“Pride is a very misunderstood sin, and many are sinning in ignorance.(See Mosiah 3:11; 3 Nephi 6:18.) In the scriptures there is no such thing as righteous pride — it is always considered a sin. Therefore, no matter how the world uses the term, we must understand how God uses the term,we must understand the language of holy writ and profit thereby. (See 2Nephi 4:15; Mosiah 1:3-7; Alma 5:61.)
Most of us think of pride as self-centeredness, conceit, boastfulness,arrogance, or haughtiness. All of these are elements of the sin, but the heart, or core, is still missing.
The central feature of pride is enmity — enmity toward God and enmity toward our fellowmen. Enmity means “hatred toward, hostility to, or a state of opposition.” It is the power by which Satan wishes to reign over us.
Pride is essentially competitive in nature. We pit our will against God’s. When we direct our pride toward God, it is in the spirit of “my will and not thine be done.” As Paul said, they “seek their own,not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.” (Philippians 2:21.)
Our will in competition to God’s will allows desires, appetites, and passions to go unbridled. (See Alma 38:12; 3 Nephi 12:30.)
The proud cannot accept the authority of God giving direction to their lives. (See Helaman 12:6.) They pit their perceptions of truth against God’s great knowledge, their abilities verses God’s priesthood power, their accomplishments against his mighty works.” Ezra Taft Benson, Beware of Pride, LDS General Conference April 1, 1989