Pride and a Haughty Spirit

Proverbs 16:18
Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.

It is a scripture with which most of us are familiar. Often it is shortened to "Pride goeth before a fall." Either way, it is a volume of wisdom expressed in a short sentence.

In reading Alma 39, again, I found a verse to which I had not paid much attention, before. The chapter concerns Corianton's leaving the ministry, going after a charming harlot, setting a bad example for the people who then cannot believe Alma, and Alma's invitation to him to listen to counsel from and follow the example of his older brothers.

What I had missed was the verse that describes the root of Corianton's fall from a powerful missionary to an adulterer.

It is found in verse 2. "... Now this is what I have against thee; thou didst go on  unto boasting in thy strength and thy wisdom."

C. S. Lewis in his Screwtape Letters has the demon Screwtape instructing his student imp. In one case, the imp explains that he is getting nowhere with his "patient" because of his humility. With humility, comes a heart willing to hear and obey God.

"I see only one thing to do at the moment. Your patient has become humble; have you drawn his attention to the fact? All virtues are less formidable to us once the man is aware that he has them, but this is especially true of humility. Catch him at the moment when he is really poor in spirit and smuggle into his mind the gratifying reflection, “By jove! I’m being humble”, and almost immediately pride—pride at his own humility—will appear. "

Obviously, Corianton had wisdom, strength and abilities to influence others. At first, he was a powerful missionary. At some point, he began to feel that it was all him; that is, he forgot that these were gifts that should be nourished and strengthened by humbly receiving counsel. Having focused on himself and his personal strength and wisdom, his pride led him to believe that his superiority exceeded the wisdom of his father and brothers. In fact, it exceeded what they taught and he, like so many others before and since, thought he was being a spiritual pioneer when, in fact, he was simply heading for destruction.

We get the feeling in reading the chapters dedicated to him that he had hit bottom, was prepared to humble himself and repent. Alma lets him know it will not be easy because Alma had to rehearse all the sinful acts and "harrow up" those difficult feelings. (v. 7) Also, Corianton would have to return to the Zoramites and admit his folly. (v. 13)

It is an easy trap to fall into. There is some emotional reward when we recognize that we have done a good thing, become a person of some repute, accomplished some spiritual feat or that we have gifts not possessed by others. It is a good thing to know, when it leads to gratitude. If it turns to pride, we are in danger. It requires vigilance.

The Innocent Adam and Eve

I gave the lesson in Sunday School yesterday about Adam, Eve, and the Fall. A couple of thoughts were developed from the scriptures I read.

First, there seems to be a struggle with the idea that the partaking of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil was a transgression and not a sin or that it was a necessary evil. We know it was necessary, because they were in a state of latent mortality. Bodies that were incorruptible, but also incapable of producing mortal children. Absent the Fall, they would have remained as such. 2Nephi 2:22-23 states: 

22 And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden. And all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; and they must have remained forever, and had no end.

23 And they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin. (Emphasis added)

It seems to me that we are missing an important concept: they were "...in a state of innocence." Have you known someone who was in a state of innocence? They will believe anyone. Until children have adequate experience, they are completely gullible. For example, we recently received an email letter from our grandson, Jacob. Here is an excerpt: "One time I had a CTR but then I lost it, I made a wrong choice because I didn't have my ring, then the Holy Ghost gave me back my ring, he was keeping it, forever. Then I made a right choice and I got my CTR ring."

It is so laughably cute that it is precious to us, because Jacob is only a young child. It would indicate serious problems if he wrote this at age 18, for instance. 

Adam and Eve were without experience. The whole idea of consequences for sin, or even sin, itself, were unfamiliar territory. Eve partook of the fruit innocently.  When the consequences became obvious, Adam apparently recognized that Eve was not going to be able to remain in the Garden and he partook of the fruit, also. 

I have heard some people state that Adam was trying to shift the blame to Eve with his response to God. I don't think so, because he was innocent and incapable of that kind of sophistry. Moses 4: 17-18  has the exchange. 

17 And I, the Lord God, said unto Adam: Who told thee thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldst not eat, if so thou shouldst surely die?

18 And the man said: The woman thou gavest me, and commandest that she should remain with me, she gave me of the fruit of the tree and I did eat. (Emphasis added)

My thought, as I expressed above, is that Adam was given Eve as his wife and commanded to multiply and replenish the earth. Without her, it would be impossible. He ate because he had been commanded to remain with her and would not have been able to do so if both had not partaken of the fruit. I suspect that after the Fall, innocence would go away rather quickly. As mankind advanced over the millennia, sophistry grew along with the loss of innocence. 

Maybe you have a different take and would like to share it. To me, it explains a lot.

My Time is not Your Time...

Alma 29: 8
8 For behold, the Lord doth grant unto all nations, of their own nation and tongue, to teach his word, yea, in wisdom, all that he seeth fit that they should have; therefore we see that the Lord doth counsel in wisdom, according to that which is just and true.

Another scripture I have read so many times and have not noticed. Perhaps it seemed appropriate this time because President Youngberg and I had a long conversation regarding what to do about the problem of immigrants and refugees in this country. Apparently, there are some who have discovered that being Christian is a way of not getting deported back to a Muslim country, so they fain interest in the Church. However, only one has requested a letter of good standing for that purpose. They are refused baptism if, after a close interview, they are determined to be in danger of returning to a country where being Christian is a dangerous status.

The problem that generated the conversation is that there are no Farsi or Arabic speaking missionaries in Europe, so interviews are conducted by Skype with missionaries in Los Angeles, CA rather late at night due to the time difference. I argued that there ought to be some of those missionaries appointed to Europe where they would be accessible to all missions in the same or a close time zone.

I have wondered for some time how the Gospel will go to the people of these Middle Eastern countries where it is a capital crime to change religions. The solution seems to be the refugees that receive the Gospel in adopted countries who then share with their families and friends. Over time, it seems to me, they will create enough political pressure to change things in their homelands. Maybe it is rose-colored glasses, because I have no real inkling how God will accomplish his purposes.

This scripture put me in my place by stating that not only will the Lord grant to all nations, in their own nation and tongue, but it will be done in wisdom, as he seeth fit.

I suppose we all, in some degree, want to see the signs of the end times and second coming of Christ. We know that it will come as a surprise, but we would like it to be obvious and in our own time. Time to let God do what he will as he wishes and in his time.