"A Zion University" Part II

Here it is Courgar Friday and we will continute with a few more words from former BYU President Merrill J. Bateman's address "A Zion University and the Search for Truth."

"The search for truth is part of the divine nature, and I believe there are some secular truths yet to be discovered that have been reserved for the faithful.  We must be contributors to the world's storehouse of knowledge to improve the lives of others.

During the past three decades, creativity in the arts and scientific research have become an integral part of BYU's program.  I use the word integral for a special reason.  My experience at five universities suggests that the best teachers, sacred or secular, are engaged in the discovery process.  The discovery of truth and the creation of beauty are exhausting experiences, but they are also exhilarating ones as new light and energy are unleashed.  Key attributes of a good teacher are knowledge and enthusiasm.  Both are enhanced by the discovery process.

 If Brigham Young University is to be a Zion university described by Presidents John Taylor and Spencer W. Kimball, the search for truth must be an integral part of the BYU experience.  President Taylor said: 'You will see the day that Zion will be as far ahead of the outside world in everything pertaining to learning of every kind as we are to-day in regard to religious matters.'" ( Merrill J. Bateman. Learning in the Light of Truth. Deseret 2005. pg36-7)

"When is Success a Failure?"

The following quote was given by President Hugh B. Brown during the April General Conference of 1969.  It is just as true today as it was then.

President Hugh B. Brown

“This is entitled ‘When Is Success a Failure?

“When you are doing the lower while the higher is possible,

When you are not a cleaner, finer, larger man on account of your work,

When you live only to eat and drink, have a good time, and accumulate money, then success is a failure.

When you do not carry a higher wealth in your character than in your pocketbook,

When the attainment of your ambition has blighted the aspirations and crushed the hopes of others,

When hunger for more money, more land, more houses and bonds has grown to be your dominant passion,

When your profession has made you a physical wreck—a victim of ‘nerves’ and moods,

When your absorption in your work has made you practically a stranger to your family,

When your greed for money has darkened and cramped your wife’s life, and deprived her of self-expression, of needed rest and recreation, of amusement of any kind,

When all sympathy and fellowship have been crushed out of your life by selfish devotion to your vocation,

When you do not overtop your vocation, when you are not greater as a man than as a lawyer, a merchant, a physician or a scientist,

When you plead that you have never had time to cultivate your friendships, your politeness, or your good manners,

When you have lost on your way your self-respect, your courage, your self-control, or any other quality of manhood, then success has been a failure.”

(In Conference Report, Apr. 1969, 113.  Reprinted in: Eternal Marriage Student Manual, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . 2003.  pg 98)

Save Families, Not Just Ourselves

I knew who she was and I knew who she married, but for 20 years, I could not find any evidence of  my great aunt Evelyn.  Last night that changed.  I put her name into the search engine for the 100th plus time, and this time, something came up.  Aevelyn.  I checked the data and sure enough, that was her!  What had separated me from my great-aunt, for 20 years , was a single misplaced vowel.  Along with finding her, I discovered her siblings and parents.  One single mistake had prevented me from completing the temple work for an entire family.

I was searching for an individual, in the end, what I found was a family.  In a talk published in the Eternal Marriage Student manual, Elder Hales tells us that when we work to meet the needs of an individual, we must also do it with extended family in mind.


Elder Robert D. Hales
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
In Conference Report, Oct. 1996, 86–90; or Ensign, Nov. 1996, 64–68
The Doctrine of Eternal Families

Save Families, Not Just Ourselves
While our individual salvation is based on our individual obedience, it is equally important that we understand that we are each an important and integral part of a family and that the highest blessings can be received only within an eternal family. When families are functioning as designed by God, the relationships found therein are the most valued of mortality. The plan of the Father is that family love and companionship will continue into the eternities. Being one in a family carries a great responsibility of caring, loving, lifting, and strengthening each member of the family so that all can righteously endure to the end in mortality and dwell together throughout eternity. It is not enough just to save ourselves. It is equally important that parents, brothers, and sisters are saved in our families. If we return home alone to our Heavenly Father, we will be asked, “Where is the rest of the family?” This is why we teach that families are forever. The eternal nature of an individual becomes the eternal nature of the family. (Eternal Marriage Student Manual. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 2003. pg 102 ) http://www.ldsces.org/inst_manuals/marriage35311000/start_here.pdf

America Will Not Fail

Recently, I finished reading Driven West:  Andrew Jackson and the Trail of Tears to the Civil War, written by J.J. Langguth, published by Simon and Schuster.  Most Americans know very little about this period in their history and I found that my understanding of the politics of that time greatly increased my understanding of what the early Saints were experiencing during the Kirtland period.

