This section has been a difficult one to define for the purposes of our discussion. It seems that those who have previously discussed it have two different ideas on what it means. Different, yes, but perhaps not so very different. When you look at the LDS footnotes for this scripture it gives you the word selfishness. This is one tract of thinking. The other is a variation: our perceptions and beliefs about those around us. What is our tolerance and acceptance of all of God’s children and how willing are we to serve them?

There are lots of different ways a person can show themselves selfishness. I think being unable to see other viewpoints and beliefs outside of our , and being unable to see the needs of others because we are caught up in our own lives are just a couple of facets of the selfishness puzzle. So, for our purposes I have chosen to focus on defining and pondering the whole beast of selfishness in an effort to direct all of our thoughts outside of ourselves and onto developing a greater love for all of our fellow man.

Selfishness seems to be at the root of many of our human frailties and difficulties. In fact, Elder Neil A. Maxwell once sighted selfishness as the tiniest beginning that could cause a person to disobey or disregard all of the 10 commandments. When we become focused and intent on our own needs, the urge to bare false witness can find root, adultery, covetousness, and many other paths that lead to heartache suddenly seem like the answer to our wants and desires. Our focus has shifted away from the Savior and back on ourselves.

Leaving our selfish motives unchecked blocks our ability to feel the things of the spirit that are at the core of the Savior’s love, charity, it blocks out: love, mercy, patience, long-suffering, kindness, graciousness, goodness, and gentleness. We are left entirely to ourselves and that is a lonely place to be. There is an old saying that states, “The smallest of packages is a person wrapped up in himself.” This is not the Lord’s plan for His disciples. Elder William R. Bradford once said: “Of all influences that cause men to choose wrong, selfishness is undoubtedly the strongest. Where there is selfishness, the Spirit of the Lord is absent. Talents go unshared, the needs of the poor unfulfilled, the weak unstrengthened, the ignorant untaught, and the lost unrecovered.”

Thus, if we are to be instruments in the Lord’s hand, if our desire is to be His disciple and me an example of His life, selfishness, the desire to seek after our own, must go.

James E. Faust once said “Taking up one’s cross and following the Savior means overcoming selfishness; it is the commitment to serve others.” How does one accomplish this?

We can look to the scriptures, and those around us for examples of selflessness.

We can focus our prayers more on the Father’s will, and for the needs of others, than for ourselves.

We can seek out opportunities to serve and find opportunities that allow us to develop greater compassion and empathy for those around us.

We can spend more time considering how our actions and desires affect those around us, rather than focusing on how their actions affect us.

Meekness and humility seem to be at the heart of it.