Elder Gordon B. Hinckley, Part One - Lord Nelson and Working Together in a Great Cause

For Part Two or Part Three of this series, choose your link and click. 

 

It's a rainy day here where I live - the rain reminds me of England. And today's quote from Elder Gordon B. Hinckley's talk, "If Ye Be Willing and Obedient", really transports me back there in my mind:

 

The Quote 

"Recently I stood in Trafalgar Square in London and looked up at the statue of Lord Nelson. 

At the base of the column are his words 

uttered on the morning of the Battle of Trafalgar: 

“England expects that every man will do his duty.” 

Lord Nelson was killed on that historic day in 1805, 

as were many others; but England was saved as a nation, 

and Britain became an empire."

 

 Lord Horatio Nelson

You wanna talk about mythic? 

We have our George Washington, our Abraham Lincoln, and the Britons have Lord Horatio Nelson. That's how much status he accords. 

 

The Battle of Trafalgar, where this quote comes from, was a massive victory for the British, but he did die in that battle, shot by a French marksman. This, however, is the first quote in General Conference that was not spoken, but hoisted in semaphore on his ship as he led them into battle.

 In the very heart of London stands a monument to Lord Nelson, called Trafalgar Square. It's a statue of him on a tall pedestal, surrounded by huge lion statues at the base - a testament to his courage and his capabilities. 

Also a good place for tourist to get mugged by very aggressive pigeons - I lost a good tuna sandwich there one day.

The quote to me is a great summary of a leader - someone who places high expectations on those he leads, but then leads them himself, putting himself at risk and setting the example of how to live and how to fight, even at great personal cost.

Lord Nelson counts in this respect as a Christlike example - giving all that he was, and had, for others. Leading them and encouraging them to be the best they could be in the face of overwhelming odds. That's also what Jesus Christ did for us.

Certainly Lord Nelson wasn't a perfect man - only Jesus Christ was perfect. Lord Nelson was not faithful to his wife. His accomplishments to some speak of colonialism, and are somewhat controversial in that respect. But in the life he led and in his death, he saved millions and engendered great respect and honor.