This reflection is profoundly important—especially in today’s society where fame, influence, and external success often overshadow deeper, lasting virtues. Let’s break down the message from your insight and Gordon B. Hinckley’s quote with a detailed explanation:
“Most children grow up to just be people.” — Gordon B. Hinckley
Meaning in Today’s Context:
In a world obsessed with celebrity, heroism, and achievement, this quote is a refreshing and sobering reminder. It’s saying:
- Not every child will become famous or extraordinary by worldly standards.
- And that’s not a failure—it’s normal, meaningful, and beautiful.
- The real goal is not to raise children to become “stars” but to become decent, thoughtful, principled human beings.
We live in a culture of idolized success
Today’s society promotes the idea that only visibility equals value:
- The influencer, the athlete, the genius, the celebrity, the self-made millionaire—these become the role models.
- Children grow up with the belief that their worth is tied to being seen, liked, praised, or accomplished in a public way.
But this breeds:
- Narcissism and perfectionism.
- Deep insecurity when life is “ordinary.”
- A loss of meaning in small, quiet acts of goodness.
Raising children to become “people” of character
Instead of idolizing fame, we must teach the next generation:
What really matters:
- Moral courage — doing what’s right even when it’s not popular.
- Spiritual grounding — knowing who they are in God, not in social media.
- Emotional intelligence — the ability to handle conflict, regulate emotions, and show empathy.
- Critical thinking — the capacity to reason, discern truth from lies, especially in an age of misinformation.
- Love and service — not being driven by self-importance, but by care for others.
Becoming thankful for “the ride”
Hinckley’s metaphor of life being like a bumpy train ride shows that life won’t be perfect, but it can be meaningful.
Children should learn to:
- Embrace both joy and hardship with gratitude.
- Avoid entitlement, and instead develop resilience.
- Value relationships over recognition, virtue over victory, faith over fame.
Building community and nation through godly character
If enough individuals strive to be:
- Good children — respectful, teachable, compassionate.
- Loving parents — nurturing, sacrificial, principled.
- Wise grandparents — guiding with humility and experience.
Then families become strong.
And if families are strong, communities thrive.
And if communities thrive, a nation can be healthy, righteous, and just.
This reflects the biblical pattern: transformation doesn’t begin in politics or platforms, but in hearts, homes, and how we treat one another.
Love and Principles as the Foundation
Christ taught that love God and love your neighbor are the two greatest commandments.
- Love without truth is hollow.
- Truth without love is harsh.
The principle-centered life rooted in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ is the only way to become whole, balanced, and wise.
Summary:
Let us raise and become “just people”:
- Ordinary heroes of kindness, integrity, and service.
- People who aren’t chasing attention, but who are anchored in purpose.
- People who quietly build strong families, healthy communities, and a nation that remembers God’s ways.
- People who know that their value is not what they achieve, but in who they are becoming—day by day, with God.
