President Samuelson: Leadership in the Church

1. President Samuelson warned of the dangers of waiting to serve until you are less busy.  Describe how you will make yourself available to serve, even in the midst of a ever increasing schedule and responsibilities.

I think I have done a pretty good job of balancing my hectic schedule with serving. It can sometimes be really hard, but I make sure that I am aware of the blessings that come into my life and schedule when I put aside time to serve. It makes my day better so that I am able to proceed with my day with a better attitude. So in order to make sure that there is time to serve, we need to adjust our attitude and put serving as a priority so that we don't procrastinate. 

2. In sharing his experience in speaking at a funeral, President Samuelson encouraged those in attendance to have the courage to say what needs to be said, when it needs to be said.  Describe a time when you have had to stand alone in your role as a leader.  Please include how you will respond to future opportunities to stand alone as a leader. 

A memorable moment of me having to stand alone for something right was when I was on a bus tour in San Diego and we passed the San Diego temple. The tour guide introduced the temple but described the statue on the top as Joseph Smith smoking a pipe. Even though, it seemed ridiculous and trivial, it was false information and saying our prophet smokes pipes would lead to the wrong impression for people who don't understand the church. I decided to go up to the tour guide and correct him, he didn't give much thought into my correction and shrugged it off. But it was a cause important to me, I needed to say it at that moment so he knows it was wrong instead of waiting for him to say the wrong information again. I will continue to stand alone as a leader if it means standing up and supporting what I believe in is right. 

3. President Samuelson shared an important lesson he learned about making assignments in his role as an Elders Quorum President.  Please identify what you believe made the difference in the outcome he described going from having to complete the assignment himself to having others take accountability.  How will you apply this concept to leadership roles you have in the future.

I am very much the kind of leader that likes to get things done myself. I don't like to share tasks in fear of people doing things that don't go along with my plans. I think President Samuelson's experience helps him get others involved so that others may learn along with him. Not only that, but it is also a way for all of the elders to bond and work together. I had a hard time at the beginning of this year when I started working with program directors because I was the same way. I wanted to take everything on myself. But with time constraints, I was forced to delegate and it turned out to be a much better experience for not only me but my program directors too. They were better informed of their own roles and learn a lot more about responsibility and accountability.