I always find it interesting how Heavenly Father knows the topics we need in our lives, and the places that He chooses to teach us.
I currently have the honor of serving as a missionary for LDS Family Services, serving as a facilitator with my companion in the Addiction Recovery Program. We run the Spouse and Family Support Group that serves women who are supporting their spouse or family member who is battling addictions. This program has a manual that is completely separate from the traditional ARP manual, but just yesterday I felt very inspired to begin going through the ARP manual and its lessons, in addition to our Support manual. I do not have an addiction myself, but the prompting was so clear that I could not ignore it. I still don’t know why I am supposed to study this ARP manual, that isn’t 100% specific to my calling, but I’m being obedient. ;)
So, as I read through Step/Lesson #1 it is titled, “Honesty”. As the lesson goes on there is a section titled, “Action Steps” and the second step is “LET GO OF PRIDE AND SEEK HUMILITY”. What?! How coincidental is that?! A lesson on pride in this class, and a lesson on pride in this ARP manual that I was inspired to read. Clearly Heavenly Father is trying to teach me something! What is even more interesting is that the section in the ARP manual quote the exact same talk by President Ezra Taft Benson, that this class does! What are the odds?!
The section in the ARP manual reads…
“Pride and honesty cannot coexist. Pride is an illusion and is an essential element of all addiction. Pride distorts the truth about things as they are, as they have been, and as they will be. It is a major obstacle to your recovery. President Ezra Taft Benson defined pride:
“Pride is a very misunderstood sin. . . .
“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.
“Pride is essentially competitive in nature. We pit our will against God’s. When we direct our pride toward God, it is in the spirit of ‘my will and not thine be done.’ . . .
“Our will in competition to God’s will allows desires, appetites, and passions to go unbridled (see Alma 38:12; 3 Nephi 12:30).
“The proud cannot accept the authority of God giving direction to their lives (see Helaman 12:6). They pit their perceptions of truth against God’s great knowledge, their abilities versus God’s priesthood power, their accomplishments against His mighty works
As you become willing to abstain and admit the problems you face, your pride will gradually be replaced with humility.”
I simply love this message! Pride can become so prevalent in our marriages, my own included. I know I am guilty of pride especially in the competitive sense, when I pit my will against my husbands, or even with God’s. I have always viewed pride as conceit or arrogance, but as I read these lessons I was able to see the pride I have in my own life, and marriage and how I have been affecting our relationship with my lack of humility.
Have you been able to recognize pride in your own marriage or relationships? If so, how are you going to work to abstain from it?
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