On Saturday morning I woke to the news that my country had bombed another country which was notorious for its determination to bomb still other countries. I have spoken with enough armed dissidents to believe that war and bombs are complicated things. And, indeed, this news felt very complicated.  Because I really hate violence. The prospect of bullets or bombs being turned against real, breathing humans is so horrible. But last year, my husband interviewed dozens of people i

“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Matthew 5:43–44). This radical love is not unique to Christianity. The Buddha taught the practice of METTA- or Loving Kindness. The Dalai Lama taught that our enemy can be our best teacher. The Quran instructs Muslims to "re

Ultimately, the work of peacemaking means staying committed to seeing the humanity, complexity, and value of each person– even in the midst of pain and shortcomings.

The key to healing is choosing to forgive. Our covenantal relationship allows us to partner with Christ who will provide the way for us.

The world is hard and we need more gentleness. May we choose meekness as a way to bring softness and goodness to those around us.

I stood on my oak parquet 1980s hand-me-down kitchen table and reached for the ceiling. Beside me sat two barstools and stacks of books, with an 8-light chandelier on top. In my memory my kids are in bed, but since I wasn’t working in the dark, they probably watched TV. Our family was new to rural Quincy, Washington and a second winter was closing in. The first winter had been grueling — a toddler and a 6-month-old, in a rented farmhouse far from friends and family. We’d left

In a flurry of anxiety over how to introduce “This Little Light of Mine” to our congregation in a non-offensive/appropriating way, I recently did a deep dive into the history of the song. One the pages of Google and Wikipedia, I met Rutha Mae Harris. Rutha Mae was a member of The Freedom Singers, a quartet formed by the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee tasked with using music to educate, organize, and raise funds for the Civil Rights Movement across the U.S. Rutha Ma

Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.” Our theology values relationships so much that we want those relationships to be eternal with the whole human family. Considering this, it makes sense that peacemakers are so cherished to Heavenly Parents.  But in practice, peace is one of the hardest human conditions to achieve. I like to think of peacemaking as an act of resistance to the cruelty and chaos of the world. These are the to

We did it everyone. We made it through 2025 . . . phew . . . what a year. I don’t know about most of you, but 2025 was a hard year for me and for a lot of people I have talked to recently. When we dig deeper, 2025 could have felt hard because there was so much suffering in the world, in our communities, and in our families.  It can be so hard to see ourselves or our loved ones suffer, but I have also found that it can be a privilege to be invited into those sacred spaces of s

Every person matters. They matter to our Heavenly Parents. They matter to Jesus Christ. And they should matter to me.

The story of Christ’s birth is proof that dark moments can contain holy possibility.

The imagery evoked by the phrase “a weary world rejoices” is what I imagine of the shepherds when the angel appears; of Mary and Joseph holding the baby Jesus after a long journey and labor in a stable; of Simeon and Anna in their old age when they recognized the baby Jesus at the temple in Jerusalem as their Messiah. Their weariness wasn’t absolved in those moments, but rather I imagine it coexisted with their joy.

Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, his name shall be called wonderful councilor, mighty God, the Everlasting, the Prince of peace.

What is your daily “light routine”? Let’s up the wattage so divine light can shine into the dark corners of our souls and on the problems of our world — to illuminate, to heal, to cleanse and purify.

I need the Savior every hour, in joy and in pain. And He is there. His presence filled us with rejoicing and with comfort. He helped us to grieve and to celebrate.