"Beware of Pride"

In a revelation to Joseph Smith for Oliver Cowdery, the Lord said, “Beware of pride, lest thou shouldst enter into temptation” (Doctrine and Covenants 23:1). Most of us battle pride daily. It is the stem cell of all other sins. 

In his classic discourse on pride, Ezra Taft Benson said,

Pride is a very misunderstood sin, and many are sinning in ignorance…. In the scriptures there is no such thing as righteous pride—it is always considered a sin. Therefore, no matter how the world uses the term, we must understand how God uses the term so we can understand the language of holy writ and profit thereby….

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.” It is the power by which Satan wishes to reign over us. ( http://lds.org/general-conference/1989/04/beware-of-pride?lang=eng )

Dieter F. Uchtdorf said of pride:

Pride is a deadly cancer. It is a gateway sin that leads to a host of other human weaknesses. In fact, it could be said that every other sin is, in essence, a manifestation of pride.

This sin has many faces. It leads some to revel in their own perceived self-worth, accomplishments, talents, wealth, or position. They count these blessings as evidence of being “chosen,” “superior,” or “more righteous” than others. This is the sin of “Thank God I am more special than you.” At its core is the desire to be admired or envied. It is the sin of self-glorification.

For others, pride turns to envy: they look bitterly at those who have better positions, more talents, or greater possessions than they do. They seek to hurt, diminish, and tear down others in a misguided and unworthy attempt at self-elevation. When those they envy stumble or suffer, they secretly cheer. ( http://lds.org/general-conference/2010/10/pride-and-the-priesthood?lang=eng&query=pride )

Again “Beware of Pride.”