SECTION
163
Every
day since being ordained as prophet-president, I have carried the
needs of the church on my heart. Sometimes the weight of concern has
seemed almost unbearable. Perhaps this is as it should be, because
the heaviness of responsibility has pressed me to seek the mind and
will of God as never before. Striving to be open to the guidance of
the Spirit, while attempting to lay aside my own preconceived
notions, has been a challenging but necessary learning experience.
And, as I have sought to perceive God’s will for the church through
prayer, study, and listening for the Creator’s voice in the voices
of the faith community, I have been blessed by the Spirit in various,
sometimes surprising ways.
The
words and images that follow have been birthed through much struggle,
not because of any lack of inspiration, but because of the
limitations of the human vessel entrusted with responsibility for
articulating divine encounter. Attempting to communicate in words
what is ultimately beyond words always leaves one with a sense of
incompleteness. Added to this is the challenge of creating phrases
that can be translated into the languages of the international church
without loss of essential meanings. Fortunately, we have the promise
that one of the primary functions of the Holy Spirit is to bear
witness of divine truth beyond the confines of language and culture.
Therefore,
it is in deep humility and with heartfelt gratitude to God that I
offer the following counsel as a witness of God’s eternal purpose
and continuing activity in the life of the church. In so doing, I
place these words in the church’s hands, trusting that the Spirit
will enable the faith community to hear the call of God today with
increasing clarity.
To
the Councils, Quorums, and Orders, to the World Conference, and to
the Church:
1.
“Community of Christ,” your name, given as a divine blessing, is
your identity and calling. If you will discern and embrace its full
meaning, you will not only discover your future, you will become a
blessing to the whole creation. Do not be afraid to go where it
beckons you to go.
2a.
Jesus Christ, the embodiment of God’s shalom, invites all people to
come and receive divine peace in the midst of the difficult questions
and struggles of life. Follow Christ in the way that leads to God’s
peace and discover the blessings of all of the dimensions of
salvation.
2b.
Generously share the invitation, ministries, and sacraments through
which people can encounter the Living Christ who heals and reconciles
through redemptive relationships in sacred community. The restoring
of persons to healthy or righteous relationships with God, others,
themselves, and the earth is at the heart of the purpose of your
journey as a people of faith.
3a.
You are called to create pathways in the world for peace in Christ to
be relationally and culturally incarnate. The hope of Zion is
realized when the vision of Christ is embodied in communities of
generosity, justice, and peacefulness.
3b.
Above all else, strive to be faithful to Christ’s vision of the
peaceable Kingdom of God on earth. Courageously challenge cultural,
political, and religious trends that are contrary to the reconciling
and restoring purposes of God. Pursue peace.
3c.
There are subtle, yet powerful, influences in the world, some even
claiming to represent Christ, that seek to divide people and nations
to accomplish their destructive aims. That which seeks to harden one
human heart against another by constructing walls of fear and
prejudice is not of God. Be especially alert to these influences,
lest they divide you or divert you from the mission to which you are
called.
4a.
God, the Eternal Creator, weeps for the poor, displaced, mistreated,
and diseased of the world because of their unnecessary suffering.
Such conditions are not God’s will. Open your ears to hear the
pleading of mothers and fathers in all nations who desperately seek a
future of hope for their children. Do not turn away from them. For in
their welfare resides your welfare.
4b.
The earth, lovingly created as an environment for life to flourish,
shudders in distress because creation’s natural and living systems
are becoming exhausted from carrying the burden of human greed and
conflict. Humankind must awaken from its illusion of independence and
unrestrained consumption without lasting consequences.
4c.
Let the educational and community development endeavors of the church
equip people of all ages to carry the ethics of Christ’s peace into
all arenas of life. Prepare new generations of disciples to bring
fresh vision to bear on the perplexing problems of poverty, disease,
war, and environmental deterioration. Their contributions will be
multiplied if their hearts are focused on God’s will for creation.
5a.
The Council of Twelve is urged to enthusiastically embrace its
calling as apostles of the peace of Jesus Christ in all of its
dimensions. The Twelve are sent into the world to lead the church’s
mission of restoration through relevant gospel proclamation and the
establishment of signal communities of justice and peace that reflect
the vision of Christ. As the apostles move out in faith and unity of
purpose, freeing themselves from other duties, they will be blessed
with an increased capacity for sharing Christ’s message of hope and
restoration for creation.
5b. To
accelerate the work of sharing the gospel, the Twelve and the Seventy
should be closely associated in implementing wholistic evangelistic
ministries. The seventy are to be the forerunners of Christ’s
peace, preparing the way for apostolic witness to be more readily
received.
5c.
Procedures regarding the calling and assignments of the Presidents of
Seventy and members of the Quorums of Seventy shall be developed to
facilitate the maximum level of collaboration with the Council of
Twelve. The Twelve, the Presidents of Seventy, and the Quorums of
Seventy should spend sufficient time together to ensure a mutual
understanding of evangelistic priorities and approaches.
6a.
