Pride, Fear, Doubt, Trust in Him
Pride! Pride is what keeps us from repentance. Pride is what keeps us ensnared in the natural man. Pride is what keeps us from thinking of letting go of self-will and adapting to and embracing ‘Thy will’ attitudes. Somehow pride and fear are intertwined. Fear of being less or less capable than one thinks they are is fueled or hid by pride of thinking you are great and capable.* I know this last sentence sounds confusing but really it has something to do with 'mans blindness'- which is our not being able to see ourselves as we really are (either our weaknesses or our strengths).
But back to the pride/fear intertwining with our sense of capable/incapable. This is represented as the ‘little child’ syndrome of recognizing that just as a little child must put their faith and trust in the hand of an adult-we must put our faith and trust in the Hand of our Savior and let Him lead us whither-soever He will, whensoever He will, howsoever He will; without doubt, without fear, without pride-simply to trust Him; in all things, at all times, in all places.
"And if they be evil they are consigned to an awful view of their own guilt and abominations, which doth cause them to shrink from the presence of the Lord into a state of misery and endless torment, from whence they can no more return; therefore they have drunk damnation to their own souls." (Book of Mormon | Mosiah 3:25)
*Fear/Pride is the whole 'puny arm' syndrome:
"Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?
Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson—
That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.
That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man.
Behold, ere he is aware, he is left unto himself, to kick against the pricks, to persecute the saints, and to fight against God.
We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose (a little cocky, a little sure of themselves, a prideful in their new 'one-upmanship' situation), they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion.
Hence many are called, but few are chosen." (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 121:34 - 40)
But back to the pride/fear intertwining with our sense of capable/incapable. This is represented as the ‘little child’ syndrome of recognizing that just as a little child must put their faith and trust in the hand of an adult-we must put our faith and trust in the Hand of our Savior and let Him lead us whither-soever He will, whensoever He will, howsoever He will; without doubt, without fear, without pride-simply to trust Him; in all things, at all times, in all places.
"And if they be evil they are consigned to an awful view of their own guilt and abominations, which doth cause them to shrink from the presence of the Lord into a state of misery and endless torment, from whence they can no more return; therefore they have drunk damnation to their own souls." (Book of Mormon | Mosiah 3:25)
*Fear/Pride is the whole 'puny arm' syndrome:
"Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?
Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson—
That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.
That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man.
Behold, ere he is aware, he is left unto himself, to kick against the pricks, to persecute the saints, and to fight against God.
We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose (a little cocky, a little sure of themselves, a prideful in their new 'one-upmanship' situation), they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion.
Hence many are called, but few are chosen." (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 121:34 - 40)
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