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I've been thinking alot about Pride today. I think it's one of the biggest problems we have as a people. We are a very proud people and pride comes before destruction. That's why we are in danger of losing our Republic.
I am convinced that in order to save our Republic we have to reform ourselves. We have to become a humble people. So I thought I'd share the most powerful sermon I know of concerning the evils of pride and how to overcome that flaw in ourselves. I would invite everyone to read it for themselves and think of something you can reform in your life to eliminate pride. I would also invite anyone to share their thoughts or any other quotes or sermons on the matter. If we keep sharing our knowledge, we can all grow together. I'll post some excerpts from Beware of Pride:
About the causes of Pride:
About emnity with our fellow men
Some solutions to pride:
I know I've posted alot. Please read what you can and ponder it. And let's discuss more about it. Put a desire for humility in our hearts. The key to fixing our Republic and our world is fixing ourselves and our family. That is the only way.
I am convinced that in order to save our Republic we have to reform ourselves. We have to become a humble people. So I thought I'd share the most powerful sermon I know of concerning the evils of pride and how to overcome that flaw in ourselves. I would invite everyone to read it for themselves and think of something you can reform in your life to eliminate pride. I would also invite anyone to share their thoughts or any other quotes or sermons on the matter. If we keep sharing our knowledge, we can all grow together. I'll post some excerpts from Beware of Pride:
About the causes of Pride:
Pride is a very misunderstood sin, and many are sinning in ignorance. (See Mosiah 3:11; 3 Ne. 6:18.) In the scriptures there is no such thing as righteous prideit is always considered a sin. Therefore, no matter how the world uses the term, we must understand how God uses the term so we can understand the language of holy writ and profit thereby. (See 2 Ne. 4:15; Mosiah 1:37; Alma 5:61.)
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 enmityenmity 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. (Emphasis added)
About emnity with our fellow men
Another major portion of this very prevalent sin of pride is enmity toward our fellowmen. We are tempted daily to elevate ourselves above others and diminish them. (See Hel. 6:17; D&C 58:41.)
The proud make every man their adversary by pitting their intellects, opinions, works, wealth, talents, or any other worldly measuring device against others. In the words of C. S. Lewis: Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man. It is the comparison that makes you proud: the pleasure of being above the rest. Once the element of competition has gone, pride has gone. (Mere Christianity, New York: Macmillan, 1952, pp. 10910
Some prideful people are not so concerned as to whether their wages meet their needs as they are that their wages are more than someone elses. Their reward is being a cut above the rest. This is the enmity of pride.
When pride has a hold on our hearts, we lose our independence of the world and deliver our freedoms to the bondage of mens 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. (See 1 Ne. 8:1928; 1 Ne. 11:25; 1 Ne. 15:2324.)
Pride is a sin that can readily be seen in others but is rarely admitted in ourselves. Most of us consider pride to be a sin of those on the top, such as the rich and the learned, looking down at the rest of us. (See 2 Ne. 9:42.) There is, however, a far more common ailment among usand that is pride from the bottom looking up. It is manifest in so many ways, such as faultfinding, gossiping, backbiting, murmuring, living beyond our means, envying, coveting, withholding gratitude and praise that might lift another, and being unforgiving and jealous.
Some solutions to pride:
The antidote for pride is humilitymeekness, submissiveness. (See Alma 7:23.) It is the broken heart and contrite spirit. (See 3 Ne. 9:20; 3 Ne. 12:19; D&C 20:37; D&C 59:8; Ps. 34:18; Isa. 57:15; Isa. 66:2.) As Rudyard Kipling put it so well:
The tumult and the shouting dies;
The captains and the kings depart.
Still stands thine ancient sacrifice,
An humble and a contrite heart.
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget, lest we forget.
God will have a humble people. Either we can choose to be humble or we can be compelled to be humble. Alma said, Blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble. (Alma 32:16.)
Let us choose to be humble.
We can choose to humble ourselves by conquering enmity toward our brothers and sisters, esteeming them as ourselves, and lifting them as high or higher than we are. (See D&C 38:24; D&C 81:5; D&C 84:106.)
We can choose to humble ourselves by receiving counsel and chastisement. (See Jacob 4:10; Hel. 15:3; D&C 63:55; D&C 101:45; D&C 108:1; D&C 124:61, 84; D&C 136:31; Prov. 9:8.)
We can choose to humble ourselves by forgiving those who have offended us. (See 3 Ne. 13:11, 14; D&C 64:10.)
We can choose to humble ourselves by rendering selfless service. (See Mosiah 2:1617.)
We can choose to humble ourselves by going on missions and preaching the word that can humble others. (See Alma 4:19; Alma 31:5; Alma 48:20.)
We can choose to humble ourselves by getting to the temple more frequently.
We can choose to humble ourselves by confessing and forsaking our sins and being born of God. (See D&C 58:43; Mosiah 27:2526; Alma 5:714, 49.)
We can choose to humble ourselves by loving God, submitting our will to His, and putting Him first in our lives. (See 3 Ne. 11:11; 3 Ne. 13:33; Moro. 10:32.)
Let us choose to be humble. We can do it. I know we can.
I know I've posted alot. Please read what you can and ponder it. And let's discuss more about it. Put a desire for humility in our hearts. The key to fixing our Republic and our world is fixing ourselves and our family. That is the only way.