Last updated on August 11th, 2024 at 07:22 pm
August 4, 2024
Here is the best thing I heard (What?), saw (Eye.), and read (Read.) this week, as well as the best idea (💡) I developed.
What?
“Becoming a Disciple-Leader | Kim B. Clark | July 2024“, Recent BYU Speeches Podcast:
- “In August of 1979, the Ensign published a talk given by President Spencer W. Kimball titled ‘Jesus: The Perfect Leader‘. This is a wonderful discourse on Christlike leadership. I invite you to study it carefully and refer to it often. …
“I found the following definition of leadership to be a useful framework for understanding what it means to be a disciple-leader in any organization:
“‘Leadership is the work that mobilizes people in a process of action, learning, and change to improve the long-term viability and vitality of the organization in three ways: 1) People experience increased personal growth and meaning in their work and lives. 2) Purpose is realized more effectively. 3) Productivity is strengthened.’
“Note that leadership is work. It is great work, but it is work. Leadership is also comprehensive. In order to accomplish its objectives, leadership must permeate the organization so that it touches everything and everyone. And yet, leadership is very personal. In fact, much of the work of leadership is done one by one.”
Eye.
“Ideas for Teaching Elder Kearon’s Conference Talk – God’s Intent is to Bring You Home” (Teaching General Conference):
- “One suggestion I would highly recommend is to not use PowerPoint [in your lessons] … make this a conversation. … When you do this with [the members of your class], make this a discussion. If you put up a PowerPoint or even visuals or something like that, that actually may take away from the discussion because they’re more focused there than on becoming introspective and bringing in the Spirit. So I’d highly recommend that it’s just you and them and you’re asking questions.”
Read.
“Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion” by Gregory Boyle:
- “Names are important. After all, the main occupation of most gang members most of the time is the writing of their names on walls. I recall … my first day of teaching at Loyola High School in Los Angeles in 1979. … With my arms filled with books … I walk to my first class. I stop in the doorway of a veteran teacher, Donna Wanland. She’s at her desk, reading the morning Times.
“‘It’s my first day of teaching,’ I say to her. ‘Give me some advice.’
“She doesn’t turn from her paper but holds out her right hand, displaying two fingers.
“‘Two things,’ she says. ‘One: know all their names by tomorrow. Two: It’s more important that they know you than that they know what ya know.’
“Good advice. I followed it and I think it served me in good stead.”
💡
Just like I identify the five most important quotes from each book I read, I should identify the five most important quotes from each general conference address. Any invitations in the address would be included in these five most important quotes. These quotes will form the framework for each General Conference Applied Podcast episode. For each quote, I will focus on asking inspired questions, per the “Ideas for Teaching Elder Kearon’s Conference Talk – God’s Intent is to Bring You Home” YouTube video.