“Lesson 21 Teacher Material: Overcoming Pride,” Teachings and Doctrine of the Book of Mormon Teacher Material (2021)
“Lesson 21 Teacher Material,” Teachings and Doctrine of the Book of Mormon Teacher Material
Lesson 21 Teacher Material
Overcoming Pride
The sin of pride is a major theme in the Book of Mormon. Periods of righteousness and prosperity are often followed by periods of pride and wickedness. This lesson will help students identify signs of pride in their own lives. Students will also consider what they can do to overcome pride and become more like the Savior.
Suggestions for Teaching
Jacob and Moroni teach about the sin of pride.
To begin class, you may want to display the following statement by Elder J. Devn Cornish of the Seventy: “We must stop comparing ourselves to others” (“Am I Good Enough? Will I Make It?” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 33). Ask students why this is good advice.
Share the following scenario, and ask students if they or someone they know has ever felt this way.
Jill does not like to attend Relief Society meetings. As she looks around the room, all she can see is women who seem more beautiful, spiritual, and talented than her. She resents them for having these qualities and usually leaves Relief Society feeling angry and jealous.
Display the following statement by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, who spoke on pride while serving as a member of the First Presidency: “At its core, pride is a sin of comparison” (“Pride and the Priesthood,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2010, 56). Write on the board the following truth: Pride is a sin of comparison.
In what ways can comparing ourselves with others lead to pride?
Improving Our Teaching and Learning
Adjust to meet students’ needs. While the curriculum provides important truths, resources, and helpful guidance, it cannot anticipate all of your students’ needs. As you teach, carefully listen to students’ comments, questions, and concerns so the Holy Ghost can help you know what to focus on and prioritize during a discussion.
Remind students that they learned from section 1 of the preparation material that Jacob warned his people about their pride, Moroni foresaw pride in the last days, and President Ezra Taft Benson addressed pride in the Lord’s restored Church. Invite each student to choose one of these prophets and review his message on pride, looking for ways “pride is a sin of comparison” (“Pride and the Priesthood,” 56).
After students have had time to search these passages, invite them to share what they have learned. As students share their insights, consider which of the following questions to focus on and prioritize:
What do you think it means to be “lifted up in the pride of your hearts”? (Jacob 2:13). How do you know when you are being lifted up with pride in your own heart?
What additional sins could be introduced into our lives when we look down on others with conceit or look up at others with resentment? In your experience, how do these types of comparisons affect relationships with friends, family members, roommates, coworkers, and Heavenly Father?
In what ways might social media stimulate comparisons that can lead to the sin of pride? What have you done to resist the temptation to compare yourself with others?
Note: If students express concern about the challenges posed by social media, you may want to share and discuss the following statement by Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:
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Elder Gary E. Stevenson
Many (if not most) of the pictures posted on social media tend to portray life at its very best—often unrealistically. …
Comparing our own seemingly average existence with others’ well-edited, perfectly crafted lives as represented on social media may leave us with feelings of discouragement, envy, and even failure. …
As Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson reminded us this morning, success in life doesn’t come down to how many likes we get or how many social media friends or followers we have. It does, however, have something to do with meaningfully connecting with others and adding light to their lives. (“Spiritual Eclipse,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2017, 46)
Ask a student to explain the purpose of an antidote. (If needed, explain that an antidote is medicine taken to counteract a particular poison.) Display the following statement by President Benson: “The antidote for pride is humility—meekness, submissiveness. (See Alma 7:23.)” (“Beware of Pride,” Ensign, May 1989, 6). Write on the board the following truth: Humility is the antidote for pride.
In what ways can pride be like a poison?
Why do you think President Benson described humility as the antidote for pride?
Remind students that in Jacob 2:17–21, Jacob told his people how to withstand the temptation of pride as they increased in riches. Also remind students that they learned from their class preparation that 3 Nephi 6:12–14 describes humble people who refused to act pridefully. Invite students to review one of these passages, looking for what we can do to overcome pride.
According to these verses, what can we do to overcome pride? (You may want to list students’ responses on the board. Some possible responses may include the following: be generous with what we have, seek the kingdom of God first, gain a hope in Christ, take care of the poor, see everyone as precious, do not argue with others, be humble and penitent before God, and keep the commandments.)
How do these attitudes and actions demonstrate humility?
What have you learned about humility from the Savior’s life? How can we apply His example of humility in our lives?
Consider bearing testimony that with the Lord’s help we can continually identify and overcome pride and become more like the Savior.
For Next Time
Ask students if they have read or heard things that have cast doubt on or disputed the teachings of Jesus Christ and His living prophets. As students study the preparation material for the next class, invite them to look for teachings that can help them defend themselves against those who seek to destroy their faith.