Joseph Smith on the subject of ego

We are so very blessed to have the wisdom of prophets of God.  In the midst of all the media and buzz wordsof the world, comes the simple and direct teachings of the men who have been called by God to be his mouthpiece in these days.  Joseph Smith was the first of this dispensation to be called upon to serve as an authorized representative our our Heavenly Father and his son, Jesus Christ.

Author Truman G. Madsen, quotes Joseph Smith in saying:

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"Now one of the strongest and wisest statements I have ever heard on the subject of egoism.  The question was put to him, 'Joseph, is the principle of self-aggrandizement wrong?  Should we seek our own good?'   Listen to his answer.  'It  is a correct principle and may be indulged upon only one rule or plan--and that is to elevate, benefit, and bless others first.  If you will elevate others, the very work itself will exalt you.  Upon no other plan can a man justly and permanently aggrandize himself.'  That is another way of saying with the New Testament, "Whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.'  To paraphrase:  He that seeketh to save his life has mere physical survival.  He that is against me, or indifferent to me, will lose it.  'What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?'  Nothing.

Joseph Smith the Communicator

Joseph Smith was a fabulous communicator!  Good leadership depends on the ability to get your ideas out to those who will help make them a reality.  Truman Madsen, an expert on the life of Joseph Smith shares the following:

"[Joseph had] the ability to be simplicity-minded, and that's a gift.  Not 'simpleminded,' but 'simplicity-minded,' having the ability to reduce elaborate ideas to a core center or essence.  At the same time it is a gift to be able to see what other minds do not; to recognize implications, nuances, extensions of ideas that go beyond ordinary perception.  Here again Joseph Smith was an original, for on the one hand in administrative and decision-making enterprises he went quickly to the heart of the matter with ingenuity and skill.  But on the other hand, if required and asked to elaborate on a given doctrine or teaching he could do so and then would stretch the minds of all present. " (Madsen, Truman G. Joseph Smith the Prophet. Salt Lake City: Bookcraft 1989. pg 23)

It is very easy to develop the skill to communicate with people like ourselves, but a truly effective leader will not be satisfied with such a limited audience, no matter how well educated that audience may be! In his book,  Madsen goes on to quote Brigham Young who acknowledged the broad range of Joseph's skill as a communicator of ideas:

" 'The excellency of the glory of the character of brother Joseph Smith was that he could reduce heavenly things to the understanding of the finite.  When he preached to the people. . .he reduced his teachings to the capacity of every man, woman, and child, making them as plain as a well-defined pathway,'  In that connection, speaking of Christ the Prophet said, ' If He comes to a little child, he will adapt himself to the language and capacity of a little child.' " ( Madsen, pg 89)