Columnist David Brooks suggested a unique strategy for setting fulfilling goals. He called it “The Moral Bucket List.” Instead of focusing on what we want to accomplish or experience, he suggested that we focus on attributes we’d like to develop. To that end, he proposed a division between two types of virtues: eulogy virtues and resume virtues.
“Resume virtues are the skills you bring to the marketplace,” he explained. In contrast, “the eulogy virtues are the ones that are talked about at your funeral — whether you were kind, brave, honest or faithful. Were you capable of deep love?”
I’ve thought about Brooks’s approach this week as I read the following description of Joseph Smith’s life, which was included at the end of the 1844 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants, a few months after Joseph’s death:
Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it. In the short space of twenty years, he has brought forth the Book of Mormon, which he translated by the gift and power of God, and has been the means of publishing it on two continents; has sent the fulness of the everlasting gospel, which it contained, to the four quarters of the earth; has brought forth the revelations and commandments which compose this book of Doctrine and Covenants, and many other wise documents and instructions for the benefit of the children of men; gathered many thousands of the Latter-day Saints, founded a great city, and left a fame and name that cannot be slain. He lived great, and he died great in the eyes of God and his people; and like most of the Lord’s anointed in ancient times, has sealed his mission and his works with his own blood; and so has his brother Hyrum. In life they were not divided, and in death they were not separated!
Doctrine and Covenants 135:3
There are definitely accomplishments on this list which would belong on a resume, including publishing multiple books, and organizing a city. But it’s noteworthy that the culminates with the two things that matter most: God’s approval and Joseph’s deep relationships with others, including his fellow-martyr and brother Hyrum.
We see a similar pattern in King Benjamin’s end-of-reign report to his people. Interestingly, his report is more focused on what he didn’t do as king than on what he accomplished:
- “I…have not sought gold nor silver nor any manner of riches of you”
- “Neither have I suffered that ye should be confined in dungeons, nor that ye should make slaves one of another”
- “Nor that ye should murder, or plunder, or steal, or commit adultery; nor even have I suffered that ye should commit any manner of wickedness, and have taught you that ye should keep the commandments of the Lord”
- “I, myself, have labored with mine own hands that I might serve you, and that ye should not be laden with taxes, and that there should nothing come upon you which was grievous to be borne”
(See Mosiah 2:12-14.)
Surely it would have been appropriate for Benjamin on this occasion to have mentioned the “serious war” in which he and his people overpowered and expelled an invading Lamanite army (Omni 1:24). Or his role in preserving Nephite records (Omni 1:25). Or even some indication of what he accomplished as he “labored with [his] own hands.” This “state of the union address” represented an accounting of his faithfulness in his God-given duties, not a recitation of his achievements:
I have not done these things that I might boast, neither do I tell these things that thereby I might accuse you; but I tell you these things that ye may know that I can answer a clear conscience before God this day.
Mosiah 2:15 (compare Doctrine and Covenants 135:4)
A key difference between a resume and a eulogy is the time horizon they cover. A resume says, “Here’s how I can earn you money now.” A eulogy says, “Here’s why my life really mattered in the end.”
Of course we have to earn a living and support our families. Our resume virtues are not irrelevant to our eulogy accomplishments. But they ought to be subservient to them. We ought to be careful that our efforts to achieve short-term goals don’t distract us from our highest priorities.
Today, I will prioritize eulogy over resume virtues. I will follow the examples of Joseph Smith and King Benjamin, engaging in activities of eternal significance and striving for “a clear conscience before God.”
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