Become the Best Version of Ourselves

In general conference last weekend Elder Renlund spoke about the parable of the talents. After relating the story, he said this: “One message of this parable is that God expects us to magnify the abilities we have been given, but He does not want us to compare our abilities to those of others. Consider this insight provided by the 18th-century Hasidic scholar Zusya of Anipol. Zusya was a renowned teacher who began to fear as he approached death. His disciples asked, ‘Master, why do you tremble? You’ve lived a good life; surely God will grant you a great reward.’ Zusya said: ‘If God says to me, “Zusya, why were you not another Moses?” I will say, “Because you didn’t give me the greatness of soul that you gave Moses.”And if I stand before God and He says, “Zusya, why were you not another Solomon?” I will say, “Because you didn’t give me the wisdom of Solomon.” But, alas, what will I say if I stand before my Maker and He says, “Zusya, why were you not Zusya? Why were you not the man I gave you the capacity to be?” Ah, that is why I tremble.’” That is a powerful lesson for us: we need to strive to be the person God wants us to be while at the same time not worrying about how we compare to others. Elder Renlund continued, “Indeed, God will be disappointed if we do not rely upon the merits, mercy, and grace of the Savior to magnify the God-given abilities we have received. With His loving assistance, He expects us to become the best version of ourselves. That we may start with differing abilities is irrelevant to Him.” God expects us to do something with the unique gifts He gives to each of us.

Today I went skiing with my son. Sometimes he seemed satisfied about the progress he was making, but then he would look around and see more experienced skiers and feel like he wasn’t any good. At yet nothing changed in his own skills by seeing that there were others who were better than him. Unfortunately, most of us struggle with the same kind of comparisons as we see others more talented and successful than us. As his father I didn’t care at all how good the skiers were around us; I was just excited to see him improving his own abilities. And I believe that’s what Elder Renlund wanted us to understand about our Heavenly Father—He doesn’t compare us to others but does want us to be the best we can be. Near the end of the day skiing, my son and I sat on the chair lift with the person who holds the world record for greatest vertical distance skiing downhill in one year. What was impressive was that he was doing everything he could this year to beat his own record from last year. His focus didn’t appear to be on others who might beat him but rather he wanted to improve upon his own abilities. He told us how he has skied at this resort every day it was open and how gets there over an hour early every day to be near the front of the line. He seeks to maximize the amount of skiing he gets in and stays each day to the very end. His record is at 8.5 million feet, and he is already past it this year. His goal is to get to 10 million. Like the man given five talents in the Savior’s parable, he has continued to grow them, become the best self that he can.

 I love these words of the Prophet Joseph Smith from Liberty Jail: “Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed” (Doctrine and Covenants 123:17). That is the key: we each must do all that we can in our own power, and then we trust that God’s arm will be revealed to help and strengthen and improve us. It doesn’t matter how little or big our own power is, but as we strive to be our best self, through the Savior’s loving assistance we can do all that He expects of us and hope to hear these words: “Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Matthew 25:23).