Tag Archive for: Respect

Meant to Be

Back in mid-December 2024, I met Ella Henricksen for the first time at BYU, in Provo, Utah.
She was a little excited about a possible internship in Scotland.
What I didn’t know then was just how much of a blessing she’d become for me personally.
Ella was set to become the first intern I was responsible for placing in Scotland.
It was a tall order with an extremely tight deadline, to find her a placement by mid-January, with the Christmas holidays in between.
The clock was ticking.
I’d found a willing museum in Edinburgh, but we soon faced challenges with HR and logistics when she arrived in Scotland, that left us scrambling for a plan B.
In those moments of uncertainty, what unfolded felt less like chance and more like divine help.

Plan B

I was hesitant at first to ask Ella to help with something so personal (Plan B) – the final editing of my own book, on top of her podcast work and a few tasks for the FoRB Foundation.
But the more I considered it, the more I realised she was exactly the person I needed.
Ella brought great editorial insight, discipline, and a sense of calm competence.
We met for lunch, mapped out what was left to do, and she got to work.
From there, something special grew, not just a productive collaboration, but a genuine friendship rooted in mutual respect and shared purpose.
We enjoyed many wide-ranging healthy conversations, which became a highlight of our time together.
Ella has made a real difference.
I know she’ll miss Scotland, and truth be told, I’ll miss her too!
As she heads back to the U.S. today, I’m grateful for the way everything came together, even those early setbacks seemed to have purpose.
Some might call it coincidence, but I’d say it was more of a God-incidence.
Thank you, Ella, for all you’ve given. 😊
What unexpected help have you been grateful for?

A Mothers Gift

Yesterday, I had the chance to visit with my mum for a wee while.
Mum is in her 90th year and looking well.
Today is Mother’s Day in the UK.
I am so grateful for my mum.
I love her dearly and we feel blessed to have had a lifetime of love and laughter together.
The gift of a mothers love is a priceless treasure.
Her gentle words, quiet strength, and unwavering faith have shaped who I am.
Reflecting upon my time with my mum, I feel immense gratitude for her enduring example and many quiet sacrifices.
In Proverbs 31:28 we read, “Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.”
Mum’s love can sometimes go unnoticed, yet I know it forms the very foundation of our family lives.
On this special day, may we all take a moment to reflect on our mothers.
“God bless you, mothers. When all the victories and defeats of men’s efforts are tallied, when the dust of life’s battles finally settles, it is the mother’s love that will be remembered. It is the memory of your arms, your prayers, and your constancy that will live on.” – Gordon B. Hinckley.
Let’s cherish our mothers, each one of them, not just today, but every day – with love, words, and time.
How can you honour and show appreciation for your mother and the mother figures in your life today?

Speaking Up for Faith

Last week, I spent a couple of days in London on business, attending a book launch, and I also spent some time with a new friend, Celine Brown.

Celine is interning with the Freedom of Religion or Belief Foundation (FoRB), which acts as the secretariat for the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on the same topic in Westminster.

Just before Christmas, I joined FoRB as a trustee and have been finding out about projects all around the world where the basic human right of Freedom of Religion or Belief is being challenged, restricted, or actively defended.

Freedom of Religion or Belief is a fundamental human right that protects the conscience of all individuals.

It allows us to think, express, and act upon our deeply held beliefs, whether in private or public settings.

This freedom encompasses the right to change one’s religion or belief and to manifest it through teaching, practice, worship, and observance.

However, globally, this right faces numerous challenges, including governmental restrictions, societal pressures, and acts of intolerance.

International Religious Freedom Summit

A few of my FoRB colleagues attended the International Religious Freedom Summit held in Washington, D.C. this week, where Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles emphasised the importance of compassion in religious freedom advocacy.

He stated, “Protecting religious freedom is a key to peace and stability around the world.”

Elder Soares highlighted that fostering understanding and respect among diverse religious communities is essential for building peaceful societies.

My personal commitment to FoRB stems from a heartfelt belief in the inherent dignity of every individual and the conviction that freedom of belief is essential for human flourishing.

In Galatians 5:13, the Apostle Paul said: “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.”

This scripture highlights the principle that our freedoms are not just for personal benefit but are opportunities to serve and uplift others.

In my role as a trustee, I am dedicated to supporting initiatives that promote religious freedom, understanding, and mutual respect among all people.

By doing so, we can contribute to a more just and harmonious world where everyone’s right to believe, or not to believe, is upheld.

How can you and me, in our daily lives, promote a culture of respect and understanding for religious freedom in our communities and our workplaces?

