Comparing, Competing, and Individual Worth | Merrill J. Christensen | 2007
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Co-Founder & Executive Chairman, Ensign
Search every verified Christopher Christensen interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote โ each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Christopher Christensen, co-founder and executive chairman at Ensign, has delivered two recorded addresses. In a 2007 speech titled "Comparing, Competing, and Individual Worth," Christensen discussed the challenges of competition and comparison. He quoted President Gordon B. Hinckley, who said, "The world into which you will move will be terribly competitive." Christensen stated that "excellence does not call attention to itself" and that "integrity is not a hindrance to your academic and professional success. It is essential to it." He also said that "the proud make every man their adversary by pitting their intellects, opinions, works, wealth, talents, or any other worldly measuring device against others" and that "your value to Him is independent of your body mass index; your accomplishments in arts, academics, or athletics; your possessions, popularity, or marital status." In a 2017 address, Christensen spoke about trusting the Holy Ghost. He said that "the Holy Ghost speaks with a voice that you feel more than you hear" and that "revelation comes as words we feel more than we hear." He shared a personal anecdote about learning to recognize spiritual promptings and stated, "I have never had the spirit bear witness to me that Joseph Smith was a perfect man, but I have had the testimony borne witness to me by the holy ghost that he was the Lord's prophet and that the Book of Mormon is true and that Jesus is the Christ."
“If you are well prepared in everything you do in school and professionally, and do the highest quality work of which you are capable, your work will speak for itself, and the 'right people' will be impressed.”
“Excellence does not call attention to itself. It does not need to. Excellence will be obvious to those who need to be impressed.”
“Integrity is not a hindrance to your academic and professional success. It is essential to it.”
“The world into which you will move will be terribly competitive. You are moving into the most competitive age the world has ever known. All around you is competition.”
“To seek after the praise of men is to be led carefully away from the only safe path to follow in life. The scriptures warn us plainly what follows when we 'aspire to the honors of men.'”
“The proud make every man their adversary by pitting their intellects, opinions, works, wealth, talents, or any other worldly measuring device against others.”
“If you prepare to walk down the path of life, you can be rewarded beyond your dreams and expectations. But to achieve this, you must work very hard, save, be wise, and be alert. You must learn to deny yourselves of worldly gratification.”
“Sacrifice a car; sacrifice anything that is needed to be sacrificed to qualify yourselves to do the work of the world.”
“May you seek the praise of God and do always those things that please Him. May you cease unhealthy comparison to others and delight in your individuality and uniqueness.”
“Your value to Him is independent of your body mass index; your accomplishments in arts, academics, or athletics; your possessions, popularity, or marital status; your current calling in the Church; or any other thing that can be a source of comparison and competition.”
Click "Show more" to find the links to the speech and podcasts. We live in a day where comparing and competing are viewed asย ...
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