Beware of Boasting

There are many reasons in today’s culture and society in which we may boast of our own strength or be proud of our accomplishments. Our society is competitive in nature and there is a hierarchal structure. This lends itself to a culture where it becomes easier to boast.

What might we boast about? Money, job title, status, home, car, academic accomplishments, sports achievements, a calling in the church, worldly or even spiritual “success”, and so on.

Here are a few thoughts from the scriptures with my commentary:

Alma 45:24

“But they grew proud, being lifted up in their hearts because of their exceeding riches. Therefore, they grew rich in their own eyes and would not give heed to their [prophets] to walk uprightly before God.”

The people forgot the Lord when they became “independent” because of their money. Money can be an incredible tool for good and can be a great blessing, but it can also draw people away to pride and boasting because there is a perception that they can “do it on their own.”

Mormon goes on to make an important note about the people and this cycle in Alma 46:8 (remember that Mormon has been through many manuscripts and documents, he sees the Nephite history from a unique perspective. During his lifetime, he’s seen the culminating effect of this trend):

“Thus we see how quick the children of men do forget the Lord their God, yea, how quick to do iniquity, and to be led away by the evil one.”

Let’s look at the pattern, the before/after effects of boasting:

Mosiah 11:19

“Because of this great victory they [the people of King Noah] were lifted up in the pride of their hearts; they did boast in their own strength, saying that fifty could stand against thousands of Lamanites.”

What was the result? The Lord left them to their own devices and they suffered for years at the hands of the Lamanites

Helaman 4:13

“And because of this their [Nephites in 30 B.C.] great boasting in their own strength, they were left in their own strength.”

What was the result? They were afflicted and smitten. The church dwindled and became weak. The city of Zarahemla was taken and conquered.

Mormon 3:9

“Because of this great thing which my people [the Nephite people in A.D. 362] had done, they began to boast in their own strength.”

What was the result? Mormon temporarily refused to lead them. The Lord said to Mormon, “Vengeance is mine” and the entire Nephite nation was destroyed from off the face of the land.

Let us be careful in our personal lives and guard against boasting. Let us remember that we depend on God for our very breath and that our greatest treasures lie in heaven.