Prophet-President Steve Veazey recently talked with Linda Booth, president of the Council of Twelve Apostles and director of Communications, about the words of counsel he presented to the World Conference in April. These excerpts are the last of a three-part series from their conversation. See the entire interview and view or read the words of counsel at www.CofChrist.org/presidency/041413wordsofcounsel.

Steve: I was just talking to a friend yesterday at church who came up to me and said, “I’m so excited about where we are going as a church because I’m finding opportunities to talk about that to other people in a positive way. And people are wanting—they’re yearning—to be a part of that kind of fellowship, and that kind of community.” And he says, “We have a story, a message, and an opportunity to share, and I think that’s wonderful!” That’s what we’re looking for in the life of the church.

Linda: Exactly, because I think of all the lives I have come in contact with, like a young man named Daniel who came to a congregation when he was a little boy. His life was a mess, and he was being raised by a single mom. Now he understands the power of transformation in his life, that he is one in that community, and that he is equal, no matter what his background. He is called as a disciple of Jesus Christ in mission, so it actually gets me really excited when I think about the potential, if we could, as Community of Christ, truly become one, and equal in the Spirit.

So, another theme you brought up is priesthood. Priesthood comes up over and over again in Doctrine and Covenants, but in these words of counsel, there seems to be a deepening of the understanding of priesthood calls. Could you help us understand where it is God’s pointing us when it comes to priesthood?

Steve: Well I think in these words of counsel, the first principle is a reminder and an invitation to go deeper in the calling process itself. Priesthood calls are not just routine matters—we certainly use our intellects as well as our spiritual capacity for discerning calls.

But the principle that’s being lifted up here is that callings of any type originate in God’s freedom, wisdom, and divine purposes. So we have to be careful that we don’t categorically exclude types of people from the possibility of priesthood calling within their lives.

That’s the first principle, because God has a strategy of reaching people in the context of their own lives so they can understand and experience the gospel. Sometimes the best bridges for that ministry are people who understand the context in which people are living, so the calling begins with God.

In addition, God has chosen to call people to the priesthood through the church, so policies, procedures, and preparation are needed. So, the words of counsel lift up the importance of those in terms of understanding priesthood calling.

Linda: The words of counsel also help us understand the role of the evangelist, as well as the evangelist blessing. There’s a deepening understanding of the power that will be released in the body and into the world as we begin to understand what these words mean. Would you like to share what you were considering, or how God expressed in these words, the call to the church?

Steve: Well I’m still considering it, and I’m still exploring with the presiding evangelist and other church leaders what the possible meanings and potential applications are. What I came to understand was that, oftentimes, we think of spirituality primarily in individual or personal dimensions.

That’s important. But in Community of Christ, with our emphasis on the spirituality of community, we also have to look at all of the communities in which people are being shaped. That would be families, congregations, groups of disciples who are spending a lot of time together, supporting each other. Then follows, in my understanding, the positive potential impact of the sacrament of evangelist blessing being applied to all of those.

We have been experiencing the blessing of congregations, evangelists sharing together to bless congregations. I think the same principles apply to families, small groups of disciples, and seekers who want to respond more in their relationship with God or in the mission and the need for them to receive spiritual direction, guidance, counsel, and blessing that will shape individual lives.

It all comes back to what matters most. It all comes back to understanding our full capacity to first receive God’s love and grace and then—out of that expanded capacity, out of that overflow, that upwelling of love—to share it with others. So the church offers ministries, opportunities, and sacraments that help us respond to what the Spirit is doing in our lives.

Linda: The conclusion of the words of counsel took me back to my childhood because it mentions Zion. When I was growing up, I heard a lot of sermons about Zion, and I remember standing up as a child and as an adolescent and singing passionately “Onward to Zion.”

Well, in the closing words, it says, “There’s an urgency about Zion,” and it says, “Do not just speak and sing of Zion. Live, love, and share as Zion.”

Several people came up to me following that worship service Sunday evening, and their response was that what they heard all through these words of counsel was, “Just do it!” We’ve been talking about it, and God’s been pointing us in the direction. Now it’s time to “live, love, and share as Zion.” What’s your reflection on those people saying, “Just do it”?

Steve: “Well I think that’s pretty good advice. I guess if I had to summarize my understanding of those concluding sentences that would catch the meaning. But again, it’s a spiritual principle at work here.

Sometimes, we so idealize Zion and what it will take for us to experience it that we tend to put it way in the future. Or we think, “Well, it’s only a symbol for us, but it’s not something that will ever be significantly realized in our lives.”

So this brings it closer to us, and it says there are ways in which, right now, this day, we can live, and love, and share in a way that is worthy of being called zionic living, or life in zionic community.

The second aspect of this is—it’s always been true, I think for people of faith—the way we respond to God’s vision is to begin to live now as if that hope or vision already is. So, we in faith say, “I’m going to begin to live now, according to my best understanding of the call, or cause, or hope of Zion.” And that begins to make it more and more of a reality. But we need to respond to it.

Linda: So as people, for the first time read these words, or watch it on the website [www.CofChrist.org/presidency/041413wordsofcounsel], what would your prayer be for them?

Steve: I think my prayer would be, and my hope would be that people not attempt to figure out every line, every verb, every comma, and wonder, “Well what does that mean?” or, “What is the one interpretation that’s the right interpretation?” but first experience the words of counsel as a whole.

And use them to draw oneself into relationship with God, and then allow certain themes to begin to speak to the individual’s life and to begin to speak in congregational life.

This is not just a matter of the head. That’s why I’ve been having people write me and say, “Well I’m not sure this is the right word,” or, “I’m not sure specifically what this means or doesn’t mean.” It involves our intellect, but primarily it is a relationship of encounter with God, who will speak truth in the depths of our souls.

Secondly, it’s not a solitary journey. It’s one to be experienced in community. So it’s not just a matter of me sitting down and spending alone time with the words. That may be part of it, but I need to be in dialogue and discussion with others who are serious about the question that needs to be asked. And that is, “How do these words form us as community in Christ and call us into the future?”

That’s a journey we’re going to go on together. I’m still experiencing the unfolding of these words. As recently as yesterday evening, I was reading a portion of these words, and some additional dimensions began to emerge, and some connections were made. That’s all the work of the Holy Spirit.

So I guess it would be to actually spend the time prayerfully reflecting, not trying to figure everything out, but experiencing the words with a sense of gratitude and humility that what God has in mind for the church is a wonderful future, and we have the privilege of being on the journey with each other and God at this pivotal time.

Linda: Thank you, dear friend and brother. I would encourage each of you, as you dwell in these words and allow them to form you, that you might sense God’s call to you to be about Christ’s mission in the world. I’m going to end by reading the last paragraph:

And, always remember, the way of suffering love that leads to the cross also leads to resurrection, and everlasting life in Christ’s eternal community of oneness and peace. Trust in this promise, Amen.