Pride can destroy spiritual health
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"Pride and vanity, the opposites of humility, can destroy our spiritual
health as surely as a debilitating disease can destroy our physical
health," said Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve at the
October 1990 general conference.
"The Savior taught clearly the proper value of worldly possessions in His conversation with the rich young ruler who asked what more was required to have eternal life; he had kept all the commandments from his youth. He asked the Master what he still lacked. Jesus told him to sell all that he had and give to the poor, and come and follow Him. But the man went away sorrowing, for he loved his possessions. (See Matt. 19:16-22; Mark 10:17-30.) How many of us would pass this test?
"Many of us have made sacred covenants to live the laws of sacrifice and consecration. But when the Lord blesses us with riches and affluence, we may give little thought to how we should use these blessings to help build up His church.
"The scriptures are full of warnings against worldliness and pride because they, too, can lead us off course. The Lord explained to the Prophet Joseph Smith that many people veer from the path 'because their hearts are set so much [on] the things of this world.' " (D&C 121:35.)
