Pride

I have thought a lot about this subject this week. Pride ended my first two marriages. It was pride in both parts. We couldn’t see past it to fix the marriages. I am glad that in my current marriage it is different. Yes, we have issues with pride, just like any other man and woman, but we quickly humble ourselves and fix our way of thinking. I loved the talk “Beware of Pride” By President Ezra Taft Benson. It got me to think about somethings, he said.  I never thought about pride as an enmity towards God. President Benson stated. 

“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.”

When I read this statement, it put pride in different perspectives. Yes, we describe pride as many of the things President Benson stated but never have I thought of pride as hatred or hostility towards God.  I have had some pride issues, but I never thought to hate towards Heavenly Father.  I have always love Heavenly Father. I have had problems with thinking that my husbands’ irritants were his and his alone to fix. After reading Beware of Pride, I now know that it is my thinking that needs to be fixed. I need to humble myself to Heavenly Father and ask for forgiveness and to see my husband as He sees him.  President Benson stated that 

“When pride has a hold on our hearts, we lose our independence of the world and deliver our freedoms to the bondage of men’s judgment. The world shouts louder than the whisperings of the Holy Ghost. The reasoning of men overrides the revelations of God, and the proud let go of the iron rod. “

The statement that the proud let go of the iron rod is scary to me. I never want to let go of the iron rod. We must work to keep pride out of our hearts, homes, and minds. We must humble ourselves before Heavenly Father and seek his eyes. Seek to see people the way He sees them. Love with compassion and never lose sight of Heavenly Father.