“So much of our emphasis has shifted from LIVING the gospel to BELIEVING the gospel...Beliefs can go through challenge and reformation and evolution without calling into question your commitment as a disciple." ― Terryl Givens Some of you may have listened to a recent BYU weekly devotional talk by Elder Hamilton that set you on edge. If you are like me, you are already on the inside edge of The…
“Here is the true meaning and value of compassion and nonviolence, when it helps us to see the enemy’s point of view, to hear his questions, to know his assessment of ourselves. For from his view we may indeed see the basic weaknesses of our own condition, and if we are mature, we may learn and grow and profit from the wisdom of the brothers who are called the opposition.”…
“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” ― Luke 2:10 What does the love of Jesus call me to do in this moment? If “my religion is kindness,” (Dali Lama) as I believe Jesus’s teachings and life point me to, what can I say or do to best communicate that to my family…
“The Restoration began with a sincere question and the reception of divine truth. Wayfare embraces that hunger for new light with the conviction that our Heavenly Parents always desire to reveal more to their children.” ― Zachary Davis Wayfare is a new magazine from Faith Matters that seeks to be a companion and guide on the journey of faith. They publish online and in print a range of original writing:…
“Whenever I feel a little fear, then I know I’m in the right place” ― Cristina Mittermeier Some friends recently invited Jane and I and our sea-faring daughter to a Wasatch Speaker Series event. The presenter was Cristina Mittermeier, an internationally renown conservation and wildlife photographer, marine biologist, and activist. Her images are amazing. But her stories and the cause she has devoted her considerable talents to was even more…
“Restore Hope. Restore Curiosity. Restore Connection. Restore You.” ― Restore Gathering As an advisory board member for Faith Matters, I'm excited about this gathering. I've spent time with most of the board members and many of the speakers. They are very good and bright humans. Like them, I share the hope and vision of the Faith Matters organization. Simply put, that is: "Faith Matters Foundation aims to create a space…
“Today I have no poetry, only a broken heart and the brutal fact that broke it.” ― Sam Brown, Kate's husband, announces the passing of his wife Several years ago I had the good fortune to have Kate Holbrook lead a Faith Again discussion on the history of the Relief Society. And then I had her and Sam lead a conversation about Easter in the midst of the…
“I think we need to practice creating safe spaces within our own tribes before we tackle trying to have difficult conversations with those outside our tribe” ― My paraphrase of Shelly Sawyer Jenson Shelly, Jacob Hess, and I have a weekly Zoom conversation for just a half-hour. We've known each other for about 5 years. In the beginning, Jacob was heading up the local chapters of Living Room Conversations and…
“Your great mistake is to act the drama as if you were alone” ― David Whyte David Whyte pulls us back into the wonderous reality and opportunity which await us in the simple living of our lives. The news of the world breaks our hearts. Again and again. Such headlines and images can fill us with despair and darkness. And anger and distress. But there is more awaiting us than…
“We have to belong to ourselves as much as we need to belong to others. Any belonging that asks us to betray ourselves is not true belonging.” “Nothing that celebrates the humiliation or pain of another person builds lasting connection.” ― Brené Brown, Atlas of the Heart “Your own experiences and the echoes of your ancestors’ experiences influence the way you think, feel, and behave. They are major determinants of…