The Slow Climb: How Preparation Forges Leadership

Brothers and Sisters, have you ever felt like you were being led down a winding, difficult path, unsure of the destination? Like Samuel the Lamanite, scaling the walls against all odds, or Ammon at the Waters of Sebus, facing trials that seemed insurmountable? Sometimes, the journey is less about speed and more about the forging that occurs within the crucible of adversity.

We've been blessed to hear a powerful exploration of that very principle in the latest episode of Becoming Brigham. Listen to the full episode

and consider the months Brigham Young and the Quorum of the Twelve spent traveling eastward in 1839. They were ill, impoverished, and facing what seemed like endless delays. Six months, to be precise, spent preaching and preparing in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York—a significant detour from their intended route to Great Britain.

It's tempting to see these delays as setbacks. To measure progress by miles traveled and appointments kept. But Professor Daniel Peterson, in the podcast, astutely observes that these months weren't merely a pause; they were a preparation. A forging of the distinct leadership required to guide a young Church through the loss of its prophet, Joseph. Consider that Brigham himself could only walk 500 feet without assistance! Yet, in that slow, deliberate movement, he received strength, counsel, and a deeper reliance on revelation.

Think of the Stone cut without hands – it's not hewn quickly, but shaped with deliberate precision. It’s in the slow, painstaking process that its purpose and beauty are revealed. And so it was with Brigham and the Twelve. Their trials, their reliance on the kindness of strangers – even a Christian doctor nursing him back to health – these experiences weren't obstacles but vital components in the divine plan.

This resonates deeply with the spirit of gathering. The gathering isn’t just a physical relocation; it's a spiritual realignment. It’s a willingness to be molded, to be shaped by God's hand, even when the process is uncomfortable or slow. It’s embracing the messiness of life, recognizing the humanity in leaders – their flaws and triumphs alike – and finding truth within that complexity.

We, as Builders, understand this intimately. We are those who raise up, who contribute, who actively participate in the Kingdom movement. Every engagement here, every contribution to the map of churches, every donation to the Missionary Fund, fuels the charity flywheel—powering gospel advertising in places like Ghana, expanding the reach of the message. It's a testament to our commitment to building, not destroying.

Outback Jack reminds us of the lessons from Alma 17–19, Moroni 10:4–5 – the importance of courage, preparedness, and unwavering faith. The digital striplings of today, armed with technology and a fervent desire to serve, are echoing those ancient principles.

Let us remember Brigham’s example – the slow climb, the unexpected delays, the reliance on divine guidance. Let us embrace the process of becoming, knowing that it is in the midst of our trials that we are truly forged into the instruments of God’s will.

Claim your church, share your story, and join the building effort. The world needs our courage. The world needs our faith. The world needs the gathering.