This year I’ve decided that my goal is to become a fool.  Yup.  A fool.  This goal is quite different than any goal I’ve ever set in my life. Generally my New Year’s Resolutions have revolved around my weight or appearance, money, or something I needed to do more of or something I needed to add to the knowledge I’ve collected in my brain. Something to “better” myself, and usually something that would make me *look* better in the eyes of others.  I know it sounds vain.  I’m not exactly sure the intentions were vain, but maybe it fits the bill.  And although I was complicit in these goals to…

Recently, I posted some thoughtful questions about how we read the Book of Mormon. Specifically, I posted questions about why we feel drawn to labeling Nephites as good guys and Lamanites as bad guys, and I asked questions about what negative ramifications that incorrect simplification might have. I asked for advice about how to answer my kids’ questions about “Who were the good guys?” in the Book of Mormon.  I received a lot of great comments, but one comment felt somewhat dismissive to me. It was from my favorite seminary teacher from my youth. Instead of engaging with the questions, the comment said “Keep it simple—keep the commandments, in this…

In a recent Latter-day Contemplation podcast that I co-hosted with Riley Risto and Christopher Hurtado, we talked at length about self-mourning and mourning with those who mourn as a means of healing ourselves and our country. (Actually, Riley and Christopher spoke at length and I had the good sense to just listen.) The rest of this article is in no small part a compilation of several notes taken from that podcast. There are many more excellent points in the podcast that are not in this article, and there are many other points in the article that are not in the podcast. I suggest that you read this and listen to…

Recently a friend on social media posted a question that got me thinking. She essentially asked how one balances standing up for their beliefs by speaking out on important issues while at the same time not getting caught up in all of the dumpster fire that is social media.  My initial reaction was: I’ve been trying to figure that out for years.  And honestly, for about two years, I really didn’t speak out much on anything. I kept most of my opinions to myself and I stayed silent on issues that I actually did believe were important. It was as if my tongue was tied and I could not speak.…

I can still smell the gunpowder. I can feel the texture of the grip allowing for optimal hold while firing. I remember my vision focusing on the front site while my target, a silhouette of a man, lies blurred in the line of fire. I can taste the excitement of my shot improving with every pull of the trigger. Although it pains me to say it now, I looked forward to the day that I would potentially need to defend my life with this tool. The concept of good vs. evil has been a part of our story since the beginning of time. It shapes how we see our problems,…