Principals of Leadership

The mission field is the great developer of future leadership in the church. In the process that takes 19 year old boys from their homes, they are developed by the spirit and by others, into leaders. The structure by which the church is able to accomplish this task is tried and tested and given by revelation.

//And if any man among you be strong in the Spirit, let him take with him him that is weak, that he may be edified in all meekness, that he may become strong also.//

//Therefore, take with you those who are ordained unto the lesser priesthood, and send them before you to make appointments, and to prepare the way, and to fill appointments that you yourselves are not able to fill.//

//Behold, this is the way that mine apostles, in ancient days, built up my church unto me.//

-D&C 84:106-108

Beginning with the first day in the mission field when a missionary is assigned a trainer, one with experience and Christlike attributes, that new missionary is being prepared for the time when they will have responsibilities that will require similar efforts.

I would like to present my ideas as if to missionaries. I have 5 ideas that contribute to successful efforts as a missionary, and in conclusion I would like to share some ideas on how these principals can be applied to church responsibilities following missionary service, or can even be used by those who have not had the opportunity or divine instruction, in the case of sisters, to serve a mission.

A successful Missionary:

1. Believes strongly that his personal influence makes a difference.

While growing up in Southern California I was often told that people were "watching me" because I was a Mormon. I think that one of the reasons for my carefully considering my actions was due to the fact that I believed that what I did could have a significant impact on those around me. If we wish to make an impact in the lives of others, we must believe that what we do as an individual could make a difference.

The well known missionary Ammon went forth among the Lamanites alone (Alma 17:17) in the attempt to reclaim the Lamanites from their erroneous ways. As the servant of the King, Ammon was hardly in a position of great influence. What did he think that he could do from such a position? I do not get the feeling that he had abandoned his hope of being a great missionary in exchange for a life of servitude. Ammon knew that as a messenger of the gospel of Christ he could have great success. When the flocks were scattered we are able to see the loft goals which ammon had and his faith in their fulfilment. "Now when Ammon saw ""[the scattered flocks]"" his heart was swollen within him with joy; for, said he, I will show forth my power unto these my fellow-servants, or the power which is in me, in restoring these flocks unto the king, that I may win the hearts of these my fellow-servants, that I may lead them to believe in my words." (Alma 17:29.)

2. Focuses his efforts on convert baptisms.

Missionaries are called teach people and prepare them for baptism. When things become challenging and when the work is slow it becomes easy to redirect our objectives to the intermediate steps. Tracting, discussions, contacting, reactivation. These are all good objectives but if we try to find fulfilment in these objectives alone we miss the intent of missionary work.

President Alvin R. Dyer, a counselor to President David O. MacKay, said the following at a multi-mission conference in Europe.

//The missionary often says, "We have met the most wonderful family today and are going to challenge them ""[to be baptized]"" Wednesday." How do you know you are going to challenge them Wednesday? Why didn't you challenge them last night? Know more about what? Do you think that you can teach a testimony? //

//Here is a real slant on effective proselyting. . . given by a missionary who I interviewed recently, asking the reasons for his success in getting baptisms-- he had baptized 20 in the past 8 months and had 5 ready for the day after our interview. He said, "Golly, President Dyer, we just teach by the spirit and let our investigators know that the Lord loves them and wants them to be members of His church." This is the right slant! Let's lead these wonderful people into the waters of baptism.//

We must keep our sights set on our ultimate goal, baptisms, bringing people unto Christ. This leads into the next subject as well.

3. Pursues several important goals without losing sight of the main goal.

As a missionary we were required to keep track of several statistical items and referred to as our stewardship reports. We reported on a weekly basis the number of Baptisms, people scheduled for baptism, Number of people we were actively teaching, the number of new investigators we found, the number of hours we did missionary work that week, the number of hours we had tracted. After reporting these numbers the companionship would interact over the phone with their mission leaders discussing what was happening and how they were helping their investigators towards baptism. Each week goals were set for each of these areas and were discussed in conferences. It was so easy to make the goals our objective. We would think to ourselves, we didn't baptize anyone this week, but we met all of our other goals. We were missing the main objective.

No one would doubt the effort and time put into his calling in reference to President Hinckley. He is always on the go. In a fireside with his personal secretary last year it was related that he is often told by the other apostles that he needs to slow down and take it easy. He scolds them and works even harder. As I relate a short incident, think of the goals and responsibilities of President Hinckley.

A young man, engaged to an LDS girl, was requested to purchase as a gift a copy of President Hinckley's biography. He went to a Salt Lake bookstore to get the gift requested by his fianc� While there he thought that it would be nice to get the book more personalized. As long as he was there. . . . He went to the church office building and went to the receptionist. He explained that he was not a member of the church, but that he had purchased this book as a gift for his fianc� who was a member, and would like the author to autograph it. After a few brief calls, he was ushered into President Hinckley's office. He spoke with the prophet for about 20 minutes and obtained a very personalized message on the inside cover.

