ElderKimB.ClarkwasaPresidentof
BYUIdahowhenthisBYUDevotionalwas
givenintheMarriotCenteronSeptember29,2009.

Forfurtherinformationcontact:
BYUBroadcasting,2000IrontonBoulevard,Provo,Utah84606.
1(800)2985298http://www.byub.org/

Iamgratefultobewithyoutoday.I
praythattheHolyGhostwillbewithus,that
youandImightbetaughtandedifiedbythe
Spirit.

Therefore,Iwouldthatyeshouldbe
steadfastandimmovable,alwaysaboundingin
goodworks,thatChrist,theLordGod
Omnipotent,maysealyouhis.

Onesummermany,manyyearsago,my
motherdecideditwouldbeagreatprojectfor
herchildrentorefinishthediningroomchairs.
Thechairswerepaintedadarkcherrycolor,and
mymotherhaddiscoveredthatunderneath
thatpaintwasgoodhardmaplewood.

Mymessagetodayisaboutbeing
strippedofpride.Iwanttotalkwithyouabout
overcomingprideandbecomingthehumble
followersofChrist.

Iwillneverforgetthatexperience.We
beganbyapplyinganastysolventcalled
Toluenetoallthepaintedsurfaces,andthenwe
scrapedthepaintoff.

TwentyyearsagoPresidentEzraTaft
Bensondeliveredapowerfulsermononpride.
Itisatalkallofusshouldreadcarefullyand
often.Speakingingeneralconference,
PresidentBensonsaid:

PrideTheUniversalSin,theGreatVice

Oncethepaintwasremoved,wehadto
sandthewoodwithseveralgradesof
sandpaperinordertoremovetheverylastbits
ofpaintandtopreparethewoodforanew
finish.

Thecentralfeatureofprideisenmity
enmitytowardGodandenmitytowardour
fellowmen.Enmitymeanshatredtoward,
hostilityto,orastateofopposition.Itisthe
powerbywhichSatanwishestoreignoverus..
..

Whenthesandingwasfinallydone,we
appliedafinishtohighlightthegrainand
enhancethewoodsnaturalcolor.Inthefinal
stepwesealedthenewhardwoodfinishwith
twocoatsofvarnish.Thosechairswere
transformed!

Prideaffectsallofusatvarioustimes
andinvariousdegrees....
Prideistheuniversalsin,thegreatvice.
Prideinallofitsmanifestationshas
playedacentralroleinthestrugglebetween
goodandevilgoingbacktothewarinheaven.
Theseriousnessofthesinofprideisrooted
deepinthedoctrinesofsalvation.

Ithinkaboutthatexperienceeverytime
IreadAlmaspenetratingquestiontothe
membersoftheChurchinZarahemla:
Behold,areyestrippedofpride?Isay
untoyou,ifyearenotyearenotpreparedto
meetGod.Beholdyemustpreparequickly;for
thekingdomofheavenissoonathand,and
suchanonehathnoteternallife.

Inpremortalitywelivedwithour
HeavenlyFatherasspiritsonsanddaughters.In
thepremortalcouncil,HeavenlyFather
presentedHisgreatplanofhappinessthrough
whichwecouldobtainimmortalityandeternal
life.

Thewordsareyestrippedofpride?
evokeinmeimagesandsmellsfromthat
summer.IthinkofTolueneandscrapingand
strippingandsandingtogetdowntobare
wood.WhenIthinkofthefinishingprocess
withavibrantcolorandtheprotectingsealing
varnish,IthinkofthedescriptionoftheSavior
astheauthorandfinisherofourfaithand
thewordsofKingBenjamintohispeople:

OurFatherknewthatallofuswouldsin
andcomeshortofthegloryofGod,soHe
sentHisBelovedSontoatoneforoursinsand
redeemusandgiveusthestrengtheningpower
tobecomemorelikeHimandourFatherand
ultimatelyreceivethegreatestgiftofGod
eternallife.
2

TheFatherrejectedSatansproposal.
Thendrivenbydeep,deepprideandenmity
withtheFatherandtheSon,Satanmadewarin
heaven.Heaccused[ourbrethren]beforeour
GoddayandnightandpushedtheGreatLie
withsuchdeceptionandpersuasionthatone
thirdofthehostofheavenfollowedhim.But
theforcesofrighteousnessovercame[Satan]
bythebloodoftheLamb,andbythewordof
theirtestimony.AndsoSatanwascastout
intotheearth,andhisangelswerecastoutwith
him.

