Pride

Colleen Cluff

I believe that pride is one of Satan’s biggest ways of dragging people down. This is because pride comes in a variety of forms. For me, it comes by being overly competitive or wanting/coveting what others have in life, and because I am “so much better” (not) so, I deserve it more than they do. As I was reading President Ezra Taft Benson’s talk, Beware of Pride, I realized what the real source of my pride has come from and it broke my heart. He says, “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.” (Benson, p. 2) What a haunting reality of what pride truly is. 

Knowing the true depth behind pride really gave me an awareness of it in my marriage. I have been so prideful around and with my husband since knowing him. It is very unintentional most of the time but knowing that I have been has kind of shook me back to a sense of awareness. I do not want there to be enmity between my husband and I. Because I don’t hate him, hold hostility towards, or oppose him. No. Rather, I love him, want to serve him, and make decisions with him. I want to be intentional with those things and set aside pride. 

I think a big way to set aside pride in marriage is to follow the good examples in John Gottman’s book, The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work. He says he understands that for his marriage to thrive, he has to share the driver’s seat. (p.116) This goes for both the husband and the wife. If we want our marriages to be strong and happy, we need to push away pride and be willing to hear each other out, give to one another, and both husband and wife need to work on serving. If couples strive to do these things I think happiness and love fall into place. It is just a natural reaction to being helped and helping others. I firmly have come to believe that following the steps from this book combined with living gospel principles will help individuals and couples gain a broken heart and contrite spirit. And with those two things, people are able to access the kingdom of heaven, and live forever with their families, but most importantly with their spouse. 

Works Cited:

Benson, Ezra T. (1989) Beware of Pride. Ensign.

Gottman, John M., Silver, Nan. (1999) The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work. New York, NY: Three Rivers Press.