Topic: Pride:

Isaiah 5:21 > Psalms 10  > 2 Timothy 3:1-5 > Doctrine and Covenants 23:1 > Jeremiah 13:15 > Doctrine and Covenants 88:121 > 1 John 2:16 > Deuteronomy 8:13-19 > 2 Nephi 9:28 > Proverbs 6:16-19 > Proverbs 13:10 > Proverbs 16: 18 > 1 Timothy 6:3-5 > Obadiah 1:3 > James 4:6 > 2 Nephi 26:20-21 > 2 Nephi 28:12-15 > Mormon 8:35-41 > Moroni 8:27 > Doctrine and Covenants 90:17 > Isaiah 2:10-17 > Malachi 4:1 > Jacob 2:16

This Scripture Train, treating the topic of Pride, is at the root of the previous Scripture Train we just discussed, Hard-heartedness. Pride is at the root of all sin. Isaiah warns, “Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!” From Psalms chapter 10, we learn that pride persecutes the poor, is boastful, covetous, does not seek after God, nor is God in his thoughts. We also learn that the proud is full of cursing, deceit, fraud, vanity and that he preys upon the poor. In 2 Timothy chapter 3 verses 1 through 5, we learn that pride is at the root of all sin; how else would we describe someone who is a lover of his own self, but that he is full of pride! All the sins mentioned in these verses have their root in pride! Pride gives self the credit rather than God. Pride does not show respect to man or to his property. Pride is selfish, vain, egotistical, narcissistic, thoughtless, crude, lazy and so much more. The Lord speaking to Oliver Cowdery in the Doctrine and Covenants section 23 verse 1, says that pride leads to temptation; we all know that temptation will lead to sin if not arrested. Jeremiah chapter 13 verse 15 quotes the Lord as saying, “Be not proud”. In the Doctrine and Covenants section 88 verse 121, the Lord commands us to cease from all our pride. Then in 1 John chapter 2 verse 16 we learn that pride is not of God, but rather it is of the world; the world, of course, means of the devil.

In Deuteronomy chapter 8 verses 13 through 19 and 2 Nephi chapter 9 verse 28, we learn why the Lord warns us of pride. We learn that it is the basic tendency of mankind that when he begins to gain wealth and wisdom or when he begins to prosper, when his money multiplies, when his crops increase, when his flocks and herds grow, then is when his heart is lifted up and he forgets the Lord who blessed him with the abilities, talents, skills and all the capacities of mind and body to do such great work. In both of these verses the Lord warns that these people will perish!

In Proverbs chapter 6 verses 16 through 19 we see a whole list of sins and it all begins with a proud look, which the Lord hates. Also in Proverbs chapter 13 verse 10, we learn that pride is the root cause of contention. From contention springs anger, wrath, quarreling, hatred, fighting, war and murder. In chapter 16 verses 18, we learn that pride brings about our fall and destruction. In 1 Timothy chapter 6 verses 3 through 5, we see another list of terrible sins all which stem from pride. Not only do these evils arise from pride, but in Obadiah chapter 1 verse 3, we learn that pride deceives our hearts. As we have shown in this Scripture Train, pride is at the root of all evil. As we allow pride to grow in our hearts, this pride turns on us and deceives us making us think that we really are the great guy that our vanity has led us to think. Is it any wonder as James chapter 4 verse 6 teaches that God resists the proud?

In 2 Nephi chapter 26 verses 20 and 21, and chapter 28 verses 12 through 15, we learn another very critical impact that the poison of pride causes. Pride is one of the key reasons why there are so many churches today. People, we learn, “Preach up unto themselves their own wisdom and their own learning”. “They put down the power and miracles of God”. These many churches, “Cause envying, and strife, and malice.” Due to, “False teachers and false doctrines, their churches have become corrupted”, they are lifted up in pride; they rob the poor and persecute the meek.

How can I recognize if I am caught up in the pride of my heart? What do the prophets of old admonish us to do? What advice or counsel do they give? Mormon chapter 8 verses 35 through 41 get us off to a good start in answering these questions. What are some of the signs of pride that Mormon warns of? 1. I wear costly apparel, 2. I cause others to envy me, 3. My church is polluted with sins caused by pride, 4. I love money, apparel, substance and so forth more than the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted, 5. I sell my teaching, my preaching, or my ministry for money, 6. I am ashamed to take upon myself the name of Christ, 7. I love adornments, 8. I ignore the sick, the naked, and the afflicted, 9. I seek for gain on the backs of the widow and the orphan, 10. I seek happiness in worldliness.

In these verses where Mormon asks us these questions, he asks an important, soul searching question, “Why do ye not think that greater is the value of an endless happiness than that misery which never dies?” Very thought provoking! If life goes on after death forever, then wouldn’t I rather be happy for all eternity than miserable? Wouldn’t it be worth giving up my pride now and humbling myself before God, than enjoying wickedness for a few years and then misery forever?  In Moroni chapter 8 verse 27, Mormon, writing to his son says that pride has destroyed the nation. Do we want to avoid destruction? If so, we’d better humble ourselves before God. The Lord teaches in the Doctrine and Covenants section 90 verse 17 that pride will snare our souls. He teaches us not to be ashamed, meaning of Himself, Jesus Christ. We learn that if we are not proud, then we will not be confounded, in other words, our enemies will never have power over us. He says we should take admonishment. In order to do so we need to be humble. Isaiah warns in chapter 2 verses 10 through 17 that in the end all the proud will be humbled; so either we can humble ourselves now or God will humble us later. Which will be better for us in the eternal scheme of things? Better for us to humble ourselves than for God to humble us, His will not be pleasant; if you think not then read Malachi chapter 4 verse 1. Neither root nor branch means that you will have neither posterity nor ancestry; you will be a lone individual in the eternities to come; all because of pride. Jacob, in the Book of Mormon  chapter 2 verse 16, gives us the final admonition: He exhorts us to rid ourselves of pride so that it will not destroy our souls.