Envy

Since reading a few scriptures like the following ones, it has made me think about what trouble envy causes. I thought it is interesting that something like envy would be mentioned with other problems like stealing, plundering, and murdering. I guess I had never really considered envy a sin. After reading and studying more, I realize that it is one of those "gateway" sins. Not only is it a sin, but if we give in to it, it leads us to greater sin. It is also helping me to realize how closely related pride and envy are.

• Alma 16:18

  18 Now those priests who did go forth among the people did preach against all lyings, and deceivings, and envyings, and strifes, and malice, and revilings, and stealing, robbing, plundering, murdering, committing adultery, and all manner of lasciviousness, crying that these things ought not so to be—

• Alma 4:9

  9 And thus, in this eighth year of the reign of the judges, there began to be great contentions among the people of the church; yea, there were envyings, and strife, and malice, and persecutions, and pride, even to exceed the pride of those who did not belong to the church of God.

Here is a very good talk by Jeffrey R. Holland talking about envy.

It is also interesting to note that a lack of envy is part of charity or Christ-like love.

Moroni 7:45 And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Can there be discord, hate, envy, and dissension in God’s presence? No! Such things make a hell and not a heaven. That is why we must learn to get rid of dissension, envy, hate, and discord in this life on earth. It is here we must learn how to turn our hearts to serve one another with love. Here we must learn how to live with one another in peace and harmony so that we can be prepared to live in the presence of that perfect God we claim to worship.

Theodore M. Burton, "Blessed are the Peacemakers" October 1974 General Conference