Alma 4

The Stumbling Block of Pride

Pride is an absence of humility and leads people to set themselves above or in opposition to others and God (see Guide to the Scriptures, “Pride,” scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Think about the pride you see in the world today and the negative impacts it has on you and those around you. The pride and contention demonstrated by some members of the Savior’s Church in Alma’s day caused the Church to fail in its progress. As a result, Alma felt inspired to resign as chief judge to devote himself to preaching the word of God. This lesson can help you use the word of God to overcome pride and contention.

Help students discover gospel doctrine and principles. Doctrine and principles should be stated clearly and succinctly. They can teach students the relevance of the scriptures and how scriptural stories and teachings apply to their everyday lives. Understanding doctrine and principles can motivate students to learn and apply gospel teachings.

Student preparation: Invite students to come prepared to share a scripture or statement from a Church leader about humility.

Possible Learning Activities

A stumbling block

On the floor in the class doorway, tape a piece of paper with the word “stumbling block” written on it. Ask how many students accidentally stepped on it before they noticed it was there when they came into class. If desired, students could also share experiences of a time they tripped or stumbled.

Recall a time you tripped or stumbled. Do you remember what it was that caused you to trip? In life, we sometimes trip over things that could be called “stumbling blocks.” This is also true spiritually.

The following suggested drawing exercise could be done as a class on the board. Or students could complete it individually.

Draw a few blocks and label them with things that may cause youth to stumble spiritually. For example, some may struggle to hearken to the prophet or obey the Word of Wisdom.

Think about the consequences of stumbling over these things. Ponder why you need God’s help to notice, avoid, and overcome these stumbling blocks.

Alma’s people had recently experienced great losses in war with the Lamanites. Because of their afflictions, they were “awakened to a remembrance of their duty,” and many people were baptized (see Alma 4:1–5). However, their peace did not last long because they began to stumble spiritually.

Read Alma 4:6–8, looking for why Church leaders were concerned.

Invite students to share what they found and help them see that pride can be a spiritual stumbling block.

• Why do you think Church leaders were “sorely grieved” (Alma 4:7) by the increasing pride of the people?

President Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994) taught:

Pride is the great stumbling block to Zion. I repeat: Pride is the great stumbling block to Zion. (Ezra Taft Benson, “Beware of Pride,” Ensign, May 1989, 7)

Draw a large block representing the stumbling block of pride. On the block, list answers to the following questions:

• How do you think pride can cause someone to stumble spiritually?

• In what ways does pride prevent us from becoming more like the Savior?

As you continue to study Alma 4, think about how pride may be a stumbling block to you and what you can do to overcome it.

Read Alma 4:8–12, looking for the effects of pride in the Church. Note that strife means angry or bitter disagreement or contention. Malice is desire to do evil, or ill will.

Invite students to list on the board the effects of pride in the Church. The list will be referred to later in the lesson. If you have enough writing utensils, let multiple students come to the board at the same time. Then invite students to answer the following questions:

• What were the effects of pride in the Church?

• In what ways are these actions unbecoming of members of the Savior’s Church?

• How were those not of the Church impacted?

Avoiding pride and contention

President Ezra Taft Benson taught:

The antidote for pride is humility—meekness, submissiveness [see Alma 7:23]. (Ezra Taft Benson, “Beware of Pride,” Ensign, May 1989, 6)

Read Alma 4:13–14, looking for what some Church members did to avoid pride and remain faithful. Note that abasing in verse 13 refers to becoming more humble and meek.

Invite students to write the humble actions of Church members on the board.

• What actions and attitudes in verses 13–14 remind you of Jesus Christ?

• How could developing these attitudes and taking these actions help us become more like Him?

• How have you seen others live these Christlike attitudes or actions, and how did that impact you?

Provide time for students to silently ponder any pride or contention that may exist in their lives and how they can follow the Savior’s example.

Alma determined that he needed to spend his time helping the people spiritually. He turned the judgment seat over to Nephihah while retaining the office of high priest for himself (see Alma 4:15–18).

Read Alma 4:19 and look for what Alma knew could “pull down” pride and contention among the people. You could also watch “Alma Preaches the Word of God” from time code 0:36 to 1:59, available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

• In what ways did Alma act like Jesus Christ?

• What can we learn from Alma’s example?

One truth from Alma 4:19 is the word of God and hearing pure testimony can help us overcome pride and contention.

