I have read the talk "Beware of Pride" by Elder Benson many times, but for some reason, most likely because I wasn't yet married, I never put it in the context of marriage. I really loved his quote, "The proud make every man their adversary by pitting their intellects, opinions, works, wealth, talents, or any other worldly measuring device against others. In the words of C. S. Lewis: “Pride gets no 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. Once the element of competition has gone, pride has gone.” (Mere Christianity, New York: Macmillan, 1952, pp. 109–10.)"
This is so applicable to a marriage. When we are not focused on God in our own lives, when we are getting puffed up, and prideful against him, we can't help but act this way towards others as well, especially those closest to us.
If we see this start to happen in our marriages, first and foremost, we need to repent and strive to develop humility, greater obedience, and faith. As we do this, we can begin to discuss marriage issues, and resolve them. If we do not first repent and seek humility, then when we strive to discuss marital problems, we will not be able to truly and sufficiently resolve them. Our pride will eventually sneak back in.
We must be vigilant in our quest to be humble, faithful and teachable. If not for the sake of our souls, for the sake of our marriages, and eternal happiness.
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