I was most surprised by the many quotes from newspapers and politicians as they battled to find ways to balance the budget and repay the national debt.  It all sounded so very familiar!  What I came away believing is that crisises come and crisises go.  Things were difficult for many people during the debt crisis of the early 1800's, but the nation rebounded and we have continued to be a strong influence in the world for almost 200 year.  Our national issues are serious, but we may be making a mistake when we think that pessimism is the best way to persuade others of the importance of our viewpoint.  If we focus on the positive, we can see beyond the challenges of the time we live in and envision a future that can still be productive.  President Harold B. Lee told us of the importance of focusing our sights on the positive, even in a crisis.

"Men may fail in this country, earthquakes may come, seas may heave beyond their bounds, there may be great drought, disaster, and hardship, but this nation, founded on principles laid down by men whom God raised up, will never fail.  This is the cradle of humanity, where life on this earth began in the Garden of Eden.  This is the place of the New Jerusalem.  This is the place that the Lord said is favored above all other nations in all the world. This is the place where the Savior will come to His temple.  This is the favored land in all the world.  Yes, I repeat, men may fail, but this nation won't fail.  I have faith in America; you and I must have faith in America, if we understand the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  We are living in a day  when we must pay heed to these challenges.

 I plead with you not to preach pessimism.  Preach that this is the greatest country in all the world.  This is the favored land.  This is the land of our forefathers.  It is the nation that will stand despite whatever trials or crisis it may yet have to pass through."  (Harold B. Lee. The Teachings of Harold B. Lee. Bookcraft. 1996. pg 365)

Principles of Leadership CES--"Where threre is no vision. . ."

Principles of Leadership Teacher Manual

Religion 180R

PDF Principles of Leadership Teacher Manual
Prepared by the Church Educational System
Published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Salt Lake City, Utah

Did you know that the church has a Leadership training manual used for the Institute and Religion curriculum?  It is available on line for those who like to have a pdf version.  While browsing through its contents on the internet, I read the following quote:

"The fourth section of the Doctrine and Covenants states, “If ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work.” ( Verse 3 .) . . .

All who make themselves available and have willing hearts will be called to lead. It is part of the gospel plan. . . .

A leader must be able to have a vision of the work. . . .

“Where there is no vision, the people perish,” but they also do not perform. ( Proverbs 29:18 .) They have no heart for the work and will inevitably impair rather than assist. Similarly, a leader with no vision will dramatically limit his effectiveness. . . .

If vision is so important, how do we gain it? Those who have vision have many things in common:

• They see the total work before them.
• They visualize what must happen in order to get the results they desire.
• They consider all of their resources, potentials, and capabilities collectively.
• They see in their mind what marvelous and magnificent things could happen when the total work force is mobilized unitedly.
• They then go to work to accomplish their goal.
• They have the ability to communicate their vision to those around them in a convincing way so that others are enlisted also.
• They see what they are doing as a cause, not a project. 
  (.lds.org/manuals/principles-of-leadership-teacher-manual*)                                                        

(*The format I was using did not provide me with an exact page number, so I am sorry that the citation is incomplete.  I'll be ordering a personal copy of this manual for myself and family, so I will return and correct this as quickly as I can.  If you find the citation, because you already have a manual, please send it to me and I will return and update this excellent quote.  Thanks--The Bee)

 

 

A Zion University Part I

 Merrill J. Bateman, former President of Brigham Young University, gave a talk entitled A Zion University.  Over the next few Cougar Fridays, we will review the highlights of this important address delivered on 9 January, 1996.