HereistheGreatTruthintheFathers
plan:ThroughtheAtonementofChrist,wecan
receivepeace,joy,happiness,andeternallife
withourHeavenlyFather.Thereisa
Redeemer!JesusChrist,theHolyOneofIsrael,
istheonlynamegivenunderheavenwhereby
mancanbesavedinthekingdomofGod.
TheFathersplanwasnotreceivedwell
byallofHischildren.Lucifer,asonofthe
morning,rebelledagainsttheFather,against
HisBelovedSon,andagainsttheplanand
presentedhisownproposal:

SatancontinueshiswaragainstGod
andusinthemortalworldwhereweare
subjecttothefrailties,weaknesses,and
temptationsofthenaturalman.Asitwasin
thepremortalrealm,soitisonearth:Prideis
attheheartofSatanswaronGodandonHis
children.Ithasbeenthatwaysincethedaysof
Adam.

Behold,hereamI,sendme,Iwillbethy
son,andIwillredeemallmankind,thatone
soulshallnotbelost,andsurelyIwilldoit;
whereforegivemethinehonor.
Thereareseveralthingstonoteabout
Satansproposal.1)SatanwouldreplaceChrist;
indeed,therewasnoneedforChristandno
needforanatoningsacrificeatall.2)There
wouldbenoagency.Everyonewouldbe
redeemed.Noonewouldbelost.3)Itwould
surelyhappen,andSatanwouldbethesole
reasonwhy.4)And,therefore,heshouldhave
Godshonorandglory.

Butpridehasbecomeespeciallycritical
inourday.Weliveinthedispensationofthe
fullnessoftimeswhentheLordisblessingHis
childrenwithgreatknowledge,remarkable
technologies,expandedopportunitiesfor
learning,andunprecedentedwealth.With
theseblessings,however,comesthiswarning
fromtheLord:

Here,instarkcontrasttotheFathers
planandtheGreatTruth,wasSatansGreatLie:
Youcanobtainjoy,happiness,andeternallife
withoutChrist,withoutGod,andwithoutany
specialeffortonyourpart;andSatanwould
makeallthishappenwithoutanysacrifice,pain,
orsufferingonhispartbythesheerforceof
hispower.

...itmustneedsbethattherichesof
theearthareminetogive;butbewareofpride,
lestyebecomeastheNephitesofold.
Bewareofpride!Thisisthewarning
voiceoftheLordtousnow,inourday.We
haveobtainedsomuchcontroloverthe
resourcesoftheearth,somuchunderstanding
ofthebiologyoflife,somuchcapacitytotravel
andtocommunicateinstantlythatwehave
becomepuffedupinourlearningandour
apparentcontrolandpower.Prideandits
childrenmaterialism,envy,arrogance,greed,
thirstforrecognition,lustforcontrol,and
dominionhavebecomerampantinour
cultureandsociety.ModernBabylonisawash
inpride.

ItwasandistheGreatLiebythefather
oflies.Itwouldnothaveworked.Itwas
contrarytothewilloftheFatherandtoeternal
lawsofjusticeandmercy.Andthererightin
themiddleoftheGreatLieattheverycenterof
Satansrebellious,diabolicalschemewaspride.
Therewasprideandallofitssordidoffspring
arrogance,selfishness,greed,vainambition,
unrighteousdominiononacosmicscale.

3


adversityamongpeopleyouknow.Perhaps
becauseofsomesetbackorafailedexpectation
orsomeotherproblem,afaithfulmemberof
theChurchfeelssomeresentment,somesense
ofbeingavictimunfairlytreated.That
resentmentgrowsandfestersandfeedson
prideuntilitturnstoangerandevenbitterness.
Overtheyearsthememberstopscomingto
Church,failstokeepthecommandments,and
findswaystorationalizesinfulbehavior.

TheBookofMormonprophetssawour
dayandspokepowerfullyaboutmodernday
pride.Inhisprophecyofthelastdays,Nephi
sawthatmanywouldbepuffedupintheir
heartsandwearstiffnecksandhighheads.
HundredsofyearslaterMoroniwrote
thesewordsaboutourday:
Behold,Ispeakuntoyouasifyewere
present,andyetyearenot.Butbehold,Jesus
Christhathshownyouuntome,andIknow
yourdoing.

