The Enmity of Pride

For the most part, the Lamanites constituted an enemy to which the Nephites had to remain constantly alert. But another enemy that proved to be even more destructive for the Nephites was the secret combination which came among them. It emerged first in the book of Helaman, and reemerged several times after being destroyed. What sort of parallels might this hold for an individual?

A key identifying characteristic of secret combinations is that they "are built up to get power and gain...." (Ether 8:23.) This is basically a feature of pride--on a national level. In fact, "Pride," says President Benson, "results in secret combinations."⁽¹⁾ Might pride have the same effect on an individual as secret combinations have on nations?

We know that pride is a sin that plagues all of us from time to time in varying degrees.⁽²⁾ "The central feature of pride," said President Benson, "is enmity--enmity toward God and enmity toward our fellowmen. Enmity means`hatred toward, hostility to, or a state of opposition.'"⁽³⁾

Herein we observe several strong comparisons between an individual's pride and secret combinations that "are had among all [nations]." (Ether 8:20.) First, in the same way that the pride of an individual causes him to pit his will against the will of God,⁽⁴⁾ secret combinations cause people to literally combine against God and his people. (Hel. 6:39; Ether 8:22.) Second, as an individual's pride is the primary cause of contention (Prov. 13:10), secret combinations stir up people to anger one with another (Ether 11:7). A third similarity is that pride prompts individuals to "put down the power and miracles of God, and preach up unto themselves their own wisdom and their own learning, that they may get gain...." (2 Ne. 26:20; Jacob 5:48.) Secret combinations seek, essentially, to dethrone God and set themselves up as the preeminent ruling power. (Hel. 7:4,5.) Finally, secret combinations begin "at the more wicked part of [the people], until they...overspread all the land..., and [seduce] the more part of the righteous...; and thus they...obtain the sole management of the government...." (Hel. 6:38,30.) Likewise, pride is manifest in the most wicked part of the individual--those pet sins of which a person does not want to repent--and then spreads in its manifestation until it eventually governs his every action.

Unless an individual removes the cancer of pride, it will bring destruction upon him (Prov. 16:18), just as secret combinations will bring destruction to whatsoever nation will uphold them "until they shall spread over the nation..." (Ether 8:22.) The advancement of pride in the individual and secret combinations in a nation is ever so sly. Eternal vigilance is the watchword on both fronts.

The Lord said that before his covenants can be fulfilled in the latter days, he "must needs destroy the secret works of darkness...." (2 Ne. 10:15; Ether 8:26.) Perhaps now we can see more clearly why an individual must uproot pride from his heart in order to qualify for eternal life. (1 Ne. 8:34.)

Endnotes:

1. Ensign, May 1989, p. 6.

"Would God that ALL the Lord's People Were PROPHETS"

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