Apple Podcasts
Spotify
YouTube
Ever wonder how the Enduring Principles came to be? Tune is as Prophet President Steve Veazey shares how Community of Christ settled on our Enduring Principles and how they have impacted us as a diverse, world-wide faith community.
You can read more about the Enduring Principles here.
Thanks for listening to Project Zion Podcast!
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!
Intro and Outro music used with permission:
“For Everyone Born,” Community of Christ Sings #285. Music © 2006 Brian Mann, admin. General Board of Global Ministries t/a GBGMusik, 458 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308. copyright@umcmission.org
“The Trees of the Field,” Community of Christ Sings # 645, Music © 1975 Stuart Dauerman, Lillenas Publishing Company (admin. Music Services).
All music for this episode was performed by Dr. Jan Kraybill, and produced by Chad Godfrey.
NOTE: The series that make up the Project Zion Podcast explore the unique spiritual and theological gifts Community of Christ offers for today's world. Although Project Zion Podcast is a Ministry of Community of Christ. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those speaking and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Community of Christ.
WEBVTT
00:00:15.960 --> 00:00:15.960
[inaudible].
00:00:17.760 --> 00:00:19.980
Welcome to the Project Zion podcast.
00:00:20.250 --> 00:00:27.570
This podcast explores the unique spiritual and theological gifts Community of Christ offers for today's world.
00:00:33.689 --> 00:00:36.539
Hello and welcome to the project Zion Podcast.
00:00:36.659 --> 00:00:43.469
I'm your host, Carla Long and I am super duper duper excited to introduce our guest today.
00:00:43.829 --> 00:00:49.439
His name is Steve Veazey and he is the president prophet of Community of Christ.
00:00:49.500 --> 00:00:54.179
Steve, thank you so much for finding time in your busy schedule to chat with us.
00:00:54.670 --> 00:01:00.369
Well, thank you for the invitation and I'm really happy to have the opportunity to share.
00:01:00.829 --> 00:01:06.439
So Steve, just in case a listener has no idea who you are, tell us a little bit about yourself.
00:01:07.069 --> 00:01:25.939
Well, in terms of my background, I'm originally from Tennessee, a little town called Paris, Tennessee where I grew up including being shaped in the Community of Christ church throughout my life.
00:01:27.200 --> 00:01:40.219
I graduated from the university of Tennessee with a degree in natural resources management and then I finished a master's degree, a master of arts in religion.
00:01:40.939 --> 00:01:54.680
My wife's name's Cathy and we have three children all grown, a daughter Bree and a son, Brady and a son, Bryce.
00:01:55.280 --> 00:01:58.069
Currently we live in Independence, Missouri.
00:01:59.680 --> 00:02:03.790
And you don't have any grandchildren you're super proud of or anything like that?
00:02:04.439 --> 00:02:07.500
Well, I wasn't sure we had time to get into the grandchildren.
00:02:08.280 --> 00:02:23.039
We have five grandchildren, a granddaughter who's 10 years old and then four boys who range from a eight to one year old.
00:02:24.150 --> 00:02:26.400
Oh, so it keeps you pretty busy.
00:02:26.401 --> 00:02:28.169
It sounds like they all keep you pretty busy.
00:02:29.229 --> 00:02:33.009
It's, it's wonderful activity.
00:02:33.010 --> 00:02:37.509
You get kind of get to live your childhood one more time with the grandkids.
00:02:37.510 --> 00:02:38.680
So that's a lot of fun.
00:02:38.979 --> 00:02:48.490
Just this morning, just this morning, I was over cheering my granddaughter on in a 5K race o ver in Kansas city.
00:02:48.491 --> 00:02:53.830
She's in a group called Girls on The Run and she did really well.
00:02:54.849 --> 00:02:57.039
Your 10 year old granddaughter ran a five K.
00:02:57.040 --> 00:02:58.719
I am really impressed.
00:02:59.680 --> 00:03:00.460
That's awesome.
00:03:02.050 --> 00:03:03.009
Oh, good for her.
00:03:04.509 --> 00:03:05.139
So Steve,
00:03:05.590 --> 00:03:06.099
Oh, go ahead.
00:03:06.639 --> 00:03:13.449
I was just going to say, I'm sorry to interrupt that, I thought about running with her, but I didn't want to slow her down.
00:03:13.719 --> 00:03:17.080
[ laughter] Do you like to run?
00:03:17.949 --> 00:03:19.840
Uh, um, like?
00:03:23.020 --> 00:03:26.229
I exercise on a recumbent bike.
00:03:26.949 --> 00:03:28.900
I actually do too.
00:03:29.259 --> 00:03:37.060
So we have in common and I didn't mean to use the strong wordage of like, that's a tough, I know it's very strong.
00:03:38.289 --> 00:03:49.090
U m, there's a, there's a few questions before we jump into our podcast about the Enduring Principles Steve, I really want to, I've, I've heard a few things and I really w ant t o see if they're true or false from you.
00:03:49.091 --> 00:03:49.389
Okay.
00:03:49.449 --> 00:03:56.379
So one thing that I've heard is that you would really prefer it if people called you Steve-O rather than just Steve.
00:03:56.080 --> 00:03:56.379
Is that true or false?
00:03:56.439 --> 00:04:04.180
People do call me that along with other things, but Steve is just okay.
00:04:04.360 --> 00:04:05.319
Steve is just fine.
00:04:05.550 --> 00:04:06.729
So, so that was fake news.
