Lessons from the Doctrine and Covenants 2021
Lesson No. Sixteen
A Clear and Present Danger - D&C 38:39
Pride, in its many manifestations such as violence, terrorism, racism, and contention, is a clear and present danger – The Lord warned people in the latter days to “beware of pride, lest ye become as the Nephites of old” (D&C 38:39). President Ezra Taft Benson in a landmark sermon said: “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” (Beware of Pride, Ensign, May 1989). There are two basic types of pride which overlap and blend together – the pride of self-conceit and the pride of comparison.
The pride of self-conceit is manifested in enmity toward God – We are warned against enmity toward God in the first four of the Ten Commandments. Specifically, the first two of the Ten Commandments can be summed up as a warning against idolatry. “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” and “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image” (Exodus 20:3-4). President Spencer W. Kimball spoke of members of the Church who “have submitted themselves in one degree or another to the enticings of Satan and his servants and joined with those of “the world” in lives of ever-deepening idolatry. I use the word idolatry intentionally. As I study ancient scripture, I am more and more convinced that there is significance in the fact that the commandment ‘Thou shalt have no other gods before me’ is the first of the Ten Commandments” (The False Gods We Worship, Ensign, June 1976).
The antidote to the pride of self-conceit, which often afflicts the learned, is humility –“When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know for themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish. But to be learned is good if they harken unto the counsels of God” (2 Nephi 9:28-29). There are many examples of people who are learned and also humble. These people recognize the hand of the Lord in their lives and in their area of expertise.
The pride of comparison is manifested in contention and enmity toward others and often afflicts the rich – We are warned against enmity toward others in the last six of the Ten Commandments. The Book of Mormon is also very explicit in its warning against the pride of comparison. “But wo unto the rich…For because they are rich they despise the poor, and they persecute the meek, and their hearts are upon their treasures; wherefore, their treasure is their god. And behold, their treasure shall perish with them also” (2 Nephi 9:30). C. S. Lewis said: “Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than then the next man…It is the comparison that makes you proud.”
The antidote for the pride of comparison is love – “Thus did Alma teach his people, that every man should love his neighbor as himself, that there should be no contention among them. For 200 years after the Lord’s resurrected ministry among the Nephites, “there was no contention because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people” (4 Nephi 1:15).
Today, in families, communities, and nations, pride is a clear and present danger – Thirty years ago President Benson also said: “Another face of pride is contention. Arguments, fights, unrighteous dominion, generation gaps, divorces, spouse abuse, riots, and disturbances all fall into this category of pride. Contention in our families drives the Spirit of the Lord away. It also drives many of our family members away. Contention ranges from a hostile spoken word to worldwide conflicts” (Beware of Pride). Pride and enmity toward God and man continues to intensify. Racism and violence are manifestations of dangerous pride. The cancel culture where the opinions of others and the right to express them are not tolerated is another example, and the list goes on and on.
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are called to overcome pride and be agents of reconciliation and unity – In His great Intercessory Prayer Jesus prayed for unity among His people: “That they all may be one, as thou, Father, are in me, and I in thee, that they may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (John 17:21, emphasis added). In this prayer we are reminded that unity among His people is an important way by which the world will believe that He was sent by His Father. Furthermore, we believe that “All human beings – male and female – are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and as such, each has a divine nature and destiny” (The Family – A Proclamation to the World).
We are all brothers and sisters, children of Heavenly Parents – If we truly believe this, we will eliminate enmity and pride from our lives, and we will keep “the first and great commandment” to “love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind….And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Matthew 22:37-39).