Those who are filled with the love of Christ do not seek to force others to do better; they inspire others to do better, indeed inspire them to the pursuit of God

 We need a more peaceful world, growing out of more peaceful families and neighborhoods and communities. To secure and cultivate such peace, “we must love others, even our enemies as well as our friends.” The world needs the gospel of Jesus Christ. Those who are filled with the love of Christ do not seek to force others to do better; they inspire others to do better, indeed inspire them to the pursuit of God. We need to extend the hand of friendship. We need to be kinder, more gentle, more forgiving, and slower to anger. We need to love one another with the pure love of Christ. May this be our course and our desire.

A More Excellent Way

April 1992

Howard W. Hunter

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1992/04/a-more-excellent-way?lang=eng&verse=#p

Do Not die with your music still in you

 There is an old saying: do not die with your music still in you. In like manner I would say to you adult leaders, do not get released with your leadership skills still in you. Teach our youth at every opportunity; teach them how to prepare an agenda, how to conduct meetings with dignity and warmth, how to rescue the one, how to prepare and give an inspired lesson, and how to receive revelation. This will be the measure of your success—the legacy of leadership and spirituality you leave ingrained in the hearts and minds of these young men.

APRIL 2013 GENERAL CONFERENCE - THE POWER OF THE PRIESTHOOD IN THE BOY - ELDER TAD R. CALLISTER

One who has authority to issue a call must rely on inspiration to avoid overburdening those who are always willing.

One who has authority to issue a call must rely on inspiration to avoid overburdening those who are always willing.

Boyd K. Packer, Called to Serve, October 1997 General Conference

Leadership is An Expression of Discipleship

 Leadership is an expression of discipleship—it is simply a matter of helping others come unto Christ, which is what true disciples do. If you are striving to be a follower of Christ, then you can help others follow Him and you can be a leader.

Your ability to lead does not come from an outgoing personality, motivational skills, or even a talent for public speaking. It comes from your commitment to follow Jesus Christ. It comes from your desire to be, in Abraham’s words, “a greater follower of righteousness.”2 If you can do that—even if you aren’t perfect at it, but you’re trying—then you are a leader.

Stephen W. Owen, The Greatest Leaders Are the Greatest Followers,  April 2016 General Conference

Jesus Christ - He is the greatest leader because He is the greatest follower

“Who is the greatest follower who ever lived?”—wouldn’t the answer again be Jesus Christ? He is the greatest leader because He is the greatest follower—He follows His Father perfectly, in all things.

Stephen W. Owen, The Greatest Leaders Are the Greatest Followers,  April 2016 General Conference

Always Include Some Complimentary Words & a Positive Message to Encourage...Turn Outward, Not Inward

When I was called as a General Authority, my first assignment was to move to Moscow, Russia. I was very humbled to serve in the Area Presidency, especially as I thought of the history of the area. The countries in Eastern Europe were formerly under communistic rule, and many of the old attitudes still prevailed.

President Russell M. Nelson was assigned to advise our area. He has a wealth of experience, having opened Russia and most of the surrounding countries for the preaching of the gospel. Although he lived far away in Salt Lake City, I communicated with him on a regular basis by email or by phone while I served as the Area President. I was constantly reporting what was happening in Eastern Europe and asking for his inspired counsel.

After several weeks I began to see a pattern. Whenever I received an email from President Nelson, it contained more than just excellent advice. It always included some complimentary words and a positive message to encourage our presidency. His example made me want to lift others as he had lifted me. I learned that kindness is contagious.

I also learned that our modern-day apostles emulate the Savior in their lives, especially in the way they treat others. They are turned outward, not inward.

Choose Happiness, Larry R. Lawrence, BYU Speeches Mar 08, 2016

Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved.

Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved.

Thomas S. Monson, Finding Joy in the Journey, April 2008 General Conference

Measuring Stick of Leadership in the Church

In the true humility of an inspired leader, King Benjamin recounted his desire to serve his people and lead them in paths of righteousness.