00:04:06.759 --> 00:04:07.509
That's what you're telling me.
00:04:07.510 --> 00:04:07.870
Fake news.
00:04:07.871 --> 00:04:08.199
Got it.
00:04:08.629 --> 00:04:24.639
The other thing that I've only heard maybe in my own brain, um, is that I, I have heard that you want the motto of your time as President Prophet of the Community, Christ to be, it ain't easy being Veazey.
00:04:25.839 --> 00:04:27.310
Is that true or false?
00:04:28.300 --> 00:04:28.899
I like it.
00:04:30.670 --> 00:04:37.569
And it's true as a statement I think, but I don't think that would be my motto.
00:04:37.031 --> 00:04:37.569
Oh, okay.
00:04:37.031 --> 00:04:37.569
Well, I'm pretty sure I just made it up anyway.
00:04:37.031 --> 00:04:37.569
I think it's a good one too.
00:04:37.031 --> 00:04:37.569
In fact, I am very proud of myself.
00:04:37.031 --> 00:04:37.569
I actually wrote a hymn for the new hymn book that came out, you know, six years ago and I, there's a many, many things that rhymes with Veazey that I had in my him and it did not make the cut.
00:04:56.529 --> 00:04:58.089
Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.
00:04:58.120 --> 00:04:58.389
Yeah.
00:04:58.870 --> 00:05:00.879
Sometime I'm going to have to send that to you.
00:05:01.209 --> 00:05:04.540
So, I mean Veazey cheesy, all lots of things rhyme,
00:05:05.290 --> 00:05:06.560
All of my life.
00:05:06.579 --> 00:05:12.819
It's been demonstrated to me how many words rhyme with Veazey.
00:05:13.600 --> 00:05:14.350
I'm so sorry.
00:05:14.379 --> 00:05:16.899
Long does not make life easy for me either.
00:05:16.930 --> 00:05:17.740
I understand.
00:05:17.920 --> 00:05:18.430
Sure.
00:05:19.180 --> 00:05:26.379
So listeners, if you're still with us today, w e're going to be talking about our beloved Enduring Principles.
00:05:26.439 --> 00:05:30.430
And I say beloved because they really, really are.
00:05:30.430 --> 00:05:35.980
I know that in the Salt Lake city congregation, we talk about our enduring p rinciples all the time.
00:05:36.579 --> 00:05:46.839
It's so important for people to know what values we stand on because it's, in many cases, it's very different than the values from the churches that they have come from.
00:05:47.259 --> 00:06:04.550
And when new people come i nto the Salt Lake city congregation and I'm chatting with them after the service or whatever, I always pull out the pamphlet with the Enduring Principles on because for them it's such a departure and it just, it just shows where we've come to as a church.
00:06:04.759 --> 00:06:16.699
And so what I think would be really interesting and what I'm actually one of our editors on the projects I a m podcast, he said that it's a really interesting story about how the Enduring Principles came about in Community of Christ.
00:06:17.180 --> 00:06:21.949
U m, so I want to Steve to talk a little bit about that and hopefully that will come out in our, in our podcast.
00:06:21.951 --> 00:06:24.050
But, so yeah, maybe we should start there.
00:06:24.050 --> 00:06:27.560
So where did the Enduring Principles come from exactly?
00:06:29.129 --> 00:06:31.170
Well, it's a, it's a very interesting story.
00:06:33.509 --> 00:07:12.480
The short answer is that after I was ordained as president of the church, we started seeking for ways to bring together a more culturally diverse group of leaders from around the world to discuss and try to come to some sense of direction about important issues facing the church in terms of different questions that we needed to be thinking about and responding to.
00:07:13.860 --> 00:07:28.829
Um, and as we began to do that we discovered that we didn't necessarily share the same language.
00:07:28.920 --> 00:07:39.089
And I'm not talking about the language we speak, I'm talking about the way we understand the nature of the church and its mission.
00:07:39.629 --> 00:07:57.420
We were having a tendency to use different phrases and words for what might be very similar concepts, but it was causing confusion as we were trying to dialogue around important issues.
00:07:58.170 --> 00:08:06.180
And so we paused and the presidency began to lead a process with the same group.
00:08:06.930 --> 00:08:18.149
It was about 75 to 80 people from around the world that we convened several times a year.
00:08:18.660 --> 00:08:40.860
And we decided to step back and explore what is it that is most foundational and most enduring in terms of who we are as Community of Christ and how we understand our identity and, and calling in the world.
00:08:41.340 --> 00:09:02.169
And that was a process that lasted almost two years as we had those kinds of in depth discussions and finally came to a high degree of around the statements that are now called the Enduring Principles of the church.
00:09:04.549 --> 00:09:20.230
Well, I know I was part of, of some of those conversations and I found them just, just really interesting, really enthralling just to hear what different people from around the world had to say about these because I mean, we all come from different places.
00:09:20.409 --> 00:09:23.679
Like you said, the language is completely different.
00:09:24.370 --> 00:09:29.350
Um, some words that we use in English don't even exist in other languages and vice versa.
00:09:29.350 --> 00:09:35.470
So it was not an easy process and I actually really appreciate the fact that we took two good years to do it.
00:09:36.539 --> 00:10:11.519
Yeah, I think the willingness to pause and do that kind of in depth work to discover terms that we shared some mutual understanding regarding has been a tremendous help going forward i s we've been faced with various issues that required careful thought and trying to find direction that could be embraced by the worldwide church.
