Come up with your own Cabinet of Invisible Counselors. There are innumerable great men from history who we can learn from today. When thinking about your life or pondering some question or problem, yes, go to actual mentors and friends, but also take in the advice of men of yore. Write out who you would have on your list and what you admire about them.
When I was first introduced to the concept of a Cabinet of Invisible Counselors I thought it would be easy to select one but it has proven to be as more complex task than I anticipated. I can easily say that Christ, Abraham, Joseph Smith, and Enoch are on the list but I also know that isn’t a compete list.
All these men had the characteristics of devotedly following God and earning His trust. They had the characteristic of striving to know Him and to improve themselves. They each has the characteristic of really knowing His plan for the children of men.
I think the gap in my cabinet, the reason it feels incomplete, is that I need someone I can look up to as an example of a good and wise father. I’m not suggesting that none of these men were good and wise fathers. Christy would have been if he were a father. The others too were likely good fathers up to the limits of their circumstances. The problem is that I only have access to little or no information on that aspect of any of their lives. I need to add someone to the cabinet who I respect in their role as a father and who I have some information on how they filled that role. I also need someone in my cabinet that can serve as an example of success in a career/vocation. Those two areas are ones where I need more concrete direction and I think having examples to learn from and draw on would be helpful.
Leave a Reply