Apart from or a Part of the Church

"Is  the university apart from or a part of the Church?  Following the announcement of my appointment as president of Brigham Young University, the Salt Lake Tribune carried an article on what it means to have a General Authority as the school's leader.  The major point of the article concerned the university's relationship to the Church.  The news reporter suggested that although some might have assumed prior to the announcement that the university was a secular institution distinct from but reporting to the Church, the call clearly indicates that the university is an integral part of the kingdom.  The article surprised me in that I had never thought of Brigham Young University as separate from the Church.  Prophet after prophet has stated clearly that Brigham Young University is a religious institution with a divine mission, even though secular education is a key part of its purpose.  Given the organizational structure by which the university is governed, it seems paradoxical that some might think that Brigham Young University is not an intergral part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  The Church itself is an educational institution, and Brigham Young University is one of its key components.  Thus, one might say that this institution is not only a university in Zion but is in the process of becoming a 'Zion university.'" (Merrill J. Bateman.  Learning in the Light of Truth. Deseret Book. 2005. pg 17-18)

The Battle for Civility Part IV

In the Book Mormon, we read in Enos verse 13 that ". . .the Nephites, should fall into transgression, and by any means be destroyed, and the Lamanites should not be destroyed, that the Lord God would preserve a record of my people, the Nephites; even if it so be by the power of his holy arm, that it might be brought forth at some future day. . ."

The Lord kept his promise.  The Nephites destroyed themselves.  The Lamanites, who we recognize as part of the ancestry of the Native peoples of North and South America, survived.  Why?  There is one marked difference between these two peoples and I believe the answer is in one word:  Civility.

It is culturally biased to suggest that all forms of reasoning and social refinement had their roots in Europe. We love to quote the ideas of the Founding Fathers, Franklin, Jefferson and Adams, but who has heard of Canassatego, a great leader among the Iroquois Indians?  In 1744, Canassatego told a delegation from the American Colonies:

Brethren, We the Six Nations [the peoples of the Iroquois Confederacy] heartily recommend Union and a good agreement between you our Brethren, never disagree but preserve a strict Friendship for one another and thereby you as well as we will become stronger.  Our Wise Forefathers established Union and Amity between the Five Nations. . .we are a powerful Confederacy, and if you observe the same methods . . .you will acquire fresh strength and power." (Grinde, Donald A. Jr. and Bruce E Johansen. Exemplar of Liberty:  Native America and the Evolution of Democracy. UCLA  1990, footnote 79).                                              

The ideas of civics and civilization meet in the definition of civility.  My friend, who I referred to earlier, suggested that American ideals of liberty were linked to the consistent teaching of civics.  I couldn't define the word effectively, so I did some research.  It has been a good trip.

On Sunday Jauary 17, 2010, Jim Leach wrote a special piece for the St. Petersburg Times.  In his article he said:

"The concept of civility implies politeness, but civil discourse is about more than good etiquette.  At its core, civility requires a respectful engagement:  a willingness to consider other views and place them in the context of history and life experiences." (http://www.tampabay.com/news/perspective/article1065788.ece)

Michael Purdy, a spokesman for the LDS Church also expressed a similar understanding of the combined nature of civility.  His comments were made in response to concerns over the issue of illegal immigration, but could be applied to any subject of debate:

"Elected individuals have the primary responsibility to find solutions in the best interest of all whose lives will be impacted by their actions

 We repeat our appeal for careful reflection and civil discourse when addressing immigration issues.  Finding a successful resolution will require the best thinking, the highest levels of statesmanship, and the strongest desire to do what is best for all of God's children."(www.deseretnews.com/article/700049003/LDS-Church-repeats-call-for-civil-discourse-on-immigration.  18 July 2010)

Civility keeps barbarianism at an arm's length.  Barbarianism is driven by unrelenting hatred of ideas and peoples who differ from ourselves.  Civility leads to a reasoned system of order for dealing with ideas and peoples who differ from ourselves.  My friend was right, the teaching of civil behaviors does lead to liberty.  The surviving Lamanite peoples knew it, the Founding Fathers knew it, and now, I know it

The Battle for Civility: Part III

In The Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 26:1-3, we read about some of the things Jesus Christ taught the Nephite peoples " . . . and he did expound all things unto them, both great and small. . . .he did expound all things, even from the beginning until the time that he should come in his glory--yea, even all things which should come upon the face of the earth. . ."

I believe, that in coming to the Americas, Christ, the Son of God, "enlightened" the the people of Nephi. We are told of the results in 4 Nephi 1:16, "and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God."

But, that isn't how the story ends.

