Becky Savage was called at the 2007 World Conference to serve as a member of the First Presidency and counselor to President Stephen M. Veazey.

Discernment Processes and Questions for Further Reflection and Discussion

Doctrine and Covenants 163
Commentary Series

Fresh Vision

by Becky Savage

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. —Doctrine and Covenants 163:4c

Community of Christ history abounds with a focus on preparing disciples to carry the ethics of Christ’s peace. Doctrine and Covenants 16:3 affirms that “the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.” Later revelation declares that “all are called according to the gifts of God unto them” (D. and C.119:8b).

We have been guided to study God’s word: “…[that] which hath gone forth…and…which shall come forth;” to “seek…diligently and teach one another words of wisdom…. [To] seek…out of the best books words of wisdom; [to] seek learning even by study, and also by faith” ( D. and C.10:10 and 85:36a). Also:

You who are my disciples must be found continuing in the forefront of those organizations and movements which are recognizing the worth of persons and are committed to bringing the ministry of my Son to bear on their lives. …and in cheerfulness do whatever may be permitted you to perform that the blessing of peace may be upon all.—D. and C. 151:9; 119:9c

In 1984 our responsibilities for carrying the ethics of Christ’s peace were linked to the Temple. Dedicated to the pursuit of peace and for reconciliation and healing of the spirit, the Temple would also be

for a strengthening of faith and preparation for witness. By its ministries an attitude of wholeness of body, mind, and spirit as a desirable end toward which to strive will be fostered. It shall be the means for providing leadership education for priesthood and member. And it shall be a place in which the essential meaning of the Restoration as healing and redeeming agent is given new life and understanding, inspired by the life and witness of the Redeemer of the world. Therefore, let the work of planning go forward, and let the resources be gathered in, that the building of my temple may be an ensign to the world of the breadth and depth of the devotion of the Saints. —D. and C. 156:5b–6

Ten years later we were encouraged to know that

at a time when careful study of the faith and doctrine of the church is being called for, strength and courage for this task will be given if you will trust my Spirit to sustain and uphold you.…You will begin to see with new eyes, embrace the truths that are waiting for your understanding, and move joyfully toward the fulfillment of the tasks that are yours to accomplish. —D. and C. 159:7–8

Bringing fresh vision to bear on the perplexing problems of poverty, disease, war, and environmental decline requires us to examine how we live. Are we truly serving as ambassadors of Christ’s peace?

The human response to natural or human disasters is often weeping. Amid enormous tragedy we grieve the loss of connection with life and creation, which is so fragile and finite. We easily become sensitized to vivid “everyday” horrors reported in print and on TV and the Internet. Movies and TV programs entertain us while exalting killing, cheating, and stealing. The heroes pile up wealth and live in luxury, all at the expense of the less aggressive and devious. The individual is valued above the family or group. “What’s in it for me?” becomes the guiding question.

How can we carry the ethics of Christ’s peace into all arenas of life? How can we overcome ingrained wastefulness? How do we begin to hear and see the unnecessary suffering of people and the earth after living in denial for so long? Can we prepare new generations of disciples to bring fresh vision to bear on the perplexing problems of poverty, disease, war, and environmental decay? Does God expect our small community of believers to make a difference?

It is no longer acceptable to ignore our part in how these perplexing problems came to be. A prophetic people must awaken to their responsibility to carry Christ’s peace. We are not the first to be reminded of a lack of responsiveness to God’s pleadings. The prophet Hosea bemoaned the ungrateful response of Israel, despite their repeated rescue by God from tribulation and sin:

What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah?
Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes away early….
For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity.
Take words with you and return to the Lord….—Hosea 6:4, 6; 14:1–2 NRSV

Pleading, moaning, and weeping are suggested in these laments. Yet, amid their sinfulness and forgetfulness, God offered the Israelites an assurance of forgiveness:

O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you.
I am like an evergreen cypress; your faithfulness comes from me.
Those who are wise understand these things; those who are discerning know them.
For the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.—Hosea 14:8–9 [italics mine]

Does this description of a gracious Creator offer hope to those who want to emulate Christ’s peace? Can our worship of the idols of possessions and comforts be forgiven? Are we offered another chance?

