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MWEG provides learning resources, along with official statements and calls to action, to help our members become more informed and prepared for civic engagement.
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Learning Center
"Proclaim Peace" Season 2, Episode 14 // What It Means to Be Chosen, With James Patton
July 14, 2026
Jen and Patrick are joined by James Patton to explore the multidimensional nature of peace, emphasizing its relational and movement-driven aspects. Drawing from his rich spiritual journey and extensive experience in peacebuilding across cultures and faiths, James offers nuanced perspectives on community, faith, truth, and conflict. They discuss the Old Testament idea of a chosen people, how that relates to diverse faith groups today, and how to avoid conflict when believing in "chosenness."
Sabbath Devotional: New Heavens, New Wars, New Possibilities in Revelations
July 12, 2026
Scripture is inexhaustibly full of possibility. It's less like a cryptic code to be cracked and more like a story. And the best stories stay with us precisely because they resist single interpretations. So, I want to be very clear that I do not mean to suggest that what I offer below is a Correct or Definitive or Perfected reading of Revelations. What I do mean to suggest is a possibility. And the possibility is this: I think there's a way to read the book that isn't a story of God deploying...
Sabbath Devotional: By Union of Feeling
July 5, 2026
The story of Ruth and Naomi is especially moving to me. After Naomi’s husband and two sons had died, she pleaded with her Moabite daughters-in-law to return to their own nation and families of origin to be taken care of. Orpah left, but Ruth, determined to remain by Naomi’s side, lovingly replied, “Whither thou goest, I will go and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God” (Ruth 1:16). They left Moab and returned to Bethlehem where, because of her...
MWEG Official Statement on America's 250th
July 1, 2026
In gratitude, MWEG joins fellow Americans to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. With powerful ideas and ideals, our founders established a new government based on the bold claims that “all men are created equal” and “are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights” of “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
"Proclaim Peace" Season 2, Episode 13 // True Peacemaking Needs Both Fire and Compassion: Lessons from Elijah and Elisha, With Sarah Perkins
July 1, 2026
Jen and Patrick are joined by Sarah Perkins to explore the profound ways stories shape our understanding of peace, justice, and reconciliation. They focus on the contrasting peacemaking styles of Old Testament prophets Elijah and Elisha. Sarah shares her journey as a writer, filmmaker, and peacemaker, emphasizing the power of faith, imagination, and human connection in transforming conflicts into moments of compassion.
Sabbath Devotional: We See Through a Glass Darkly
June 28, 2026
Moroni teaches that “charity is the pure love of Christ” and invites us to “pray with all the energy of heart” that we might be filled with it. He then offers a remarkable promise: that when Christ appears, “we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” (Moroni 7:47-48) Paul makes a similar claim. We may possess knowledge, wisdom, faith, power, and good works, but “if [we] have not charity, [we are] nothing.” He concludes his writings on charity with these words: “For now we see...
Worsening Wildfires
June 24, 2026
Wildfires have been part of the American landscape for centuries. Fire is a part of nature. Nearly every year, wildfires change our landscapes on a large scale and pose a bigger threat to people than they did a few decades ago.
Water Rights on the Colorado River in a Drought-Prone World
June 18, 2026
Water rights on the Colorado River have a complicated history and will continue to have a complex future, especially as the climate changes and snow pack decreases. It will take a great deal of knowledge and compromise to come to solutions that are sustainable, effective, and just. However, as complicated as the solutions may be, they are absolutely necessary for the future of the American Southwest.
"Proclaim Peace" Season 2, Episode 12 // The Courage to Disagree Respectfully, Through the Story of Jonathan and David, With Marianne Viray
June 17, 2026
Marianne Viray joins Jen and Patrick to delve into the dynamics of conflict and peacemaking within leadership and society, drawing lessons from the biblical story of Jonathan, David, and Saul. They explore how leadership decisions can influence societal polarization and offer practical tools for engaging with leaders respectfully. The discussion emphasizes the importance of modeling civility and virtue in public discourse and provides strategies for individuals to break cycles of conflict.
