Leading and serving the Savior's way

Today I was asked to speak in our church meeting on "leading and serving the Savior's way".  While normally I like to search for all the possible resources on this topic online and through my church's website (www.lds.org), I decided this time not to do that.  I felt like I needed to use my own thoughts, experiences and scriptures.  It made it much more difficult.  I also decided not to write every word down that I wanted to speak, which I also usually do and is generally easier for me.  However, I would like to now attempt to write what I spoke today, using the one index card of notes that I prepared.
(First I introduced my topic and explained briefly to the congregation what I explained above.)  The first thought I had when I pondered this topic is the significance of those two titles - leader and servant - being used interchangably in our church (oops!  did i just make up a word?)  While leaders in God's kingdom understand that they are by definition also servants, leaders in the world today do not (for the most part) see their role that way.  A leader is traditionally thought of more as a master than a servant.  However, Jesus showed another, a better way.  The best kind of leader serves those he/she leads.
I also think we make the mistake of referring to certain callings in the church as "leadership positions" when, in fact, nearly every calling is in some way a leadership position.  For example, many if  not most people are given the assignment (calling) to teach at some point in their church service.  Teachers are also leaders of those whom they teach.  This includes everyone who has ever served as  visiting or home teacher.  So serving on the WArd Council is not the end-all be-all of leadership service in the church.  Some of the most exemplary leader servants I have known have been nursery leaders, and home and visiting teachers.
I have identified three experiences or examples from the Savior's life that teach us His way of leading and serving.  The first one I'd like to talk about occurred just at the end of the Last Supper, where we gathered His apostles (the future leaders of His church) together.  Then He knelt down in front of each one in turn, with a basin filled with water, and proceeded to wash their feet and dry them with a towel.  Peter said "Thou needest not to wash my feet.
Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part in me"
Peter said to Him, "Lord, not my feet only; but also my hands and my head"
Jesus told him that He needed only to wash his feet.
This is one of my favorite stories that is depicted in a painting that is also my favorite.  It is a powerful reminder to us as leaders that our primary purpose is to serve.   And that our "leadership position" requires humility and love.  As we read in the Doctrine and Covenants , Section 12, Verse 8: "And no one can assist in this work except he shall be humble and full of love" Too often I am guilty of serving to be seen or recognized.  The truest reason for serving is because we love those we serve. I am also reminded in this example that leaders in the church deserve no more respect and love than average, faithful church members.  Yet we too often give more praise and respect to those in more visible leadership positions than we do to others who serve just as faithfully in less prominent positions.
The next example from the Savior that I learned from is in the way he taught so often in parables.  He did this for many reasons, but one experience I had taught me at least one powerful reason why.  Several years ago, in another ward, I was serving in a leadership position that required me to be on the WArd Council.  I was a bit more young and probably more insecure in my position at the time, and another member council voiced some criticism of a decision that was made by the organization I was called to lead.  I felt that he was being critical of my decision and proceeded to try and explain or justify why I (and my counselors) had made the decision.  I realize now that I was taking the criticism too personally.
 Next, the bishop began to tell a parable.  Interestingly, I don't remember at all just what he said, partly because when he said it I wasn't quite sure what meaning he was trying to convey.  But the effect was that our exchange ended and no more was said on the topic.  Later as I pondered that incident, I realized that the parable the bishop told had resulted in an immediate diffusion of the tension and end to the contention.  This is one powerful effect of parables.  Simply because they require us to ponder their meaning sometimes more deeply, we are forced to see beyond or set aside our own selfish concerns.
 It reminds me of a favorite quote a read in a book recently.  A teacher in the book was trying to teach his students how to interact and get along and he said "When you have a choice between being write or being kind, choose kind."  We are all sometimes tempted to prove ourselves right, no matter what.  But in most cases, we would do better to hold our tongues or choose to find the good in another's point of view or actions.
The last example of leading and serving the Savior's way is when he was on the Sea of Galilee with His disciples.   During a great storm, Peter attempted to walk on the water.  He was fine until he took notice of the wind and waves, and then began to sink.  As is recorded in Matthew 14:29-31," he cried saying, Lord, save me.  And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, caught him and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?"
If we imagine ourselves as leaders in the place of the Savior and Peter as someone we are trying to serve, the Savior showed us to FIRST reach out to rescue - and to do this immediately when called upon.  Do not wait when we are prompted to do something to help someone else.  Do not reprimand or criticize first.  And I like how President Hunter referred to Jesus' words in this instance as a "gentle rebuke".  Jesus was not trying to put down Peter or make Him feel bad.  I am often quick to respond to mistakes or even calls for help from my children with criticism or harsh words.  Instead, we should first, reach our our hands and hearts to help, and then, when needed, offer gentle correction.
In conclusion, the Savior is our ultimate example of leading and serving others.  If we wish to be that kind of leader-servant, we must first have the love that He had for others, which may seem like an impossible task.  But to that end, Mormon gives us wise counsel to follow in Moroni, Chapter 7, verse 48, "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ..."
What may seem at times out of reach for us, is possible only through the help from the source of that love - our Savior Jesus Christ.  I know that He is our Savior and He loves us.  He knows us better than anyone and has the power and desire to help us.  And He will if we go to him and faith and prayer.  I know that He has given us the scriptures to help us understand and follow the path back to Him.