 

All My Heart

My daily routine…
After I dress myself in my shirt and tie, I slide my nametag onto the breast pocket.
Doing so, reminds me of who I am representing daily.
Constantly, I am reminded, that the name of Jesus Christ is positioned next to my heart.
Today, I noticed something extra.
For the last 19 months, immediately after I slide my nametag into position, I then place a folded A4 piece of paper into my breast pocket.
On the paper is a list of names and areas of everyone in the mission.
We call it the By-Zone.
Currently there are 130 names on the list for this transfer.
The names change every six weeks, as missionaries arrive and depart.
Many other names have been on the list too.
It struck me today, that the list of names is one layer of cotton, closer to my heart.
The names are positioned between Christ’s name and my heart.

My Heart

The heart is a tender place.
We feel things in our hearts.
I know every single one of those individuals listed on the paper.
They are much more than merely names.
They are real people, who I have met with, laughed with, cried with, rejoiced with, taught with, prayed with, dined with, played games with, juggled with, sang with, travelled with, and counselled with.
I love them.
My heart overflows with gratitude for each of them.
Many are home now.
For a season, their names were next to my heart.
Over time, their names have migrated from next to, to deeply ingrained and written into my heart.
At times, there is a tug on my heart, and my thoughts are directed to each of them, one by one.
Like family members, their hearts are bound to my own.
In Luke 10:27, the Saviour explained, we must “love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, … soul, … strength, and … mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.”
What does it mean to love someone with all your heart?

𝐎𝐛𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 – the key that opens every door.

“𝐎𝐛𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 is the key that opens every door.” – C.S. Lewis
Yet, 𝒐𝒃𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 is not a positive word these days.
Generally, I have found the Dutch (and I love them) do not want anyone telling them what to do!
𝐎𝐛𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: “compliance with an order, request, or law or submission to another’s authority.”
From Antwerp to Utrecht, over the last couple of days – I’ve shared a quote from Boyd K. Packer that states “𝐎𝐛𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 is a powerful spiritual medicine. It comes close to being a cure-all.”
From “every door” to “cure-all.”
I want some of that.
Do you?
This is an exciting time to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
And even more so to serve as a full time missionary.
We are blessed to able to serve day in, day out with approximately 120 voluntary missionaries here in Belgium and the Netherlands.
They are remarkable.
Each of them has an obedient heart.

𝐎𝐛𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 is a principle of discipline, choice, and trust.

Learning of it, with exactness in our youth is “powerful spiritual medicine” that can and does act as a guide for each of them as they chart their journey through life.
“If you want to learn to fly an aeroplane, learn and follow the laws that govern gravity.
If you want to operate on the human heart, learn and follow the laws that govern the human body.
If you want to be happy, learn and keep the commandments.
It becomes a rather simple formula” – said Russell M. Nelson.
For your journey through life, one of the first things you need to know is this…
“There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated.
And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by 𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 to that law upon which it is predicated. (Doctrine & Covenants 130:20–21)
Please ponder that thought.
It states unmistakably the fact that there are principles upon which promises are predicated, and that obedience is the key to receiving blessings.
My experience is this – 𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 with exactness, always brings safety and inner peace.
I hope that each of us will choose to follow the simple formula of 𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 throughout our life.

Remember to say please.

Remember to say 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞..

Not too long ago, I was reminded of some behaviours that we ought to avoid, namely, criticising, mocking or ignoring others, in other words incivility – it isn’t very pleasant.

Incivility- “rude or unsociable speech or behaviour.”

Its opposite is civility – “formal politeness and courtesy in behaviour or speech.”

Georgetown University professor Christine Porath, found that people who are civil are viewed as better leaders.

“Civility lifts people up,” she says. “We will get people to give more and function at their best if we’re civil. Incivility hijacks performance. It robs people of their potential. … When we have more civil environments, we are more productive, creative, helpful, happy and healthy. We can do better. Each one of us can lift others up.”

Far more important, are the things we do instead….

Do you use the word please?

When did you last compliment someone on a job well done?

Do you listen and seek to understand another person’s views?

How often do you give others the benefit of the doubt?

Do our words, our actions, and even the expression on our face communicate to people around us that we value and respect them?

Think what could happen in our homes, offices, classrooms, and numerous other places if we just treated others with more civility, kindness, politeness and respect.

Think what could happen to our relationships, to our health and well-being.

Yes, life is stressful and often uncivil, but we can change that – little by little – as we choose to embrace civility and simply say please.

How do you honour someone?

