Gordon Hinckley --"Try a little harder to be a little better"


This quote is on a sign in front of Weber State University at the Living Scripture building.

I pass it often and it always makes me think about how mormons are never good enough. They always have to try a little harder.

It sounds pretty benign, but in the Mormon context the statement is a little toxic when you think about it a bit.

* It assumes that the person receiving that news is not giving it their all, and needs to step it up.

* Is this trite fluff what we need the prophet of God toy and his multi-million dollar accessories for?

That's what I thought. It should be benign, and in other situations it would be. But not when you're mormon. You are NEVER good enough. And you they will never fail to remind you of that.

I remember a seventy came to our mission and told us he didn't like when people say they are trying their best. He said none of us is ever doing their best.

There is truth in that, but I think it usually hits the wrong target. The people who are already hard on themselves will take it to heart and feel worse. The people who don't care still won't care.

I suppose there is a middle ground where some missionaries would feel inspired to do a little better.

2 years of struggling under the mission system and the church system left me in bad shape when I got home.

Ooh lemme guess, Don Clarke

Lionel Kendrick, I'm sure a lot of them say things like that.

Good ol Lennie

Beat a little harder. It feels a little better. :>0

No . . . that wasn't Lionel. Never mind, someone else.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/30/2016 10:20AM by hugenippley.

If you were trying your BEST, you wouldn't be Mormon missionaries.

At my age I take a little pill to be a little harder.

lol

"Try a little better to be a little harder"

A better quote would be

"Try a little harder to be a little happier."

Amazing what enjoying time with my wife and kids, a nice cup of coffee or a finely aged wine or scotch does for happiness.

So many TBM's are so focused on the "You should be/not be doing _____" that they can never really enjoy anything at all.

Try a little harder to be a little weirder.
Would be a good replacement for:
The world is our campus.

If I could talk to Gordo, I'd say "Try a little harder to be less of a dick". Good advice with a little word fun.

I prefer "Stop trying so hard and live a little more".

Stop trying so hard!
You're making it worse!!

M@t

Wouldn't it have been nice growing up to hear something like: You are good the way you are. Don't worry about the small stuff. You are loved.

But instead, we have to serve, pray, pay and obey and we are never good enough. This was especially true on my mission

Sperco Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Wouldn't it have been nice growing up to hear something like: You are good the way you are. Don't worry about the small stuff. You are loved.
>

You mean true Christianity?

Mormonism wouldn't know that if it slapped it in the face.

The key to understanding The prophets is to add the phrase "in bed" after everything they say--

"Try a little harder to be a little better--in bed."
"Just do it--in bed"
"Stand for something--in bed."
"Joseph Smith was a prophet--in bed."

You get the idea. The Boner.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/28/2016 07:34PM by byuboner.

I love it!

Hinckley: I am sustained as such...(in bed)
Every member a missionary...

Dallin Oaks, "Oh, the brethren may have done a little lying for the Lord--in bed."

Yup. I played that game around a dinner table in SLC once. A good time was had by all. Hopefully the other diners weren't listening *too* closely. :)

I took it upon myself to try and do a better job of being a farmer every year of my 35 year career. Didn't always show up on my bottom line and the only person I was trying to please was me. It was all about my personal pride in a job well done. It was none of GAWD'S business or some idiot cult.

RB



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/28/2016 07:53PM by Lethbridge Reprobate.

I remember the relief I felt when a psychologist explained that there is no possible way to measure what "Doing Your Best" would be. It's totally impossible to "Do Your Best". He said that some people believe that the only way to do your best is to work until you collapse and that certainly isn't healthy or sane.

He explained that everyone has to decide for themselves what they want to accomplish in life and if they have the capacity to accomplish it. It is not healthy or helpful to kill oneself trying to meet someone else's standards. And it is healthy and normal to continually change your goals. People change significantly over a lifetime so why shouldn't their capacity, drive, desires, goals, and abilities also change? To think otherwise is insanity.

Amen!

That should only apply to your passion, be it art or architecture. The Mormons have no concept of sanctuary. Everything is work to them, even religion.

It is no accident that these two threads are next to each other!

Every member a janitor

and

"Try harder to be a little better"

Of course, the mere mention of this changed the arrangement of the heavens and the threads.

I must ponderize this.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/29/2016 12:58AM by bordergirl.

Depends on what you want to be better at.

"Yes, priesthood guy, I'm getting better at ignoring you."

Why not "Work Hard--Play Hard" instead?


Follow Your Passion.
Stop and Smell the Roses.
Do something you can be proud of.
Notice the Floral Notes in the Wine.
Help someone out.
Have a laugh with them after.
Hang in for the tough parts.
Sing your own song.


But mostly, don't tell others how to live. Inspire with your actions instead. The only thing Hinckley knew about "inspiration" was that the word existed and he was supposed to use it often.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/29/2016 02:08PM by blueorchid.

Work hard, play hard is such a Type-A personality thing. And it implies that if you're not working and playing hard, you're a loser. I had to put up with that stuff all my life. I had a fine career and I'm having a happy life doing it my less-than-all-out way.

there is something wrong with you.

You are not good enough.