Regarding the paragraph of
the Anti-Nephi-Lehites being fanatics as from the perspective of ‘the world’ I
completely agree. In my perspective,
they had given up the game of “The Inner Ring”.
They decided to fight against it by continues and conscious effort by
deciding it didn’t matter what other people thought. I think it is true that few people ever
choose to do this, but I think it’s what Christ meant when He talked about
forsaking the world. It is a real game
and I see it everywhere, and even sometimes in myself. I have to constantly remind myself of my
loyalties to my Heavenly Father and if I am right before Him then nothing else
matters- even if I am rejected for saying what He wants me to say by the whole
of society, or all my family. It’s a
really awesome article – not very long.
Here’s the link if you want to check it out.
“Beware of Pride” by
Benson
I remember the first time
I read this talk I was in college. It
broke me to the dust and I was devastated with the knowledge of my sins
continually before my face. I did not know
how to trust all of that to the Savoir, so it broke me. For about two days I moped around campus
shuffling my feet and wondering how people could even smile knowing that we
were so prideful- because I felt like I couldn’t smile. I was in a depressed state anyway, but the
talk just made it worse. I could only
see the condemnation in it and not the hope.
Thoughts on Benson’s talk:
At the end of this world, when God cleanses the earth by fire,
the proud will be burned as stubble and the meek shall inherit the earth.
I wonder what test would
be required to make all this happen. What
would this look like that a single event would cause a duel outcome? I know from past experience that when the Lord
prophesies something it looks wondrous, but sometimes the reality of it may
look quite simple. Simplicity to me is
wondrous. Maybe it would be something that
would require the meek to kneel where the proud would not. Then again, it may be that the meek will
literally be lifted up off the earth because of meekness proven in times
past. Just fun food for thought…
Pride is a very misunderstood sin, and many are sinning in
ignorance.
Don’t we all sin in
ignorance? I mean if we were sinning
knowing it and not changing then that would be rebellion and that is outright
pride. I guess there’s a quite pride,
and then there’s a loud pride.
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 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.
This is the game of the
inner ring.
As Paul said, they “seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.”
I think the X model of
obedience if very applicable here. (see entry on 10-13-11 )
They pit their perceptions of truth against God’s great
knowledge,
I think this was one of
the first lessons that I learned that enabled me to pass though the cross-roads
of the X-model. I came to realize then
and still remember every day that God knows all truth and I know nothing. I am constantly aware of all that I do not
know and it keeps me relying on God’s knowledge.
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.
This is one of the major
things I see about today’s TV world- that humor is aimed at degrading
others. It’s so sad to me and I fiercely
avoid it, although I do have a problem doing it still with my husband. How sad is that? The one who I’m supposed to be the nicest to
gets the worst of me… Guess I found the
next thing I need to work on.
The proud stand more in fear of men’s judgment than of God’s
judgment. (See D&C 3:6–7;
D&C
30:1–2; D&C
60:2.) “What will men think of me?” weighs heavier than “What will God
think of me?”
The game of the Inner Ring
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?
If we are focused on living
our true Missions, then pleasing God will be our focus.
When pride has a hold on our hearts, we lose our independence of
the world and deliver our freedoms to the bondage of men’s judgment.
Z Model !
There is, however, a far more common ailment among us—and that
is pride from the bottom looking up
This was my problem in
college.
Selfishness is one of the more common faces of pride. “How
everything affects me” is the center of all that matters—self-conceit,
self-pity, worldly self-fulfillment, self-gratification, and self-seeking.
I can’t help but wonder if
pride is the symptom or if is the root cause of the problem. I think it’s a symptom… The commandment is to love God above all
else, and love our neighbor as ourselves.
What is the root cause?
Something to do with enmity…
The proud do not receive counsel or correction easily.
I learned this lesson this
past year. Now I feel like my heart is
continually open to receive correcting because I want so much more to change
and become better. I have the acceptance
of the Savoir and I no longer fear rejection from men.
Confession:
I keep feeling like I
cannot be offended, but I allowed myself to be last night. I am trying to find a way to forgive. I want to see it from their perspective but
my hurt and disappointment is in the way.
Maybe it is not important that I completely avoid being offended, but
that I find a way to work through it every time I am. Why was I offended? How can I let go of the part of me that wants
to take offence?
I was offended because
someone who profess they care about me and support me said they could not take
actions to do so. It feels like
lip-service. I just wish they could take
off the mask and be real with me. There
is too much professionalism and it feels like dishonest emotions. I rue fake emotions.
Maybe I am judging,
because I certainly do not know their whole heart, especially if I am being
offended.
To be continued…
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