How do you honour someone?
If you are the Queen, you may confer a title or an honour such as an MBE, OBE, CBE (Member, Officer, Commander of the British Empire) or perhaps a Knighthood or Damehood. There are many others, but these are the most well-known.
Only one of the Ten Commandments comes with a stated promise: “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee” see Exodus 20:12.
At University, my bachelor’s degree, was given with “Honours” for my extra year of study.
At High School, I was honoured by receiving the school colours for representing the school in various sporting events.
According to the word’s definition, to honour means to treat someone or regard them with special attention and respect, to value, or to esteem highly.
Do you do these things with family members, friends or even complete strangers?
Perhaps it is also about accepting someone as they are and appreciating them for who they are.
What can you do?
Here are my top ten tips to honour someone…
– Treat others with respect
– Cheer someone on
– Listen, listen, then listen a little more
– Celebrate accomplishments
– Be curious and ask questions
– Be understanding
– Serve and help them
– Pay them a compliment
– Show compassion
– Appreciate your differences
You don’t have to be the Queen to bestow an honour.
You can honour someone by the way you act, every day.
Who will you choose to honour today?

How do I become a better leader?

Recently I was asked, “How can I be a better leader?”
My thoughts returned to a childhood memory…
As a child I remember having a kaleidoscope. With each simple turn of the kaleidoscope a new beautiful pattern appeared. Hence the name for a group of butterflies, as they flutter around together – a kaleidoscope!
Kaleidoscopes constantly generate changing symmetrical patterns from small pieces of coloured glass.
In a similar way a kaleidoscope can symbolise anything that changes continually. Consider leadership!
“Trying to describe leadership is like having several viewers trying to compare what they see in a kaleidoscope when the mere act of passing the kaleidoscope shakes up its design.” Neal A. Maxwell.
Growing older, I am beginning to see that life can be like a kaleidoscope. We can get shaken up from time to time. By pausing, slowing down, reflecting and looking inside our kaleidoscope of life and holding it to the light – beautiful new patterns emerge.
Sometimes however, we play the busy card and don’t stop long enough to see the beauty appear.
So it is with the kaleidoscope of leadership. Endless patterns, endless models, endless ideas, endless determining factors constantly shifting and shaping our leadership styles.
What matters most are the constant principles that create the most respected leaders – namely; 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆, 𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔, 𝒑𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆, 𝒎𝒆𝒆𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔, 𝒉𝒖𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚, 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒚, 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕, 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕, 𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒃𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆.
So you want to become a better leader?
Then I suggest you focus on each of these character traits. In turn each will produce a kaleidoscope of beauty, no one can eclipse.

Civility lifts people

“Thank you” she said. “No, thank you” said another. Out campaigning yesterday for what I believe in, something impressed me about everyone I met – every individual person was civil and respectful. What a joy!
I’m not sure why I would have expected anything else, but what I do believe is that each of us should be active in the communities in which we live. We should aim to work cooperatively and do as much good as we can, treating others with respect and civility regardless of different views or perspectives of a given situation.
In Scotland, as another election looms on the horizon, I hope that we will continue to enjoy healthy debate, but also cordial and reasoned exchanges amongst one another. Each of us are free to choose our own political philosophy, where we can think and speak for ourselves. Living in a society which embraces freedom of speech and values democracy is something so important to each and everyone of us. I hope we all get that.
Civility lifts people up and is key to how we engage with others.
Rather than rancorous confrontation, I hope and pray that in the days ahead, we choose to be equally kind, considerate, civil, co-operative and respectful of one another, despite the broad range of views in the political spectrum.

Respect

Why is 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 so important in building relationships of trust?

Years ago, whilst attending an annual sales conference gala dinner, to celebrate our successes, I recall an experience which has had a long lasting impact upon me. This is a short story of respect in the workplace.

In all of the usual jubilee, back slapping, festivity and party atmosphere, my boss of the time approached me (he’d been directed by his boss, the sponsor of the evening to speak to me). Alistair quietly asked me if I would offer grace to commence dinner. It was an unexpected honour and a request that I’ve never forgotten. Both leaders knew of my strong christian values and beliefs. I said “Yes, of course.”

A few moments later, when invited to do so, I stood and a quiet reverent hush was felt in the large conference room. I offered a simple prayer of thanksgiving and blessing upon the food, then the gala dinner commenced.

I’ll never forget that all evening long, I answered questions on faith & belief! Not quite what I had expected.

Thank you Bruce Ginnever, for teaching all of us a powerful lesson about respect that evening. It was a simple, little thing, yet it had a big impact on many, a lesson that I have never forgotten as I do my best to respect others too.

How can you be more respectful to others?