The Rev. Dr. Andrew Teal discussed what it means to be human in a religious context at the annual Truman G. Madsen lecture on Oct. 9.
According to the Wheatley Institute, Teal is a chaplain specializing in Christian church history and is a member of the Faculty of Theology and Religion at Oxford University. Elder Quentin L. Cook and Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve were in attendance at Teal's lecture.
BYU President C. Shane Reese shared his thoughts on Teal.
“Andrew Teal is a true friend to not only BYU, but to the Church, and when I think about people who understand what covenant relationships mean, Andrew Teal is the epitome of that,” President Reese said.
Teal opened his lecture by saying, “There may be things today that I share with you that may be difficult to hear, but I promise to try to speak them with openness, with honesty, trying to embody a real reverence for a faith tradition of which I am not completely a part.”
Teal has a personal friendship with Elder Jeffrey R. Holland from the Quorum of the Twelve and has attended multiple lectures at BYU, as well as general conference. He shared his love for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and BYU.
“Please know that I really want, above all, to celebrate and to reach out in friendship into the truth and its beauty, and love and its tenderness which abounds within this community. It is palpable in this university," Teal said.
Teal delved into what it means to be human. He reminded us that our mortal lives are only a small part of who we are. To know ourselves is to know our immortality.
“If the immortal man, if the eternal man, is to have any meaning, then the continuity is as thrilling as the renewal of our spiritual identity,” Teal said. “Our eternal nature isn’t just the perpetual or the continual occupation of the timeline that would make eternal life merely a very long prospect. It is, instead, our total at home-ness as mortal persons in the eternal reality of God.”
Teal quoted Bible verse Matthew 16:15, where Jesus asks His apostles who they think He is. Teal said analyzing this question answers the question asked across the world of what it means to be a human being.
“Christian tradition has always urged that the answer to the question of who we are is fully unfurled and, indeed, only fully unfurled in the eternal man Himself, Jesus Christ. That name, which is outside every Latter-day Saint ward building," Teal said.
He also stressed the importance of avoiding contention. In doing so, we have to accept others of different faiths. He demonstrated this by sharing the hope he felt from the message Elder Patrick Kearon from the Quorum of the Twelve gave during general conference in April 2024, and the message Elder Karl D. Hirst of the Seventy gave at the most recent general conference.
“They insisted upon our rejoicing and being filled with joyful love. Their language, which makes you weep for joy, as they spoke of the persistent arc of love of Heavenly Father,” he said. “It mattered because describing him as removing roadblocks rather than insisting upon them is an astonishing hope and powerful good news.”
Teal talked about the importance of words and how they can be used for good and for bad. He pointed out the use of the word "latter" in the name of the Church and how it helps create a forward outlook on life.
“We look forward to seeing what our humanity is. Our faith process is not archeology, we are not going backwards to find out what it once was," Teal said. "We have to believe in the astonishing invitation to travel into our ever-ever-expanding reality because God’s word never stops speaking, never stops redeeming, re-tracing, restoring.”
Reverend Teal talked about the inspiration he received from Elder Holland. He said that despite their religious differences, they are able to humanely interact with one another.
“I don’t miss the irony, I know that neither does he, but we are commanded to love, not necessarily to agree about every little detail.”
Teal also shared the frustrations he and his wife had about how they can’t control their health. He used his grievances as a lesson, shifting his negative mindset into a positive one.
“I have the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community, and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it what I can. I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing that light on to future generations," Teal said.
“There is a fundamental unbreakable connection, a continuity and identity of God with humankind and each and every human being with God," he said.
Teal enlightened the audience on how we cannot know ourselves without knowing God.
“Unless I entrust myself to you, you can know lots about me but not really know me,” he said. “I only find myself in the process of knowing Him and knowing them who he has called.”
Teal said we can also find ourselves through other people. They are put in our lives for a reason. He said he has had people throughout his life inspire him and help him discover himself. He explained how marriage opens new doors and helps us abandon isolation.
“The courage to know that we only really find our living self in relation to others is the dynamic of life and that certainly requires faith,” Teal said. “We could never be who we are without each other, especially those with who we make everlasting covenants.”
Teal explained that the consecration prayer during Eucharist serves as a sacramental guide to living the Christian life. Our purpose in this life is to consecrate time and space with God, much like we do in the sacrament.
“We are called to consecrate and transform the telestial and the terrestrial into the celestial into the realm and reality of God’s own very being. That’s why the missionaries' work are so important,” Teal said.
In Matthew 17:5, Heavenly Father said he was pleased with His Son. Teal said He is also delighted with us. Teal shared a story of when he was walking through a graveyard listening to a song — "Et Expecto Resurrectionem Mourtorum." He learned a profound lesson.
“Every life there in that cemetery will be raised by Jesus Christ and all the grime and crime and abuse cannot be the last word,” Teal said. “I yearn for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.”
During the Q&A session at the end of the lecture, Teal said, “I love the warmth and the hospitality of the people I meet, and perhaps above all, of the Church people I meet. I love The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the way which it is committing itself to the whole world.”
Halle Rivers, a BYU student and usher at the event, loved the way Teal put into perspective that, despite our differences, we are all human beings and have a desire to find greater power.
“He was really funny and personable, but he also brought the spirit,” Rivers said.
Rob Eaton, a religion professor at BYU and lecture attendee, was impressed by how educated Teal was on the Church. He shared his favorite parts of the lecture.
“My favorite part was the goodness I felt from him that inspired me to want to be better, more loving, appreciate the good in other people and faiths more,” Eaton said.