One of the blessings of getting older is that you realize you have learned a few things over the years you have lived.  Sometimes you are sad because you wish you had learned them earlier but nevertheless, if you believe in eternity, then all learning is of value as your eternal journey continues.
But, here on earth at least we can use what we learn when we learn it. AND we can pass it on to others and to our own family members.  So if any of this makes sense to you and you feel like sharing it with others; please do.

As most of you know the Book of Mormon is an ancient history of a people who lived upon this the American continent from 600 BC to 400 AD...a thousand years.  But they NEVER HAD THE BOOK!  The book was written for us in our day.
With that in mind I am intrigued by what is going on in our time now and what I consider the be one of the key teachings of the Book of Mormon.

Here it is from President Ezra Taft Benson, former president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:

"...the Book of Mormon is the record of a fallen people.  Why did they fall?  This is one of the major messages of the Book of Mormon.  The ancient prophet Mormon gives the answer in the closing chapters of the book in these words... 'Behold the pride of this nation, or the people of the Nephites, hath proven their destruction' (Moroni 8:27)  And then lest we miss that momentous Book of Mormon message from that fallen people, the Lord warns us in the Doctrine and Covenants, 'Beware of pride, lest ye become as the Nephites of old.' (D&C 38:39)

The proud will not accept the authority of God giving direction to their lives.  
The proud make every man their adversary by pitting their intellects, opinions, works, wealth, talents, or any other worldly measuring device against others."  Ezra Taft Benson, 1 April 1989

CS Lewis wrote: "Pride gets not pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man...It is the comparison that makes you proud; the pleasure of being above the rest.  One the element of competition has gone, pride has gone."  Mere Christianity, 1952

Returning to President Benson...."Pride is the universal sin, the great vice.  Yes, pride is the universal sin, the great vice.  The antidote for pride is humility (see Alma 7:23)

...We must yield to the enticings of the Holy Spirit"...put off the prideful "natural man", and become " a saint through the Atonement of Christ the Lord" and become " as a child, submissive, meek, humble (Mosiah 3:19, Alma 13:28)"

Pride separates us from God and from others around us....humility opens the doors to both.  Have a nice day. Jim