00:10:11.520 --> 00:10:18.990
I think the work on the Enduring Principles has become so foundational to everything that's followed.
00:10:20.570 --> 00:10:21.860
I completely agree.
00:10:22.399 --> 00:10:37.669
I do know, however, speaking of that language issue, I remember hearing someone, I think it was in Japan, that the word enduring is a difficult word and it means basically like something you have to like carry on your back and like endure the through the pain.
00:10:37.671 --> 00:10:41.600
And so that didn't really work out well for the Japanese, the Enduring Principles.
00:10:41.830 --> 00:10:56.440
And, and we always said that there could be some flexibility and, and you know, and how we talked about what this set of statements was recognizing those language challenges.
00:10:56.441 --> 00:10:59.230
But yeah, I heard that story too.
00:10:59.230 --> 00:11:09.759
And it was, the word was more like what you have to put up with than something of a universal nature.
00:11:09.760 --> 00:11:24.009
So even that situation demonstrated to us how difficult it is to find a commonality and consensus throughout the worldwide church.
00:11:25.090 --> 00:11:29.799
When was it that we kind of recognize the need for something like the enduring principles?
00:11:29.801 --> 00:11:31.870
Where were we at as a church?
00:11:32.720 --> 00:12:34.460
Well it actually has quite a long history in terms of individuals attempting to articulate for the church what we would call Enduring Principles today previously say in the 1970s and 1980s, similar concepts were referred to as enduring concepts of the restoration or a distinctives of the church and in The Herald, if you go back and look in the, in the churches publication, the Saint Herald during that time and following decades, you'll see different expressions with some similarities between them as individuals attempted to clarify and articulate for the church.
00:12:34.789 --> 00:12:59.029
And of course that parallels the time when the church was expanding so dramatically internationally and we were trying to discern in our own community what is it that binds us all together, even though it may be expressed in different ways and with different words and behaviors.
00:12:59.030 --> 00:13:02.330
What is it that's really at the heart of our DNA?
00:13:02.330 --> 00:13:14.149
But you know, I recall a major article that was written back in April of 1980 by former apostle JC Stuart.
00:13:14.809 --> 00:13:19.940
He entitled it Enduring Concepts of The Restoration.
00:13:20.629 --> 00:13:32.779
And as you look at his list and descriptions, you, you find some very similar threads of the concepts and phrases we now called enduring principles.
00:13:34.070 --> 00:13:40.159
I was in a group called the Africa Leaders Conference, um, one year.
00:13:40.700 --> 00:14:02.870
And that group attempted to within about a week's period of time, didn't have much time, but they attempted to identify what they thought was foundational and, and that group called them core values of the church and others have referred to them as core values of the church.
00:14:03.409 --> 00:14:38.899
But as we looked at the results of our process, um, we thought the term enduring principles really communicated best these statements, which should be apparent and continuing across decades across era's they, they should be apparent and who we are and what we're doing, no matter what words we're using or, or how we're expressing it.
00:14:38.900 --> 00:14:56.490
So even though there were a few language difficulties, we agreed that the word Enduring Principles was most universally understood throughout the church in terms of what those statements are.
00:14:57.059 --> 00:15:02.879
I, I completely agree, but, but I mean really, would you say that they are our values?
00:15:03.870 --> 00:15:04.350
Yes.
00:15:04.379 --> 00:15:08.970
They are our values that endure.
00:15:09.120 --> 00:15:20.909
Personally I felt that the phrase enduring was very important even though it didn't work in some languages.
00:15:21.539 --> 00:15:34.049
It was very important because organizations, they write values statements, but there can be some change and drift over time.
00:15:34.649 --> 00:16:01.139
And I really felt like we had discerned what really was foundational to the identity, the very personality of Community of Christ in the, in the statements we developed, but yes, they, they would, could be called enduring values of the church, enduring characteristics of the church.
00:16:01.769 --> 00:16:04.440
We chose Enduring Principles.
00:16:05.750 --> 00:16:11.179
So I really love the fact that we talk with that were more values-based rather than rules-based.
00:16:11.181 --> 00:16:14.120
Of course, we do have some rules that that need to be followed.
00:16:14.120 --> 00:16:32.090
But the fact that we're values-based gives people, I think, and you can agree or disagree that the chance to grow on their own and figure out how they can, how those values fit into our lives and how we can live in those values rather than being told this is how you will live.
00:16:32.389 --> 00:16:33.440
Do you see it like that?
00:16:34.149 --> 00:16:35.259
Very much so.
00:16:35.320 --> 00:17:01.269
In fact, as I have studied organizations and theology and especially ethics, ethics are a collection of principled statements that people then use for their own moral reasoning in their lives.
00:17:01.299 --> 00:17:05.170
But situations and contexts can be so different.
00:17:05.769 --> 00:17:14.920
It's the principles that guide people, but the individuals still must make, and I'll use one of our Enduring Principles.
00:17:15.190 --> 00:17:22.569
They must make responsible choices, not just follow rules that have been developed.
00:17:22.570 --> 00:17:28.000
And to me that, that grows people spiritually.
00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:30.369
It grows disciples.
00:17:30.400 --> 00:17:41.200
It, it grows us as stewards in relationship with God as we seek to respond to God's call and live out divine purposes.
00:17:43.150 --> 00:17:47.710
Well, I've also learned that if, when you're rule space, people always find a way around the rules.
00:17:48.190 --> 00:17:48.940
Always.
00:17:50.309 --> 00:18:04.049
One of our challenges has been that in some cultures of the world the rules based approach is still very prevalent.
