The Harvard Business School Latter-day Saints Student Association (LDSSA) welcomed Jane Clayson Johnson and her husband Mark to a club "fireside" on Sunday, April 9th for an hour-long discussion on faith, the importance of giving service to others, and being an example to one's peers. This fireside was the latest in a monthly speaker series that the LDSSA holds during the academic year. Club co-president Scott Hardy introduced the Johnsons to a crowd of approximately 30 MBA students, spouses, and HBS staff in Hawes 203.
Mark Johnson, who co-founded consulting firm Innosight in 2000 with HBS Professor Clayton Christensen, focused his remarks on a spiritual topic: his conversion to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Introducing the theme of being an example to others, Johnson, a graduate of the MBA Class of 1996, credited Professor Christensen with exemplifying hard work, conviction, and concern for the educational as well as spiritual growth of others both inside and outside of the classroom. Through his collaboration with Christensen, Johnson became acquainted with the Church of Jesus Christ, which he joined in 2000, shortly before a Mormon temple opened in Belmont.
Johnson stated his belief that the key to living one's faith is to "keep it simple, plain, and precious." For Johnson, this means focusing on Jesus Christ, his death, and resurrection-appropriate themes, given the approach of Easter season.
In support of his "examples" theme, Johnson cited a passage from the Book of Mormon, which Latter-day Saints believe to be, like the Bible, the revealed word of God. He said that "as we come unto Christ, the perfect example, we should offer everything to God." By focusing on simple matters and by cultivating an attitude of faith-based obedience, Johnson stated, one can get to know the will of the Lord in meeting the challenges that come at school, in society at-large, and throughout life.
Johnson professed his belief that "all of our actions are always seen by the Lord. We must act so that He has faith that He can trust us. When He trusts us, He will bless us to know what we should do."
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