Consider

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” ― Martin Luther King Jr. It strikes me that this statement, written by Dr. King while in the Birmingham Jail April 16, 1963, correlates well with the Christian celebration of Easter. It was aimed at Christian leaders who failed…

“First thing in the morning you look after yourself, you brush your teeth and wash your face, don’t you? Well, the second thing you must do is to look after the planet.” ― Antoine De Saint-Exupery Every era has its challenges. We have the horror of Russia invading Ukraine in this moment. And while poverty, crime, illness, hunger, slavery—even war—are at historic lows, it feels unusually challenging in this moment.…

“Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Wilcox and the rest of us used this opportunity to listen, learn, and grow, rather than to retrench into our predictable patterns of seeking offenders for a word and then defending at all costs our friends?” ― Patrick Mason, Public Square Magazine   In the quote above, Patrick Mason was referencing a recent talk that Brother Brad Wilcox (a counselor in the Young Men's Presidency…

“Almost always, the creative dedicated minority has made the world better.” ― Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.   As I was researching something to share that might be helpful to me and others regarding Black History Month, it struck me that my own faith journey along with walking with others who have also doubted, questioned, and cried over some things in our Latter-Day Saint faith that just don't feel right…

“The world’s wisdom traditions form the bedrock of humanity’s deepest values, hopes and visions of what is possible. What’s more, no single tradition can hope to express or lay claim to the totality of truth that is abundantly available to all.” ― Thomas McConkie   Many of you may know Thomas from prior encounters at Faith Again, or his Lower Light Gatherings. His insights and way of conveying them are…

“To 'proclaim peace' is to renounce all forms of violence. More than that, however, it means to actively promote communities and conditions of peace, sustained across generations, that maximize opportunities for all of God's children to flourish without fear of unjust harm and oppression.” ― Patrick Mason & David Pulsipher This is a time where many celebrate the birth of what they believe is the Prince of Peace. But how…

“I'd like to walk with you there to find out whether we look at things the same way” ― Vincent to his brother Theo, Antwerp, 28 Nov 1885 Our dear friends, Anne and Giles Florence, invited us to attend with them the remarkable worldwide exhibit, Beyond Van Gogh. I found it one of the most enriching and enlightening experiences of the year. Like some concerts I've attended, some trails I've…

“What if rich did not have to mean wealthy, and whole did not have to mean healed? What if being people of “the gospel” meant that we are simply people with good news? God is here. We are loved. It is enough.” ― Kate Bowler, Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I've Loved” So much I feel to share. Let's start with Kate Bowler's TED talk, who a…

“...it is nowhere held that [the Church's Prophet] is the only instrumentality through which God may communicate [God's] mind and will to the world.” – B.H. Roberts The B.H. Roberts quote is from a post by Bruce Hammond some years ago. For me, it points importantly to the the more central question of revelation on the current doctrine of LGBTQ and patriarchy. After quoting from 2 Nephi 29 and Alma…

...left us with a beautiful legacy of friendship and heart-filled scholarship  Twice, Curt Bench led conversations for Faith Again. Each evening was tremendously rewarding. Not just for his insights and scholarship, but how he delivered his insights with wit and warmth. He was a genuine Christian. This was best evidenced in a recent Faith Again where he and Brent Metcalfe discussed their long running friendship despite deep differences in how…