Category Archives: Faith

The LDS Scriptures – and why I’m reading them.

I walk to Temple Square from my house. It’s a quick walk, only about 10 minutes if I hustle. It’s all downhill going, so the walk home is always a good workout.

Walking through the big iron gates, I admire the architecture, read the infographics in the Visitor’s Center, and chat with the missionaries while Rowan smiles and flirts from his stroller, always with his trusty Hot Wheels car in-hand. I like hearing their story – where they’re from, why they wanted to be a missionary, how they’re enjoying Salt Lake City.

The Temple missionaries, usually young women or an elderly couple, always ask me if I’m a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I always politely answer “No, I’m not,” and explain “But, I am a believer in Christ, and I am a part of a local church here.” This usually incites some good conversation.

During one of my trips to the Temple, I was offered a copy of their Scriptures, as “a gift from The Church,” the young man said. I thanked him, brought the book home and began to thumb through the pages while Rowan snacked on an apple. I remember a conversation I had with my dear friend Allison. She was asked by some missionaries in her neighborhood to read the entire Book of Mormon. After thinking about that concept at length over the course of the last few weeks, I thought “That’s actually a pretty good idea.”

See, here in Utah, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints makes up over 60% of the population. Yes. Over half of the entire state is considered Mormon. Which, if you know anything about Utah, that probably doesn’t surprise you.

But, as I’ve been living here in Salt Lake City, a short walk from one of the Saints’ most sacred sites, I realized that I know very little about my LDS friends’ beliefs. Everything I’ve learned about the Mormon faith has been through others, primarily people who were never Mormon, or who used to be Mormon and are no longer. Which isn’t bad, per se. The people I’ve learned from are extremely smart, analytical, knowledgable, and I trust them.

But.

But, there’s something that I think we’ve lost in our culture of immediacy. We’ve lost a sense of discovery, hard work and independent thought when it comes to learning about other faiths. We take to our computers and scan Wikipedia for a few bullet points. We ask our friends. We maybe read a book or two, but even that is rare these days.

Aside from my friends who used to be members of the LDS church, I’m not sure I know anyone else who has willingly read The Book of Mormon, The Doctrine and Covenants, and The Pearl of Great Price (these are the three primary scriptures in the LDS faith) in their entirety.

Some of the reason is time, and I get that. We all have limited spare time to research and learn on our own.

If we’re honest, some of the reason is fear, too.

As a mainline, protestant, evangelical Christian, I’ve been taught to keep other faiths at arms-length. Never let it too close, and for heaven’s sake, PLEASE don’t read their Scriptures. Right? Don’t get me wrong, I think at some level, it’s healthy to not engage emotionally and it’s healthy to know where I am in the steadiness of my faith. I should always be evaluating that and making smart decisions.

But, at what point will I decide to grow a pair & be intellectually honest? How can I engage a thoughtful, genuine conversation about the LDS faith WITH people OF that faith, without even knowing what their Scriptures say? Without ever touching the pages and reading the words for myself, how can I talk about it with any kind of integrity? It’s too easy to slip into hearsay and assumptions. And frankly, I’m tired of assuming. I’m tired of not being self-informed. I’m tired of putting my foot in my mouth & looking like an ass… it’s awkward, uncomfortable and I’d rather do the work towards a fuller understanding. I feel like I owe it to my LDS friends, neighbors and colleagues to sit and read for a while.

So, over the course of the next year, I’ll be reading the Scriptures of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I’m grateful to have people I trust on both sides of the Mormon faith… those who were once LDS and are no longer, and those who are currently LDS and active in their faith community. I know I can go to them with hard questions and get honest answers. I know they’ll dig in with me and help me understand. I know they’ll keep me upright, and they’ll honor both my desire to learn, and my desire to stay true to Christ as I’ve come to know Him through the Bible.

