Thoughts on the Book of Mormon: Helaman 4

I was reading in Helaman 4:11-12 

11 Now this great loss of the Nephites, and the great slaughter which was among them, would not have happened had it not been for their wickedness and their abomination which was among them; yea, and it was among those also who professed to belong to the church of God.

12 And it was because of the pride of their hearts, because of their exceeding riches, yea, it was because of their oppression to the poor, withholding their food from the hungry, withholding their clothing from the naked, and smiting their humble brethren upon the cheek, making a mock of that which was sacred, denying the spirit of prophecy and of revelation, murdering, plundering, lying, stealing, committing adultery, rising up in great contentions, and deserting away into the land of Nephi, among the Lamanites

Those who professed to belong to the church of God had become so wicked and because of their wickedness and abominations there was a great slaughter among them. It all started because of "PRIDE".

Pride is feeling satisfaction for ones achievements.  Pride becomes a problem then when we think more of oneself than we should and we don't recognize and appreciate the gifts that we receive from God. We then become boastful and self centered and take credit for everything we do instead of realizing that everything comes from God and that we are dependent on Him. Pride blinds us and we become self confident and independent and we don't feel the need to be humble and ask God for wisdom.

President Nelson has taught us: "We can choose to let God prevail in our lives, or not. We can choose to let God be the most powerful influence in our lives, or not...The question for each of us, regardless of race, is the same. Are you willing to let God prevail in your life? Are you willing to let God be the most important influence in your life? Will you allow His words, His commandments, and His covenants to influence what you do each day? Will you allow His voice to take priority over any other? Are you willing to let whatever He needs you to do take precedence over every other ambition? Are you willing to have your will swallowed up in His?..My dear brothers and sisters, as you choose to let God prevail in your lives, you will experience for yourselves that our God is “a God of miracles.”

President Nelson also has taught us to "Hear Him" and to learn to listen to the Holy Ghost: "Our Father knows that when we are surrounded by uncertainty and fear, what will help us the very most is to hear His Son. Because when we seek to hear—truly hear—His Son, we will be guided to know what to do in any circumstance. I renew my plea for you to do whatever it takes to increase your spiritual capacity to receive personal revelation".

President Nelson also said this about keeping our spiritual momentum: "Spiritual momentum can help us withstand the relentless, wicked attacks of the adversary and thwart his efforts to erode our personal spiritual foundation"

I am grateful for a prophet that helps us see and teaches us what we need to do so we can become strong and be able to withstand the influences of the adversary. I we choose to let God prevail in our lives, by learning to Hear Him and keeping our Spiritual momentum by doing those things that bring the Spirit into our lives we will be able to withstand the darts from the adversary and not fall like those in the Book of Mormon who were led away because of pride.