6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of government and peace there is no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this.
(2 Nephi 19:6-7, Isaiah 9:6-7)
In this passage, Isaiah describes the Savior as a perfect leader. Isaiah tells us that “the government shall be upon his shoulder,” and as a result of the qualities described above, His “government and peace” will continue to increase forever (which reminds me of the outcome of righteous leadership described in D&C 121:46).
What can we learn about righteous leadership from the names given to the Savior in this passage? Here are some of my thoughts:
- Wonderful counselor – Most translations of the Bible combine this adjective and noun into a single phrase instead of separating them as the King James Translation does. (See http://biblehub.com/isaiah/9-6.htm.) A great leader is a great coach. He or she gives good advice to the people they lead and helps them to grow and develop.
- Mighty God – A great leader is capable and hard-working. The people they lead can trust them to make wise decisions and to do what is necessary to make the group successful.
- Everlasting Father – A great leader is dependable and devoted. He or she can be counted on to consistently take care of the people they lead, just as a parent takes care of their children.
- Prince of Peace – A great leader is a kind leader. Instead of relying on fear or intimidation, he or she leads “by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned” (D&C 121:41).
Today, I will strive to lead in the Savior’s way. I will be a good advisor to those I lead. I will work hard to help them be successful. I will be dependable and reliable. And I will lead peacefully–with patience and long-suffering. In my leadership responsibilities, I will strive to emulate the Savior.