Orperhapsyouhaveseenthe
interactionofprideandprosperity.Ithappens
towonderfulpeoplewho,intheircollegeyears,
arefullofpromise.Thesearepeopleofgreat
abilityandspirituality.Theymarryinthe
temple,attendsomeofthecountrysfinest
graduateschools,andgraduatewithdistinction.
Theyareblessedwithbeautifulchildrenanda
wonderfulfamilylife.Theyareactiveinthe
Churchandserveinpositionsofresponsibility.

AndIknowthatyedowalkinthepride
ofyourhearts.
TheBookofMormonwaswrittenfor
us.ItbearswitnessofJesusChristandwarnsus
oftheperilsofpride,bothinprosperityand
adversity.InthestoryofLamanandLemuel,
weseetwoproudbrotherswhomurmuredand
rebelledandwerefilledwithresentmentand
angerinthefaceofthelossoftheirhomeand
possessions,theirafflictionsinthewilderness,
andfailedexpectationsofleadership.Despite
visitsfromangelsandeventhevoiceofthe
Lordandmanyotherblessingsandmiracles,
pridetookrootintheirsouls,theirheartswere
hardened,andtheyrejectedtheLordandHis
prophets.

Butsomethinghappenstothemonthe
waytoalifeofservice,joy,andhappiness.
Whathappensispride.Somewherealongthe
waythehonorsofmen,wealth,power,and
recognitionbecomemoreimportantthantheir
loveoftheLord,theloveoftheirspouseand
children,andtheirserviceinthekingdom.They
divorce,leavetheChurchandtheirfamilies,and
becomewhollyworldlyintheirattitudesand
theirbehavior.

Wealsoseethissamepatternofpride,
hardnessofheart,andrejectionofthetruthin
thefaceofprosperity.Indeed,theBookof
Mormonisarecordofanentirepeoplegreatly
favoredoftheLordwhosuccumbedtothe
temptationsofpride,rejectedtheLord,and
weredestroyed.

Theeffectsofpride,whetherin
adversityorinprosperity,aredeadly.AsAlma
prophesied:
[T]heythatwillhardentheirhearts,to
themisgiventhelesserportionoftheword
untiltheyknownothingconcerninghis
mysteries;andthentheyaretakencaptiveby
thedevil,andledbyhiswilldownto
destruction.Nowthisiswhatismeantbythe
chainsofhell.

Themessageisclear:Whetherin
prosperityoradversity,ifwearenotdiligent
andfaithful,eventheelectofGod,eventhose
greatlyblessedbytheLord,canfallpreytothe
GreatLieandbecomehardhearted,self
absorbed,stiffnecked,andpuffedupintheir
pride.

Thiscalamitycomeslittlebylittleover
time.Prideanditseffectsarelikeathinfilmof
darknessthatbeginstosettleonthesoullayer
bylayer,yearbyyearuntilthelightofthe

Thisissomethingweseealltoooften.
Youmayhaveseentheinteractionofprideand
4


7.
Ifsomeoneyouknowreceives
somethinggood,doyouhearavoiceinside
saying,Whataboutme?

gospelgrowsdim.Suchpeoplebecome
hardenedintheirhearts,selfishintheir
behavior,andpuffedupintheprideoftheir
eyes.

8.
Doyoufindwaystoletothers
knowofyoursuccesswithoutappearingto
boast?

Thereis,ofcourse,alwayshope.The
proudandselfishsoulscancomeback.But
afteryearsofdarknessandsomanylayersof
pride,itwilltakealotofspiritualsolventanda
lotofspiritualscrapingandsandingtogetdown
toabaresoulandasoftheart.Andthinkofthe
timetheyhavewasted,theopportunitiesfor
growthandbecomingtheyhavelost,thelives
theycouldhavesaved,andthejoytheycould
havereceivedhadtheyseenwhatwas
happeningearlyonandactedonittochange.
Hadtheyjustrecognizedthosefirstthinfilmsof
pride,theymighthaverepentedandsoughtthe
Lordsredeemingpowerrightthen.Hadthey
seenitandacted,theycouldhavehumbled
themselvesandbeenstrippedofpride.

