"An Ocean Of Pride"

The greatest achievement! And confidence found!
Is discovered on knees! Where godly strength, there abounds!

I was once prideful! And charted a course!
Void of kindness and insight! It led to remorse!

"No need for God!" I struggled and fought!
Pride left me empty! Of faith hidden! Nor sought!

I felt I was better! Should be esteemed by the weak!
"I could make it alone!" Without Him, others seek!

Later to learn! "How forlorn! And how vain!"
For the One I disdained! Left me deserted, in pain!

Isolated and humbled! To Him words would throng!
Sorrowing! Realizing! My actions were wrong!

The words came certain! Penetrated my soul!
Etched in wisdom! God's love here foretold!

"No man is an island! Nor greatness prevail!
Until God sets the wind! That opens the sail!"

POET'S COMMENTS

If ever there were a vice that could destroy one's soul, it would be "pride." So much could be said of it's destructive power. Pride brought down a third of the host of heaven in the pre-existent life. When this second phase of our eternal existence is complete, it surely will have destroyed much of the earth historical population. We will be judged by God of our words, thoughts, deeds. Hopefully pride will not have robbed us of eternal and lasting blessings.

At the heart of pride lies the following, quoted from a talk by Ezra Taft Benson ("Beware of Pride"): "The proud cannot accept the authority of God giving direction to their lives. They pit their perceptions of truth against God's great knowledge, their abilities versus God's priesthood power, their accomplishments against His mighty works."

"Behold, they do not desire that the Lord their God, who hath created them, should rule and reign over them; notwithstanding his great goodness and his mercy towards them, they do set at naught his counsels, and they will not that he should be their guide." (Helaman 12:6)

Let us all be humble and give God proper homage for our talents, abilities, and accomplishments. Let us acknowledge that without Him, we are as the dust of the earth; desolate, alone, and barren. Let us be careful to not allow "pride" to rob us of an eternal crown and glory in the presence of our omnipotent and loving Father in Heaven.