Leadership by compulsion trades long-term loyalty for short-term compliance. Pharaoh oppressed the Israelites, and they multiplied. Noah oppressed his people, and they rebelled against him. In contrast, Benjamin earned his people's trust by serving them. Only leadership by persuasion can yield durable results.
Eulogy vs. Resume
Columnist David Brooks suggested that we prioritize goals which would belong in our eulogy over goals which we would include in our resume. Joseph Smith and King Benjamin both demonstrated that our two most important goals are God's approval and strong relationships with other people.
A Prayer of Praise and Thanksgiving
The Lord advised the early Saints to offer prayers of "praise and thanksgiving." Thanksgiving is informed joy, with an awareness of its source. Praise is generalized gratitude, directed to the Giver of joy. The two are complementary. We can thank God for specific blessings and acknowledge Him as the ultimate Giver of all good gifts.
Predicated
Joseph Smith taught that blessings are predicated on laws. However, it's important to remember three related principles: (1) We exercise agency within the context of the gifts we have already received from God. (2) We don't earn blessings; we qualify for them. (3) God provides promised blessings in His time and in His way.
Recorded on Earth and in Heaven
The records we keep may be longer-lasting than we realize. Joseph Smith taught that some of "the books" by which we will be judged are the records we keep on the earth. Wilford Woodruff urged us to write our important experiences, promising that what we record on earth will be recorded in heaven.
Seeing the Face of God
The first verse of Doctrine and Covenants 93 lays out a simple formula: Those who follow Christ will come to know Him. He promises that we will "see [His] face and know that [He is]," which implies far more than being in His presence. It means that we will understand and recognize Him.
Living, Moving, Being
Paul told the Athenians God is close to each of us. "In him we live, and move, and have our being." King Benjamin taught the same principle. It's easy to ignore the incredible miracles in our everyday lives: our beating hearts, our self-healing bodies, our autonomy, and the beauty of the world around us.
Rendering an Account of My Stewardships
Inherent in a stewardship is the responsibility to give an accounting. The Lord said that all stewards must "render an account of [their] stewardship, both in time and in eternity." The reports that we give in this life, like King Benjamin's end-of-life review of reign, prepare us for our ultimate accounting before God.
Tithing and the Day of Burning
Malachi taught that God blesses us when we pay tithing. He also prophesied of a day which will "burn as an oven." Modern revelation combines these concepts: "He that is tithed shall not be burned at [the Savior's] coming." Tithing prepares us to stand in God's presence by opening our hearts to receive His grace.
In Temporal Labors
God blesses us both temporally and spiritually, but it's important for us to keep those blessings, and our corresponding responsibilities in perspective. Eternal things are more important than temporary ones. Our temporal blessings and efforts must be subservient to our spiritual ones.