I might post more about this as the year progresses, I might not. But, I wanted to be open about what I’m pursuing & why, in hopes that it might spark a conversation about what it means to really learn about other beliefs while staying true to our own.

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Nish

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Posted in Church, Faith, Nish Happens, Utah

Tagged Book of Mormon, Latter-day Saints, LDS, Mormon, Salt Lake City, Utah

New Year’s: A letter.

To the year past and the year to come, I am grateful for each of you.

2011, you have blessed me richly, peeled back the veils of my eyes & opened my heart wide and raw and I’m not the same as I was when we started out together. You brought me up and down and twisted sideways and there were times when I couldn’t tell if I’d ever stand stable again. You moved our little family into three houses in two states. You sent me to another continent – a trip that left me with the thinnest skin.

2011, when we started, we had plans & dreams. Most of those shifted with the wind and months passed, but we remained faithful and pressed into each day, some with more faith than others. You taught me so much, but patience most of all. As we passed through, I felt like I had my hands tied behind my back, vulnerable to your whims & changing tides. But you proved to be a great year. God used you in the biggest ways to change me as a wife, a mother and a woman altogether. I am wholly different and this new skin suits me just fine.

You weren’t always gentle with me, 2011. I felt ravaged and laid out, sucker-punched and vulnerable. You made me question everything. You reminded me that I still have demons to stare down and the battle isn’t over. I lost my temper more than I care to admit and sometimes, I let the darkness swallow me whole. But, dangling from the limbs, there was always a rope to climb out. Somehow, we made it through you.

No, you weren’t always gentle. But you were often kind & full of abundant blessing. Rowan grew up so much. He’s only two now, but I can’t remember life before him. He stayed healthy and strong. I’m grateful for that.

You saw me to Bolivia and back. I still struggle with what I’ve seen. I still struggle with how I respond. My heart is so tender and I hang onto that trip with heavy sobs and a mind of wonder. The Bolivia trip started in you, 2011, but I think that the aftershocks will last into the infinite years to come.

2011, a tip of my hat to you, for providing incredible music – the tunes that came through you played as a soundtrack to my life. Bon Iver’s “Holocene” sweeps me into another world entirely. Jay-Z and Kanye’s “Ni**as in Paris” is a monstrous & brilliant hip-hop anthem. Gungor’s album is ethereal. Adele’s voice could raise the dead. Florence + The Machine gets played with windows down & at a loud volume. The Civil Wars reminded me why music is important – it ignites passions and emotions buried deep.

____________

And now, my attention moves to you, 2012.

You, with your fresh paint and open canvas. What do you have in store for us? Will we spend months in anticipation of something? Will we feel stable and grounded – the first time in years? Will our roots start to grow in here?

Will I make a mess of you? Will you make a mess of me?

I don’t know what you’ll lay out in our path this year, but I’ve chosen a name for you.

Like years past, I abandon the ways of resolutions and instead, choose a theme. A rhythm. A word.

You, 2012, are my year of YES.

I know you’ve got tricks up your sleeve that I can’t see yet… surprises that I’ll welcome and some that I’ll dread. But, regardless of what you put in front of me, I’ve determined that I’m jumping into you with two feet and reckless abandon.

I’m going to say yes to you.

I’m going to say yes to Him.

I’m going to say yes to Erik and yes to Rowan and yes to the mess. I’m going to say yes to letting people into my unclean house and heart alike.

I’m going to say yes to the beautiful broken transformation. I’m going to say yes to things that scare me. I’m going to say yes to things that I love.

I’m saying yes to wearing my heart on my sleeve, even though it probably means it’ll fall off and shatter a few times.

It scares me to death, this thought of saying YES to all of you. But I’m going for it.

I’m all in. I’m all YES.

Bring it.

Yours,

Nish

Posted on January 1, 2012 by Nish

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Posted in Everyday Life, Faith, Nish Happens, One Word

Stop and watch.

