It seems that almost all problems can, on one level or another, be traced back to pride. Pride is so often found as the root of contention, of greed, and often times even such seemingly unrelated sins such as lust. Perhaps some of the greatest examples of this principle can be found in the Book of Mormon, where pride is a constant cycle. As the Nephites or the Lamanites started to become prosperous because of their faith, they start to lose that very belief and become quick to forget their God. Once they have lost the prosperity that their faith had brought them, they once again remember God and turn again to Him, after being humbled once again. One of the biggest problems that can be caused by too much pride is a lack of faith - someone can become so puffed up in their own selves that they feel that they don’t need the Savior’s redeeming love or His Atonement. They often don’t even believe that their loving Heavenly Father is there for them, relying on their own knowledge and studies which “prove” that He does not exist. If these same people were to put aside pride, then these same evidences could be powerful proof to them of the reality of their Heavenly Father. If they would simply acknowledge that there could be something more out there than their studies have shown them, and take a few minutes to read the Book of Mormon and to pray, then they could have so much more in life.
Pride is not something that is only found in those outside the Church, however. It’s not uncommon to get a chat on Mormon.org from someone who attended a Church meeting or spoke with a member of the Church and was left feeling upset and rejected. It is so great that we have the restored gospel and its truths, and even better if we share this with others, but we must do it in a respectful, loving way. Humility was one of the greatest aspects of the Savior. In the scriptures, Christ most often refers to Himself as the “Son of Man,” rather than one of His other, loftier titles such as the Messiah or the Only Begotten of the Father. If we can each remember Christ’s perfect love and humility when speaking with others who do not share our beliefs - even if they aren’t willing to accept what we have to share, and even if they go so far as to directly attack us and our beliefs - then we will be so much more effective in our efforts to help others and to teach them more about what we know can bring them more happiness and blessings in their lives.