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Pride is something every person knows even if they would not call it by that name. President Ezra Taft Benson called it "the universal sin, the great vice." No one has entirely avoided it. Few have fully overcome it. But the good news is that pride has an antidote — and that antidote is humility.

"Pride is a switch that turns off priesthood power. Humility is a switch that turns it on."

— President Dieter F. Uchtdorf,"Pride and the Priesthood,”October 2010 General Conference

1. What Pride Really Is

Pride is not just arrogance. At its core it is a sin of comparison — it begins with "Look how wonderful I am" and ends with "Therefore, I am better than you." It places us in opposition to God and our fellowmen. When our hearts are filled with pride, we violate the two great commandments: instead of loving God and our neighbor, we end up worshipping the image we see in the mirror.

Pride is also a warning from scripture. The Book of Mormon shows what pride does to a civilization — it disrupted harmony, caused wars, and ultimately destroyed the Nephites entirely. The Lord warned our day directly:

"Beware of pride, lest ye become as the Nephites of old." — Doctrine and Covenants 38:39

"Pride does not look up to God and care about what is right. It looks sideways to man and argues who is right." — President Ezra Taft Benson

2. What Humility Really Is

Humility is not weakness or self-doubt. It is recognizing gratefully our dependence on the Lord understanding that our talents and abilities are gifts from God, not achievements of our own making. We can be both humble and fearless. We can be both humble and courageous.

President Uchtdorf captured it perfectly:

"We don’t discover humility by thinking less of ourselves; we discover humility by thinking less about ourselves. It comes as we go about our work with an attitude of serving God and our fellowman."

— President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Pride and the Priesthood,” October 2010 General Conference

Jesus Christ is our greatest example. During His mortal ministry He always acknowledged His dependence on the Father:

"I can of mine own self do nothing. … I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father." — John 5:30

Despite His power, He was always meek and lowly in heart.

"God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. … Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up."

— James 4:6, 10 

3. How to Choose Humility

Humility is a choice one we can make every day. Here is how prophets have taught us to cultivate it:

Fill your heart with charity. It is almost impossible to be lifted up in pride when our hearts are filled with the pure love of Christ.

Lose yourself in service. The moment we stop focusing on ourselves and serve others, pride begins to die.

Submit to God's will. Ask not "What do I want?" but "What would God have me do?"

Don’t "inhale" praise. Be grateful for kind words — but don't become obsessed with your image or status.

Esteem others. Lift those around you instead of competing with them.

"Blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble." — Alma 32:16

Conclusion: We Can Do This

President Benson's closing words remain as true today as when he first spoke them:

"Let us choose to be humble. We can do it. I know we can." — President Ezra Taft Benson, “Beware of Pride,” April 1989 General Conference

When we choose humility, God lifts us up. When we submit to His will, He gives us strength beyond our own. When we stop thinking about ourselves and start serving others, we begin to become the disciples He created us to be.

The antidote for pride is humility — a broken heart, a contrite spirit, and a willingness to look up to God rather than sideways at others.

Pride vs. Humility

• Pride looks sideways · Humility looks up to God
• Pride asks "What do I want?" · Humility asks "What would God have me do?"
• Pride divides · Humility unites
• Pride turns off God's power · Humility turns it on
• Pride leads to destruction · Humility leads to grace

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