This video has been making the rounds on Facebook and Twitter. I know some of you have already seen it, but I know many of you haven’t.

Please take four minutes out of your day to watch this fantastic & beautifully joyous telling of the Christmas Story. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen one this good!

(Also? The kids who tell the story have New Zealand accents. That alone should be enough motivation.)

Smile, share, and enjoy.

Posted on December 8, 2011 by Nish

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Posted in Everyday Life, Faith

Justice. Innocence. Human Rights. [12 Causes for Christmas]

I sat riveted with people around the world. On the edge of my seat, biting my nails, trying to make out the Italian commentary happening in the courtroom.

The defendant looked like she could throw up. Shaking, eyes darting from side to side, breathing heavily… trying to remember to breathe.

The not-guilty verdict was read and I saw her, she nearly collapsed. She was held up by armed guards around her, her lawyers doing everything they could to maintain composure.

She was free. After years of imprisonment for a crime she didn’t commit, an innocent young woman accused of murdering her roommate in Italy was free.

I remember pouring over article after article, story after story, trying to learn how Amanda Knox kept hope alive behind bars. I wanted to learn what she was passionate about, what she hoped to do when she was released.

She wanted to help the efforts of the Innocence Project.

An organization founded in 1992, The Innocence Project seeks to assist prisoners who could be proven innocent through DNA testing.

To date, 280 people in the United States have been exonerated by DNA testing, including 17 who served time on death row. These people served an average of 13 years in prison before exoneration and release.

If there is a shadow of a doubt, they fight tooth and nail for that shadow. Dr. Greg Hampikian, the director of the Idaho Innocence Project, was able to analyze the DNA evidence from the Knox case and his findings were the catalyst for her appeal, and ultimately for her release.

________

Standing alongside The Innocence Project in fighting for the rights of the wrongfully convicted and imprisoned is Amnesty International.

Amnesty International is a global movement of more than 3 million supporters, members and activists in over 150 countries. We work with and for each other to defend human rights. We believe that human rights abuses anywhere are the concern of people everywhere.

Until every person can enjoy all of their rights, we will continue our efforts. We will not stop until everyone can live in dignity; until every person’s voice can be heard; until no one is tortured or executed.

Where the Innocence Project works hard to examine cases, exonerate the innocent and free them from prison, Amnesty International takes another step to fight for safeguards against human rights violations in detention and fights for appropriate justice for convictions in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – which includes the full abolition of the death penalty.

Amnesty International stands in the gap for all humans, regardless of criminal conviction. They fight against torture. They fight for fair trials. And most recently, they are fighting against life-without-parole sentences for children under the age of 18 in the USA.

________

How?

How can one person fight against something to monolithic as wrongful conviction and human rights abuses?

Here are some strategic things you can do this season to engage the issue of innocence and justice alongside The Innocence Project and Amnesty International:

1. Pray.

2. Put pressure on local, national, and international governments through writing letters, making phone calls, signing petitions (yes, they do work!), and reaching out to the media regarding wrongful convictions and human rights abuses.

3. Connect with your local Innocence Project organization and ask how you can volunteer. Contact Amnesty International in your region and attend events, join cause groups and donate.

Both organizations have “How You Can Help” pages. The links are below.

Innocence Project – How You Can Help

Amnesty International – How You Can Help

Why?

Why talk about wrongful imprisonment, the death penalty and human rights abuses during such a joyous time, like Christmas?

Because in the midst of twinkle lights, gift-giving, and mistletoe, it’s easy to forget what Christ was born into the world to do: Save us all.

He was the only perfect human to ever exist… the one without sin. He committed no crime, yet He was convicted & sentenced to a torturous death sentence. He was the ultimate display of innocence. He was the ultimate wrongful conviction.

The only sinless man to ever live came to save all of humanity, for all time. Though we aren’t perfect, surely those of us who follow Christ can work hard to save the life and dignity of one innocent person in the eyes of the law.

