Meridian Magazine : : Print

When Is It Okay to Coast?
by Rodger Dean Duncan and Ed J. Pinegar

Challenge:

My life is very busy and frankly I’m tired. Isn’t it okay for me to coast a bit in my leadership calling?

Opportunity:

It was October of 1978 and I was in Great Britain on a special assignment for the Church. A colleague and I drove to the London Temple to confer with President Spencer W. Kimball, who was there to install a new temple presidency.

President Kimball was his usual smiling, buoyant self as he inquired about and expressed appreciation for our work. After our brief interview we chatted for several minutes and the Prophet stood by my side with his arm locked in mine. He stayed in that pose while he talked with others, and I was of course in no rush to move away.

I was especially impressed by one part of his conversation. One of the brethren there asked President Kimball if he was tired of his hectic pace. It was then 2:30 p.m. in England, 7:30 a.m. in Salt Lake City, and President Kimball had just crossed the Atlantic the night before after installing a new presidency at the Washington Temple. Later on this day he was flying to South Africa for an area conference. So he, especially at the age of 83, had every right to be tired. The Prophet’s response to the question? “Oh, no, it’s hard to get tired doing something you love!”

President Kimball survived throat cancer and suffered a wide range of other serious illnesses. But he never lost his resolve to serve.

If only all of us could feel that way about Church assignments. Surely we may get tired from our labors, but fatigue is usually ignored when we are truly committed to a calling.

For someone who feels a little “burn out” from serving, I would ask these questions:

· Have you developed a specific vision of what you should accomplish in your calling? (vision brings energy)

· Have you considered the linkages between your good service and the souls of others? (clear linkages spawn enthusiasm)

· Have you considered what the Lord may wish for you to learn from sacrifice? (sacrifice literally means to “make sacred”)

· Are you organized in a way that makes the most of your time? (good organization makes a task more “do-able”)

· Is your planning as careful as it could be? (good planning provides perspective and pace)

· Are you delegating tasks that can appropriately be done by others? (delegation frees you up to do the “vision work”)

· Are your meetings as effective as they should be? (good meetings help eliminate duplication of effort)

· What are you doing to ensure that you are in appropriate personal balance? (renewal is a critical key to vitality)

· Are you asking the Lord for help, and are you genuinely listening for his answers? (the Lord is always “on duty”)

By definition, effective leadership is no holiday. It requires commitment, focus, hard work, patience and, yes, even some endurance. The scriptures don’t teach us to “endure until it’s no longer convenient or comfortable.” We are asked to endure to the end. If it weren’t possible, the Lord wouldn’t expect it of us.

It’s been wisely said that “service is the rent we pay for our own room on earth.” We should remember that the rent is due on a daily basis and the receipt is never stamped “paid in full” because the rent—service in God’s kingdom—is due again today and due again tomorrow. – Rodger Dean Duncan

Challenge:

Dealing with change is one of the most difficult things we do in life. How can I help myself and others deal with change?

Opportunity:

Getting out of our comfort zone is often full of fear and doubt. We struggle in new situations and callings. If we haven’t done something before, there can be some anxiety.

While serving as president of the Provo Missionary Training Center, I witnessed this on a regular basis. Missionaries struggled in the new environment. Some even went home at their own insistence.

One day as I was pondering and praying about this I was inspired to call the BYU registrar’s office. I asked about the number of freshman students who left prior to completing their first semester. I was astonished. The percentage leaving BYU was the same that left the MTC. They expressed reasons like: “It isn’t what I thought it would be.” “I really didn’t want to come.” “I miss home, family, friends and my girl friend.” “I wasn’t prepared for this.”

From this I learned the difficulty of managing change. Upon interviewing those leaving and the many thousands who stayed, I learned how people can accept and deal with change.

Preparation is key: When people have knowledge of a situation and know what to expect, they are better prepared. If they have studied and worked for this moment in life they come with confidence.

Desire to succeed is a must: Those who really want to do well simply will do well. It is the inner motivator that drives one in overcoming challenges.

Recognition of self-image and self-worth: When we know who we are and realize our divine capacity we can do all things in the strength of the Lord.

Plans and goals: If early on we write down our goals and plans to accomplish them, we are more likely to succeed. There are days that we all might give in if it weren’t for our commitment to our goals.

Surely in relation to our eternal values we are motivated to change because of our love of God. Love is the motive. We can change and accept new roles and challenges as we make the mental adjustments. We simply choose to change. – Ed J. Pinegar

Quotes Worth Remembering

The gospel brings a spirit into people’s lives which heals and also covers many of the so-called differences we have. I’ve also learned that before the Lord, all people are equal … – R. Val Johnson

Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good. – Alma 37:37

Wherefore, brethren, seek not to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel from his hand. For behold, ye yourselves know that he counseleth in wisdom, and in justice, and in great mercy, over all his works. – Jacob 4:10

Men must have trust in their leader in order cheerfully to follow him … – Improvement Era

Let us support and sustain our leaders ... not only with our hands but with our actions … – William T. Tew 13

If you listen carefully to their feelings, you will find out something about the heart. – Henry B. Eyring

As you listen, listen to the feelings being expressed more than to the descriptions of action … – Martha Nibley Beck and John C. Beck

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.