SELFISHNESS
SELECTED TEACHINGS
President David O. McKay
“I know of no better way to bring about harmony
in the home, in the neighborhood, in organizations,
peace in our country, and in the world than for
every man and woman first to eliminate from his or
her heart the enemies of harmony and peace such
as hatred, selfishness, greed, animosity, and envy”
(Gospel Ideals,292).
President Spencer W. Kimball
“It all comes back to one word, doesn’t it:
Selfishness” (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball,313).
“Every divorce is the result of selfishness on the
part of one or the other or both parties to a
marriage contract. Someone is
thinking of self—comforts,
conveniences, freedoms, luxuries, or
ease. Sometimes the ceaseless
pinpricking of an unhappy,
discontented, and selfish spouse can
finally add up to serious physical
violence. Sometimes people are goaded
to the point where they erringly feel
justified in doing the things which are
so wrong. Nothing, of course, justifies sin....
“The marriage that is based upon selfishness is
almost certain to fail. The one who marries for
wealth or the one who marries for prestige or social
plane is certain to be disappointed. The one who
marries to satisfy vanity and pride or who marries
to spite or to show up another person is fooling
only himself. But the one who marries to give
happiness as well as receive it, to give service as well
as to receive it, and who looks after the interests of
the two and then the family as it comes will have a
good chance that the marriage will be a happy one”
(“Marriage and Divorce,” 148–49).Elder Spencer W. Kimball
“Selfishness so often is the basis of money problems,
which are a very serious and real factor affecting
the stability of family life. Selfishness is at the root
of adultery, the breaking of solemn and sacred
covenants to satisfy selfish lust. Selfishness is the
antithesis of love. It is a cankering expression of
greed. It destroys self-discipline. It obliterates loyalty.
It tears up sacred covenants. It afflicts both men
and women” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1991, 96;
or Ensign,May 1991, 73).Elder Neal A. Maxwell
“In our failures, there is usually disguised selfishness,
the overreaching for ‘a bridge too far.’ Whether in
financial or civic ruin or in infidelity
and divorce, proud selfishness is
usually there. Lack of intellectual
humility is there among those who
have deliberatelycultivated their
doubts in order, they think, to release
themselves from their covenants.
Some nurture their grievances
assiduously. Were their grievances,
instead, Alma’s seed of faith, they
would have long ago nourished a mighty tree of
testimony” (Meek and Lowly,6–7).Selfishness is the
antithesis of love.
—Elder Spencer W. Kimball304