7 And king Mosiah did cause his people that they should till the earth. And he also, himself, did till the earth, that thereby he might not become burdensome to his people, that he might do according to that which his father had done in all things. And there was no contention among all his people for the space of three years.
A few thoughts about leadership after reading this verse about King Mosiah:
- A good leader learns from the examples of other leaders and emulates their positive traits. In particular, a good leader is willing to learn from his or her predecessor.
- A good leader keeps his people busy. He or she works hard to give people appropriate responsibilities that help them contribute in meaningful ways. The leader also looks for opportunities to stretch people and help them grow.
- A good leader works alongside the people. He or she gains their confidence and gains insight into their needs by being where they are and spending time with them.
- A good leader tries to minimize the burden he or she places on the people. There is always a cost associated with following a leader, whether that “cost” be measured in time, money, or reduced freedom. One way the good leader minimizes that cost is by avoiding unnecessary perks of the job and by thinking of himself or herself as part of the team rather than above the team. (See Mosiah 2:12-14)
- A good leader prevents and eradicates contention. He or she knows that unity is essential to happiness and productivity. (See also Mosiah 2:32-33, Mosiah 4:14-15)
Now read through these principles again, replacing the word “leader” with “parent.” We can learn a lot about how to build a successful and happy home from King Mosiah.
What can you do to apply these leadership principles in your church assignments, at work, or in your family?
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