In Moroni 9:20, the prophet Mormon tells his son Moroni,  "Behold, thou knowest that they are without principle, and past feeling. . ."  The people were no longer living in a state of civility, but instead were what we would think of as barbarians, which Webster's defines as ". . .a man in his rude savage state; an uncivilized person; a cruel, savage. brutal man; one destitute of pity or humanity . . ." ( The New Webster Encyclopedic Dictionary. Avenel Books pg. 65)

How do we, ourselves, after a period of enlightenment, avoid becoming barbarians?  The cause of the precipitous fall of the Nephite people can be described in the nine simple steps described in 4 Nephi 1:20-46.

a.  Division and the Creation of classes (4 Nephi1:20, 26, 35)

b. Pride and greed because of riches (4 Nephi 1:23-25, 41, 43; see also 3 Nephi 27:32)

c.  Churches that professed to know Christ but denied most of His Gospel (4 Nephi 1:26-29, 34)

d. Churches built up to help people get gain (4 Nephi 1:26-29, 41)

          e.  Hard-heartedness (4 Nephi 1:31)

f.  Persecution of Christ's followers (4 Nephi 1:29-34)

g.  Parents teaching children not to believe in Christ (4 Nephi 1:38)

h.  Parents teaching children to hate (4 Nephi 1:39)

i.  Secret combinations (4 Nephi 1:42, 46)

(Book of Mormon, Gospel Doctrine Teacher's Manual. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 2003. pg 188).

The only ways we can avoid our own slide into barbarity is by being faithful to our  individual oaths and covenants with God and by learning to deal with others through a conscious, daily exercise of  the principles of civility.

The Battle for Civility: Part II

If an acceptable definition of civility is to have or be a citizen who is enlightened and refined, then the next question that needs to be asked is, "what does enlightened mean?"  The word itself can be defined in two different ways:

1) the verb form means: "To shed light on; to give intellectual light to; enable to see or comprehend."
2) The noun form means: "A movement of the eighteenth century marked by the free use of reason and the rise of humanism." ( The New Webster Encyclopedic Dictionary. Avenel Books. 1980. pg 290 )

When President Gordon B. Hinckley encouraged us to increase in civility, it is quite possible that he was telling us to increase our intellectual understanding of things in general and specifically, increase our understanding of governments and the philosophical ideas that support them.

I don't think that a Prophet was trying to tell us to be satisfied with re-reading our last research paper from American Heritage.  I think he was suggesting that we begin to struggle and stretch ourselves over the ideas that underpin our society.   The next question must be, "why?"

Although there are many reason to explore ideas about governments and social  structures, one of the best explanations can be found in the following quote:

". . .civilization requires. . . .confidence--confidence in the society in which one lives, belief in its philosophy, belief in it laws and confidence in one's own mental powers. The way in which the stones of the Pont du Gard [a Roman aqueduct ] are laid is not only a triumph of technical skill, but shows a vigorous belief in law and discipline.  Vigor, energy, vitality:  all the great civilizations- or civilizing epochs- have had a weight of energy behind them.  People sometimes think that civilization consists in fine sensibilities and good conversation and all that.  These can be among the agreeable results of civilization, but they are not what makes a civilization, and a society can have these amenities and yet be dead and rigid." (Kenneth Clark. Civilization. Harper and Row. 1969 pg.4)

We only need to look to the Book of Mormon to see the disastrous results that can occur when a society loses its sense of civility.

The Battle for Civility: Part I

Amid all of the things I do each day, I try to cut out a little piece of time for a personal research project.  Recently, after finishing an extended conversation with a friend who is a scholar of political science, I realized, "I didn't get it."  We were discussing liberty and civics.  His idea is that when American schools stopped teaching Civics as a general course in high school curriculum, our understanding of liberty "went out the window."

Having passed American Heritage as a requirement at BYU, I though I had a pretty good idea of how the U.S. system of government worked, but after our conversation, I realized I didn't understand how civics differed from civility, which is one of the five words in our motto.  I  immediately wondered how civilization tied into these two words.  I was curious about what these words have in common and in what ways do they differ?  I began to formulate my research question, "What is the origin of civil behavior and how do I express my own standard of civility?"

The Latin root for civic is civis, which means citizen but the Latin root for civility is civilis, also found to be the root for the word civilization.  The first word means a citizen of a state or community and the latter means the condition of being transformed from rudeness or darkness of thought or action to that of a condition of refinement or enlightenment. (The New Websters Encyclopedic Dictionary. Avenel Books.1980 pg 150).

The web site www.English-for-students.com/civ.html defines these words in the following way:

Civic- relating to a citizen
Civics-the science dealing with the rights and duties of a citizen
Civil-trained, refined, relating to citizens
Civility-Quality of being civilized; the manner of a civil person, politness
Civilize-To bring up from barbarianism; to train to live with others
Civilization-The cultural development of man; the process of developing from barbarism

In the list of words given, it is significant that civility is in a central position.  The definition uses the uniquely different word civil-citizen and combines it with the idea of civilize which is the refining and raising of an individual or society from those who are in darkness.

