College-Wide Capabilities

In this internship, you can and should have a positive influence on those you interact with.  The power to positively influence and lead isn't reserved for those with an official leadership title alone. The capacity for strong influence and leadership takes time to develop. It comes from experience and learning how to lift others around you in pursuit of a common goal. The better you understand your influence, the greater the influence you can have. When those you work with feel that you are a trusted and capable disciple of Jesus Christ and that they are heard, trusted, and valued by you, your influence and network will grow, creating long-lasting professional relationships and personal friendships. Be accountable for your professional and personal responsibilities and be mindful of your actions. As part of your professional growth, make it a habit to examine yourself, and consider how you can improve or avoid acting on weaknesses in the future.

The College-Wide Capabilities (CWCs) at Ensign College are a great way to examine yourself and identify areas where you can grow your influence. Review the CWCs and their definition below. 

 

• Professionalism: This capability encompasses your moral character (ethics) and personal responsibility (accountability).

• Teamwork and Leadership: This capability encompasses the importance of deference (emotional intelligence) and leadership (initiative).

• Communication: This capability encompasses your ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing.

• Problem Solving: This capability encompasses your ability to understand a problem (critical thinking), find the appropriate resources to help (informational literacy), and produce solutions (creative thinking).

• Technical Skills: This capability encompasses all the skills you will need to develop to succeed in your chosen field (field-specific skills) and the general skills necessary to function in a modern world (computer skills).

The accounts given of Moroni and Amalickiah found in Alma 47 and 48 of the Book of Mormon,  describe leaders and followers from two different nations. If you are unfamiliar with these chapters, we recommend reading them now. These two leaders are contrasting examples of someone who used the CWCs to grow their influence for good, and contrastingly, someone who didn’t. 

1. Professionalism

• Example: In Alma 47:4-6, Amalickiah engages in deception to gain power. He desires to overthrow the king of the Lamanites, and he manipulates both his soldiers and his enemies to achieve this goal. He later has Lehonti poisoned to secure his position of power.

• Explanation: This behavior is a clear violation of Professionalism, as Amalickiah's actions lack moral character and personal responsibility. His treachery, murder, and manipulation are stark examples of unethical behavior that contradicts the Professionalism outlined in the College-Wide Capabilities.

2. Teamwork and Leadership

• Example: In Alma 48:7-9, Captain Moroni demonstrates strong leadership by preparing his people to defend themselves against the Lamanites. He strengthens his armies, builds fortifications, and protects the weakest parts of their cities. His leadership is focused on the welfare and safety of his people.

• Explanation: Moroni exemplifies the Teamwork and Leadership capability, especially in terms of emotional intelligence and initiative. He leads with a sense of responsibility and takes initiative to protect his people from harm while fostering teamwork among his soldiers. His actions are driven by his concern for the collective good, not personal gain.

3. Communication

• Example: In Alma 48:1, Amalickiah incites hatred among the Lamanites toward the Nephites by having men speak to them from towers, stirring up anger and animosity through false information.

• Explanation: This is an example of Communication being used negatively. Amalickiah manipulates information to deceive the Lamanites. While his actions involve effective communication in the sense of influencing others, they violate the ethical principles of honest communication, which should be clear and truthful. Amalickiah's misuse of Communication contrasts with the college’s emphasis on effective, moral verbal and written communication.

4. Problem Solving

• Example: In Alma 48:15-16, Captain Moroni relies on his faith in God to solve the problem of defending his people. He prepares for war by fortifying cities and training his armies but also relies on spiritual guidance to inform his military decisions.

• Explanation: Moroni's approach demonstrates strong Problem-Solving capabilities. He understands the threat posed by the Lamanites (critical thinking), prepares his people both physically and spiritually for battle (creative thinking and resourcefulness), and produces solutions that ensure their safety. His ability to balance both physical and spiritual preparation highlights his competence in finding and executing solutions effectively.

Conclusion:

In analyzing the behaviors of Amalickiah and Moroni in relation to the Ensign College-Wide Capabilities, we see stark contrasts. Amalickiah's actions consistently violate professionalism, leadership, and communication principles, while Moroni exemplifies these same capabilities, showing strong ethical leadership, effective communication, and problem-solving skills. These examples demonstrate how the College-Wide Capabilities can be observed within the moral and strategic decisions of these two leaders in the Book of Mormon.

Reflection Questions

Think about your own past experiences that have positively influenced your life. How have the CWCs played a part in those experiences? 

What are one or two CWCs you hope to develop or improve upon?