As Samuel the Lamanite condemns the Nephite's susceptibility to false teachers, he identifies two types of pride:
27 But behold, if a man shall come among you and shall say: Do this, and there is no iniquity; do that and ye shall not suffer; yea, he will say: Walk after the pride of your own hearts; yea, walk after the pride of your eyes, and do whatsoever your heart desireth—and if a man shall come among you and say this, ye will receive him, and say that he is a prophet. (Helaman 13)
His sermon links each of these forms of pride to specific spiritual conditions -- pride of the eyes leads to a love of riches, and pride of the heart leads to a puffed up, hard heart which is unreceptive to the word of God.
This post will discuss other mentions of "pride of the eyes" and related themes. The use of this phrase is not coincidental -- Samuel and Mormon make identical points to Nephi. The small plates were studied.
Pride of the Eyes
Nephi condemns pride of the eyes and connects it with putting down God's power and miracles and seeking to get gain:
20 And the Gentiles are lifted up in the pride of their eyes, and have stumbled, because of the greatness of their stumbling block, that they have built up many churches; nevertheless, they put down the power and miracles of God, and preach up unto themselves their own wisdom and their own learning, that they may get gain and grind upon the face of the poor. (2 Nephi 26)
Mormon mentions the pride of the eyes specifically three times in the Book of Alma, each time in connection with riches. The first two examples are negative, and the third example is positive.
What not to do with prosperity
In these two examples, we get a pretty clear description of the wrong way to handle prosperity.
32 For those who did not belong to their church did indulge themselves in sorceries, and in idolatry or idleness, and in babblings, and in envyings and strife; wearing costly apparel; being lifted up in the pride of their own eyes; persecuting, lying, thieving, robbing, committing whoredoms, and murdering, and all manner of wickedness; nevertheless, the law was put in force upon all those who did transgress it, inasmuch as it was possible. (Alma 1)
Interestingly, this is a description of those who did not belong to the church. In the preceding verse, Mormon specifically mentions that those who did belong to the church were "far more wealthy" as a result of their righteous handling of their wealth.
6 And it came to pass in the eighth year of the reign of the judges, that the people of the church began to wax proud, because of their exceeding riches, and their fine silks, and their fine-twined linen, and because of their many flocks and herds, and their gold and their silver, and all manner of precious things, which they had obtained by their industry; and in all these things were they lifted up in the pride of their eyes, for they began to wear very costly apparel. (Alma 4)
This result afflicted Alma and led to persecution and scorn.
The right way to handle riches
48 And the people of Nephi began to prosper again in the land, and began to multiply and to wax exceedingly strong again in the land. And they began to grow exceedingly rich.
49 But notwithstanding their riches, or their strength, or their prosperity, they were not lifted up in the pride of their eyes; neither were they slow to remember the Lord their God; but they did humble themselves exceedingly before him.
50 Yea, they did remember how great things the Lord had done for them, that he had delivered them from death, and from bonds, and from prisons, and from all manner of afflictions, and he had delivered them out of the hands of their enemies.
51 And they did pray unto the Lord their God continually, insomuch that the Lord did bless them, according to his word, so that they did wax strong and prosper in the land. (Alma 62)
Conclusion
A person who is lifted up in the pride of his eyes is spiritually blind. This blindness leads to a desire to get gain, persecution of the poor rather than a desire to help, and following one's own will rather than remembering God, the true source of prosperity.