00:18:04.920 --> 00:18:11.430
And people want to know, you know, what are the rules, what are the boundaries?
00:18:12.089 --> 00:18:33.779
But as a church, we tend to emphasize prayerful discernment one's agency as individuals and disciples of being willing to live with questions and struggle with questions and try to discern a way forward.
00:18:34.500 --> 00:18:49.230
So that works in parts of the world where the culture really promotes individuality and you know, personal responsibility.
00:18:49.230 --> 00:19:05.099
But there are other cultures of the world where the individual is responsible for fitting into the community and, and that creates a bit more of a struggle in those places.
00:19:05.789 --> 00:19:11.819
So the work own ethics and how are we going to live together?
00:19:12.390 --> 00:19:27.539
Has to be expressed in a way that is more clear to people who are struggling to understand how the live in the world, if that, if that makes sense.
00:19:27.540 --> 00:19:33.089
It's, it's different cultures have different ways of approaching it.
00:19:33.150 --> 00:19:34.890
I guess this is best way to say it.
00:19:35.039 --> 00:19:36.240
It's so true.
00:19:36.240 --> 00:19:53.910
I mean, I haven't traveled as extensively as you have, but I've lived in three continents and worked on four continents and even the people who live in a country similar to the country you and I live in, in the United States think completely differently.
00:19:53.940 --> 00:20:03.960
Like when I was working in Europe, I was, I was shocked by how different my view of the world was from a, say a Dutch person's view or Germans person's view.
00:20:03.961 --> 00:20:09.869
I mean, we grown up very similarly, but they're completely different ways of looking at the world.
00:20:10.490 --> 00:20:11.450
Yeah, absolutely.
00:20:11.869 --> 00:20:14.000
And that's, that's one of the challenges.
00:20:14.809 --> 00:20:17.720
And again, I'll use one of the Enduring Principles.
00:20:17.721 --> 00:20:39.950
If we consider the the worth of all persons, then we have to understand their worth in their cultural context and respect the culture that is a part of their life experience and try to understand their worldview and their perspectives.
00:20:39.951 --> 00:20:44.750
And that takes a lot of, a lot of time and a lot of effort.
00:20:44.900 --> 00:20:53.880
So in Community of Christ we don't always just yield to the easy answer.
00:20:54.720 --> 00:21:17.700
We continue to look for ways to value the worth of persons to respect differences of opinion and belief, but also find a way to be a community of faith that can move together in response to God's call and purposes.
00:21:19.329 --> 00:21:30.759
You know what, what this reminds me of is, you know, I think about people say in developing countries who, who work all day simply to put food on the table to keep a roof over their family's head.
00:21:31.059 --> 00:21:37.990
And they simply don't have the luxury that we have here in the United States to think about things.
00:21:38.140 --> 00:21:43.180
And they're worried about things like their whole life is focused on staying alive and surviving.
00:21:43.181 --> 00:21:49.960
And, um, so that makes it incredibly difficult to talk about these things in a worldwide context.
00:21:49.961 --> 00:21:52.269
I mean, I think the listeners should recognize that.
00:21:52.270 --> 00:21:58.539
I, I'm just now remembering that myself, it's incredibly difficult to work in a worldwide context.
00:21:59.380 --> 00:22:36.039
Increasingly so too, as there's more suspicion between nations and, uh, as the world becomes more tense, it's even more difficult, but our vision and, and our calling is to be that worldwide community of faith and hopefully show the world and alternative vision that's in contrast to a lot of the strife between cultures and nations and religions.
00:22:36.579 --> 00:22:52.210
That is a characteristic of the world today that that's really part of our purpose as Community of Christ is to say, here's an alternative way of, of being in the world together.
00:22:53.019 --> 00:23:11.259
And finding ways to discuss and struggle with issues and questions and then hopefully coming to some sense of understanding enough so that we can, uh, move together in response to God's call.
00:23:13.950 --> 00:23:17.460
Well, I mean, I think you're absolutely right.
00:23:17.880 --> 00:23:21.690
People who believe in values like ours, not exactly like ours.
00:23:21.691 --> 00:23:33.839
Maybe they have different values to are so desperately needed in the world rather than being taken away by snipey little arguments that happen on Facebook or, or wherever else.
00:23:33.900 --> 00:23:40.859
I mean, if we could stick to these values, I think that you're right, it could be world changing.
00:23:41.289 --> 00:23:41.740
Yes.
00:23:42.990 --> 00:23:54.920
In fact, I've heard a couple people say when they are making a big decision, they actually go to our Enduring Principles and, and see what the Enduring Principles have to say about it.
00:23:54.921 --> 00:23:57.950
Will this decision impact the sacredness of creation?
00:23:58.309 --> 00:24:01.759
Is this, is this my truly the responsible choice on my part?
00:24:02.029 --> 00:24:04.910
Does this uphold the worth of all persons?
00:24:05.089 --> 00:24:10.369
And it helps them to make decisions that they have in their lives, which is incredible.
00:24:11.140 --> 00:24:12.849
I, I think that's wonderful.
00:24:13.690 --> 00:24:23.500
Uh, and it's really meaningful to me to hear that people are embodying the Enduring Principles in that way.
00:24:23.890 --> 00:24:39.579
And I can also say as, as church leaders when we are together and, and we look at issues and questions, uh, one of our main references, we do the same thing.
00:24:39.970 --> 00:24:41.559
There's the enduring principles.