9.
Ifsomeonecorrectsamistake
youmade,doyoufeeldefensiveandresentful?
10.
Whensomeonedoes
somethingthatcreatesinconvenienceforyou,
doyoufeelannoyed?
Icouldgoon.Therearemany,many
redflagsofpride.IfyouandIeverfeelanyof
themorhearanyoftheminourminds,we
needtorecognizethemforwhattheyarethe
echoesoftheGreatLie,thebeginningofacall
toenmitywithourHeavenlyFatherandthe
LordJesusChrist.

WelldidtheLordwarnus:Bewareof
pride.Beware;bealert;beonguardagainstthe
perilsofpride.MayIsuggestsomethingsto
watchfor,somethingsofwhichweshouldall
beware?Ithinkofthislistasredflagsofpride:

Inthatmomentofrecognition,we
standatacrossroadsbetweentwopaths:We
canfollowthepathoftheGreatLieandacton
thosepridefulfeelings,orwecanfollowthe
pathoftheGreatTruthandchooseChrist.Itis
achoice.Arewegoingtokeepourcovenants,
orarewegoingtobreakthem?Torejectthe
GreatLieandchooseChristtakesanactofwill.
Wehavetoconsciouslysaytoourselves:Iam
notgoingdownthepathoftheGreatLie.With
faithinChristandwithHishelp,Iamgoingto
walkthepathoftheGreatTruth.

1.
Doyoufindyourselfcritiquing
thetalksinsacramentmeeting?
2.
Areyoucriticalofothers?Do
youlookdownonothers?Doyouscornor
ridiculethem?
3.
Whenadversitystrikes,doyou
hearavoiceinsidethatsays,Whyme?

HeavenlyFathersplantohelpusmake
thatchoicewasbeautifullysummarizedbyAlma
inhiswordstothepeopleofAmmonihah:

4.
Doyoureacttoprophetic
counselbyignoringit,orbeingupsetbyit,or
interpretingittosuityourowndesires?

[H]umbleyourselvesbeforetheLord,
andcallonhisholyname,andwatchandpray
continually,thatyemaynotbetemptedabove
thatwhichyecanbear,andthusbeledbythe
HolySpirit,becominghumble,meek,
submissive,patient,fullofloveandalllong
suffering;

5.
Whenyoudosomethinggood,
doyouhearavoiceinsidecongratulating
yourself?
6.
Doyoufeelselfgratification
andasenseofimportanceinyourknowledge
andskill?

Wemustfirstcatchourselvesinthe
momentwhenpridefulthoughtsorfeelings
5

Pattern#2:Dontlettheworldgetinto
yourheart.

comeandthenactinfaithtochooseChrist,
seekingGodshelpinprayer.ThisiswhatAlma
meantwhenheadmonishedustohumble
[ourselves]beforetheLord...andwatchand
praycontinually.

Neversetyourheartonthingson
money,orhouses,orcars,orclothes,orany
otherthing.Dontletacareer,orpower,orthe
honorsofmengetintoyourheart.Theycan
getthereveryeasilyifyouarenotcareful.Set
yourheartontheLordandHiskingdom,on
yourfamilyandthetempleandthethingsof
eternity.Alwayslivemodestlywithinyour
means,andalwayspayyourtithingandgivea
generousfastoffering.

Butthatisnottheend.Wemustnot
onlycatchourselvesinpridefulthoughtsand
feelings,notonlychooseChristinthatmoment,
butthroughtheAtonementofChristandthe
poweroftheHolyGhostrepentofoursins,
receiveforgiveness,andbeledbytheHoly
Spirittobecomehumble,meek,submissive,
patient,fullofloveandalllongsuffering.

Pattern#3:ServetheLord.

WhenwechooseChrist,actinginfaith
tohumbleourselvesbeforeHim,weput
ourselvesinthehandsoftheMasterFinisher.
AswedoHiswill,Hewillhelpusbestrippedof
prideandbecomemeekandlowlyinheart,
filledwithHispureandperfectlove.

Acceptandalwaysmagnifycallingsin
theChurchandvolunteertobeofserviceinthe
kingdom.WhenthepromptingsoftheSpirit
comesendingyouontheLordserrandto
rescuealostsoulortocomfortoneinneed,act
onthosepromptingsquicklyassoonasyoucan.

TheLordsfinishingprocessmaynotbe
alwayspleasant.Hewillchastenandcorrect
andgiveusexperiencesthatpolishus.Ifweare
steadfastandimmovableindoingwhatHe
wantsustodo,wewillnotbedeflectedfrom
thetruepathbyadversityorprosperity.We
willbecomethehumblefollowersofChrist,and
thedaywillcomewhenHewillsealusHis.

