Day 8 and 9

Day 8: How do I guard against pride?

Read: Proverbs 6:16-17

          Proverbs 8:13

          Alma 5:14-28

          Doctrine and Covenants 38:39

Ponder: Am I being truly honest with others?

             Do I guard against pride?

             Do I do the right things for the right reasons?

     The proud depend upon the world to tell them whether they have value or not. Their self-esteem is determined by where they are judged to be on the ladders of worldly success. They feel worthwhile as individuals if the numbers beneath them in achievement, talent, beauty, or intellect are large enough. Pride is ugly. It says, "If you succeed, I am a failure." If we love God, do His will, and rear His judgement more than men's we will have self-esteem . . . .

     The antidote for pride is humility - meeknss, submissiveness. It is the broken heart and contrite spirit. God will have a humble people. Either we can choose to be humble or we can be compelled to be humble. Alma said, "Blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble." Let us chose to be humble.

     We can choose to humble ourselves by conquering enmity toward our brothers and sisters, esteeming them as ourselves, and lifting them as high or higher than we are.

     We can choose to humble ourselves by recieving cousel and chastisement.

     We can choose to humble ourselves by forgiving those who have offended us.

     We can choose to humble ourselves by rendering selfless service.

     We can choose to humble ourselves by going on missions and preaching the word that can humble others.

     We can choose to humble ourselves by getting to the temple more frequently.

     We can choose to humble ourselves by confessing and forsaking our sins and being born of God.

     We can choose to humble ourselves by loving God, submitting our will to His, and putting Him first in our lives.

     Let us choose to be humble. We can do it. I know we can.

From "Beware of Pride"

President Ezra Taft Benson

Saturday Morning Session 1 April, 1989

Day 9: Is the Lord my light?

Read: Helaman 5:12

          1 Peter 2:21

          Doctrine and Covenants 84:43-47

Ponder: In the past nine days, have I tried to make decisions based on the question "What would Jesus do if He were here?"

             What have I improved on?

             What is my specific role?

Read your patriarchal blessing