Posted on December 2, 2011 by Nish

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Posted in Faith

My brothers, I’m tired.

My brothers, I’m tired.

I’m tired of being pushed aside and pushed down. I’m tired of hearing the lie that my contributions and opinions aren’t strong enough or deeply rooted in Scripture enough, simply because I’m a woman. I’m tired of those lies coming from you. I study Scripture just like you. I read the commentaries and I read primary documents and I pray and seek counsel, just like you. I’m quite capable of theological discussion. Just because I come to a different conclusion, doesn’t mean I’m “theologically unsound” or “unbiblical.” Please stop calling me that.

This is just a snippet of a guest post that I wrote for my friend, Mason Slater. You can read the rest of the letter over at his place.

Posted on November 16, 2011 by Nish

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Posted in Faith, Guest Blog

Change of plans.

I had a post all figured out in my head and on paper today. I was ready to sit down and pound the words into the screen. But, plans change and I’m learning to be kind to myself and not meet every unreasonable expectation I manage to set in a day. I’m learning to make space for curveballs.

I wrote a post on Monday, over there. It took me about twenty minutes to write. The words were easy to find and it just came out. The resulting aftermath of the post has been… unexpected.

It’s kind of gone viral. I wrote about our need as believers to extend the hand of grace to our Latter-Day Saints friends.

Apparently, the Latter-Day Saints don’t get handed grace from orthodox Christians very often. They get handed a lot of hurt.

The response has been overwhelming. My inbox has flooded with heart-felt notes of healing, requests for interviews for newspapers, and leaders from a few different churches asking for a bit of my “insight.” It’s fast-approaching 600 Facebook shares.

I never intended it to be “a thing,” as my friend Sarah would say (and is currently experiencing with her Women’s Ministry post over at her space).

The response is stressing me out.

I am the furthest thing from an “expert” on the subject of the Mormon faith. Or theology. Or grace. My undergraduate work in Religious Studies and Philosophy only takes me so far, you know what I mean? All of the “insight” I have is in the lines of that post. Really nothing beyond that.

So, today, I did what I always do when I’m stressed out.

I stress-bake four dozen chocolate chip cookies, and proceed to eat a plate full.

Tons of questions rolling in from everywhere.

What are you going to do? What are you going to say? What’s your next move?

I have no idea.

All I know is that I have cookies that need eatin’. Now if you’ll excuse me…

Posted on October 5, 2011 by Nish

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Posted in 31 Days, A Deeper Story, Blogging, Confessions, Faith, Social Media

On Prayer [with World Vision]

I thread the glass beads between my tired fingers in my left hand. In my right hand holds the pen to paper.

I scratch out prayers in the quiet morning over coffee.

God and I meet best in the early hours, my mind needing awakening and my bones still heavy from sleep. I suppose He’d meet me anytime, but I’m most sincere in the morning.

I’ve never done well with prayer, it’s always been a hurdle to jump, my brick wall in the marathon of faith. Putting me in a group of people who speak whispered prayers makes me uneasy and I clam up tight and choose to be quiet.

If I speak my prayers, my language changes. I don’t sound like me, I feel weird in my skin.

So, I take to paper. Journal upon journal upon journal… lines filled with etched-in ink, aching cries, soaring gratitude, questions and more questions. It’s a history of my hemming-in, Him drawing near, yet letting me run. The journals remind me of the His own pen and ink, writing out the grand stories of life and lives.

The glass beads that sit delicately in my hand… those are new. I got it after my return from Bolivia. It’s a small rosary, small orbs of rich purple, Christ crucified, pendants of His mother and St. Ann. I don’t know the Hail Mary, or the words of the Mysteries, but I pray Our Father at the cross and count out prayers. The beads help me remember, keep me from daydreaming, focus in on need.

Each bead makes its way around to the space between my index finger and thumb. I spin it slowly, words pouring out from the pen over and over, it’s a private liturgy here on the kitchen counter.

