- “President Ezra Taft Benson taught: “Most of us think of pride as self-centeredness, conceit, boastfulness, arrogance, or haughtiness. All of these are elements of the sin, but the heart, or core, is still missing. “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’” in Conference Report, Apr. 1989, 3; or Ensign, May 1989, 4
- President Benson explained: “Pride is essentially competitive in nature. We pit our will against God’s … in the spirit of ‘my will and not thine be done. … “Our will in competition to God’s will allows desires, appetites, and passions to go unbridled (see ; ). … “Our enmity toward God takes on many labels, such as rebellion, hard-heartedness, stiff-neckedness, unrepentant, puffed up, easily offended, and sign seekers. The proud wish God would agree with them. They aren’t interested in changing their opinions to agree with God’” in Conference Report, Apr. 1989, 4; or Ensign, May 1989, 4
- “How does pride affect our relationship with others? President Benson observed: “Another major portion of this very prevalent sin of pride is enmity toward our fellowmen. We are tempted daily to elevate ourselves above others and diminish them (see). … “Pride … is manifest in so many ways, such as fault-finding, gossiping, backbiting, murmuring, living beyond our means, envying, coveting, withholding gratitude and praise that might lift another, and being unforgiving and jealous. … “Selfishness is one of the more common faces of pride. ‘How everything affects me’ is the center of all that matters—self-conceit, self-pity, worldly self-fulfillment, self-gratification, and self-seeking. … “Another face of pride is contention. Arguments, fights, unrighteous dominion, generation gaps, divorces, spouse abuse, riots, and disturbances all fall into this category of pride” in Conference Report, Apr. 1989, 4–5; or Ensign, May 1989, 4–6. Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual, Lesson 10: “This Is My Voice unto All”