Pattern#4:StandinHolyPlaces.
Makeyourhomeasacred,holyplace
wheretheSpiritmaydwell.Beinthechapelto
partakeofthesacramenteverySundayand
prayerfullyrenewyourcovenanttoalways
rememberhimandkeephiscommandments.
Ifyoulivenearatemple,gooftentotheHouse
oftheLord.Relivethosesacredordinancesand
covenants.Reflectonyourgratitudeforthe
planofsalvation,fortheGreatTruthofthe
Atonement,onitspowerinyourlifeandyour
needfortheblessingsandstrengththatarein
theLordJesusChrist.

Beingstrippedofprideandbecoming
meekandlowlyinheartisnoteasy.Wecannot
doitbyourselves.Buttherearepatternsoflife
wecanestablishthatwillhelpusbewareof
pride,rememberChrist,humbleourselves
beforeHim,andputourselvesinHishands.I
willleaveyoutodaywithfourpatterns:

Brothersandsisters,Iknowthatifwe
establishthesepatternsinourliveswewill
bewareofpride;wewillbetruetoour
covenants;andwewillbeintheMasters
hands.YouandIhavemuchworktodo.The
Lordismovingwithpowerintheearth
preparingusandthekingdomforHisreturn.
Givenallthechallengesandopportunitiesthat
lieahead,youandIneedtobelikeAmmon,the
sonofMosiah,agreatandmightymissionary
whosaid:

Pattern#1:Neverdoanythingtodrive
theSpiritaway.
TheHolyGhostisessentialtotheLords
finishingprocess.ButtheSpiritisvery,very
sensitivetoanydegreeofunrighteousness.
Dontdoanything,orwearanything,orsay
anything,orreadanything,orlistentoanything,
orwatchanything,orgoanywherethatwould
drivetheSpiritaway.
6


lovedonesnowandforever.Inthesacred
nameofJesusChrist,amen.

Yea,IknowthatIamnothing;astomy
strengthIamweak;thereforeIwillnotboastof
myself,butIwillboastofmyGod,forinhis
strengthIcandoallthings.

Hebrews12:2;Moroni6:4
Mosiah5:15

Thiscombinationofhumilityand
courageiswhatweneed,anditisprecisely
whatcomestothosewhorejecttheGreatLie
andhumblethemselvesbeforetheLord.Listen
tothewayPresidentHenryB.Eyringdescribed
theprocessthatoccurswhenwerememberthe
GreatTruthoftheSaviorandputourselvesin
Hishands:

EzraTaftBenson,BewareofPride,
Ensign,May1989,4
Romans3:23
2Nephi31:21
Moses4:1

Thosememories,ifwechoosetoinvite
them,canproduceapowerfulblendofcourage
andmeekness.Noproblemistoohardforus
withhishelp.Nopriceistoogreattopayfor
whatheoffersus.Andstillinourgreatest
successeswefeelaslittlechildren.Andinour
greatestsacriceswestillfeelinhisdebt,
wantingtogivemore.Thatisahumilitywhich
isenergizing,notenervating.Wecanchoose
thatshieldasaprotectionagainstpride.

Revelation12:10
Revelation12:11
Revelation12:9
D&C38:39
2Nephi28:9
2Nephi28:14

Brothersandsisters,ourprotection,our
hope,oursalvationisinJesusChrist.Ibear
witnessofHim,theHolyOneofIsrael,theLight
andtheLifeoftheworld.HeistheLivingSonof
theLivingGod.ThisisHischurchandkingdom.
IknowthatifwehumbleourselvesbeforeHim
andputourselvesinHisHands,wewillbe
strippedofprideandHewillpolishus,and
finishus,andsealusHis.Iknowthatistrue.
Alma5:28

Mormon8:3536
Alma12:11
Alma13:28
Ibid
Ibid
D&C20:77

Iinvoketheblessingsofourloving
HeavenlyFatherandHisBelovedSonuponyou
thisday,thatyoumaybecomethehumble
followersofChrist,thatthepeace,joy,
happinessandpowerofheavenmayflowinto
yourlifeandintothelivesofyourfamiliesand


Alma26:12
HenryB.Eyring,AChildofGod,BYU
DevotionalgivenOctober21,1997,retrieved
fromhttp://speeches

7