I remember as a young father having to swallow my pride one day when I came home from work. I thought I was one of the most important things to my young five-year-old son, McKay. There is some important background to the story I am about to share. I am allergic to dogs, cats and horses; so, we have not had many pets over the years, just small rodents, fish and chickens. My children have always wanted a dog.

McKay approached to my wife one day and had the following conversation: “Mom, if Dad dies, can we get a dog?” My wife immediately came to my defense. “If Dad died, we would be very sad.” McKay said, “Yeah, I know, but if he did, could we get a pet?” Again, my wife defended me: “We don’t want Dad to die.” McKay went back again, “Yeah, I know, but if he did, could we get a pet? Mom, we could just get a picture of Dad if he died.”

When I heard that story, my pride was wounded. 

What is pride? How is it wounded? How is it controlled? Why is pride so harmful to our progression?

The Book of Helaman shares this great phrase:  “And now it came to pass in the forty and third year of the reign of the judges, there was no contention among the people of Nephi save it were a little pride which was in the church, which did cause some little dissensions among the people, which affairs were settled in the ending of the forty and third year” (Helaman 3:1). The axiom “a little pride” carries great depth in its meaning. I have found that “a little pride” can be the start of something toxic in the life of a struggling saint.

I believe this little story is a great summary of the foolishness and self-deceit of pride. 

“They tell a story of a fellow who with others was running a race, the race to end after the runners had gone around the track several times. They had been going around a few times, and the finishing lap was getting close. Sitting close to his good dad, a wide-awake lad, keyed up to see the finish of the race, observing a particular contestant losing ground, said, ‘Look, Dad, that guy is so far behind that he thinks he is on ahead!’” (Marvin O. Ashton “To Whom It May Concern” p. 126).