Pride

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. In a sense, pride is the original sin, for before the foundations of this earth, pride felled Lucifer, a son of the morning “who was in authority in the presence of God.” If pride can corrupt one as capable and promising as this, should we not examine our own souls as well?

Dieter F. Uchtdorf

General Priesthood Session, October 2010

When we try to judge people, which we should not do, we have a great tendency to look for and take pride in finding weaknesses and faults, such as vanity, dishonesty, immorality, and intrigue. As a result, we see only the worst side of those being judged.

N. Eldon Tanner

General Conference, April 1972

“Pride,” said John Ruskin, “is at the bottom of all great mistakes.”

At least, pride is one of the principal barriers to repentance, because we can’t correct an error without first admitting a mistake.

Richard L. Evans

October 1971

Some of us are inclined to look to the weaknesses and shortcomings of others in order to expand our own comfort zone.

Marvin J. Ashton

General Conference, April 1988

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." When we see the world around us through the lens of the pure love of Christ, we begin to understand humility.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf

General Priesthood Session, October 2010

Pride is sinful....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."

Dieter F. Uchtdorf

General Priesthood Session, October 2010

Having a “mind hardened in pride” often afflicts the brightest who could also be the best. “One thing” the brightest often lack: meekness! Instead of having “a willing mind” which seeks to emulate the “mind of Christ,” a “mind hardened in pride” is impervious to counsel and often seeks ascendancy.  Jesus, who was and is “more intelligent than they all,” is also more meek than they all.

Jesus put everything on the altar without fanfare or bargaining. Both before and after His astonishing atonement, He declared, “Glory be to the Father.” Jesus, stunningly brilliant, nevertheless allowed His will to be “swallowed up in the will of the Father.” Those with pride-hardened minds are simply unable to do this.

Neal A. Maxwell

General Conference, October 1990

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.

C.S. Lewis

Mere Christianity, New York: Macmillan, 1952, pp. 109–10

Quoted by Ezra Taft Benson

General Conference, April 1989

There is enough heartache and sorrow in this life without our adding to it through our own stubbornness, bitterness, and resentment.

We are not perfect.

The people around us are not perfect. People do things that annoy, disappoint, and anger. In this mortal life it will always be that way.

Nevertheless, we must let go of our grievances. Part of the purpose of mortality is to learn how to let go of such things. That is the Lord’s way.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf

General Conference, April 2012

Pride is the great stumbling block to Zion....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. 
• We can choose to humble ourselves by receiving counsel and chastisement
• We can choose to humble ourselves by forgiving those who have offended us.
• We can choose to humble ourselves by rendering selfless service.
• We can choose to humble ourselves by going on missions and preaching the word that can humble others.
• 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.
• We can choose to humble ourselves by loving God, submitting our will to His, and putting Him first in our lives.

Let us choose to be humble. We can do it. I know we can.

President Ezra Taft Benson

General Conference, April 1989

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. There is, however, a far more common ailment among us—and 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.

We can be grateful for our health, wealth, possessions, or positions, but when we begin to inhale it—when we become obsessed with our status; when we focus on our own importance, power, or reputation; when we dwell upon our public image and believe our own press clippings—that’s when the trouble begins; that’s when pride begins to corrupt.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf

General Conference, October 2010