Success is Dangerous
Success is dangerous, but good.
Elder Bednar this conference taught that success is a challenge. Our choices can make it a curse.
He was talking about the Book of Mormon, and of course this is a very Book of Mormon viewpoint. The promised land is blessed and cursed and the blessing and the cursing are the same. At one level, the blessing and the cursing are that here the people will get what they deserve. At an even deeper level, the blessing and the cursing are that any little bit of righteousness will get rewarded with success, and our choices too often make success into a curse.
Whether we live in the promised land or not, I believe we Saints have the same blessing and cursing. If we try, we will often succeed–but that’s dangerous.
Many of us try to avoid the danger. Probably we shouldn’t. Elder Bednar’s point isn’t that success is bad. It’s that success is a challenge.
Success with humility is godliness.
Filed under: Deseret Review | Tags: General Conference retrospective
E.C.
October 17, 2024
My success today was getting more than half the harvest in, with the help of my parents and friends, before the expected frost tomorrow night. We picked and shucked popcorn (my friend’s kid had an absolute blast with that, as I grew the Glass Gem variety), brought in pumpkins and squash, picked peppers and cherry tomatoes, dug another row of sweet potatoes, picked a bunch of flats of quinces, and now I need to go finish putting up the rest of the 15 gallons of tomato soup I made yesterday.
. . . I know that’s not exactly the kind of success you’re talking about here, but it was a good feeling. Of course, since I also only got 3 hours of sleep last night, I’m absolutely wiped out.
This isn’t great, because I’m supposed to celebrate the other type of success that you’re talking about tomorrow – I get to go to a gala dinner because I won an award for my writing! From the LDSPMA, the Spark Award for the sci-fi/fantasy category. 😀
Hopefully now that the harvest is in, I can concentrate on writing for the winter and keep on improving my craft . . .
G.
October 18, 2024
Warm congratulations!
Unless, of course, the success goes to your head and Providence has no choice but to let a band of gadianton robbers steal your tomato soup
E.C.
October 18, 2024
Don’t worry, my friends and family will definitely abscond with much of said tomato soup. It’s a favored home remedy, and the easiest way to make sure people get a quick, warm, nutritious meal when they’re feeling ill, so we often give it away with the ingredients for cheese sandwiches to those who are under the weather. That’s why we make so much of it. 😀
And thanks – I wouldn’t normally brag, but I finally feel like my writing might amount to something after all; not that I should be seeking awards and accolades necessarily, but I do feel that writing is a calling and an obsession rather than a career for most authors, so it’s nice when someone else sees value in what I create. This award doesn’t mean I will definitely be able to support myself on my writing, but it does feel like a step closer to that goal!
Zen
October 19, 2024
Brigham said he worried about the Saints becoming rich. I think before this is all done, he will yet have cause to worry.
G.
October 19, 2024
Yet?
Zen
October 20, 2024
I expect we will see a lot of extraordinary lows before we see the extraordinary highs.
I think we will have to deal with every kind of challenge and temptation, including money.
Personally, I am willing to begin this challenge. Entirely willing.
The money and riches part, I mean.
Tevye
October 20, 2024
If I were a rich man –
If I were a wealthy man, I wouldn’t have to work hard! . . .
If I were rich, I’d have the time that I lack
To sit in the synagogue and pray.
And maybe have a seat by the Eastern wall.
And I’d discuss the holy books with the learned men, several hours every day.
That would be the sweetest thing of all.
Lord, who made the lion and the lamb
You decreed I should be what I am
Would it spoil some vast eternal plan
If I were a wealthy man?