The Cost of Delays: How Backlogs in the U.S. Immigration System Harm Our Communities
June 17, 2026
Today’s immigration application backlog exposes a system cracking under the weight of 30-plus years of outdated policies and procedures. Behind every processing delay, court backlog, or revoked protections is a family pleading for stability, a worker waiting to contribute positively to their local economy, or a loved one waiting for reunification.
Sabbath Devotional: All Things Bright and Beautiful
June 14, 2026
This is going to be an unusual devotional, but bear with me. Back in January, facing what I already knew was going to be a climb of a year, I decided that I was not going to burden myself further by attempting to make New Year’s resolutions. Instead, I determined that the best thing I could do over the course of the next 365 days would be to purposefully try to insert some joy into my life. So, on the afternoon of January 1st, I sat down and did two things. First, I wrote down one specific...
Mapping the House: Redistricting in the United States
June 10, 2026
If you have ever questioned the value of one vote, a study of the fight for fair voting maps in America provides assurance. The history is as labyrinthian as the gerrymandered maps, and battles still rage. So, what are we fighting for?
Sabbath Devotional: Creating a Hollow Space for God to Fill
June 7, 2026
For several years, I co-ran a nature education outdoor school for kids and teens. Our school year program culminated in a week-long campout in the mountains with all kinds of challenges, nature crafts and campfire programs. One week-long craft campers of all knife-certified ages did was carve a spoon from a block of wood. Carving something very cylindrical, narrow and delicate from a chunky block of wood is not totally intuitive. I’ll explain it just as I taught it. First, draw the outline of...
"Proclaim Peace" Season 2, Episode 11 // The Art of Reconciliation and Moral Imagination, With John Paul Lederach
June 3, 2026
Jen and Patrick are joined for a profound conversation with conflict transformation pioneer John Paul Lederach, who shares deep insights on peace, reconciliation, and the power of moral imagination rooted in faith and human connection. They explore the story of Jacob and Esau, why reconciliation is a horizon more than an event, and the four ways to use moral imagination to achieve reconciliation.
Sabbath Devotional: A Brief History of Patriotism and Women in My Church
May 31, 2026
As we discuss patriotism and the constitution in congregations across America today, I wanted to take a moment and reflect on what patriotism looked like for some of our foremothers in this church. Of course, the early church's relationship with the United States was fraught. Members had faced extermination, been driven from their homes and chased across the Rockies to a desert state where they largely bootstrapped their way into new cities, new gardens, new lives. Yet, when the possibility...
Data Centers: Factors and Solutions
May 29, 2026
Recently, the rapid expansion of data centers has garnered attention and raised serious questions and concerns about their impacts and sustainability. As responsible citizens, it is our duty to balance our growing technological needs with our stewardship of the planet.
Sabbath Devotional: God Is Love
May 25, 2026
The Mesa Easter Pageant, Jesus the Christ, has been a beloved tradition in Arizona for 88 years, beginning as an Easter sunrise service in 1938. Since then, it has grown into the largest annual outdoor Easter pageant in the world. Having grown up in Mesa, it has always been one of my favorite Easter traditions. Four years ago, the Church asked for the entire production to be rewritten and for a new soundtrack to be created. One song in particular (based off a poem by Frederick William Faber...
Building a Wall Along the Southern U.S. Border: Impacts and Unanswered Questions
May 23, 2026
Constructing physical barriers at the U.S. southern border touches on a variety of issues important to people across the political spectrum. Remarkably, the notion of building a wall has elicited both bipartisan support and opposition.
MWEG Official Response to the Tragedy at the Islamic Center of San Diego
May 20, 2026
On Monday, people at an Islamic Center in San Diego, California, were attacked in their place of worship. We are troubled to see another instance of targeted violence and brutality directed at people of faith. We condemn violence in all forms. We mourn with our Muslim brothers and sisters who are grieving the loss of life and the loss of safety.
"Proclaim Peace" Season 2, Episode 10 // Reconciling Old Testament Divine Violence and a Peaceful Christ, with Terryl Givens
May 20, 2026
Terryl Givens joins Jen and Patrick as they explore how faith traditions, especially within Christianity and Latter-day Saint teachings, approach the difficult questions surrounding violence in the Old Testament. Terryl shares insights on understanding scripture, God's nature, and the path to peace amidst challenging texts.