And a Little Child Shall Lead Them

WHOM THE LORD CALLS, THE LORD QUALIFIES

Alma 13:1 “I would cite your minds forward to the time when the Lord God gave these commandments unto his children.”

Even David’s father didn’t expect him to be called as King.  When Saul was unworthy to continue with the Lord’s blessing, Samuel called Jesse to the temple to sacrifice with his sons.  As Jesse came, Samuel received this revelation from the Lord:

“Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature, because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart”

Jesse presented his sons and as they all passed by, Samuel asked Jesse if he brought all of his children.  Jesse said the youngest had not because “he keepeth the sheep.”  Samuel told Jesse to bring him, and David was anointed by Samuel to be King.  After his anointing, David was prepared to win the physical war the Israelites were in with Philistia despite his youth and inexperience. 

When God helped His children form the Plan of Salvation, He set His children up as the leaders that would carry out the plan.  Part of the plan is for us to gain experience carrying out His work.  Even Christ had to learn through experience as a mortal.  His spiritual leadership was not complete until the completion of the Atonement after the 3^rd day, and will now continue until the Millennium. 

“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them”

The quality of a devout and righteous leader is humility.  The paradox of leadership is that a good leader looks to another source for his guidance.  While everyone whom the leader has stewardship over looks to him or her for guidance, the leader must be humble as a little child who looks to his/her Father for guidance. 

For another paradox: why would a prophet cite our minds forward to something that happened in the past?  The Lord speaks (through His prophets) plainly, according to their own understanding.  Plain, like a child.