00:24:42.160 --> 00:24:56.950
So does this direction or does this decision uphold as much as possible the, the worst of all persons and, and protecting the most vulnerable in our midst?
00:24:56.980 --> 00:25:01.029
Is it in the direction of the pursuit of peace?
00:25:01.630 --> 00:25:10.900
Does it celebrate and honor a unity even though we have diversity of thought and, and circumstance?
00:25:11.140 --> 00:25:15.250
So we do, we do the same thing on a, uh, organizational basis.
00:25:16.269 --> 00:25:32.380
Um, and I've noticed in our world conference that I'm hearing more of, of discussion among the delegates referencing different Enduring Principles says we're discussing issues.
00:25:32.859 --> 00:25:38.289
And so it's a process that's continuing to unfold, but I think it's transformative.
00:25:38.799 --> 00:25:58.809
And that to me really points out that underneath it all the spirit was working with us to help us not only address the issues that were most immediately pressing on us, but also to help us be who we're called to be as we go into the future.
00:26:00.329 --> 00:26:00.839
Oh, I agree.
00:26:00.840 --> 00:26:09.690
So you've already started on this next question, but if you could elaborate a little bit more how, how else have you heard about the Enduring Principles changing the church?
00:26:09.691 --> 00:26:14.730
Like from where we were before we had named them to where we are now.
00:26:17.210 --> 00:26:26.809
I am, I'm, I, I guess I would mostly reiterate, uh, what we've said but emphasize it.
00:26:26.839 --> 00:26:46.500
And that is as I travel throughout the church and I listened to people discussing situations and asking questions increasingly and more frequently the phrases from the enduring principles come up.
00:26:47.789 --> 00:26:52.440
There's also a discussion about what those principles mean.
00:26:53.220 --> 00:27:12.509
And I think that's right where we need to be because people can look at the Enduring Principle phrase and have a particular perspective on it, but it's only in dialogue with each other that we broaden our perspective and see things from different points of view.
00:27:12.900 --> 00:27:20.759
Although we're all looking at say the phrase, a sacredness of creation, you know, what does that mean?
00:27:20.760 --> 00:27:24.210
We have to continue to explore what it means.
00:27:24.660 --> 00:27:30.240
I see it showing up in our publications, our lessons.
00:27:30.299 --> 00:27:34.440
I hear it in sermons, and classes.
00:27:36.059 --> 00:27:45.359
Um, I've noticed in our church resources, it's like 11 that working its way through everything.
00:27:45.869 --> 00:27:48.089
And that's exactly what we had hoped for.
00:27:50.240 --> 00:27:50.240
Maybe.
00:27:50.240 --> 00:27:56.410
I think all of them, or maybe not all of them, they each have their own section in the hymnal certainly helps as well.
00:27:56.740 --> 00:27:58.119
Oh, that's another good example.
00:27:58.630 --> 00:28:31.269
Uh, when the hymnal was being organized, the Community of Christ Sings hymns know, uh, the enduring principles created a template through which we sought hymns so that we would make sure that our hymnody which shapes the vision and mission of the church, its identity and its message was also reflecting the enduring principles and strengthening our understanding of the Enduring Principles.
00:28:32.890 --> 00:28:39.759
So I don't know if you can answer this as president, prophet of the church, but I'm going to give a little example before I do it.
00:28:39.760 --> 00:28:57.579
I want, I'm going to ask you if you have a favorite one and I'm going to ask you that because, uh, in Salt Lake when I'm speaking to people who are new to the church or who come into the church doors for the first time, the two that they all almost always focus on one.
00:28:57.580 --> 00:29:00.819
That means so, so much to them is the worth of all persons.
00:29:01.539 --> 00:29:07.180
Uh, because in some traditions you simply don't have worth unless you do something.
00:29:08.319 --> 00:29:17.259
Um, so the, the idea of somebody having worth no matter what, no matter what they do, no matter who they are, it is just so shocking to some.
00:29:17.589 --> 00:29:23.319
The other one that's really surprising in Salt Lake City is responsible choices.
00:29:23.650 --> 00:29:27.789
And I like to say, you know, God put a great big brain in your head for a reason.
00:29:27.790 --> 00:29:32.440
You know what's best for you and you know how to view the world around you.
00:29:32.441 --> 00:29:34.750
See what's best for the world around you as well.
00:29:35.049 --> 00:29:39.609
It's like if I were to always tell you what was best for you, I would definitely get it wrong.
00:29:39.611 --> 00:29:42.670
Sometimes those two are really important.
00:29:42.671 --> 00:29:46.000
I know out here in salt Lake city and those two are pretty important to me.
00:29:47.019 --> 00:29:48.759
Do you have one that's important to you?
00:29:49.359 --> 00:30:20.440
Well it's difficult for me to say that it's a favorite or most important, but I agree with you that the, uh, Enduring Principle worth of all persons is the one that I see being embraced and repeated the most as I traveled throughout the nations of the church.
00:30:20.950 --> 00:30:42.339
And as I talked to new members, say in African nations, uh, almost inevitably what they talk about is the churches message and emphasis lived out emphasis on the worth of persons.
00:30:42.849 --> 00:30:57.250
And I think that one is so core to who we are that it has to stand out at the same time all the Enduring Principles are there because they are enduring and they are important.
00:30:57.490 --> 00:31:23.410
I also like to remind people that, uh, when we develop the statement on Enduring Principles in the original statement, we emphasized that the foundation of the enduring principles was our affirmation of the nature of God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
00:31:23.529 --> 00:31:26.259
That that's, that's foundational.