Look for what President Ezra Taft Benson taught about the word of God in the following statement.

The word of God, as found in the scriptures, in the words of living prophets, and in personal revelation, has the power to fortify the Saints and arm them with the Spirit so they can resist evil, hold fast to the good, and find joy in this life. (Ezra Taft Benson, “The Power of the Word,” Ensign, May 1986, 80)

• In what ways might the word of God and bearing pure testimony help pull down pride and contention?

Invite students to choose two or three of the effects of pride they listed on the board earlier, and give them time to study how to overcome those problems in small groups.

Students could search topics such as “Humility” in the Topical Guide or Guide to the Scriptures. It may also help to show them how to do a search in the Gospel Library app to find information.

Invite groups to share what they learn with the class, including ways we can treat others more like the Savior would. Alternatively, after studying, they could write a brief talk addressing problems with pride and contention.

Encourage students to act on any impressions they received about how they might apply what they learned in this lesson.

• List two or three problems that result from pride and contention.

• List scriptures and teachings of modern prophets that you feel could help with these problems.

• Identify why or how the things you listed would help you treat others like the Savior would.

Seek to notice and recognize promptings from the Holy Ghost on how you might apply what you learned in this lesson. Look for opportunities to follow through on those impressions.

Commentary and Background Information

Alma 4:8. In what ways do we sometimes mock or scorn one another?

President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency explained:

Many teachers in church and school have grieved at the way some teenagers, including LDS youth, treat one another. The commandment to love one another surely includes love and respect across religious lines and also across racial, cultural, and economic lines. We challenge all youth to avoid bullying, insults, or language and practices that deliberately inflict pain on others. All of these violate the Savior’s command to love one another. (Dallin H. Oaks, “Loving Others and Living with Differences,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2014, 27)

Watch “Hearts Knit Together,” from time code 7:03 to 8:15 to see Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles share counsel about treating others with love and respect.

Alma 4:10. How is it that the Church “began to fail in its progress” as a result of pride?

President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency explained:

The Book of Mormon tells of a time when the Church of God “began to fail in its progress” (Alma 4:10) because “the people of the church began to … set their hearts upon riches and upon the vain things of the world” (Alma 4:8). Whoever has an abundance of material things is in jeopardy of being spiritually “sedated” by riches and other things of the world. (Dallin H. Oaks, “The Parable of the Sower,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2015, 34)

Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

Because of the uplifting doctrine of the Restoration, members rejoice in the gospel and find joy and satisfaction in the Church. We are viewed favorably when we live the teachings of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. When members don’t live the teachings, it can be a stumbling block to those who do not belong to the Church (Alma 4:10). (Quentin L. Cook, “Our Father’s Plan—Big Enough for All His Children,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2009, 35)

Why is pride so damaging?

Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared the following:

When prideful, we tend to take honor to ourselves rather than giving it to others, including the Lord. Pride is often competitive; it is a tendency to seek to obtain more and presume we are better than others. Pride often results in feelings of anger and hatred; it causes one to hold grudges or to withhold forgiveness. (Gary E. Stevenson, “Spiritual Eclipse,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2017, 47)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Good and bad examples

If students would benefit from an illustration of a positive and negative example of the influence Church members can have on others, consider watching or reading President Gordon B. Hinckley’s (1910–2008) talk “The Need for Greater Kindness.” Watch the video from time code 6:31 to 11:54.

Exploring how to counter the effects of pride

If students would benefit from working through a scenario where pride may be a concern, you might share the following scenario and have students create two versions of the rest of the story. This could be done as a class. One version could be that the young man’s choices lead to his stumbling because of pride. The other could be how the young man uses the word of God to remain humble.

“Raul is an exceptional young man. While still in high school, he is hired for an amazing job that pays him at least double what others his age typically make.”

Compare and contrast

Invite students to share the similarities and differences between the group of people described in Alma 1:19–24 and those described in Alma 1:25–31. Do the same with those described in Alma 4:1–5 and those in Alma 4:6–10. Invite students to share the Christlike attributes found in these passages and how we can follow these examples to become more like Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and be better disciples.

Alma 4:19. The power of pure testimony

If students would benefit from learning more about the power of testimony, consider watching “A Man Without Eloquence” (6:06) or “Pure Testimony” from time code 1:33 to 3:54. Invite students to share examples of how their testimony of Christ has been influenced by others’ testimonies, and encourage them to look for opportunities to share their testimonies with others to influence them for good.