Needs of others, needs for me, moments of thanks. Lines on the page fill up with my black handwriting. Before I know it, three pages are filled and I arrive at the last bead.

I think of Maria. I promised her I’d work on my Spanish. I had a small prayer for her translated into her language and I work to memorize it as I spin the bead slowly. I think of her face, her kind eyes and wide smile. My heart aches and tears breach the dam of my eyelids. I clench the rosary tight in my fist. God, in His grace, offers peace and the tears stop.

I repeat the Lord’s Prayer at the end, say my Amen, and drink the last sip of my now-cold coffee. Binding up the black journal, I rest the beads on the cover

Until tomorrow morning, when the coffee is fresh again.

What about you? How do you pray? Write a post and share with us over at the WV Blog, on this World Vision Day of Prayer?

Posted on October 3, 2011 by Nish

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Posted in 31 Days, Bolivia, Faith, World Vision

On choosing to listen. [Deeper Story]

I remember seeing them cringe with hurt faces.

Whispers would come from around the corner of the high school hallway as the outspoken Baptist girls would mumble hurt-words like “cult” and “brainwashed.” The girls didn’t think they were heard, but the eyes said it all & gave away their guilt.

The hurt faces told me the choice words were heard.

Their Bibles were bigger than ours. The words sounded funny with lots of thee’s and thou’s written out. They didn’t wear crosses around their necks like we did and they always wore those rings that said “CTR.” They could never go to games on Monday nights because it was Family Night.

They talked about missions and learning different languages.

I filled out my college applications.

We all wore caps and gowns on a hot summer day, then they disappeared for two years. One of them went to Siberia. I had only heard of Siberia in movies with bad Russian villains… but he went there on a mission. I did some asking around and learned that he could only write home on pen and paper. Phone calls were limited to two times a year. He probably walked everywhere, unless he could get a bike.

I can’t imagine bikes being very useful in Siberia.

I’m over at Deeper Story today, talking about choosing to listen to our LDS neighbors, instead of living in unjustified fear.

Would you join me? You can read the rest of the post there.

Posted on October 3, 2011 by Nish

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Posted in A Deeper Story, Church, Faith

Part 2 of Hot Topics and Haters: A How-To Guide

This past weekend, I spoke at a blogging event called BlogSugar, in southern California. Attended by about 200 women from all across the country, it was a unique experience for me to be a presenter instead of an attendee. I led two sessions on testing boundaries with content, and how to contend with the inevitable backlash. This is the content of those sessions.

………………………….

Okay, you’ve considered your motives, who your post will impact, and you’ve determined that this is a good post to publish.

Now, it’s time to craft your content.

When I sit down and start typing out the words in a controversial or sensitive post, here are some things I always try to keep in mind. Again, this advice may not be for everyone, but it’s the advice I try to follow and it’s proven to really, really work!

Tell the story first.

If you have personal experience with your topic and it’s appropriate to share, SHARE IT! Personal stories and experience can disarm, break the ice, and bring validity to an argument or opinion. There are a lot of theological arguments to this, but I believe that it’s impossible to separate our own experience from our understanding of the Truth. By sharing your story alongside your opinion, you’re opening up a window into a glimpse of how you came to believe what you do.

“The only platform in the upside down kingdom is an altar” – Ann Voskamp

The same is true for the soapbox. You need to be willing to lay yourself down, humbly, alongside your well-cemented opinion. Because the harsh reality is, you don’t have all the answers. Your one opinion is not the answer. Your perspective is a small piece of a beautiful mosaic – a bigger picture. Put the soapbox back in the closet and present your case with humility & grace. It’s what you were given by the Giver. Offer the same.

Put the ammunition away.

Approach your content with the reality that you will need to engage your readers, and they will hold you accountable. So go into your content with passion, but not with guns blazing. Put away your word grenades.

