Faith in the Fast Lane

In today's high-pressure legal world, where success is measured by billable hours and landmark cases, it's refreshing to encounter someone who views their achievements through a spiritual lens. This week, I had the privilege of speaking with Jonathan Guynn, a partner at the prestigious global law firm Jones Day and a man of profound faith. From his early years in Connecticut to his current role handling complex commercial litigation and religious liberty cases, Jonathan's journey illustrates how faith can shape both professional excellence and personal purpose.

Jonathan's story bridges two worlds that many find difficult to reconcile - high-powered legal practice and deep spiritual devotion. As a graduate of UVA Law School who began his career with two prestigious federal clerkships, Jonathan has achieved remarkable professional success. However, what truly sets him apart is his unwavering commitment to faith and his unique perspective on how spiritual principles can transform our approach to life's challenges.

Throughout our conversation, Jonathan shared profound insights about the true nature of our covenant with God, the transformative power of authentic connection, and how understanding God's love can reshape our perspective on life's trials. His experiences offer valuable lessons about judgment, personal growth, and the unexpected ways that faith can manifest in our lives.

Growing Up Among Giants 

Jonathan's formative years in New Canaan, Connecticut, placed him in an extraordinary environment that would shape his understanding of faith and success. His ward included some of the most prominent business leaders in America - Gary Crittenden, the CFO of American Express; Dave Checketts, the president of Madison Square Garden; and Jim Quigley, who led Deloitte US. These weren't just names in the business world; they were his church leaders, young men's advisors, and spiritual mentors.

What left an indelible impression on young Jonathan wasn't their professional achievements, but their dedication to service and faith. Despite managing demanding careers and families, these leaders consistently showed up for Saturday morning service projects, dedicated countless hours to church callings, and prioritized their families and faith communities. This example demonstrated to Jonathan that success and spiritual dedication weren't mutually exclusive but could actually enhance each other.

The impact of this environment wouldn't fully register until years later when Jonathan began his own legal career. Only then did he truly appreciate the level of sacrifice these leaders made - balancing high-powered careers with 10-20 hours weekly of church service while raising families. Their example set a standard for Jonathan of what it meant to be "anxiously engaged" in every aspect of life.

The Transformative Power of High Expectations 

A pivotal moment in Jonathan's life came through a conversation with his grandfather, Ed Quinn, a West Point graduate and Korean War veteran. His grandfather's challenge to be in the "top 10%" of missionaries - those who are fully committed regardless of circumstances - became a defining moment that would shape Jonathan's entire approach to life. This wasn't just about missionary service; it became a blueprint for excellence in every endeavor.

This mindset shift propelled Jonathan from being, by his own admission, an "unserious person" to achieving excellence in his academic and professional pursuits. The principle of being in the "top 10%" followed him through his studies at BYU, his time at UVA Law School, and into his legal career. More importantly, it shaped his approach to being a husband, father, and servant in his faith community.

The power of these high expectations, coupled with faith, demonstrated how spiritual principles could catalyze remarkable personal growth. It wasn't about perfectionism or comparison with others, but about giving one's absolute best effort in service to God and others.

Finding God's Hand in Life's Trials 

Jonathan's faith journey faced its greatest test when he and his wife lost both her parents within 18 months. Her mother Sandra had just retired to spend time with her grandchildren when she was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. Shortly after her passing, her father Ralph died from complications during a routine heart procedure. This devastating sequence of events forced Jonathan to grapple with deep questions about faith, God's role in our trials, and the nature of divine purpose.

Initially, Jonathan struggled with what he calls an incorrect paradigm - viewing God as the source of these trials, intentionally inflicting pain to teach lessons through a "customized curriculum." This perspective led to bitterness and confusion, especially when their family didn't emerge stronger or more unified from the experience. Instead, they faced additional challenges as family members struggled with faith and addiction in the aftermath of their loss.

Through this experience, Jonathan discovered a profound truth that transformed his understanding of God's role in our lives: God doesn't cause our adversity but rather provides the means for us to transcend it. He came to understand that much of life's adversity comes from living in a fallen world with mortal bodies, and that the Atonement of Jesus Christ does not always prevent tragedy but can "alchemize" our experiences into spiritual gold through a process of transformation and healing.

Judging Less, Loving More 

One of the most transformative lessons in Jonathan's spiritual journey came from realizing how poorly positioned we are to judge others' faith journeys. A powerful conference talk about a less-active sister helped him understand that God's perspective of His children is vastly different from our limited human view.

This insight became particularly meaningful as Jonathan reflected on his own missionary experiences and professional interactions. He learned that people's spiritual struggles often stem from experiences, traumas, and challenges that aren't visible to others. What might appear as simple inactivity or poor choices to an observer could mask a complex spiritual journey that only God fully understands.

This understanding has transformed how Jonathan approaches both his legal practice and his church service. Instead of making assumptions about others' spiritual standing, he focuses on extending Christ-like love and understanding, recognizing that everyone's path is unique and that God's love encompasses far more than we can comprehend.

Building Eternal Families Through Simple Acts 

Jonathan's experiences as a missionary in France beautifully illustrate how seemingly small acts of genuine care can have eternal consequences. When traditional teaching methods weren't working with two young brothers from a part-member family, Jonathan and his companion took an unconventional approach - they invested in Magic: The Gathering cards and spent time playing with the boys.

This simple act of meeting the young men where they were, combined with service at the Red Cross and attending their sporting events, opened doors that formal teaching couldn't. The relationship built through these genuine interactions eventually led to both brothers joining the church. Years later, Jonathan received the touching news that one of them had married in the temple and was starting an eternal family.

This experience reinforced a crucial principle: sometimes the most significant spiritual breakthroughs come not from formal teaching or preaching, but from authentic connection and genuine friendship. It's a reminder that building God's kingdom often happens through small and simple means, and that showing real interest in others' lives can have eternal consequences.

Your Divine Journey

As we reflect on Jonathan Guynn's inspiring journey through law and faith, we're reminded that success doesn't have to come at the cost of spiritual growth. His story challenges us to view our daily actions and decisions from an eternal perspective, whether we're in a high-powered career or any other walk of life. More importantly, it shows us that authentic connection and genuine care can create ripples of spiritual impact that extend far beyond what we can see.

Each of us has the potential to make a significant difference in the world when we align our actions with our spiritual beliefs. Whether it's through professional excellence, service in our communities, or simple acts of friendship, we can be instruments in God's hands. Jonathan's experiences remind us that sometimes the smallest acts - like playing cards with teenagers or showing up consistently for service - can have eternal consequences.

As you go forward from reading this post, consider how you might view your own challenges, successes, and relationships through this spiritual lens. Remember that God's deal with us isn't about receiving immediate rewards for our good deeds, but about becoming more like Him through faithful living and loving others. When we embrace this perspective, we open ourselves to a deeper kind of success - one that transforms not just our circumstances, but our very nature.