Meridian Magazine : : Print

Leadership for Saints, Part 6:
Drawing Strength from the Lord
by Rodger Dean Duncan and Ed J. Pinegar

Your character (what you truly are) is based on your capacity and diligence in becoming like our Savior Jesus Christ.

When you take upon yourself His name, always remember Him and keep His commandments, you have the blessing of His Spirit. So you should be anxiously engaged in a good cause—the cause of becoming a man or woman of God with character attributes like unto our Savior.

All of us are weak, and as we acknowledge our weaknesses we will be moved to humility. We confess our total dependence upon our Heavenly Father and our Savior. We understand the divine relationship that binds us together. In the state of humility we can be made strong (see Ether 12:27; 2 Corinthians 12:10).

The Lord will make us strong, and in His strength we can do all things (see Alma 26:11-12). It is in Him that we can be strong enough to do the Lord’s will and to magnify our callings. We can do all things by faith (see Moroni 7:33). We really can! There is nothing too difficult for the Lord and His servants to accomplish.

President Thomas S. Monson said “He who is on the Lord’s errand is entitled to the Lord’s help. Whom the Lord calls the Lord qualifies.”1 With this encouragement from a prophet of God, should we not set our goals high? Should we not have confidence? Is not this the time to be in the pursuit of leadership excellence? The answer is a resounding yes. So, let’s move onward and upward.

In one of the core covenants of our faith we promise “to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that [we] may be in” (see Mosiah 18:9). This cannot be an idle promise. Standing as a witness of God involves much more than merely acknowledging His existence. It also involves doing everything humanly and heavenly possible to be like Him. Honoring covenants is a matter of love and a matter of character.

When you’re asked the question, “Are you honest in your dealings with your fellowman?” how do you—how can you—respond?

You’ll notice that the question doesn’t read: “Are you sometimes honest?” Or “Are you usually honest?” Or “Are you honest only when everyone’s watching?”

In a priesthood interview for worthiness, the question couldn’t be more plain: “Are you honest in your dealings with your fellow man?” Period. We can’t assume that this question covers only the more obvious integrity issues like bank robbery and cattle rustling. It also covers all the more subtle shades of honesty so often ignored by the rest of the world.

The covenant-keeping Latter-day Saint does not tell black likes, gray lies or even the so-called white lies. He tells only the truth.

The covenant-keeping Latter-day Saint does not cheat on his tax return. If he dislikes the tax laws, he works to get them changed. But while they are in force, he obeys them.

The covenant-keeping Latter-day Saint doesn’t need a radar detection device in his car because he doesn’t plan to cheat others out of their right to safety on the highways. He obeys traffic laws.
The covenant-keeping Latter-day Saint keeps his promises. When he says he’ll finish a job, he finishes it. When he incurs a debt, he pays it—on time. When he accepts a responsibility, he is reliable. He performs. He can be trusted.

Honesty and integrity are not “sometime” things. They must be “all the time” things. We either behave with integrity or we do not. We are either honest or we are not. A half truth is a lie. A broken promise is a blemish on our reputation and a stumbling block in our progression.

President David O. McKay taught that it’s more important to be trusted than to be loved. The covenant-keeping Latter-day Saint can be trusted because he is “totally honest” with his fellowman. And what could be more loveable or more Christlike?

Improving our character and becoming Christlike takes a lifetime. It is a constant journey, not a one-time event. It is continuous change and improvement. It is part of the grand process that begins in repentance and in applying the Savior’s infinite and eternal atonement in our lives.

… leadership success is an appropriate combination of knowledge, attitude, skills and habits made effective through the instrument of the personality of the leader. – Sterling W. Sill

… leaders are to understand the nature of their stewardships and seek to fulfill their responsibilities in meekness and humility. Good leaders understand their roles as servants to others (Matt. 20:27). Thus, doubly benefited, persons gain from leadership experiences through unselfishly serving in a Christlike way and, through such service, come to know the Lord (Mosiah 5:13). – Daniel H. Ludlow

The leader who has integrity, who leads by example, will never suffer the scorn of disappointed youth who declare, "People are always telling us what to do but aren't doing it themselves." The apostle Paul counseled us wisely, "Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." (1 Timothy 4:12.) – Thomas S. Monson

… people who have entered into a covenant with God have been known as "Saints" from the days of ancient Israel to the present. Such a lofty title is not presumptive or something to boast about. It is a means of identifying those who are striving to become sanctified through covenant-making and covenant-keeping (see D&C 125:2). – Carlos E. Asay

… all who have held positions of leadership will be required to give an accounting for that which they did with the office or position that was theirs. Righteous government is essential to the preservation of society, and leadership is a sacred trust. – Joseph Fielding McConkie and Robert L. Millet

Note: The excerpts of Leadership for Saints posted on Meridian are only a fraction of the contents of this 349-page book. To learn more about this ground-breaking book and to order copies, click here.

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