Priesthood is a sacred covenant involving the highest form of
stewardship of body, mind, spirit, and relationships. The priesthood
shall be composed of people of humility and integrity who are willing
to extend themselves in service for others and for the well-being of
the faith community.
6b.
Truly authoritative priesthood ministry emerges from a growing
capacity to bring blessing to others. Unfortunately, there are some
who have chosen to view priesthood as a right of privilege or as a
platform for promoting personal perspectives. Others hold priesthood
as a casual aspect of their lives without regard to appropriate
levels of preparation and response.
6c.
The expectation for priesthood to continually magnify their callings
through spiritual growth, study, exemplary generosity, ethical
choices, and fully accountable ministry is always present. How can
the Spirit fill vessels that are unwilling to expand their capacity
to receive and give according to a full measure of God’s grace and
truth?
6d.
Counsel given previously regarding the need to develop ways whereby
priesthood can magnify their ministry or determine their commitment
to active service remains applicable and should be more intentionally
implemented. The First Presidency will provide guidelines for
processes to be applied in culturally respectful ways in the various
fields of the church. Fundamentally, however, the ultimate
responsibility for priesthood faithfulness rests on the individual in
response to the needs and expectations of the faith community.
7a.
Scripture is an indispensable witness to the Eternal Source of light
and truth, which cannot be fully contained in any finite vessel or
language. Scripture has been written and shaped by human authors
through experiences of revelation and ongoing inspiration of the Holy
Spirit in the midst of time and culture.
7b.
Scripture is not to be worshiped or idolized. Only God, the Eternal
One of whom scripture testifies, is worthy of worship. God’s
nature, as revealed in Jesus Christ and affirmed by the Holy Spirit,
provides the ultimate standard by which any portion of scripture
should be interpreted and applied.
7c. It
is not pleasing to God when any passage of scripture is used to
diminish or oppress races, genders, or classes of human beings. Much
physical and emotional violence has been done to some of God’s
beloved children through the misuse of scripture. The church is
called to confess and repent of such attitudes and practices.
7d.
Scripture, prophetic guidance, knowledge, and discernment in the
faith community must walk hand in hand to reveal the true will of
God. Follow this pathway, which is the way of the Living Christ, and
you will discover more than sufficient light for the journey ahead.
8a.
The Temple is an instrument of ongoing revelation in the life of the
church. Its symbolism and ministries call people to reverence in the
presence of the Divine Being. Transformative encounters with the
Eternal Creator and Reconciler await those who follow its spiritual
pathways of healing, reconciliation, peace, strengthening of faith,
and knowledge.
8b.
There are additional sacred ministries that will spring forth from
the Temple as rivers of living water to help people soothe and
resolve the brokenness and pain in their lives. Let the Temple
continue to come to life as a sacred center of worship, education,
community building, and discipleship preparation for all ages.
8c. As
these ministries come to fuller expression, receptive congregations
in the areas around the Temple and throughout the world will be
revived and equipped for more effective ministry. Vital to this
awakening is the understanding that the Temple calls the entire
church to become a sanctuary of Christ’s peace, where people from
all nations, ethnicities, and life circumstances can be gathered into
a spiritual home without dividing walls, as a fulfillment of the
vision for which Jesus Christ sacrificed his life.
9.
Faithful disciples respond to an increasing awareness of the abundant
generosity of God by sharing according to the desires of their
hearts; not by commandment or constraint. Break free of the shackles
of conventional culture that mainly promote self-serving interests.
Give generously according to your true capacity. Eternal joy and
peace await those who grow in the grace of generosity that flows from
compassionate hearts without thought of return. Could it be otherwise
in the domain of God, who eternally gives all for the sake of
creation?
10a.
Collectively and individually, you are loved with an everlasting love
that delights in each faithful step taken. God yearns to draw you
close so that wounds may be healed, emptiness filled, and hope
strengthened.
10b.
Do not turn away in pride, fear, or guilt from the One who seeks only
the best for you and your loved ones. Come before your Eternal
Creator with open minds and hearts and discover the blessings of the
gospel anew. Be vulnerable to divine grace.
11a.
God is calling for a prophetic community to emerge, drawn from the
nations of the world, that is characterized by uncommon devotion to
the compassion and peace of God revealed in Jesus Christ. Through
divine grace and wisdom, this faith community has been given abundant
gifts, resources, and opportunities to equip it to become such a
people. Chief among these is the power of community in Christ
expressed locally in distinctive fashions while upholding a unity of
vision, foundational beliefs, and mission throughout the world.
11b.
There are many issues that could easily consume the time and energy
of the church. However, the challenge before a prophetic people is to
discern and pursue what matters most for the journey ahead.
In
addition to the words offered above, I want to express my heartfelt
love for the church as it is and as it is becoming. Despite the
challenges involved, it is my pleasure to be able to serve you, my
brothers and sisters in Christ, who have been claimed by the
adventurous vision and spirit of the Restoration movement. May we
journey into the future trusting one another, confident that the One
who called the church into being continues to guide it toward
fulfillment of divine purpose.
Grace
and Peace,
Stephen
M. Veazey
President
of the Church
Independence,
Missouri
March
25, 2007
