Leadership
for Saints, Part 1: Why a Book on Leadership? Why Now?
by
Rodger Dean Duncan and Ed J. Pinegar
Our book, Leadership
for Saints, is something we’ve talked about for decades. We
first served together as leaders in one of the BYU stakes more than
30 years ago. Since then we’ve served in church leadership positions
all across North America and in Great Britain. We’ve observed wonderful
examples of leadership by the men and women of the Church at every
level. We’ve been blessed with excellent models and mentors.
About ten years
ago we did a preliminary outline, talked with an editor and even
drafted a couple of early chapters. Then a range of church and professional
activities diverted our attention. We live in different sections
of the United States – one of us in Liberty, Missouri, the other
in Utah Valley – so we spoke only periodically. Then in the summer
of 2001 each of us had an independent impression that we should
return to the book project. In fact, we felt a sense of urgency.
We set other
matters aside and devoted ourselves to writing the book. Early reviews
have been very positive and the book has received gracious endorsements
from Truman Madsen, Hugh Nibley, Stephen Covey, Mary Ellen Smoot
and many others whose opinions we value. But we didn’t write the
book for applause and we certainly didn’t write it for money. The
phrase “poor as church mice” was probably coined to describe people
who write for the Latter-day Saint market.
In a nutshell,
we wrote the book because it is needed.
Consider what
the prophets have said:
President Harold
B. Lee – “There is an urgent need for leaders of the Church at all
levels to spiritualize their leadership more so that our overarching
purposes are not lost in the mechanics of meetings, organizations.”
President Spencer
W. Kimball – “ … if we desire to lengthen our stride in the management
of the kingdom at all levels of its operation … we must be more
willing to expend more of our time, talent, and means in providing
leadership training.”
President Ezra
Taft Benson – “Yours is a great responsibility in this day when
the need for courageous leadership is so urgent. You can
become those leaders. ... Our [people] need to develop qualities
of leadership. They need to learn the value of staying power—stick-to-it-iveness.
They need to learn devotion to duty—the devotion to duty that keeps
a good doctor on the job right around the clock in an emergency;
the devotion to duty that leads a scientist or a teacher to persevere
in a low-paying position in public service because that is where
his maximum contribution can be made.”
President Howard
W. Hunter – “The need for leadership through the wards and stakes
of Zion [is increasing] dramatically. What is needed is not just
people of training and skill, but rather we will need a generation
of great faith, those who have learned discipline and discipleship.
What will be needed is a generation who understand not only how
to organize a ward but also how to build faith, how to sustain the
weak and faltering, and how to defend the truth.”
President Gordon
B. Hinckley – “You can be a leader. You must be a leader,
as a member of this Church, in those causes for which this Church
stands. Do not let fear overcome your efforts. ... Cast that fear
aside and be valiant in the cause of truth and righteousness and
faith. If you now decide that this will become the pattern of your
life, you will not have to make that decision again. You will put
on “the armour of God,” and raise your voice in defense of truth,
whatever the circumstances now and in all the years that lie ahead.”
And Elder Neal
A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve has said: “... the Church
has no corps of professionals. It must depend upon leaders developed
from within the membership as a whole ... the Church’s need is greater
than ever now, both in terms of numbers and a requirement for greater
devotion and skill ... so must the need for more capable and responsible
leadership multiply.”
Notice that
in addressing the subject of leadership, the prophets frequently
speak in terms of faith, duty, responsibility, devotion, discipline
and discipleship. To us, that sounds a lot like covenant.
Effective leadership
has always been a vital part of the Lord’s work. As the Restored
Church continues to expand at unprecedented rates around the globe,
effective leadership is today more critical than ever.
In offering
this book on leadership, we acknowledge that we are no different
from you who read it. Like you, we are simply trying to do better
and be better in our service to the Kingdom of God. In this work
we share some of the teachings, nurturing moments and training that
people and the Spirit of the Lord have given us. We esteem ourselves
no better than anyone else (see Alma 1:26). Yet with a desire to
serve and bless, we offer this work with the hope that it will help
all who seek to be better leaders.
Leadership is
stewardship. Faithful stewards:
- seek the
will of Heavenly Father and share that vision with the people
they serve
- live by
every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God (D&C 84:43-46)
- draw strength
from the grace of God and from the infinite and eternal atonement
of the Savior Jesus Christ
- measure
every thought and act against the principles of righteousness
- embrace
the counsel to “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean
not unto thine own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5)
- as always,
are Spirit-directed in all things
These are not
simply “nice” things to do when convenient. They are absolutely
imperative. Effective leadership stewards work hard to perfect their
own gifts and skills and they constantly acknowledge and
seek inspiration from the source of their gifts and skills.
No matter how
new or how seasoned you are, you can do better. You can learn more.
You can become a better leader—even a great leader as you rely on
the Lord and work with all your heart, might, mind and strength.
In our book,
from which this Meridian series is adapted, you will find principles
and doctrines taught in the scriptures, wisdom shared by our Church
leaders, and pertinent ideas regarding human relationships. Our
intent is to provide a picture of what you can do as well as what
you can become.
This is about
vision and hope. You can become a great leader.
Latter-day Saints
who lead come in all sizes and shapes, with a wide range of experience,
with many levels of confidence and competence, and with numerous
titles. Some are called Mother or Father. Some are called Teacher
or Coach. Some are called President or Bishop. Many are simply called
Brother or Sister.
Virtually everything
we do as covenant-keepers involves leadership. Great teaching requires
leadership. Great missionary effort requires leadership. Great parenting
requires leadership. The Lord's work moves forward as His servants
exercise leadership by faith and obedience.
Leadership is
much less a function of position than it is of influence. And while
it is true that some “leadership traits” come as gifts or inherited
attributes, it is also true that effective leadership can be learned.
In short, if
you genuinely want to be a better leader than you believe you are
now, you can improve if you (1) faithfully practice correct principles
and (2) petition the Lord for the associated spiritual gifts.
Just as our
salvation is secured through the fine balance of grace and works,
so great leadership is realized through our hard work and the Lord’s
merciful bestowal of gifts of the Spirit.
In fact, if
you faithfully practice correct principles and make yourself
eligible for spiritual gifts, you might even become a great
leader. Great leaders are great leaders because they value
the results of great leadership and because they are willing to
pay the price of continuous improvement.
Leadership in
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not just about
conducting meetings or “sitting on the stand.”
At every level,
leadership in the Church is about learning how to become an instrument
in the Lord’s hands to minister to His children.
Leadership in
the Church is about vision and imagination and stretching for greater
heights.
It’s about affirmation
and encouragement.
It’s about teaching
and correcting.
It’s about good
listening and good coaching.
It’s about planning
with a purpose and turning good plans into good results.
It’s about changing
lives for the better.
When you become
a more effective leader—at home, at church, in the community and
elsewhere—your life changes for the better, too.
In the weeks
to come, we will share principles and practices that will boost
your confidence as well as your competence.
Note:
The excerpts of Leadership for Saints posted on Meridian
are only a fraction of the contents of this 349-page book. To learn
more about this ground-breaking book and to order copies, click
here.
© 2002
by Rodger Dean Duncan & Ed J. Pinegar
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