Tearful parents, a missing little boy and a shining silver balloon sailing against the magnificent backdrop of the Rocky Mountains— all so that mom and dad could get a little screentime.
And who can blame them? A near-tragedy that hits the national news these days is almost a guarantee for a tabloid cover, a book deal, maybe another shot at a reality show. Why should all the attention go to parents of sextuplets?
Well, I might blame them. A little.
Americans are obsessed with fame. YouTube, American Idol, Dancing With the Stars, People, Star, The National Enquirer, blogs…. Mormons certainly aren’t immune to this national/international mania. We do, in fact, cultivate our own micro-celebrities of authors, General Authorities, crafters, singers and bloggers. Everyone seems to be for vying for their own place in the sun or eagerly following the lives of others. Both are spiritually damning.
God commands that we “put no other Gods before him” not for His benefit, but for ours. And the personal pursuit of fame– “I’m going to live forever”– is the antithesis of Christ’s “I am the way, the truth and the life.”
We all enjoy approval and the giving and receiving of accolades is healthy. But sometimes I find my self-worth being determined by the opinions of those around me. I go from accomplishment to accomplishment, from “hit to hit,” until I recognize how empty I feel.
Recently, I expressed concern to my Bishop that I didn’t know how to make everyone happy in my calling. His reply? “Don’t worry if people like you. Worry about doing the will of God.” My work, my life, my family flow much more smoothly when I work for what’s right, rather than the praise of men.
Cultivating talents for the glory of God can be a tricky balance. To me, Mack Wilberg, Conductor of the Tabernacle Choir, is an ideal example. Bach-like in his composing talents, his fresh arrangements have invigorated the choir for the past decade. Wilberg single handedly resurrected “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” back into the Mormon musical repertoire and has written dozens of compositions and arrangements.
But Wilberg shies from attention, avoiding awards and interviews. He accepted the very public role as conductor of the choir, but as a service and a passion, not to increase his own personal fame.
How can we, as Saints, glorify God and contribute to society? Do you see an obsession with fame in society (or is it just my grocery store with all those magazines)? Do you find yourself looking to others for approval? How do you think the internet and blogs have contributed to our own bright or dim sense of stardom?
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