Blue and White Friday

A few weeks ago, our youngest son wanted to drive the car.  He was informed that he must first pass a test of knowledge.  He was asked to sing the Cougar Fight Song.  After weighting his pride vs the use of the car, my son began singing, "Rise and Shout the Cougars are out. . ."

Why are we attached to BYU?  We live in an area of the country where BYU is the rival, not the home team.  Our house is still stuffed to the brim with college age youth who are attending a local community college and not a church school.  So, why does our youngest need to know the Cougar Fight Song?  I think its because BYU is part of what it means to be a Latter-day Saint.  When our kids take a college class, they compare what is being taught with what they might expect to be taught at Brigham Young University.  For our family, BYU is the measuring rod of a good education.   Brigham Young, spoke prophetically to the early Utah pioneers, when he said:

"The Lord has chosen the poor of the world,--rich in faith--and the time will come when he will give the earth to his poor for an everlasting inheritance.  I speak this for the comfort of my brethren and sisters who have been poor.  They have come here, and what do we see?  The youth, the middle-aged and the old improving in letters, in mechanism and in the arts and sciences.  We bring them here to improve them, and if the Lord will bless us sufficiently, and the people will bless themselves, we will have a nation that understands all things pertaining to the earth that it is possible for man to grasp.  Will this people be praiseworthy?  Yes, and honored and honorable.  Will they be looked to as examples?  Yes; and it is the duty of the Latter-day Saints to live their religion so that all the world can say there is a pattern for us, not only in our business and worship, but in our knowledge of things that are, things that have been and of things that are yet to come, until the knowledge of Zion shall reach the uttermost parts of the earth, and the kings and great men shall say, "Let us go up to Zion and learn wisdom."   (Young, Brigham. John A. Widtsoe, ed.  Discourses of Brigham Young.  Deseret Book. 1976 pg. 246).

Fear of . . .

Well, lets just face it: I'm terrified of snakes.  When I see one appear in the garden or grass, I panic and in my increased anxiety I do what comes naturally.  I freeze. 

Sometimes we find ourselves in situations where we panic and instinctively we want to get away from the thing that makes us afraid; however, instead of running, we play dead.  Opossums are really masters of this skill.  They face their enemies with absolute determination to appear lifeless.  It is a strategy that works, but should we adopt it?  When we are faced with uncomfortable challenges to our faith and the lifestyle that comes with it, do we act like a possum?  Ezra Taft Benson assures us that such lifelessness in the face of ridicule is nothing but cowardice:

"We are far removed from the days of our forefathers who were persecuted for their peculiar beliefs.  Some of us seem to want to share their reward, but are ofttimes afraid to stand up for principles that are controversial in our generation.  We need not solicit persecution, but neither should we remain silent in the presence of overwhelming evils, for this makes cowards of men.

 We are in the world, and I fear some of us are getting too much like the world.  Rather than continue a peculiar people, some are priding themselves on how much they are like everybody else, when the world is getting more wicked.  The Lord, as He prayed for His Apostles, said, 'the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.' (John 17:14).  As Latter-day Saints, we too have been called out of the world."                           ( Ezra Taft Benson. The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson. Bookcraft. 1988 pg.396).

Spencer W. Kimball's "Keys to Leadership"

President Kimball was very direct;  which may be one of the most important thing he teaches us about leadership.  Although he is probably speaking about his own leadership experiences in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I think these ideas will be important in any field of labor.

Keys To Leadership

1.  Be guided by the Spirit

2.  Prayerfully Call and Explain Duties

3.  Establish Goals

4.  Delegate

5.  Follow up

6.  Recognize the Work of Others

7.  Develop Warm Personal Relationships

8.  Encourage and Motivate

9.  Organize, Plan, Prepare

10. Develop Good Judgment 

11. Review

12. Be Loyal

( Dellas W. Lee.  Israel the Lord's Chosen People. Wordsworth Books. 2009. pg 137).

The Illusions of Strength Based Leadership

As part of the service of this blog, I try to keep up to date on recent articles that might be of interest to our membership.  I am a regular follower of the internet version of the Deseret News and came across a thoughtful article during my morning read.  Dr. Timothy R. Clark wrote a piece that appeared Monday July 11, 2011, with the title: Michael Jordan and strength based leadership.

