Spiritual thought (pride)

Today I decided that it would probably be a good idea to start studying more to prepare for my mission. To do that I read Beware of Pride by Ezra Taft Benson, read my scriptures (Alma), and Chapter 2 of Preach My Gospel.

If you haven't read Beware of Pride, I would commend you to do so. It is beautiful. As I was reading it I couldn't stop highlighting. If I could, I would have colored that entire page yellow (I guess I could have... it was that good.).I learned so much within that thirty minutes. It has been an answer to my prayers.

I hope as I'm sharing with you my insights on what I have learned tonight, I don't sound hypocritical. If I do, that's not what I'm trying to do. 

We are all guilty of being prideful. There are those people who say that they are right, that they are better than certain people-- "it's their fault that they are who they are," you usually hear them say. They try and get God to accommodate to what they are thinking. Well, friends, we can't do that. Pride turns into being proud. "The proud wish God would agree with them. They aren't interested in changing their opinions to agree with God's." That is so sad. But also so true.

I am sad to say that I have done this. Like I said though, it has been an answer to my prayers. A couple years ago I remember buying a Starbucks coffee for a drive to St George. I remember thinking, I don't get why coffee is so bad-- why the Church looks down on it. I only drink it every so often. That, right there, is where I made a  mistake. God gave us the Word of Wisdom for a reason. I shouldn't have to justify it. I have said that about a few things and this talk has really helped me receive an answer. Humbled!

Then there are those people who try and one up one another. "Would we not do well to have the pleasing of God as our motive rather than to try to elevate ourselves above our brother and outdo another?"

Lately, I have had a hard time to forgive those who put me down in my past. In high school there were people who would treat me differently. My family didn't have tons of money, nice things, and I didn't play sports. Even today I see those who used to treat me differently and just get upset. Elder Benson talks about those who gossip, who back stab, envy, and covet-- that's pride from the bottom looking up.

I gossip. I look around at those things others have and wish I had that. I am going to try hard to not do that anymore. It's going to be tough but I'm challenging myself with this. I can do it.

Then there's the worldly attractions and those material things you "have" to have to be accepted. "The world shouts louder than the whisperings of the Holy Ghost."

We all probably know someone who is a materialistic type of person-- has to have all the new stuff to feel accepted by the world and those of it. If someone isn't up on the latest fashion trends or have the newest smart phones, they are looked down on. "Pride is ugly. It says, 'If you succeed, I am a failure.'" I will admit that I have wanted the newest things. I will be the first to admit. I wish I didn't though. I need to learn to appreciate what I do have.

"The antidote for pride is humility-- meekness, submissiveness. It is the broken heart and contrite spirit."

After reading this talk and feeling bad for all that I have done, I hope I can change my views on things. I don't want to be a prideful, proud person.

"We can choose to humble ourselves by loving God, submitting our will to His, and putting Him first in our lives." I'm going to strive to live by the quote everyday.

Again, go read this talk if you have time.

52 days. 7 1/2 weeks.

I can't wait to be out in the field.