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Discernment Process for
President Veazey's Testimony
President Stephen Veazey’s testimony of his experience with Doctrine and
Covenants Section 163 has much to teach us about the discernment process.
Growing into a prophetic people will require us to learn the principles and
spiritual practices of discernment until they become a permanent part of who
we are together and with God. As part of our ongoing reflections with
Section 163, we will provide discernment processes for you to engage in on
either a personal or group basis.
Discernment Activity: Try a Practice Related to Discernment
Discernment as a spiritual discipline includes specific skills and steps. We
can create an attitude of discernment in our lives and congregations by
continuing to engage in spiritual practices that open us to God’s Spirit.
Several practices that Brother Veazey mentions might be good ones with which
to begin. Choose one or more of the following as an experiment to try. After
you have completed the practice, you may wish to engage in prayerful
reflection, journaling, or sharing with a friend.
Read Doctrine and Covenants Section 163 slowly and prayerfully. Then do
one of the following:
·
Take a walk with the words and ask for openness to insights,
images, or emotions that give you deeper understanding of the text.
·
Sit in a chair with the words and open your heart and mind to
any images or awarenesses that seem to speak clearly and powerfully to you.
·
Meet with a friend and share with one another the parts of
Section 163 that are most relevant or significant for each of you.
·
Go to church and engage in the discipline of silent,
compassionate observation. Ask God to reveal the deep needs and concerns of
the people of your congregation as you watch and listen with loving, focused
attention. Say as little as possible but warmly communicate through touch
and/or facial expressions. What do you learn? What parts of Section 163 are
affirmed by your experience in your congregation?
Discernment Activity:
Prayerful Pondering, Principles, and Practices
This activity will require a careful, prayerful reading of President Veazey’s
testimony, preferably with a pen, pencil, or highlighter in hand. You may wish
to offer a prayer of openness to the Spirit before reading the testimony again.
This time as you read, identify and underline (or highlight) the words, phrases,
or sentences that you believe are important principles or practices in a
discernment process. Please engage in this activity on your own or with your
group before reading the principles/practices listed below. If you are working
in a group setting, ask everyone to read and underline alone first, before
beginning to discuss.
After you have had time to identify discernment principles and practices in
Brother Steve’s testimony, you may wish to engage in personal prayer,
journaling, or reflection. If you are in a group setting, ask the group members
to share their ideas and to share the discernment principles and practices that
speak to or touch them most deeply.
After you have pondered discernment principles/practices identified in your
reflection time, you may wish to review those we have listed below. Each
principle or practice is followed by brief examples in the form of quotes from
Brother Steve’s testimony.
Prayer and intentional spiritual disciplines:
“began prayerfully focusing”
“…to ground myself in prayer, meditation, and scripture study”
“sat in silence and prayed for guidance.”
Receptive attention to needs of the church:
“listened carefully to the concerns and hopes of many.”
Compassionate openness to the people:
“…statements of personal pain about the prevalence of racism and sexism
in the church moved me deeply.”
“felt an overwhelming love for our faith community.”
Intentional time and space:
“scheduled time away”
“had to be intentional about finding the time for continued prayer and
meditation”
Willingness to be drawn deeper by the Spirit:
“began to respond to a growing spiritual hunger to read prophetic
writings”
“felt a drawing power that focused my thinking on certain themes.”
Refining emerging perceptions with diverse tools and approaches:
“wrestled in my mind and with my dictionary to find words worthy of the
truth” “reached for Hymns of the Saints and turned to the section of hymns
on revelation.”
“explored various options and probable implications.”
Accountability and confirmation processes:
“asked my counselors to review an early draft”
“important to be accountable to others in matters of the Spirit.”
“my colleagues shared helpful insights”
“I had a long talk with my counselors.”
Humility regarding human limitations, ego distortions, and personal
agendas:
“easily assume our thoughts are God’s thoughts because of our
self-centered tendencies.”
“acutely aware of the limits of our human abilities”
“The experience is deeply humbling.”
Patience:
“they encouraged me to stay open … and to take the time needed”
“striving to be open to the Spirit’s guiding”
“I decided not to rush a decision”
Use of both reason and that which goes beyond reason:
“continued to wrestle with the Worlds of Counsel”
“intense focus of consciousness and understanding.”
“strove for greater clarity.”
"agreed with the latter viewpoint based on principle and reason. However,
I could not deny the Spirit prompting me to go ahead.”
Seek and find confirmation:
“began to sense some emerging direction”
“experienced confirmation once again”
“Something surged in me and almost took my breath away.”
“‘be vulnerable to divine grace’… came with great power.”
“felt much peace and resolution.”
Trust in God’s presence and movement with us as we continue to discern:
“… the beginning of serious church-wide discernment on the meaning of the
ideas contained in it [Section 163].”
“God has some big dreams for the church. How we choose to respond ...will
make all the difference.”
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