Hey everyone! this week has been different but good. We were able to go to the meridian temple with our recent convert and that was a really neat experience. I was able to do some temple work for two names that I actually found on my mission son that was a pretty neat thing for me to start.
This week for whatever reason I have become accident prone. I manged to give my self a rope burn that when down two layers of skin. So I have been treating three wonderful blisters since Thursday haha. On top of that I managed to slice my finger open some how with the car wiper blade, and cut the bottom of my tongue. But its all good. Im not dead yet.
The thoughts I would like to share with you all this week center around pride.
I was reading in Alma 5:28 where Alma asks," Behold, are ye stripped of pride? I say unto you, if ye are not ye are not prepared to meet God.."
Its very hard for us to sometimes recognize our pride and our short comings
Kim B. Clark gave a talk and I love what he said. He talks about the great lie which is how Satans pride is a big reason around his fall from heaven.
Kim B. Clark states:
"Well did the Lord warn us: Beware of pride. Beware; be alert; be on guard against the perils of pride. May I suggest some things to watch for, some things of which we should all beware? I think of this list as red flags of pride. These red flags are like the little flags that landscapers put on the lawn when they have applied dangerous chemicals. Thin films of pride come with warning flags like the following:
1. Do you find yourself critiquing the talks in sacrament meeting?
2. Are you critical of others? Do you look down on others? Do you scorn or ridicule them?
3. When adversity strikes, do you hear a voice inside that says, “Why me?”
4. Do you react to prophetic counsel by ignoring it, being upset by it, or interpreting it to suit your own desires?
5. When you do something good, do you hear a voice inside congratulating yourself?
6. Do you feel self-gratification and a sense of importance in your knowledge and skill?
7. If someone you know receives something good, do you hear a voice inside saying, “What about me?”
8. Do you find ways to let others know of your success without appearing to boast?
9. If someone corrects a mistake you made, do you feel defensive and resentful?
10. When someone does something that creates inconvenience for you, do you feel annoyed?
I could go on. There are many, many red flags of pride.
Brothers and sisters, I did not get this list from a book. I have firsthand experience with the questions I have asked you, and I know that if you and I ever feel any of them or hear any of them in our minds, we need to recognize them for what they are—the echoes of the Great Lie, the beginning of a call to enmity with our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
In that moment of recognition, we stand at a crossroads between two paths. We can follow the path of the Great Lie and act on those prideful feelings, or we can follow the path of the Great Truth and choose Christ. It is a choice. Are we going to keep our covenants, or are we going to break them? To reject the Great Lie and choose Christ takes an act of will. We have to consciously say to ourselves: “I am not going down the path of the Great Lie. With faith in Christ and with His help, I am going to walk the path of the Great Truth.”
I think we all can easily recognize the pride in our selves after reading this. I find what President Henry B. Eyring states in his talk "My peace I leave with you" Helps us have peace in this regard
1. Do you find yourself critiquing the talks in sacrament meeting?
2. Are you critical of others? Do you look down on others? Do you scorn or ridicule them?
3. When adversity strikes, do you hear a voice inside that says, “Why me?”
4. Do you react to prophetic counsel by ignoring it, being upset by it, or interpreting it to suit your own desires?
5. When you do something good, do you hear a voice inside congratulating yourself?
6. Do you feel self-gratification and a sense of importance in your knowledge and skill?
7. If someone you know receives something good, do you hear a voice inside saying, “What about me?”
8. Do you find ways to let others know of your success without appearing to boast?
9. If someone corrects a mistake you made, do you feel defensive and resentful?
10. When someone does something that creates inconvenience for you, do you feel annoyed?
I could go on. There are many, many red flags of pride.
Brothers and sisters, I did not get this list from a book. I have firsthand experience with the questions I have asked you, and I know that if you and I ever feel any of them or hear any of them in our minds, we need to recognize them for what they are—the echoes of the Great Lie, the beginning of a call to enmity with our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
In that moment of recognition, we stand at a crossroads between two paths. We can follow the path of the Great Lie and act on those prideful feelings, or we can follow the path of the Great Truth and choose Christ. It is a choice. Are we going to keep our covenants, or are we going to break them? To reject the Great Lie and choose Christ takes an act of will. We have to consciously say to ourselves: “I am not going down the path of the Great Lie. With faith in Christ and with His help, I am going to walk the path of the Great Truth.”
I think we all can easily recognize the pride in our selves after reading this. I find what President Henry B. Eyring states in his talk "My peace I leave with you" Helps us have peace in this regard
"At times, you may long for peace as you face uncertainty and what seem to you to be looming challenges. The sons of Mosiah learned the lesson that the Lord taught to Moroni. It is a guide for us all: “If men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all [who] humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them” (Ether 12:27).
Moroni said that when he “heard these words,” he “was comforted” (Ether 12:29). They can be a comfort to all of us. Those who do not see their weaknesses do not progress. Your awareness of your weakness is a blessing as it helps you remain humble and keeps you turning to the Savior. The Spirit not only comforts you, but He is also the agent by which the Atonement works a change in your very nature. Then weak things become strong."
Brothers and Sisters. I testify that the redeeming power of Jesus Christ when called upon daily can truly bring us closer and strip us of this pride. He is that stripping agent. It requires that humily and turning to the Savior but I know its what brings us to that peace and happiness. My prayer is that we continually evaluate where we are and progress by acknowledging our weaknesses.
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Keep smiling!
Love, Elder Gerrard
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