What Kind of Leader am... I?

When one starts college, they feel lost in the crowd. At least I did. I went to a school where the entire high school and junior high didn't consist of more than 240 people. There were about 40 people in my entire senior class, and I knew every one of them fairly well. We were close friends. Even coming from a school in Utah where gospel was taught and expounded upon, switching to BYU was a MAJOR shock. I felt utterly overwhelmed as I watched hundreds... thousands of students passed that I had never spoken to. Most I would never be able to learn their name or understand their story or hear about any of their life events. That was weird to me.

In this section of reading, I found myself looking to Alma as a leader. Alma the younger who had led away so many of the people and fought so diligently against the church. Yet he repented and he became an incredible leader--both in the government and in the church. He was instrumental in bringing thousands to the church. He had so much opposition and went through so many trials, yet he pressed forward and worked so hard to bring forth the work of the Lord.

Alma 2:30 says, "And it came to pass that Alma, being a man of God, being exercised with much faith, cried, saying: O Lord, have mercy and spare my life, that I may be an instrument in thy hands to save and preserve this people." He put himself at the forefront of battle, and was ready to do anything to help his people and do the Lord's will. He cries this prayer as he is "contending mightily" with the Lamanites "face to face", and "he was strengthened insomuch that he slew Amlici with the sword." (Compare that to Noah!)

I admire Alma's courage, and I hope that someday I will be able to face my battles with that same courage and faith in the Lord. Alma was able to protect and help thousands. I can see him going around to all the students on campus and helping them through their own challenges and sacrificing for them. I can see him being a mighty leader. I see people on campus that are like that, already. I see missionaries doing this as well, and it's incredible to me watching these leaders. I aspire to be like them.