Focus on people
E-mail story
It's easy. Send a link to the story you were just reading to a friend. Just fill out the form on this page and we'll send it along.
Your name and e-mail address are transmitted to the recipient. Otherwise, it is considered private information; see Privacy policy.
Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Twelve of the spoke of the simple farewell plea offered by the Book of Mormon prophet Jacob, who said, "O be wise; what can I say more?"
"The work (of the Church) is moving forward in dynamic ways, and for that I am profoundly grateful," Elder Ballard said Saturday morning. "But I see many ways that Church members must be so very wise in all that we do."
Elder Ballard said many are so energetic in their Church service that their lives, unwisely, become unbalanced. "They start believing that the programs they administer are more important than the people they serve. They complicate their service with needless frills and embellishments that occupy too much time, cost too much money, and sap too much energy."
As a result of focusing too much time on Church service, eternal family relationships deteriorate and employment performance suffers, he said.
"We should never allow our service to replace the attention needed by other important priorities in our lives," Elder Ballard said.
He encouraged members to follow King Benjamin's counsel to "see that all these things are done in wisdom and order."
Elder Ballard offered six ways members can serve both wisely and well:
1. Focus on people and principles — not on programs. "Our goal should always be to use the programs of the Church as a means to lift, encourage, assist, teach, love and perfect people."
2. Be innovative. "As we work to magnify our callings, we should seek the inspiration of the Spirit to solve problems in ways that best help the people we serve."
3. Divide the work and delegate responsibilities. "Allow others to progress and grow even if it means sometimes getting less-than-perfect results on the reports."
4. Eliminate guilt. "We must always motivate through love and sincere appreciation, not by creating guilt.... (The) Savior has already borne the burden of guilt. O that we may be wise enough to understand, to repent as necessary, and to let go of our guilt."
5. Thoughtfully allocate resources of time, income and energy. "Know and understand your own capabilities and limitations and then to pace yourself, allocating and prioritizing your time, your attention, and your resources to wisely help others, including your family, in their quest for eternal life."
6. Leaders can enlist wisdom in extending responsibilities to members, especially recent converts. Such duties "should not overwhelm new members."
