Power exposes one’s true nature

You have probably heard that “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely,” but, while the phrase flows nicely across the tongue, it is not precisely true. If you think about it, this idea takes the responsibility for evil choices away from the corrupt person and assigns it to that person’s position. How convenient it must be to have a ready-made excuse. “I’m not really bad, my position of power just made me do bad things!”

Power doesn’t always corrupt. Power always reveals. When you have enough power to do what you always wanted to do, then you see what the guy always wanted to do.”

Robert Caro

Power doesn’t really change people as much as it highlights preexisting character traits. While it is true that people in positions of power can do more evil and become more seriously corrupted than people without power, it is because they have more opportunities to act than others.

People with power also have more opportunity and ability to do good. The choice to do good or evil, to be generous or selfish, is a function of a person’s character. It is not based on how much power he or she has.

It is said that power corrupts, but actually it’s more true that power attracts the corruptible. The sane are usually attracted by other things than power.

David Brin

The classic example in the scriptures of how the corruptible are attracted to power is the story of Cain. Satan promised him his brother’s riches. Whereas Adam had refused Satan’s offer to join him in ruling the Earth with “blood and horror,” Cain accepted the offer to learn how to kill for personal gain.

Corruption is the abuse of entrusted power for private gain.

Transparency International

The key here is the desire for personal gain. Those who seek personal gain are attracted to power because it makes it easier to acquire the wealth they covet.

Satan offers power and gain to any who will worship and follow him. The scriptures are full of examples of leaders who abused power for selfish purposes. They also contain examples of leaders who used power to bless and benefit others.

In LDS theology, God stands ready to bless us with all that He has. Such a blessing would necessarily come with a great deal of power. No wonder, then, that our character must first be tested and refined, here on Earth, to determine whether we can be trusted with that kind of power in the next life.

Unfortunately, in this world, we too often lazily grant power without seriously examining the candidate’s worthiness. Sometimes we even grant power despite a candidate’s clearly demonstrated unworthiness….

Being President doesn’t change who you are, it reveals who you are.

Michelle Obama

Sources: “Why Power Brings Out Your True Self,” Matthew Sutton, Pocket, March 2017.
“Power doesn’t corrupt. It just exposes who leaders really are,” Adam Grant, The Washington Post, February 22, 2019.
Chris McGreal, “Robert Caro: a life with LBJ and the pursuit of power,” The Guardian, June 9, 2012.
David Brin, The Postman, 1985, p. 267.
“What is Corruption?” Transparency International.
Chris Hedges, America: The Farewell Tour, Simon and Schuster, 2018.
James Comey, “How Trump Co-opts Leaders Like Bill Barr,” Opinion, The New York Times, May 1, 2019.