00:31:26.829 --> 00:31:44.049
And then the enduring principles are how we understand the characteristics of God as God has been revealed in Jesus Christ and continues to interact with us.
00:31:44.050 --> 00:31:48.009
And reveals God's self to us through the Holy spirit.
00:31:48.670 --> 00:32:11.710
So foundationally we have to always remember that these Enduring Principles reflect our experience with and our understanding of the very nature of God, especially as revealed in Jesus Christ a nd, and p resent in the Holy Spirit.
00:32:17.720 --> 00:32:38.059
One thing I know that people here in Salt Lake and other places have really appreciated about how the Enduring Principles came about and how Community Christ does things in general is that we are very willing to be vulnerable to allowing the Spirit to move where it needs to move and where it does move.
00:32:38.089 --> 00:32:42.799
And for a lot of, I'm sure for a lot of people that can be really scary.
00:32:44.240 --> 00:32:54.799
Um, and is it scary for you just to kind of put it in the hands of people and in God and say, okay, where, where does this go from here?
00:32:54.920 --> 00:33:13.839
Yeah, it's, it's been an interesting challenge for me because I believe very deeply in the principles of the church discerning God's will together.
00:33:14.289 --> 00:33:29.650
And yet particular responsibility is, is placed on the Prophet President of the church to guide that, to motivate that, to stimulate that in the life of the church.
00:33:30.730 --> 00:33:59.529
Uh, so I've come to understand, part of my role is, is to be creating the opportunities for the church to do that kind of discernment together and produce outcomes like the enduring principles so that we are truly being and growing as a, as a prophetic people.
00:34:00.549 --> 00:34:04.930
Uh, there are times when I might say it a little differently myself.
00:34:06.009 --> 00:34:07.410
Oh, interesting.
00:34:08.000 --> 00:34:15.679
Or I might arrange phrases in relationship to each other a little differently.
00:34:16.639 --> 00:34:21.110
But, uh, I recognize that that's me.
00:34:22.280 --> 00:34:27.949
Uh, and that the truth that is being pointed to is what's most important.
00:34:29.570 --> 00:34:41.989
Um, for example, and this is probably getting close to confessing things that went on during the development of the enduring principles.
00:34:44.059 --> 00:34:45.469
So I'm revealing this.
00:34:46.550 --> 00:35:12.260
Um, I was really in favor of having a phrase the worth of all persons in community because I wanted to balance, you know, the individual dimension of that with the relational, which we understand is the heart of the gospel.
00:35:12.679 --> 00:35:36.650
But I understood, uh, what others said about the importance of separating the two and into worth of all persons and blessings of community, uh, in order for individuals who maybe didn't feel like they were part of a healthy community to still understand that they were persons of worth.
00:35:37.239 --> 00:35:47.230
So the, a dialogue and discussion that occurred in the presidency and in the group, I think resulted in the best direction forward.
00:35:48.750 --> 00:35:49.590
Oh, that's interesting.
00:35:49.590 --> 00:36:04.650
Because my next question was going to be, and maybe you can remember another one, um, what else do you remember that was happening when that, that group of 75 people got together and were talking to people from all over the world, right?
00:36:04.650 --> 00:36:13.769
We're talking not just from Western nations, we're talking all over the world and everybody who wanted to got to stand up and say something about this.
00:36:14.099 --> 00:36:17.519
So is there another thing you remember about that time when we were all together?
00:36:18.119 --> 00:36:42.659
Well, what I remember is the challenge again of making sure that everyone felt free to speak because some were coming from cultures where they were very hesitant to speak in any way that maybe wasn't aligned with where they thought church leaders were.
00:36:43.110 --> 00:36:51.090
And it was quite a struggle for them to feel like they could make a contribution that was uniquely their own.
00:36:51.599 --> 00:37:08.159
But I think over time, as we demonstrated our willingness to, um, re receive that and hear that and incorporate their comments that some of those hesitancies faded away.
00:37:09.239 --> 00:37:27.780
I remember when we were talking about grace and generosity, uh, from a Western perspective, we were really emphasizing our need to give out of our resources and abundance.
00:37:27.780 --> 00:37:30.119
So we were thinking about it in those terms.
00:37:30.869 --> 00:38:11.070
But some of our participants from other nations remind, reminded us that the real heart of grace in generosity is to be willing to receive the gifts and offerings of others, even though they may not be equal in amount or scope to what we in the Western world might consider to be a generous offering.
00:38:11.070 --> 00:38:29.369
So they pointed out the important first of all of receiving, uh, whatever gifts that others were trying to give in the spirit of grace and generosity.
00:00:15.960 --> 00:00:15.960
00:00:17.760 --> 00:00:19.980
00:00:20.250 --> 00:00:27.570
00:00:33.689 --> 00:00:36.539
00:00:36.659 --> 00:00:43.469
00:00:43.829 --> 00:00:49.439
00:00:49.500 --> 00:00:54.179
00:00:54.670 --> 00:01:00.369
00:01:00.829 --> 00:01:06.439
00:01:07.069 --> 00:01:25.939
00:01:27.200 --> 00:01:40.219
00:01:40.939 --> 00:01:54.680
00:01:55.280 --> 00:01:58.069
00:01:59.680 --> 00:02:03.790
00:02:04.439 --> 00:02:07.500
00:02:08.280 --> 00:02:23.039
00:02:24.150 --> 00:02:26.400
00:02:26.401 --> 00:02:28.169
00:02:29.229 --> 00:02:33.009
00:02:33.010 --> 00:02:37.509
00:02:37.510 --> 00:02:38.680
00:02:38.979 --> 00:02:48.490
00:02:48.491 --> 00:02:53.830
00:02:54.849 --> 00:02:57.039
00:02:57.040 --> 00:02:58.719
00:02:59.680 --> 00:03:00.460
00:03:02.050 --> 00:03:03.009
00:03:04.509 --> 00:03:05.139
00:03:05.590 --> 00:03:06.099
Oh, go ahead.
