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Sabbath Devotional: Move in Closer

It was a couple of years into parenting teenagers when it became apparent: my approach to relationships wasn’t working great. Teenagers excel at exposing weakness; perhaps Ether 12:27 needs an added footnote about raising teens.

I felt overwhelmed. Connecting with adolescents, extended-family stress, and my husband’s major career shift piled on each other. Faced with so much uncertainty, I spent huge amounts of mental energy worrying about the people in my life. I even sanctified my worry: wasn’t vigilance — endless rumination — what good mothers do?!


Then I encountered a simple idea that changed me. I no longer remember who to credit for this idea, but I am eternally grateful. Whenever I caught myself worrying about someone, I would pause, notice the energy going into the worry, and work to convert that same energy into connection. In the throes of difficult teenage years, it looked like this: I’d replay a tense exchange with a child; regret and helplessness would surge. I’d pause, notice the energy I was spending, and ask the Lord, “How can I turn this into connection?” Maybe I would send a goofy meme, scratch their back while they watched a show, or thank them for doing some of their chores.


Practicing this swap let me see the goodness in my prickly teens. Moments of joy returned, and I relaxed — slightly — into the messy joy of raising them. Twelve years later, I’m in the closing chapters of raising teenagers, my kids are becoming spectacular adults and still giving me daily chances to practice: pause, notice, and connect.


Lately, though, worry has crept in around new topics: wars, disasters, shaky democracies, increasing division. I was feeling a little hopeless as I listened to President Camille N. Johnson’s worldwide devotional (May 4, 2025). Near the end she listed the Church’s humanitarian work — hours served, dollars donated — then she must have anticipated my unspoken question: Isn’t there more I can do than write a check and hope? 


Like Naaman from the Old Testament, you may be waiting to be told “some great thing” to do — wondering how you will get to that remote part of Africa or an island in the sea to care for your global neighbor.


Sisters and brothers, I invite you to use your gifts and talents to do a few small and simple things in the sphere of your stewardship. Wherever you live, there are malnourished children. Wherever you live, there are people who cannot read. Wherever you live, there are barriers to health care. Wherever you live, there are those who are hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, and in prison, literally or figuratively. Friends, we need you!


Her counsel to focus on “small and simple things” landed with force. My global worry is understandable but left unchanneled it blesses no one. Loud voices claim that if I’m not anxious and angry, I must be apathetic. Yet the Spirit reminded me of my old practice: pause, notice, and connect. Could the same transformation-of-worry work on my worries about global suffering? I think it might, and I invite you to test it with me!


These thoughts shaped my contributions to MWEG’s summer program. We chose the theme Move in Closer because we believe small, joyful connections with the people closest to us is what we desperately need at this moment. The program's BINGO card is a menu of small connections — talk to a teenager, call a friend, host a gathering — many were inspired by Sister Sharon Eubank’s list of 25 Ways to Wage Peace she shared at the MWEG conference in March. I invite you to join me this summer: replace your worry with connection and Move in Closer!


Similar to how my children continue to give me practice, the news cycle rarely rests. I’ve decided that every new wave of worry will prompt me to pause, notice, and connect — first with the Lord for guidance, then with the friend or family member He has already placed within reach.



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Mychael-Ann Pelo is the communities director at Mormon Women for Ethical Government.

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