Pride, part 2

But aren’t we okay if we are basically good, religious people?

Mosiah chapter 3 is one of the most doctrinally rich chapters of the Book of Mormon.  It contains a message delivered by an angel from God.  The angel is not ‘blinded’ by pride—nor does the angel suffer from our limited viewpoint, as we discussed in the previous post.  The message is not the angel’s but God’s. The angel is simply the messenger.

The message is delivered to ‘basically good, religious people’.  It begins with a command to ‘Awake’.  King Benjamin awoke from physical slumber.  He is then told again to ‘Awake’ (vs. 3).  This is not redundant.  He and his audience need to awaken (spiritually).

After explaining how little children are innocent before God, the angel declares that ‘the natural man is an enemy to God’ (Mosiah 3:19).

As we progress from the innocence of childhood into adulthood we inevitably become, by nature, alienated from God.  Like Adam, we fall.  How and why does this occur?  What contributes to our alienation and enmity?  How does pride fit in this process?

If by nature, we are going to become ‘at enmity’ with God, then how can we be sure that we are not in this natural state as we go about practicing our religion?  What is there about religion that appeals to the ‘natural’ man?

Can religion contribute to: Arrogance? Pride? Judgement? Hatred? Anger?  Abuse of others? Is the ‘natural’ man who is deeply religious any better off than the ‘natural’ man who is irreligious or an atheist? Can a man or woman remain “an enemy to God” and still be devoted to a religion?  Were not the prophets of the past, and even the very Son of God, killed by those who were religious?  Is this limited to “false” faiths?  Or is it found in every denomination and faith, including our own?

Nephi warns that in our day “because of pride, and because of false teachers, and false doctrine” that our churches have become corrupt and lifted up and puffed up in pride (2 Ne. 28:12).  Further because of pride and wickedness, “all have gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ” (2 Ne. 28:14).  Phew, I was starting to get worried there.  Good thing we are among the few.

It is easy to read the dire warnings in chapter 28 and apply them to other churches.  (And they do rightly apply).  It is easy to feel that we are exempt from these problems and challenges.  Until we get down to verse 21 of that chapter and Nephi starts talking about Zion.  Well that’s us.  Darn, maybe we are not excluded.  Come to think of it, why would Nephi see our time and record these warnings for a bunch of people (other churches) who will never read the Book of Mormon?  Maybe, Nephi is trying to warn us who will actually have and read the book. Hmmm.  Do any of these problems creep in amongst us?  Maybe we should review this chapter again.

How do we avoid these dilemmas?  Both as a church and individually?  How do we avoid pride as we go about our lives?  What does the angel recommend to King Benjamin?

Yield to ‘the enticings of the Holy Spirit” (Mos. 3:19).  Follow the Savior’s example.  Put our Father’s will ahead of our own.  Start to do what He would have us do.  “Become a saint through the atonement of Christ?”  This suggests change.  How do we change ‘through the atonement’?  How is this related to the enticings of the Holy Spirit?  How are the atonement and the Spirit involved in our sanctification (becoming holy)? (3 Ne. 27:20)  If the Holy Spirit and the atonement are vital to this process, then where is there room for our pride?  Our self-sufficiency?  Our great works?

Aaron testified to King Lamoni’s father that “since man had fallen he could not merit anything of himself.” (Alma 22:14)  By ourselves we will never be sufficient.  To receive God we must be meek and lowly in heart. (Moroni 7:44)

As the angel concludes his message, the Lord warns that these words will stand as a bright testimony against us at the judgment day (Mosiah 3:24).  Through the angel’s message, Mosiah’s people did ‘awaken’.  The result of this awakening is that they ‘viewed themselves in their own carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth’ (Mosiah 4:2).  Where was pride then?