00:03:06.639 --> 00:03:13.449
I was just going to say, I'm sorry to interrupt that, I thought about running with her, but I didn't want to slow her down.
00:03:13.719 --> 00:03:17.080
00:03:17.949 --> 00:03:19.840
Uh, um, like?
00:03:23.020 --> 00:03:26.229
I exercise on a recumbent bike.
00:03:26.949 --> 00:03:28.900
00:03:29.259 --> 00:03:37.060
00:03:38.289 --> 00:03:49.090
00:03:49.091 --> 00:03:49.389
00:03:49.449 --> 00:03:56.379
00:03:56.080 --> 00:03:56.379
00:03:56.439 --> 00:04:04.180
People do call me that along with other things, but Steve is just okay.
00:04:04.360 --> 00:04:05.319
00:04:05.550 --> 00:04:06.729
00:04:06.759 --> 00:04:07.509
00:04:07.510 --> 00:04:07.870
00:04:07.871 --> 00:04:08.199
00:04:08.629 --> 00:04:24.639
00:04:25.839 --> 00:04:27.310
00:04:28.300 --> 00:04:28.899
00:04:30.670 --> 00:04:37.569
00:04:37.031 --> 00:04:37.569
00:04:37.031 --> 00:04:37.569
00:04:37.031 --> 00:04:37.569
00:04:37.031 --> 00:04:37.569
00:04:37.031 --> 00:04:37.569
00:04:56.529 --> 00:04:58.089
00:04:58.120 --> 00:04:58.389
00:04:58.870 --> 00:05:00.879
00:05:01.209 --> 00:05:04.540
00:05:05.290 --> 00:05:06.560
00:05:06.579 --> 00:05:12.819
00:05:13.600 --> 00:05:14.350
00:05:14.379 --> 00:05:16.899
00:05:16.930 --> 00:05:17.740
00:05:17.920 --> 00:05:18.430
00:05:19.180 --> 00:05:26.379
00:05:26.439 --> 00:05:30.430
00:05:30.430 --> 00:05:35.980
00:05:36.579 --> 00:05:46.839
00:05:47.259 --> 00:06:04.550
00:06:04.759 --> 00:06:16.699
00:06:17.180 --> 00:06:21.949
00:06:21.951 --> 00:06:24.050
00:06:24.050 --> 00:06:27.560
00:06:29.129 --> 00:06:31.170
00:06:33.509 --> 00:07:12.480
00:07:13.860 --> 00:07:28.829
00:07:28.920 --> 00:07:39.089
00:07:39.629 --> 00:07:57.420
00:07:58.170 --> 00:08:06.180
00:08:06.930 --> 00:08:18.149
00:08:18.660 --> 00:08:40.860
00:08:41.340 --> 00:09:02.169
00:09:04.549 --> 00:09:20.230
00:09:20.409 --> 00:09:23.679
00:09:24.370 --> 00:09:29.350
00:09:29.350 --> 00:09:35.470
00:09:36.539 --> 00:10:11.519
00:10:11.520 --> 00:10:18.990
00:10:20.570 --> 00:10:21.860
00:10:22.399 --> 00:10:37.669
00:10:37.671 --> 00:10:41.600
00:10:41.830 --> 00:10:56.440
00:10:56.441 --> 00:10:59.230
00:10:59.230 --> 00:11:09.759
00:11:09.760 --> 00:11:24.009
00:11:25.090 --> 00:11:29.799
00:11:29.801 --> 00:11:31.870
00:11:32.720 --> 00:12:34.460
00:12:34.789 --> 00:12:59.029
00:12:59.030 --> 00:13:02.330
00:13:02.330 --> 00:13:14.149
00:13:14.809 --> 00:13:19.940
00:13:20.629 --> 00:13:32.779
00:13:34.070 --> 00:13:40.159
00:13:40.700 --> 00:14:02.870
00:14:03.409 --> 00:14:38.899
00:14:38.900 --> 00:14:56.490
00:14:57.059 --> 00:15:02.879
00:15:03.870 --> 00:15:04.350
00:15:04.379 --> 00:15:08.970
00:15:09.120 --> 00:15:20.909
00:15:21.539 --> 00:15:34.049
00:15:34.649 --> 00:16:01.139
00:16:01.769 --> 00:16:04.440
00:16:05.750 --> 00:16:11.179
00:16:11.181 --> 00:16:14.120
00:16:14.120 --> 00:16:32.090
00:16:32.389 --> 00:16:33.440
00:16:34.149 --> 00:16:35.259
00:16:35.320 --> 00:17:01.269
00:17:01.299 --> 00:17:05.170
00:17:05.769 --> 00:17:14.920
00:17:15.190 --> 00:17:22.569
00:17:22.570 --> 00:17:28.000
00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:30.369
00:17:30.400 --> 00:17:41.200
00:17:43.150 --> 00:17:47.710
00:17:48.190 --> 00:17:48.940
00:17:50.309 --> 00:18:04.049
00:18:04.920 --> 00:18:11.430
00:18:12.089 --> 00:18:33.779
