Pride vs. Humble

 "Humility is the friend of truth. Humility opens us up to the experience of others and to truth from heaven. Humility requires not only that we believe in God, that He is all-wise and all-powerful, but also that 'man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend'." According to the dictionary pride is defined as a feeling or deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one's own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired. I believe that pride is a very dangerous thing, and it can harm marriages, relationships and families. Because of this, we are to protect ourselves from pride, but how do we do that? Elder Benson gives us some suggestions, he tells us that a way to combat pride is with becoming humble. Yes, being humble lets pride now we are not wanting to join that cycle, being humble is having or showing a modest or low estimate of one's own importance. No, being humble does not mean weakness, it actually means that we are more willing to look away from ourselves and to look to God. When we humble ourselves before God we are showing God that we love him and trust him to help us and guide us to where we need to go. Pride gets in the way of that. Satan wants us to feel pride, because with pride we aren't able to progress, or ever really be happy. A few of the ways that Elder Benson said we can to do combat pride is to...

We can choose to humble ourselves by conquering enmity toward our brothers and sisters, esteeming them as ourselves, and lifting them as high or higher than we are. (See D&C 38:24; D&C 81:5; D&C 84:106.)

We can choose to humble ourselves by receiving counsel and chastisement. (See Jacob 4:10; Hel. 15:3; D&C 63:55; D&C 101:4–5; D&C 108:1; D&C 124:61, 84; D&C 136:31; Prov. 9:8.)

We can choose to humble ourselves by forgiving those who have offended us. (See 3 Ne. 13:11, 14; D&C 64:10.)

We can choose to humble ourselves by rendering selfless service. (See Mosiah 2:16–17.)

We can choose to humble ourselves by going on missions and preaching the word that can humble others. (See Alma 4:19; Alma 31:5; Alma 48:20.)

We can choose to humble ourselves by getting to the temple more frequently.

We can choose to humble ourselves by confessing and forsaking our sins and being born of God. (See D&C 58:43; Mosiah 27:25–26; Alma 5:7–14, 49.)

We can choose to humble ourselves by loving God, submitting our will to His, and putting Him first in our lives. (See 3 Ne. 11:11; 3 Ne. 13:33; Moro. 10:32.)

 Let us try to follow his counsel on ways we can choose to be humble, and whenever pride comes along let us have the strength to run away from it, and to remember the words of the apostle saying

"Let us choose to be humble. We can do it. I know we can."

Resources: Beware of Pride by Ezra Taft Benson 
Goddard, H. W. (2007). Drawing heaven into your marriage: powerful principles with eternal results. Fairfax, VA: Meridian Pub.
 (Mosiah 4:9)