Thomas S. Monson, The Service that Counts, October 1989 General Conference

A Prophets Voice - Messages From Thomas S. Monson p. 291

I like this because this is the measuring stick that I need to use as how I am doing at being a true leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

O What Power It Has Over My Mind

Wise men ought to have understanding enough to conquer men with kindness....When persons manifest the least kindness and love to me, O what power it has over my mind, while the opposite course has a tendency to harrow up all the harsh feelings and depress the human mind.

Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, (2011), 423–34

Robe of Responsibility

May we ever remember that the mantle of leadership is not the cloak of comfort but rather the robe of responsibility.

Author:President Thomas S. Monson

Title: Sugar Beets and the Worth of a Soul

Where: Ensign, Jul 2009, 4–7

Daddy, Do You Own Me?

Parents and teachers, learn to listen, then listen to learn from children. A wise father once said, “I do a greater amount of good when I listen to my children than when I talk to them.”

When our youngest daughter was about four years of age, I came home from hospital duties quite late one evening. I found my dear wife to be very weary. I don’t know why. She only had nine children underfoot all day. So I offered to get our four-year-old ready for bed. I began to give the orders: “Take off your clothes; hang them up; put on your pajamas; brush your teeth; say your prayers” and so on, commanding in a manner befitting a tough sergeant in the army. Suddenly she cocked her head to one side, looked at me with a wistful eye, and said, “Daddy, do you own me?”

She taught me an important lesson. I was using coercive methods on this sweet soul. To rule children by force is the technique of Satan, not of the Savior. No, we don’t own our children. Our parental privilege is to love them, to lead them, and to let them go


Author: Russell M. Nelson
Title: Listen to Learn
Where: Ensign, May 1991, 22

1

Withoug Self-Reliance One Cannot Excercise the Innate Desires to Serve

Can we see how critical self-reliance becomes when looked upon as the prerequisite to service, when we also know service is what godhood is all about? Without self-reliance one cannot exercise these innate desires to serve. How can we give if there is nothing there? Food for the hungry cannot come from empty shelves. Money to assist the needy cannot come from an empty purse. Support and understanding cannot come from the emotionally starved. Teaching cannot come from the unlearned. And most important of all, spiritual guidance cannot come from the spiritually weak

Author: Marion G. Romney
Title: The Celestial Nature of Self-Reliance
Where: Ensign, Mar 2009, 61–65

Service is the Very Fiber of Exalted Life

It has always seemed somewhat paradoxical to me that we must constantly have the Lord command us to do those things which are for our own good. The Lord has said, “He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it” (Matthew 10:39). We lose our life by serving and lifting others. By so doing we experience the only true and lasting happiness. Service is not something we endure on this earth so we can earn the right to live in the celestial kingdom. Service is the very fiber of which an exalted life in the celestial kingdom is made.

Oh, for the glorious day when these things all come naturally because of the purity of our hearts. In that day there will be no need for a commandment, because we will have experienced for ourselves that we are truly happy only when we are engaged in unselfish service.

Author: Marion G. Romney
Title: The Celestial Nature of Self-Reliance
Where: Ensign, Mar 2009, 61–65

Obedience to Duty the Essence of Manhood

The leaders who have the most influence are usually those who set hearts afire with devotion to the truth, who make obedience to duty seem the essence of manhood, who transform some ordinary routine occurrence so that it becomes a vista where we see the person we aspire to be.

Author: Thomas S. Monson
Title: Examples of Righteousness
Where: Ensign, May 2008, 65–68

Lifting Others

You cannot lift another soul until you are standing on higher ground than he is. You must be sure, if you would rescue the man, that you yourself are setting the example of what you would have him be. You cannot light a fire in another soul unless it is burning in your own soul.

Author: President Harold B. Lee (1899–1973) Eleventh President of the Church
Title: "Stand Ye in Holy Places "
Where:Ensign, Oct 2008, 44–49
Scripture:
Why I liked it:
You must be on higher ground to lift another.