How I Lead as President of BYU-Idaho | An Interview with Elder Alvin F. Meredith III

Leading Saints Podcast

Elder Alvin F. “Trip” Meredith III is the president of Brigham Young University–Idaho and a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Prior to his call as a General Authority, President Meredith served as president of the Utah Salt Lake City South Mission. He also served as an Area Seventy in the North America Southeast and Asia Areas, and previously served as a missionary in the Utah Salt Lake City Mission, as an elders quorum president, bishop, and stake president.

President Meredith received a bachelor of science degree in Psychology from BYU, and a master of business administration in Finance from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. In his professional career, he worked as a Six Sigma black belt for GE Capital, as a consultant for Boston Consulting Group, and as a senior vice president at Asurion in Tennessee, Hong Kong, and Singapore. President Meredith was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and married Jennifer Edgin. They are the parents of six children.

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Highlights

In this podcast conversation, President Meredith shares insights on his approach to leadership, emphasizing the importance of listening and seeking revelation. He highlights the significance of focusing on individuals and fostering spiritual momentum in leadership roles. The episode also touches on the challenges and joys of working with the rising generation, particularly in the context of YSAs.

Throughout the interview, President Meredith reflects on the lessons learned from various leadership positions, including serving as a stake president, mission president, and Area 70. He emphasizes the importance of pointing individuals to the Savior, aligning with the counsel of living prophets and apostles, and conveying the joy of living the gospel of Jesus Christ.

3:30 President Meredith’s background and journey to becoming president of BYU-Idaho

9:50 Stepping into the role of the president of BYU-Idaho. Elder Meredith didn’t have a background in higher education and everything was new to him. He spent the first 100 days just listening.

15:00 Gathering feedback by doing surveys and speaking with different groups and counseling sessions

18:00 Facilitating a better council dynamic

19:30 President Meredith grew up in a part-member family in Tennessee. He served a mission in Salt Lake City, Utah.

21:00 Being mentored by his mission president. He was a constant example of what good leadership looked like and gave good feedback. He led with great love and high expectations.

22:00 In church leadership we have to be careful that we don’t become caretakers but difference makers.

23:40 A good leader invites people to change and stretch to reach their full potential.

23:55 A characteristic of a good leader is divine discontent.

25:00 President Meredith’s educational and professional background

25:30 Where President Meredith’s leadership experience began

28:50 If President Meredith could go back in time and council himself as a new bishop he would tell himself to focus on the youth and focus on individuals, not just the group.

31:40 Leadership in the Church and in business. Moving around the world.

37:00 Top priorities of a bishop: Wife, children, work, and church call. Family is first.

38:00 The unique experience of being a mission president in Utah. Working with members is vital for Utah missions.

42:30 President Eyring says that there are two things that a leader needs to have.

1. To be led by the spirit
2. Charity

43:00 How do you approach the rising generation?

46:30 Conveying that the gospel brings joy

48:30 Responsibilities as a member of seventy. Working with stake presidencies.

54:00 Things that President Meredith learned and saw while visiting other stakes

55:10 Why BYU-Idaho?

57:20 President Meredith shares a final experience and what it means to be a leader.

The Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org.

Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, Kirby Heyborne, and many more in over 700 episodes.

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