I don't know how many times I have said to my teenagers, "play to your strengths!"  It seems like a common sense thing to say, but as Dr Clark points out, it isn't a balanced way of trying to lead.  When we focus only on what we do well, we often begin to excuse ourselves from the responsibility to improve upon other things we do poorly.

How often have we had to read or listen to stories of public figures who were really good at their jobs, but failed in their responsibilities to spouse, employees or electorate?  When we have become successful, pride can become our constant companion, eventually fooling us into thinking that our strengths are so significant, our weaknesses don't matter anymore.

In his article, Dr Clark points out that really strong leadership isn't lopsided:

"If you have serious weaknesses that threaten to end your career as a leader and jeopardize the people and the organization you are leading, your priority is to attend to them immediately.  There are clear liabilities that could derail your effectiveness and your career.  They may be fatal flaws.  Jump on them.  On the other hand, if you have strengths that you can build on to increase your effectiveness and results as a leader, attend to these as well.  Take your game from good to great."

Potter Perks

It was a job perk. A recent gift from our head administrator was a free, private, advanced showing of the hottest movie of the decade: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 2.  Last Saturday, we waited for hours to get a chance to be one of the first Americans to see the conclusion of this beloved series.  Fifteen minutes before the showing began, an armed guard arrived carrying two silver octagonal shaped cases, tagged and sealed with ribbon.  It really was a pretty exciting experience!

Our oldest son was 11 years old when "Pottermania" began and our children will be among the only generation who actually grew up with Harry.  It became a family tradition to plan a party with special treats and costumes, as we awaited the midnight release of each new book.  Every year or so, a new volume arrived and the story became more complex, just as that of the lives of of our growing children.

The movie was great.  It was well thought out and well executed.  We were pleased and satisfied when it was done.  Since then, I have spent a great deal of time thinking about the power of Harry and his friends.  It is a good story, but I think we love it because it is more, it is a story not of individuals fighting against evil, but instead, a family's fight.

I think family is the unnamed superstar of the movie.  We love Harry, but he wouldn't be the same without the deep love and acceptance of the Weasleys.  Whether they started out at the center or not, at various times throughout the stories, this family is the eye in the storm for Harry, Hermione, Lupin and so many others. The battle between evil and good, is often over who controls the patterns of family life. As the movie progressed, the audience cheered wildly as the family, in its various configurations, stood strong.  I felt deeply impressed at the power of family expressed by the faculty and students of Hogwarts.  There were a lot of sniffs among the audience when this family stood firm to protect their children.

An article entitled "Strengthening the Family: The Family is Central to the creator's Plan, (Ensign, Dec 2004, 50-51) helps us see that what we think of as fiction and fantasy on the screen of a movie theater is actually based on the reality of our own  individual family's daily life:

"The family, the most fundamental institution of society is under attack from all sides.  Adultery, divorce, cohabitation, child and spouse abuse, homosexuality, abortion, teen pregnancies, pornography, disobedient children, economic struggles, and increasing unwillingness among married couples to bear and rear children--all these and more are proof that the adversary understands very well the central role the family plays in the destiny of God's children. . . .

"Even in such circumstances, we need not fear.  God is with us.  In the end good will conquer evil.  In the here and now, however, we must take our place on the front line in this war that began in the premortal world and do all we can to preserve and protect the sanctity of the family.

"The family is the primary support structure in God's plan to help us resist evil, overcome weakness and work out our salvation.  For this reason we should do all we can to strengthen the family in these days of confusion and opposition."

Spoiler alert:  The family ultimately wins the battle, and when it's all over, we are glad to have been part of it, from the beginning to it's glorious end!  Thanks to you all.

Cougar Friday!

I recently read that Alumni are to be encouraged to wear their cougar pride on Fridays.  Well, lets consider this as our "virtual" tee-shirt!

Every Friday, until Homecoming,* we will post a blog combining an insight on leadership and its connection to our shared BYU educational experience.


"Fulfilling prophetic utterances concerning BYU will require that the school be an innovator of bold, new programs.  As Franklin S. Harris expressed it, the school must constantly find new ways to train leaders:  'What this particular university must aim to do is to train for leadership in its highest forms: leadership in the Church itself, leadership in social affairs, leadership in business, leadership in art, leadership in citizenship, in fact leadership in all that will contribute to the betterment of the world and the happiness of its people.' " (Wilkinson, Earnest L. and W. Cleon Skousen. Brigham Young University: A School of Destiny.  BYU Press 1976. pg 880).