Why did President Hinckley have time to talk with this young man? He recognized that the goal of the church was to bring souls to Christ. He took time away from a few business responsibilities to assist this young man on a path that could lead to his eternal happiness. What is really important?

4. Clearly distinguishes between means and ends.

Sometimes I wonder how often my parents were intentionally sneaky. They loved me a great deal, and I often had all the freedom I could handle. Parenthood is a great responsibility. Is there another stewardship that has the same eternal significance? Some mention of goals has already been made. With the desired end in mind can we see what means will lead to that end. If we loose sight of our desired ends it becomes easy to have our means interfere with our desired goals.

//And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.//

//But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.//

//And Samuel said, Hath the LORD ""[as great]"" delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey [is] better than sacrifice, [and] to hearken than the fat of rams.//

-1 Samuel 15:20-22

Saul lost sight of the command for obedience and instead emphasized the command to sacrifice, an important, but subsidiary command. When we desire to serve God, do we serve him in the way He has asked? Do we seek to rationalize our desired behavior to mesh with some of the things that we know we should do?

Ammon when serving under the King of the Lamanites had the opportunity to present his message to the king. Ammon was asked by what power he defended the flocks of the king and was instructed to be bold and that whatsoever he desired would be granted to him.

//Now Ammon being wise, yet harmless, he said unto Lamoni: Wilt thou hearken unto my words, if I tell thee by what power I do these things? And this is the thing that I desire of thee.//

//And the king answered him, and said: Yea, I will believe all thy words. And thus he was caught with guile.//

-Alma 18:22-23

Ammon used his servitude as a means to share the gospel with the Lamanites. He knew his objectives and sought means to accomplish them. In leadership positions we must be careful to interact with people so as to encourage them to fulfil their own responsibilities and allow them to choose to be righteous. We cannot achieve our desired goals through compulsion. Ever!

==5. Is bold and direct in his approach and encourages the same boldness from the missionaries.==

I had the opportunity in the mission field to serve with Elder Blake on two different occasions. He was my trainer and first companion in the field and I later had the chance to serve with him as a zone leader. When he was transferred to the office to be an assistant to the president, I looked forward to going on splits with him. He was bold, and when I was with him I practiced that same boldness. I was tracting with Elder Blake once and he was being especially direct with the people that we were meeting. I asked him why and he responded by saying, 'I don't have much time left in the field. I don't want to waste my time talking to people who aren't interested. I need to find the ones prepared to hear the gospel.' After that I noticed that he always bore a powerful testimony of the truth of our message and inquired to know if the individual would like to find out if it was true. He was never harsh or rude, but he had a purpose that I admired and thereafter sought to emulate.

Once before I had been companions with Elder Blake the second time he and his companion were having a baptismal service in there area. The candidate was a young boy. His mother had also participated in all of the discussions and attended church but was not interested in being baptized. They had boldly sought permission to baptize her son anyway and she had consented. The baptismal service was excellent and the spirit was strong. Following the service things were about to be cleaned up one of the missionaries commented, honestly and yet probingly, if she would like to make it a double header before they let the water drain from the font. She responded affirmatively! Another missionary was quickly obtained to do the baptismal interview and she was immediately afterward baptized. When the spirit is present and the goals are in sight there is no need to delay.

Missionary service is not the only place these suggestions can have implementation. Many have heard the stories of faithful home teachers making a difference in the lives of ward members. Can you remember the name of a Bishop or Stake President, or other Church Leader, who made a difference in your life? You can make a difference!

The savior gave to missionaries their charge.

//Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen.//

-Matthew 28:19-20

The goal to baptize was given by the savior. In callings other than as missionaries we still have a responsibility.

//It is wisdom in me; therefore, a commandment I give unto you, that ye shall organize yourselves and appoint every man his stewardship; That every man may give an account unto me of the stewardship which is appointed unto him. For it is expedient that I, the Lord, should make every man accountable, as a steward over earthly blessings, which I have made and prepared for my creatures.//

-D&C 104:11-13

Whatever calling we have, be it Stake President or Home Teacher, we have a stewardship. The three fold mission of the church is a guide and we are to lead our brothers and sisters towards exaltation. We must learn our responsibilities, through our leaders, our manuals, from the scriptures and from prayer, and then we must set our goals accordingly.

In those responsibilities our boldness and efforts to bring the spirit do not stop. How much more faithful would we as a membership be if our home teachers consistently challenged us to more faithfully keep the commandments, to read the scriptures and have family prayer. If youth advisors challenged the youth to prepare for missions and gave them specific goals. If they then lovingly followed up on those challenges the kingdom of God would more quickly spread, both in the earth, and in the hearts of the saints.

We as a people must seek to:

If in addition to this we seek to emulate the life of the Savior and develop His attributes, we will be successful in our responsibilities. We will find joy in the success of others. We will feel the spirit of the Lord in our own lives and those around us will be blessed. Of these things I testify in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

1999 Karl Kowallis

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