Aggressive tone and a lack of appreciation for opposing views will do one of two things: Divide your readers, or keep them from sharing. Neither option is good for promoting healthy dialogue.

If you’ve got some angry words built up, by all means, let them out! But consider editing your tone in a revised draft before your publish.

Keep in mind that YOU set the tone in your post, and YOUR tone will determine whether readers feel safe enough to share their own opinions.

Promote conversation

State your case, but slather it with genuine humility. Offer grace & appreciation to you readers with your tone and word choice. Ask questions throughout your post to encourage dialogue. Ask for grace from those who read… it disarms them and encourages commenters to leave the harsh tone at the door.

Hold your opinions loosely.

Approach your writing with the possibility that someone could actually change your mind about something. Understanding that someone on the opposite side of the aisle could make a valid argument against you does wonders for your word choice, tone, imagery, and structure.

Part 3: What do do when the backlash hits. Coming tomorrow!

photo

Posted on September 29, 2011 by Nish

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Posted in Blogging, Faith, Social Media

Part 1 of Hot Topics & Haters: A How-To Guide.

…………………

Nothing I say here is gospel. But, if I’m honest, I like to write about issues that are important to society, culture and Christianity… issues that families LOVE discussing at Thanksgiving – like abortion, the death penalty, and women in ministry.

I started a collaborative space where these issues are discussed freely and openly, and it’s a space where people feel safe and are offered grace… which, to me, is a pretty big success story. These are just a few things I’ve learned through the process of writing and editing sensitive posts.

When it’s time to write out a hard story, share an opinion on a debatable topic, or test a boundary that you’ve otherwise avoided, it’s best to approach that post after thoroughly evaluating our motives.

Why are you writing that sharply-worded post? Are you angry? Emotional? Sad? Confused? None of those motives are necessarily bad, or reason to NOT write, but be honest with yourself. Knowing WHY you’re writing is important. It’s okay to navel-gaze a bit before jumping into the fire, so to speak.

Once you’ve evaluated why you want to write, it’s time to be brave. But before lighting up the keyboard, consider the following:

Consider others.

Your story, opinion and words do not stand alone. Your blog is not an island. Your post WILL affect someone, in some way. We are all connected. Whether it’s the blog reader, your husband, your kid down the road, a friend, a colleague, whoever, always ask yourself, “How will this affect them?” It’s amazing how quickly your tone, editing and appropriateness will change accordingly. The internet is forever & relationships should always win out.

Consider the facts.

Do your homework! So you want to write about the relationship between poverty and abortion? Link to your research or point me in the direction of a good source you recommend. There’s always going to be someone out there who has done more research than you, but show some intellectual honesty when you make your case.

Consider the Kingdom.

Does your post further it? Or hinder it? Do you consider the topic important enough for the Christian community to debate? What’s the potential outcome – unification or division? What are you hoping to achieve with your post?

Sometimes, in the process of writing about a sensitive issue, there are certain circumstances that should bring us pause. Other times, it should stop us from publishing altogether. Here are the times I think are appropriate:

The person you trust with your writing says, “Wait.”

My husband is My Person. Before I publish a post on a hot topic or debatable issue, I always ask him to read it. He’s level-headed, intelligent, and knows when I’m full of it… and I trust him to tell me the truth. If he ever tells me to reconsider something in my post, or tells me not to publish it, I listen to him because I trust him and his judgment.

You just don’t feel good about it.

There’s fear, then there’s genuine unease. If something doesn’t feel right, it’s probably not right. Wait to publish until it feels right. Listen to your instinct, listen to the Spirit.

The bad outweighs the good.

I often hear people say, “If just one person benefits from my words, it’s all worth it!” But, when it comes to the internet, I have to disagree. Let’s face it, it’s the internet – you’ll ALWAYS find someone that agrees with you. Just because one person thinks it’s good doesn’t make it RIGHT. If the potential bad outweighs the potential good, don’t post it.

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