* Homecoming is scheduled for October 7-8, 2011.  For those who live near campus, that may seem to be a long way in the future, but for those who live in more distant locations, that's just enough time to make plans to hitch up our wagons and head for Zion.

This year the Spectacular will feature Tony Award-winner Brian Stokes Mitchell.  Tickets will go on sale Monday Aug. 15 at 9:00 a.m. Mountain  Standard Time.  Anticipating brisk ticket sale, we have worked to get our own FSOS Alumni Affinity Group page ready to go.  The updated page should be available within a week and there you will find links enabling you to purchase tickets for the Spectacular as well as any other Homecoming activity.  When the page is available, we will make a post at our Facebook group site.  We will also remind you about the start of tickets sales as we get closer to Aug 15.

Following leaders is the path of safety

Back in the early 80's I purchased a copy of The Teaching of Spencer W. Kimball (Edward Kimball., ed. Bookcraft. 1982).  I wore it out.  I purchased another copy and lost it in a move.  Recently, I ordered a used copy from a book seller's website.  When the package arrived,  I opened it and immediately  looked for some of my favorite quotes and in doing so, I was surprised to see many statements that hit home about today's  most pressing national issues.

We need to carefully follow the counsel of our living leaders, but if we really want a testimony of the power of the gift of prophecy on these men, go back and read what they said twenty or thirty years ago.  If we have concerns about immigration issues, read the words of President Kimball.  If we want to understand the challenges facing our nation regading it's finacial obligations, read the words of President Harold B. Lee.  If you want to know about government and the Constitution, read the words of President Ezra Taft Benson.  If we want to know how to face the threat of terrorism, read from the life of Howard W. Hunter.  If we lose sleep at night about issues of media bias, having a bedside copy of  anything written by President Gordon B. Hinckley, would serve better than a glass of warm milk.

A "prophet" who can't anticipate future events is not a prophet.  We have men at the head of our church who do see the course of future events and they really do give us a warning voice.  

"Following leaders is the path of safety.  Every normal person may have a sure way of knowing what is right and what is wrong.  He may learn the gospel and receive the Holy Spirit which will always guide him as to right and wrong.  In addition to this, he has the leaders of the Lord's church.  And the only sure, safe way is to follow that leadership--follow the Holy Spirit within you and follow the prophets, dead and living." (Edward Kimball., ed.  The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball.  Bookcraft. 1982 pg. 459).

The Stagnant Truth

How many times have we known people who failed to live up to their potential because they couldn't find the answer to a problem in a book or manual written by somebody else?

Often, creativity goes hand in hand with the type of leadership that gets things done and that motivates people.  It is important to be well informed, but as this quote states, we need to take what we learn and make it into something else:

Stagnant Truth

"Do not mistake acquirement of mere knowledge for power.  Like food, these things must be digested and assimilated to become life or force.  Learning is not wisdom; knowledge is not necessarily vital energy.  The student who has to cram through a school or a college course, who has made himself merely a receptacle for the teacher's thoughts and ideas, is not educated; he has not gained much.  He is a reservoir, not a fountain.  One retains, the other gives forth.  Unless his knowledge is converted into wisdom, into faculty, it will become stagnant like still water.--J. E. Dinger (Lyte, Clyde Francis., ed. Leaves of Gold. Coslett Publishing, 1948. pg 59)

Kindess is not a weak word

  When we serve in leadership positions, whether inside of the church or outside, we may find that the challenges we face sometimes require us to grow and change ourselves. Recently, I was involved in a large project; it demanded a lot of time and resources. Some people became dissatisfied that their pet projects were to be set aside for a time.  One individual became offended and began to express anger that their project didn't receive the resources they felt were "owed" to them.  I found the statements and anger expressed to be self-serving and short sighted.  In response, I could feel anger building up in myself.

I knew that the project needed everyone's effort.  As a leader, I had a choice:  give in to my own anger and frustration as a way of manipulating  this individual or find a way of side-stepping contention and get everyone back on track with the larger, more demanding project.  I really wanted to do the first, after all this person was acting like a jerk!  Instead, I chose something better.  I decided to do as Alma taught in the Book of Mormon :

"Now, as I said concerning faith--that it was not a perfect knowledge-- even so it is with my words. . .

