The Sanding Down: Stripped of Pride for the Divine Finish

The memory of those dining room chairs—the dark cherry paint, the stubborn layers, and the sheer labor of scraping them away to reveal the honest, hard maple beneath—is a powerful metaphor for the work of discipleship. We are called to a similar stripping process, one that requires diligent effort, patience, and a willingness to be sanded down to the grain.

Elder Clark spoke of this process, comparing the removal of paint to the necessary humbling required to approach the Savior. He referenced Alma’s penetrating question to the members in Zarahemla: “Behold, are ye stripped of pride?” This question is not merely rhetorical; it is a divine diagnostic tool, revealing the state of our hearts before we can claim the blessings of the covenant path.

The Universal Sin of Pride

Pride, as President Benson taught, is not simply vanity; it is the central feature of enmity—hostility toward God and enmity toward our fellowmen. It is the very power through which Satan seeks to reign over us. It manifests in every corner of our lives, whether we are experiencing the zenith of prosperity or the valley of tribulation.

To be “stripped of pride” is to submit to the refining fire of the Spirit. It means recognizing that our natural inclination, our self-reliance built upon worldly accolades or personal achievement, is insufficient for the covenants we have made. We must move beyond the superficial varnish of self-sufficiency and face the raw, unadorned wood of our own souls.

From Paint to Finish: A Pattern for Covenant Keeping

Consider the physical process: first, the aggressive solvent (the initial shock of revelation or trial); second, the scraping (the painful removal of ingrained habits and false assumptions); and finally, the sanding (the meticulous, repetitive work of repentance and refinement). Each stage requires us to surrender control. We cannot simply polish over the imperfections; we must *remove* the layers.

This mirrors the doctrinal truth we study daily. Our journey toward eternal life is not one of accumulation—of gathering more knowledge, more calls, or more temporal blessings—but one of purification. It is about becoming worthy vessels, prepared to receive the divine ordinance in the temple and to stand steadfast when the Lord calls us to testify.

“Behold, are ye stripped of pride?” This question echoes the profound truth that our capacity to receive the Spirit, and indeed the sealing power of the priesthood, is directly proportional to our humility. We are not equipped by our own efforts alone; we are prepared by the Atonement of Christ. As we know from the Book of Mormon, Christ is the only Name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God (Mosiah 3:19).

The Goal: Steadfast and Immovable

The goal, as President Benson noted, is to be “steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works.” This steadiness is not achieved through sheer willpower, but through consistent reliance on the Spirit—the very Spirit that guides us in our scripture study and our covenants. It is the Spirit that allows us to see the grain beneath the paint, to recognize the true, eternal pattern laid out by our Heavenly Father.

Fellow disciples, let us approach our current studies, our temple covenants, and our service with this mindset. Let us not be content with a mere surface shine. Let us embrace the sanding. Let us bring our deepest pride, our most cherished self-justifications, to the altar of the Savior, that He might work His divine, strengthening finish upon us, sealing us to Him forever.