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Orson Scott Card: Sorting out the right and wrong of ambition

But what does it have to do with the gospel? There is no place in the gospel where we rise by beating somebody else. Competitiveness is the enemy of godly ambition.OSC

There is no other way to acheive to be President of the USA without competitiveness. I disagree that it is the enemy of godly ambition. A desire to make this nation a better place to live and a desire to
change bad to good seems to me a good ambition regardless of how you acheive it. The Presidency of the US has always been acheived by this means from the birth of our Nation. Granted it is unpleasant process, but it is the only process unless you are VP and the president dies.

Rose, you miss the point. This is not about the presidency. It is about our attitude toward church service. I agree that competitiveness is the enemy of godly ambition. I am troubled at times with the way we promote competitiveness as a society. I was a very competitive youth and young adult. Winning was very important. But, then somewhere along the way, I realized there was more "joy" in the game when I didn't worry about the score but rather played to help others get better. This was when I relaized it is possible for everyone to win and there be no losers. My competitiveness began to wane and I hope it eventually disappears all together. That is what happens in true Christ like service. Everyone wins. It doesn't matter if it is as Bishop, Prophet, Deacon's quorum advisor or Primary teacher. The quality of service is the measure of success.

This was a great article.I once knew a guy in my ward in the SL area who had great ambiltion-in the church-He married a GA's darling daughter.He moved from my very nice naighborhood to one that "sounded" better,to a much more expensive house that was not any better than the one he left.His noticable thirst for prominence was so silly that he was made light of behind his back.He seemed so caught up with his own wondefulness,as to be oblivious of how he appeared to others.It is a shame OSC's essay wasn't written 13 years ago.I fear it would have fallen on deasf ears,anyway.For sweet Rose to say this has nothing to do with the "gospel",just shows that she missed the point.

Amen! This article really gave me something to think about. Thank You.

Very excellent article! Very edifying. We lds would do well to all read and heed this wise counsel.

Great job in this article, you are a credit to the faith. Even though you were quoted as saying the s-word at MIT in 1997. You are a good example.

I look up to you and you are inspiring.

Thanks, this article hit home for me, but in the opposite way you might think. I don't want any callings of prominence - ever. I just want to show up and do some small job and go home, not thinking about being in the spotlight ever. Now, I have two callings where I have to be in front of large groups on a regular basis. I tried to tell them no, but they insisted I pray about it. I said yes, and must admit that I have grown. Ambitious I am not. Obedient and faithful - I am still working on that on a case by case basis.

Thanks for that. It does take years to really understand in your heart what you have in your head.
Australia Melbourne West Mission

Great article, Brother Card, and I also can really appreciate Linda's comment on it. So many times I've heard people say things like, "Why don't I ever get called to be the Elders Quorum President?" or something like that. Personally, I'd like to not have been put into some of the callings I've had--I think I'd rather be just called as someone to greet people as they come into the door at Sacrament Meeting or something. But when I look back on it, I find that there have been experiences in my callings that I wouldn't trade for anything. To get a more "prestigious" calling, lose your desire for one and gain a desire to serve others. Forget yourself and by doing so, find yourself. Be obedient and serve faithfully and for the right reasons. Then you will have the most prestigious calling in the Church--the one that allows you to serve God.

I didn't read the author name until I got halfway done reading started thinking "Wait a second...this all sounds familiar..." and then what do you know, it's my favorite author.

I happen to disagree with Rose regarding whether the Presidency is an office that can be attained by somebody who is non-competitive. I think it can be. Sure, you've got to beat the runner-up, but being in a competitive situation and "being competitive" are two separate things.

I know people who play competitive sports but who aren't competitive types. They're just trying to do the best they can, and the real competition is against themselves, not the guy they're facing. The opponent merely represents a challenge to be overcome, the same way a professional biker might see a steep hill during a race.

I would very much prefer to vote for a candidate who is running because they sincerely feel they have something to offer that is unique and needful, as opposed to somebody who simply wants to be king of the mountain.

Us this s secular newspaper? Not condemning, just asking...thinking of moving to Utah and need a sense of how things work.