But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if you can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for  a portion of my words. (Alma 32: 26-27).

The motto we have chosen to use for the BYU Former Student Officers Society comes from an address given by  President Gordon B. Hinckley.  Speaking at a Regional Conference of Priesthood Leadership in the Boston Massachusetts area on April 22, 1995, President Hinckley said, "Kindness, civility, decency, honesty, integrity, in our relationships--these are the qualities we need." (Gordon B. Hinckley, Discourses of President Gordon B. Hinckley Vol I: 1995-1999, Deseret Book. 2005. Pg 270.)

As I faced my co-worker, both of us by now offended and angry, I could hear these words from a Prophet of God ringing though my head, "Kindness, Civility, Decency, Honesty, Integrity."  I thought of Alma, and decided to try a faith experiment on the word.  The word I chose from among the group was kindness.

I took a deep breath, like you would jumping off a cliff, and then said, " I realize that you are being required to make sacrifices for this project, but all we are really asking for is a little kindness on your part."

In an instant, I was looking at a person with a very different countenance.  The anger was gone!  My own anger was replaced by respect.  My co-worker had  done just as Alma describes, "Therefore, blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble; or rather, in other words, blessed is he who believeth in the word. . ." ( Alma 32:16)

The Constitution--A Glorious Standard

On September 16, 1986, President Ezra Taft Benson delivered an address at BYU entitled The Constitution--A Glorious Standard.  This Brigham Young University devotional was later reprinted in the Ensign in September, 1987.  It is well worth our time to read the entire address.  The following are a few excerps:

"To understand the significance of the Constitution, we must first understand some basic, eternal principles.  These principles have their beginning in the premortal councils of heaven.

"The first basic principle is agency.  The central issue in that premortal council was: Shall the children of God have untrammeled agency to choose the course they should follow, whether good or evil, or shall they be coerced and forced to be obedient?  Christ and all who followed Him stood for the former proposition-freedom of choice; Satan stood for the latter--coercion and force.


"The second basic principle concerns the function and proper role of government.. . .The most important single function of government is to secure the rights and freedoms of individual citizens.

"The third important principle pertains to the source of basic human rights.  Rights are either God-given as part of the divine plan, or they are granted by government as part of the political plan.

"If we accept the premise that human rights are granted by government, then we must be willing to accept the corollary that they can be denied by government.  I, for one, shall never accept that premise.  We must ever keep in mind the inspired words of Thomas Jefferson, as found in the Declaration of Independence:

'We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights; that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.'

"The fourth basic principle we must understand is that people are superior to the governments they form.  Since God created people with certain inalienable rights, and they, in turn, created government to help secure and safeguard those rights, it follows that the people are superior to the creature they created.

"The fifth and final principle . . .basic to our understanding of the Constitution is that governments should have only limited powers.  The important thing. . .is that the people who have created their government can give to that government only such powers as they, themselves have in the first place. . .they cannot give that which they do not possess." (Ezra Taft Benson, "The Constitution--A Glorious Standard," Ensign, September 1987.)

No blind followers Part III

Good results come from training people to do their jobs.  Productive leaders need to understand how each  person or department contributes to the over all success of the program and  they find ways to empower workers to learn how to fulfill responsibilities.  Giving in to the temptation to do someone else's work for them, encourages our people to remain blind to their own obligations.  In our impatience to "get the job done right" or move the work along faster, we get short term rewards with long term consequences.

" 'We must be as coaches in a football game and not become the quarterbacks, to attempt to do directly what we have the responsibility to teach those under our charge to do.'  A dictatorship may be a shortcut to get immediate action, but the longer-lasting results come in painstaking and patient instruction and development by giving a man a responsibility and then letting him learn his duty and giving him the authority to act in his office and calling, according to his appointment.

"This is an objective of leadership which we sometimes fail to consider in our anxiety to promote certain programs. . .  The principle of stewardship is one in which we each have some clearly defined responsibility and a sameness of calling and concern for others, even as God holds us accountable to Him for our performance.  We may fail to let the principle of stewardship operate when we take over someone else's responsibility.  If we do, we not only prevent growth but we blur the lines of accountability.  The matter of our being willing to let another learn his duty involves our willingness to teach correct principles and then allow the individual enough room to apply and grow in his leadership.   (Lee, Harold B,. The Teachings of Harold B. Lee, Clyde J. Williams, Ed.,  Bookcraft, 1996. pg. 512)