Oh God, where art thou?

Is there anyone who has not uttered something similar from the depths of their own pain and suffering. The Prophet Joseph Smith's plea to his Heavenly Father in Doctrine and Covenants 121 conveys his anguish over the suffering of the Saints that he loved and felt powerless to help and support. He expresses his desire that the Lord avenge the wrongs brought upon the suffering saints. He begs for God to act on their behalf. The Lord's response, in its fulness, is one of the most powerful leadership lessons taught in all of scripture. However, before teaching the Prophet about leadership, the Lord modeled it.

In response to Joseph, the Lord declared, "My son, peace be unto they soul, thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high" (7-8). This response is so loving and kind as the Lord reaches down and comforts Joseph. He then assures Joseph that He "sees and knows" all the works of those you have caused harm to the saints and that He has "in reserve a swift judgment in the season thereof" (p. 24). He then, as He promised his disciples at the last supper, declares, "God shall give unto you knowledge by his Holy Spirit" (p. 26). In fact, he makes it clear that nothing can stop the Almighty from "pouring down knowledge upon the heads of the Latter-day Saints" (p. 33).

In this response, there are multiple powerful leadership lesson conveyed,

1) Leadership begins with loving kindness. Joseph's pain and frustration are clear. He feels abandoned, powerless, and forgotten and cries for God to enact vengeance. The Lord meets these with love and kindness. He speaks directly to Joseph and comforts him. He assures him that God's sees his suffering and will respond. He then promises and fulfills His promise to provide guidance and inspiration.

2) Leadership brings peace in times of stress. The first thing that is needed in moments when stress and anxiety are at their highest is peace. Stress and anxiety disable the capacity to think clearly, receive inspiration, and solve problems. Peace allows for perspective and revelation to return.

3) Leaders need to focus on what they can do, not on what others are doing or not doing. Joseph wants Heavenly Father to act on His behalf. Heavenly Father assures him that He will do his part, but then focuses on what Joseph must do and what he must teach others so that the spirit can be his "constant companion" (46).

4) Do not be afraid to express you fears and frustrations to God. He is there for you, even when you cannot feel his presence or see His divine hand. He is working behind the scenes to bless and prosper you.

So, as a leader. . .

1) Show loving kindness to those you lead: See them as individuals and care about them as brothers and sisters.

2) Seek and strive to provide peace and perspective in times of trouble: When things get stressful, know how to connect and help others connect to Heaven and find peace as a foundation for planning and action.

3) Focus on what you need to do, not on what others are doing or not doing: Don't worry about others, focus on doing what you need to do. Let God take care of the rest.

4) Seek the guidance and direction of Heavenly Father: Prayerfully seek inspiration to guide your actions and then act on it.

5) Practice the leadership philosophy that you preach: The best leaders lead by example.