00:18:34.500 --> 00:18:49.230
00:18:49.230 --> 00:19:05.099
00:19:05.789 --> 00:19:11.819
00:19:12.390 --> 00:19:27.539
00:19:27.540 --> 00:19:33.089
00:19:33.150 --> 00:19:34.890
00:19:35.039 --> 00:19:36.240
00:19:36.240 --> 00:19:53.910
00:19:53.940 --> 00:20:03.960
00:20:03.961 --> 00:20:09.869
00:20:10.490 --> 00:20:11.450
00:20:11.869 --> 00:20:14.000
00:20:14.809 --> 00:20:17.720
00:20:17.721 --> 00:20:39.950
00:20:39.951 --> 00:20:44.750
00:20:44.900 --> 00:20:53.880
00:20:54.720 --> 00:21:17.700
00:21:19.329 --> 00:21:30.759
00:21:31.059 --> 00:21:37.990
00:21:38.140 --> 00:21:43.180
00:21:43.181 --> 00:21:49.960
00:21:49.961 --> 00:21:52.269
00:21:52.270 --> 00:21:58.539
00:21:59.380 --> 00:22:36.039
00:22:36.579 --> 00:22:52.210
00:22:53.019 --> 00:23:11.259
00:23:13.950 --> 00:23:17.460
00:23:17.880 --> 00:23:21.690
00:23:21.691 --> 00:23:33.839
00:23:33.900 --> 00:23:40.859
00:23:41.289 --> 00:23:41.740
00:23:42.990 --> 00:23:54.920
00:23:54.921 --> 00:23:57.950
00:23:58.309 --> 00:24:01.759
00:24:02.029 --> 00:24:04.910
00:24:05.089 --> 00:24:10.369
00:24:11.140 --> 00:24:12.849
00:24:13.690 --> 00:24:23.500
00:24:23.890 --> 00:24:39.579
00:24:39.970 --> 00:24:41.559
00:24:42.160 --> 00:24:56.950
00:24:56.980 --> 00:25:01.029
00:25:01.630 --> 00:25:10.900
00:25:11.140 --> 00:25:15.250
00:25:16.269 --> 00:25:32.380
00:25:32.859 --> 00:25:38.289
00:25:38.799 --> 00:25:58.809
00:26:00.329 --> 00:26:00.839
00:26:00.840 --> 00:26:09.690
00:26:09.691 --> 00:26:14.730
00:26:17.210 --> 00:26:26.809
00:26:26.839 --> 00:26:46.500
00:26:47.789 --> 00:26:52.440
00:26:53.220 --> 00:27:12.509
00:27:12.900 --> 00:27:20.759
00:27:20.760 --> 00:27:24.210
00:27:24.660 --> 00:27:30.240
00:27:30.299 --> 00:27:34.440
00:27:36.059 --> 00:27:45.359
00:27:45.869 --> 00:27:48.089
00:27:50.240 --> 00:27:50.240
00:27:50.240 --> 00:27:56.410
00:27:56.740 --> 00:27:58.119
00:27:58.630 --> 00:28:31.269
00:28:32.890 --> 00:28:39.759
00:28:39.760 --> 00:28:57.579
00:28:57.580 --> 00:29:00.819
00:29:01.539 --> 00:29:07.180
00:29:08.319 --> 00:29:17.259
00:29:17.589 --> 00:29:23.319
00:29:23.650 --> 00:29:27.789
00:29:27.790 --> 00:29:32.440
00:29:32.441 --> 00:29:34.750
00:29:35.049 --> 00:29:39.609
00:29:39.611 --> 00:29:42.670
00:29:42.671 --> 00:29:46.000
00:29:47.019 --> 00:29:48.759
00:29:49.359 --> 00:30:20.440
00:30:20.950 --> 00:30:42.339
00:30:42.849 --> 00:30:57.250
00:30:57.490 --> 00:31:23.410
00:31:23.529 --> 00:31:26.259
00:31:26.829 --> 00:31:44.049
00:31:44.050 --> 00:31:48.009
00:31:48.670 --> 00:32:11.710
00:32:17.720 --> 00:32:38.059
00:32:38.089 --> 00:32:42.799
00:32:44.240 --> 00:32:54.799
00:32:54.920 --> 00:33:13.839
00:33:14.289 --> 00:33:29.650
00:33:30.730 --> 00:33:59.529
00:34:00.549 --> 00:34:04.930
00:34:06.009 --> 00:34:07.410
00:34:08.000 --> 00:34:15.679
00:34:16.639 --> 00:34:21.110
00:34:22.280 --> 00:34:27.949
00:34:29.570 --> 00:34:41.989
00:34:44.059 --> 00:34:45.469
00:34:46.550 --> 00:35:12.260
00:35:12.679 --> 00:35:36.650
00:35:37.239 --> 00:35:47.230
00:35:48.750 --> 00:35:49.590
00:35:49.590 --> 00:36:04.650
00:36:04.650 --> 00:36:13.769
00:36:14.099 --> 00:36:17.519
00:36:18.119 --> 00:36:42.659
00:36:43.110 --> 00:36:51.090
00:36:51.599 --> 00:37:08.159
00:37:09.239 --> 00:37:27.780
00:37:27.780 --> 00:37:30.119
00:37:30.869 --> 00:38:11.070
00:38:11.070 --> 00:38:29.369