Divine-Centered Leadership

This week's topic was one of the ones I had been looking forward to all semester. It reminded me a lot of the end of last summer witch I spent at Aspen Groves for Foundations of Leadership. We read many good talks but general authorities on leadership and the savior as being the perfect example of what a leader should be. I especially loved what you did with the lab this week, Audrey. Though most people refused my candy and looked at me like I was a weird freak, it inspired me to go home and leave notes for my roommates and the rest of the candy. I knew they wouldn't refuse. :) I took the rest of the sticky notes and plastered my building with up-lifting, brighten your day sort of messages. I hope I was able to may somebody's day a little better.
I thought I might just share my thoughts on the five main points of divine-centered leadership:
#1-SHARING AN INSPIRED VISION: It is wonderful to have great ideas but, if you cannot share them and have others join in on your vision not much will be accomplished. I can't imagine the Savior knowing everything that he did sitting back and letting the rest of the world wonder in confusion while he alone knew the way. I can't imagine him guaranteeing his and only his own salvation. It is not even conceivable. The Savior went out of his way to teach everyone the right way and then beckoned all, "Come follow me." He shared the inspired vision of the gospel and thanks to him, we are all here and now need to share our inspired visions.
#2-CHALLENGING UNRIGHTEOUSNESS: I think the first step in this is to look at my own life and change it so that it better resembles that of the savior. To challenge unrighteous practices and make a difference I mist be following correct principles in order to be taken seriously and not as a hypocrite. It is like that scripture in Luke 6:42. "Cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye." This doesn't mean that I must be perfect at everything, but that I must be striving with all my might to live to the best of my ability. Then, and only then, can I honestly try to better the rest of the world by challenging unrighteousness where ever I see it. It is my responsibility to not sit idly by watching and complaining but, acting.
#3-MODELING THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE: In order to be a good leader you must be at the front lines so that there is someone to follow. The Savior did not say feed my sheep and he him self horde all his own feed. I think of this principle like when learning something knew and complicated like a cooking, a new stroke when swimming, or a new math concept. It is sometimes very difficult to explain it exactly in words and a more advantageous use of time would be to physically show how it is done step by step, over and over until it can be remembered and is second nature. A parent cannot tell their children to say prayers before they go to bed but never show them how. Each night the parent kneels down beside the child and whispers what to say. Gradually the child inputs his own phrases without prompting and then utters the entire prayer by himself. Eventually the parent is even needed to remind the child because he knows what to do and it has become routine. This happens because the parent modeled the way, the truth, and the life.
#4-KNOWING EACH HEART: When leading, it is important to know who you are leading. Like last week, knowing each others' strengths and weaknesses helps you know how to handle a situation. You must really care for and know those around you. The Savior knows each of our hearts and that's one more reason that he is the perfect example of a leader. Even the sinners he was able to look upon their hearts and forgive them their sins when they had truly repented. We may not be able to do just that, but we can try to know everyone we lead better, get to know then on a personal level. My Book of Mormon professor told a story this week that fits perfectly. When he was a stake president he was asked to stand up in a meeting involving many stakes along with the sisters in his stake. He was then asked what one of their names was? He was unable to answer. He was asked another's and again fell short. On the third sister he finally knew one of their names. He was then asked how he expected to serve them if he didn't even know their names. Like my professor, I think it is important to know who we lead so that we may better serve them.
#5-SERVING OTHERS SO THEY MAY ACT: I think that this is one of the most important things you can do as a leader. Serve. Serving others as a leader sends the message that you are not above getting your hands dirty and neither is anyone else. Service doesn't necessarily mean you have to organize planting a garden for an old neighbor or send off packages to Haiti to help with relief efforts. Although these are good things to do, there are all sorts of small service activities you can engage in. Talking to someone who is stressed, not having and good day, or just feeling lonely can be some of the best service. I remember one time I saw a friend or mine in the hall and thought I'd say hi for a few minutes. It turned out she was so confused and didn't know what to say or how to react to some recent news she received. We ended up talking for an hour during which she was able to unwind and think. I didn't think much about it but, later that night on Facebook she commented that it was just what she needed. Service is really the best way to lead. I know that Christ's service to us all through the atonement has enabled us all to act and we must strive to do the same for others with our service.