate from their lives in order to be ready to be with God: Behold, are ye stripped... Continue Reading →
“Lest Ye Become as the Nephites of Old”
Prosperity without pride is a worthy goal. After Lehi and his family abandoned their home in Jerusalem, leaving behind their gold, silver, and precious things (1 Nephi 2:4), the Lord promised them that, if they would keep His commandments, they would prosper in their new land (1 Nephi 2:20). After arriving on the American continent,... Continue Reading →
“Are Ye Stripped of Pride?” – Alma 5:28
In his sermon to the people of Zarahemla, Alma asked a number of challenging questions, including the following: Behold, are ye stripped of pride? I say unto you, if ye are not ye are not prepared to meet God. Behold ye must prepare quickly; for the kingdom of heaven is soon at hand, and such an... Continue Reading →
On Prophets and Pride
In Samuel the Lamanite’s teachings in Helaman 13-15, he is quick to point out the pride that has overtaken the Nephite society. Samuel the Lamanite declares: ...for as the Lord liveth, if a prophet come among you and declareth unto you the word of the Lord, which testifieth of your sins and iniquities, ye are... Continue Reading →
Book of Mormon Study Notes 