Another good conference talk for this week is one given by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf in October 2010.
"Every mortal," President Uchtdorf warned, "has at least a casual if not intimate relationship with the sin of pride. No one has avoided it; few overcome it."
After referencing another talk on Pride, President Ezra Taft Benson's in 1989, President Uchtdorf noted that the word "pride" almost became taboo in the church. Members wondered if they could say that they were "proud" of their children, or if they could take "pride" in their work. "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.'"
President Uchtdorf then said, "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."
So what is the difference between being prideful and having pride in certain things? "Pride is sinful, as President Benson so memorably taught, because it breeds hatred or hostility and places us in opposition to God and our fellowmen. At its core, pride is a sin of comparison, for though it usually begins with 'Look how wonderful I am and what great things I have done,' it always seems to end with 'Therefore, I am better than you.'"
When we are filled with this pride we are in danger of violating the two great commandments. "Instead of worshiping God and loving our neighbor, we reveal the real object of our worship and love -- the image we see in the mirror. Pride is the great sin of self-elevation. It is for so many a personal Rameumptom, a holy stand that justifies envy, greed, and vanity."
Pride can lead to other sins, as well. "Pride is a deadly cancer. It is a gateway sin that leads to a host of other human weaknesses. In fact, it could be said that every other sin is, in essence, a manifestation of pride. This sin has many faces. It leads some to revel in their own perceived self-worth, accomplishments, talents, wealth, or position. They count these blessings as evidence of being 'chosen,' 'superior,' or 'more righteous' than others. This is the sin of 'Thank God I am more special than you.' At its core is the desire to be admired or envied. It is the sin of self-glorification. For others, pride turns to envy: they look bitterly at those who have better positions, more talents, or greater possessions than they do. They seek to hurt, diminish, and tear down others in a misguided and unworthy attempt at self-elevation. When those they envy stumble or suffer, they secretly cheer."
President Uchtdorf went on to discuss pride and sports"
"Perhaps there is no better laboratory to observe the sin of pride than the world of sports. I have always loved participating in and attending sporting events. But I confess there are times when the lack of civility in sports is embarrassing. How is it that normally kind and compassionate human beings can be so intolerant and filled with hatred toward an opposing team and its fans?
"I have watched sports fans vilify and demonize their rivals. They look for any flaw and magnify it. They justify their hatred with broad generalizations and apply them to everyone associated with the other team. When ill fortune afflicts their rival, they rejoice.
"Brethren, unfortunately we see today too often the same kind of attitude and behavior spill over into the public discourse of politics, ethnicity, and religion.
"My dear brethren of the priesthood, my beloved fellow disciples of the gentle Christ, should we not hold ourselves to a higher standard? As priesthood bearers, we must realize that all of God’s children wear the same jersey. Our team is the brotherhood of man. This mortal life is our playing field. Our goal is to learn to love God and to extend that same love toward our fellowman. We are here to live according to His law and establish the kingdom of God. We are here to build, uplift, treat fairly, and encourage all of Heavenly Father’s children."
How, then do we counter the impulse to be prideful?
"In this, as in all things, Jesus Christ is our perfect example," said President Uchtdorf. "Whereas Lucifer tried to change the Father’s plan of salvation and obtain honor for himself, the Savior said, 'Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever.' Despite His magnificent abilities and accomplishments, the Savior was always meek and humble."
We should be humble and full of love:
"It is almost impossible to be lifted up in pride when our hearts are filled with charity. 'No one can assist in this work except he shall be humble and full of love' (Doctrine and Covenants 12:8). When we see the world around us through the lens of the pure love of Christ, we begin to understand humility."
President Uchtdorf then tells us what humility is and is not:
"Humility does not mean convincing ourselves that we are worthless, meaningless, or of little value. Nor does it mean denying or withholding the talents God has given us. We don’t discover humility by thinking less of ourselves; we discover humility by thinking less about ourselves. It comes as we go about our work with an attitude of serving God and our fellowman. Humility directs our attention and love toward others and to Heavenly Father’s purposes. Pride does the opposite. Pride draws its energy and strength from the deep wells of selfishness. The moment we stop obsessing with ourselves and lose ourselves in service, our pride diminishes and begins to die."
President Uchtdorf then concludes:
"My dear brethren, there are so many people in need whom we could be thinking about instead of ourselves. . . . My beloved brethren, let us follow the example of our Savior and reach out to serve rather than seeking the praise and honor of men. It is my prayer that we will recognize and root out unrighteous pride in our hearts and that we will replace it with righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, [and] meekness'” (1 Timothy 6:11).
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