Are we ignoring the way we impact life conditions, whether it be poverty, disease, or the environment? Some theologians suggest there is a fragile balance between piety and prosperity. Both ideas are described in the Hebrew Scriptures and in the teachings of Jesus. Charity to the poor was expected: Observant Jews gave a “poor tithe” every third year. Each year, the poor received alms, and farmers allowed them to glean in their fields. One year in seven, fields remained fallow and the poor gathered what grew of itself.

Jesus accepted society’s outcasts and associated with the poor. He supported almsgiving but cautioned against “practicing piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from… [God].” Rather we are to give in secret “and [God] who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:1, 4). The familiar Gospel parable of the sower cautions against being enticed by the world’s riches rather than to give out of one’s abundance. The parable of the lamp under a bushel basket guides us to not only share the light of the gospel; it upholds the need to hear:

“Let anyone with ears to hear listen!” And he said to them. “Pay attention to what you hear; the measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you. For to those who have, more will be given; and from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.” —Mark 4:23–25

The New Interpreters Study Bible suggests that “hearing and one’s response is central to Mark’s vision of the mission of Jesus and the kingdom of God. The key is the quality of the response. The response will determine the quality of the life because the measure you give will be the measure you get” (p. 704). God is pleading with us to hear and respond to the poor, displaced, mistreated, and diseased of the world. If we are to prepare new generations of disciples to bring fresh vision, could it be that the measure of our response will affect our well-being?

So what is the fresh vision we are to bring? How can we overcome the perplexing problems of our time? The guidance promises that our contributions will be multiplied if our hearts focus on God’s will for creation. In addition, we are called away from individualism and consumerism and to uphold the connectedness between all people: “Do not turn away from them. For in their welfare resides your welfare” (D. and C. 163:4a). Yes, the Lord will provide, but our response is also required. Through our abundance, the earth and the poor will be blessed. We are advised that faithful disciples respond to an increasing awareness of the abundant generosity of God by sharing according to the desires of their hearts and their true capacity (Section 163:9).

Our natural resources are being consumed at enormous rates. We burn fuel, build wooden structures, and use water as if there were an infinite supply. The weapons of war destroy endless natural resources. Rather than finding ways toward peace, we strive to have and devise more effective instruments of destruction. This counsel came in 1972:

These are portentous times. The lives of many are being sacrificed unnecessarily to the gods of war, greed, and avarice. The land is being desecrated by the thoughtless waste of vital resources. You must obey my commandments and be in the forefront of those who would mediate this needless destruction while there is yet day.—D. and C. 150:7

Even small steps toward energy savings can make a difference. How many of us are changing the way we live and what we consume? One of my young-adult daughters recently said, “I’m just going to buy a new watch. It’s simpler than trying to get the battery replaced in the ones that I already have.” What a glaring example of how consumerism overrides our stewardship of the earth. But I must ask myself, Did I teach her that behavior? How often do we go shopping for new outfits or new tools? Are these purchases necessary? Could the money spent on fast food or entertainment be used more responsibly?

The wake up call here is the admonition to take action, for that is how we carry the ethics of Christ’s peace into all arenas of life. Both generosity and love are required. But is this to be an easy action of giving our money and castoffs? Or are we to get engaged in actually loving those in greatest need?

We bring fresh vision when we create pathways in the world for peace in Christ to be incarnate (Section 163:3). The hope of Zion arises when the vision of Christ is embodied in communities of generosity, justice, and peacefulness. We emulate Christ’s peace when we affirm the worth of souls and declare that all are called according to the gifts of God unto them.

As disciples, we bring fresh vision when we boldly challenge our assumptions. First, we must recognize what we are doing to contribute to the world’s perplexing problems. Then, collectively as a community of Christ, we must bravely confront our group contribution to these problems. Finally, together, we must stand for justice and peace. Our unity in this endeavor is essential for carrying the ethics of Christ’s peace into our world.