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Jason Hunt has a PhD in endocrine physiology and teaches pre-med classes at Brigham Young University-Idaho. He is currently serving as a young single adult bishop and has previously served in a stake presidency and a bishopric. 
Highlights
7:15 Culture and rules are not doctrinal 9:20 Keyholder applications are different from personal applications 11:00 Elder Bednar’s concept of applications: Doctrines are statements. Principles are embedded in the doctrines and tell us what we should do. They never change. Applications change. 14:50 Keyholder applications hold true when the keyholder is saying them and would apply to those who are within their responsibility, and they do not extend beyond 18:10 Cultural norms are applications that have extended beyond their boundaries 19:00 How you view these cultural norms depends on your personal moral theory. The most common are:
- Consequential theorist: consequences
- Obligation theorist: rules
- Divine theorist: what God has said
- Egoist: personal priorities
25:00 The best leadership should be able to move between these theories 27:30 When you understand these moral frameworks, how different people respond to the culture makes more sense. Cognitive development also applies. 30:30 Jason’s experience considering the story of Noah 34:30 It’s important to be open and talk about things, even if you don’t have the answers 36:30 Stephen R. Covey: Listen with the intent to understand, not to answer 39:30 Pornography, brain addiction science, and the bladder comparison. Identify the justifications. Ensure they trust and are comfortable and willing to share. 44:00 The response depends again on the personal moral theories of everyone involved 47:00 The Holy Ghost knows what needs to happen and we can be open to that and understand that there can be different consequences for different people 47:40 Have empathy for people with different moral theories and respect them for their approach 49:00 The divine command theorist must be doctrinally grounded or there can be misapplication within the culture. Examples that happen in a YSA ward. 53:20 Egoism: put the mask on first 55:30 When you are working with a leader who is coming from a different moral framework there will be friction and it requires greater empathy. We have to learn to step into different quadrants and embrace the differences of opinion 58:45 A mission is not a saving ordinance. The temple is the culminating event with the saving ordinances and that is where the focus needs to be. 1:00:10 Jason’s motorcycle example compared to technology use: youth do not have the ability to utilize their agency, so they need stages of responsibility
Links
Leading Saints LIVE with Jason Hunt:
Series of books by David A. Bednar: Increase in Learning – Spiritual Patterns for Obtaining Your Own Answers Act in Doctrine – Spiritual Patterns for Turning from Self to the Savior Power to Become – Spiritual Patterns for Pressing Forward with a Steadfastness in Christ
Great information and inspiration for any leader on how to know different mindsets. I really liked his analogy on the brain and pornography. Thanks
This was so excellent. I loved the paradigms of moral systems–it makes a lot of sense not just in church dynamics, but all interpersonal relationships.
One comment that I have is that I would caution leaders not to take such a hard line against someone receiving personal revelation about not marrying someone.
I would have married the wrong person four different times if I had listened to that advice instead of following the spiritual promptings I was receiving.
I think he is on point about not receiving revelation that someone else should marry you–but we definitely should seek for revelation and follow it about who to marry. Maybe two good people can work it out in any situation, but maybe there is someone God has in mind for you too.
How do you know the other four people were the wrong people to marry
The Spirit told me. And when it was the right guy, it told me that too. Most of my friends and relatives have also felt inspired when it was “right”. I know President Kimball said that there aren’t soulmates, but it seems like there really are some people who were meant to be together. Only God knows the arrangements though.
I’m just saying, don’t tell kids under your stewardship that they shouldn’t listen for those promptings and that they should just dive in because you are both “worthy, covenant keepers”. Tell them to listen to the Spirit and stay worthy so that they can make the right choice for themselves.
Kurt, you need to have Brother Hunt in more. This interview was excellent.
Excellent episode. Too many people do not understand these truths. I’m going to be listening to this one again.