Layne's Lunch

Faithfulness What is faithfulness?  At face value, the word looks like it means, "Full of faith" or to be believing. Certainly a leader needs to be full of faith, but for some additional clarity let's look at the dictionary definition: Faithful (adjective) strict or thorough in the performance of duty:a faithful worker. true to one's word, promises, vows, etc. steady in allegiance or affection; loyal; constant:faithful friends. reliable, trusted, or believed. adhering or true to fact, a standard, or an original; accurate: a faithful account; a faithful copy. Obsolete. full of faith; believing. According to the dictionary the "full of faith" definition is obsolete.  Now words like strict and thorough in the performance of duty, true to one's word, steady, loyal, reliable, and trusted are more representative synonyms. Look how Elder L. Tom Perry tied faithfulness to obedience. Too often we think of obedience as the passive and thoughtless...

Virtue What is virtue and why would an effective leader need this character trait? First, what is virtue?  The LDS Guide to the scriptures defines virtue as integrity and moral excellence, power and strength (Luke 8:46), or sexual purity (Moroni 9:9). It should be obvious that a leader needs the traits of integrity, power, and strength, but what about moral excellence and sexual purity?  What does that have to do with leadership?  I'm sure we can find many examples of great leaders who lacked the ability to resist the inclinations of the natural man and succumbed to the  appetites, desires and passions of the flesh.  Certainly these examples are the exceptions and their inability to live a virtuous life only inhibited their potential leadership. The reason this is true goes back to the core principle of my leadership pattern, "Leadership is Love in Action".  The type of love we are talking about is charity (see trait #1).  When we have Charity ...

Charity From the scriptures, the definition of charity is: The pure love of Christ (Moro. 7:47).  It is the love that Christ has and it is the love that  and that we should have for each other (2 Ne. 26:30; 33:7–9; Ether 12:33–34).  Charity is more than affection, it is the highest, noblest, strongest kind of love. In my mind the best scripture about charity is in Moroni Chapter 7  45 And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.  46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—  47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it...

Consider 2 Timothy 3:7 7. Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Question:  Why are they not able to come to a knowledge of the truth? It is helpful to read the verses before verse 7 starting in verse 1 of 2 Timothy chapter 3.  1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  3 Without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,  4 traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;  5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.  6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away withdivers blusts, The people that are not able to come to a knowledge of the truth are those that are seeking...

I believe the greatest discourse on leadership in the scriptures is found in D&C 121:34-46.  This passage of scripture should be read an reviewed often by all leaders. 34 Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen? 35 Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson— 36 That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness. 37 That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority...