Learning our Duties as Leaders

Why add one more thing to our schedule?  Why gather together?

The idea of having a society for alumni who are leaders among their peers, seems like one more thing to add to your already overfilled lives.  We could have a great dinner anywhere, why sacrifice to gather to the BYU campus?  The answer is not the dinner, the answer is we get to learn from some of the most wise and inspired leaders on earth today.  Our reunion also allows us to fellowship with others who have served and in many cases, are still serving as leaders.  The following quote tells us why this is one of the most important things we can do: 

Elder Richard L. Evans

 In Doctrine and Covenants 107:99-100, the Lord counsels all to learn their (our?) duty.  These verses are directed to those serving in priesthood offices but the spirit of this counsel applies to all leaders.  Elder Richard L. Evans who was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, taught: "Our families, the church, the community, the nation, the kingdom of God are better served by the best-prepared people.  Preparation and knowledge, with faithfulness, are infinitely better than just faithfulness alone.  And those who drop out for trivial reasons, those who cease to learn, those who don't continue to try to increase their competence are, I believe, failing to do their full duty" (in Conference Report, Oct 1966, 55).

Each leadership role has unique duties.  We can learn these duties from handbooks, our leaders, others who have served in the office, training meetings, personal observation, seeking the Spirit, studying the scriptures and praying.

Calls to leadership positions give people the opportunity to learn and practice a variety of abilities, such as 'evaluating alternatives, scheduling, delegating, and motivating others.  However, all Church leaders are encouraged to focus principally on people, to feed the sheep in the Lord's flock, to know and love the members, to listen, and help with personal needs.
[President David O. McKay said,] 'It is the leader's duty... to teach the member to love-- not the leader or teacher, but the truth of the gospel'  [in Conference Report, Oct. 1968, 143-44].  To do this, leaders are frequently counseled to seek the spiritual gifts of discernment and wisdom (cf. Luke 12:12; D&C 84:85)'  (in Daniel H. Ludlow, ed., Encyclopedia of Mormonism,  5 vols. [1992], 2:818)". (Church Education System.  Principles of Leadership Teacher Manual: Religion 180R. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Salt Lake City. 2001. pg 28.)

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Beyond the Call of Duty

Picture of Harold B. Lee provided by LDS.org

Life can be tough.  Though we all have our various trials, they are easier to accept if we understand that they have a purpose.  This quote from President Harold B. Lee, reminds us that when we are required to sacrifice, there is usually a blessing attached.  When we look for that hidden blessing, it invites the Spirit into our lives and makes our burden seem lighter.

" Our greatest joy comes by going beyond the call of duty.  That man who is ambitious for personal gain and personal advantage is never a happy man, for before him always are the receding horizons of life that will ever mock his attempts at acquisition and conquest.  That man who serves unselfishly is the man who is the happy man.

In the military service there were awarded oftentimes for outstanding accomplishment national decorations and certificates of merit, and always with the citation were these suggestive words: "For meritorious service beyond the call of duty."

Therein lies the way by which we, too , can reach the highest goals and win the merited plaudits of our Heavenly Father.  That which we do beyond the call of duty, beyond that for which we are compensated by material wealth is that which gives us the greatest joy in life.

As I look at the experiences of our brethren and hear their testimonies, I become persuaded of one great truth:  Whenever the Lord has a great blessing for one of His children, He puts that son or daughter in the way to make a great sacrifice. (Clyde J. Williams. ed. The Teachings of Harold B. Lee. Bookcraft. pg 176)