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‘Mormon Land’: Steve Young warns against ‘perfectionism’ and ‘over-elevating’ obedience

Stop making deals with God, says NFL Hall of Famer, and start loving like God

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Steve Young speaks in 2022. His latest book is titled "The Law of Love in Action."

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Steve Young speaks in 2022. His latest book is titled "The Law of Love in Action."

Steve Young — yes, that Steve Young, the Hall of Fame quarterback and former Brigham Young University star who earned multiple MVP awards and Super Bowl rings with the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers — is talking about love and faith.

In 2022, he wrote “The Law of Love,” in part to dispel the idea that love should be transactional. “If I do this, God will love me, or God will reward me.” Rather, Young wrote, love is about following Christ, helping to heal others and embracing all people, no matter where they are in their personal journeys. He drew on his football experiences and revealed much about his own shyness, anxiety and insecurity.

Now Young is back with a follow-up book, “The Law of Love in Action,” that moves from theory to practice, from believing to doing. He turns to Latter-day Saint scriptures as well as other faith traditions and personal experiences — his own and those of dozens of others.

On this week’s show, Young explains why he continues to think about these issues, and why it’s important to love without expectation, how not to “over-elevate” obedience, why perfectionism is a problem and how the “law of love” can improve everyday living.

Listen to the podcast:


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