Beware of Pride

President Ezra Taft Benson gave an epic talk in 1989, entitled "Beware of Pride". 

 In it he defines pride as "self-centeredness, conceit, boastfulness, arrogance, or haughtiness."  

But even all of these words don't teach us the real meaning of pride.  

President Benson says, 

"The central feature of pride is enmity--enmity toward God and enmity toward our fellowmen."  

The dictionary defines enmity as a

 "feeling or condition of hostility, hatred; ill will; animostiy; antagonism".

 With all of that said,  

we could determine that pride is a hatred toward God and our fellow men.  

And pride in a marriage could be defined as hatred toward our eternal companion.

The more that I learn about marriages and the importance of building and strengthening your relationship and turning toward one another, I realize that 

pride has no place within a successful marriage! 

 President Benson also said in his talk, 

"The proud make every man their adversary by pitting their intellects, opinions, works, wealth, talents, or any other worldly measuring device against others." 

 If pride creeps into a marriage or was even there before the marriage began, 

it could destroy individuals and their eternal union.  

When one partner in a marriage believes that they are in 

competition or are trying to prove that they are better than the other an

 unhealthy competition or rival can begin!

The Family: A Proclamation To The World teaches, 

"Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith,prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work and wholesome recreational activities." 

 It goes on to say, 

"fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners."  

I came across a video this past week that speaks volumes

about a man who has dealt with pride

his whole life and what it can do to you! 

There is no room for pride in any of our lives

 and there is not one spouse who is better or worse than the other.  

In a marriage they are equal partners!

The opposite of pride is humility.  

And if we are humble then we can have charity and love toward others!  

Our end goal in this life is to have eternal life 

and be with our spouses and families forever.