Potential to Become

"In contrast to the institutions of the world, which teach us to know something, the gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us to become something." -Dallin H. Oaks

Yesterday in my Organizational Communications class we discussed the question, "Are great leaders born or made?" Can leadership be really taught or is it something anyone can learn? These questions perplexed my mind because Heavenly Father's whole plan is for his children to become great leaders. He calls us to be leaders in what ever capacity we are in, to follow Christ's example and to uplift and help those around us to grow....and he calls us to be proactive NOW! Not when we have gained enough skill, not when we have our own families, not when we have received a church calling or high position in work...NOW, in what ever circumstance we are in. Even if we are in positions where we are the follower we still have the charge to be an example and leader.

We were asked to read a talk by President Kimball, Jesus: The Perfect Leader & it is a fabulous one that should be read again and again... I learned some very key principles of leadership from Christ, our ultimate role model. One part that especially stood out to me was,

"One of the great teachings of the Man of Galilee, the Lord Jesus Christ, was that you and I carry within us immense possibilities...He was telling us a powerful truth about our possibilities and about our potential....Each of us has more opportunities to do good and to be good than we ever use. These opportunities lie all around us. Whatever the size of our present circle of effective influence, if we were to improve our performance even a little bit, that circle would be enlarged. There are many individuals waiting to be touched and loved if we care enough to improve in our performance. We must remember that those mortals we meet in parking lots, offices, elevators, and elsewhere are that portion of mankind God has given us to love and to serve."

How important is our role to improve our behaviors and thoughts towards others, to truly love others for whoever they are in whatever circumstances they are in?

This is just one aspect of leadership but I know that if we do not apply this one part of lifting others and seeing people for who they truly are, we will find it very difficult to be significant leaders in the Kingdom of God. "We must recognize the reality of the perfect leader, Jesus Christ, and let him be the light by which we see the way!"

"Remember a masterpiece sculpture was once only a chunk of clay." -Me

What are your thoughts on becoming a great leader?