LDS Democracy Network - 10/14/2023

Thank you for reading! Your notes and (increasing!) open rates have been encouraging. We’re glad so many of you are as excited about this project as we are.

October is in full swing. Wards across the country are having Trunk-or-Treats this weekend or next, often the cap on a long day of Primary program rehearsals. But as BYU’s Divine Comedy once put it:

Of good report: Faith groups work for a better world

We know many feel hopeless and paralyzed about the recent events in the Middle East. J-Street has a great list of agencies helping civilians in Israel and Gaza, including by reuniting families.

Catholic Relief Services, Christian Connections for International Health, and World Vision are making the case that Congress should reauthorize the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a key program in reducing the global spread of AIDS. When Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) claimed that the Biden administration has “hijacked” PEPFAR, a senior official with Catholic Relief replied “That’s not something we’ve seen or experienced.”

The Episcopal Church is encouraging its members to join a group of 31 churches and religious organizations in a new campaign to learn about the climate crisis, foster inter-generational ties, and take local action. The campaign’s resource hub is here.

• Want to talk with fellow Latter-day Saints about climate change? A new survey finds it might be more useful to start with our spiritual connection to nature or our role as stewards of the Earth.

Little things can make a big difference. The First Church of Christ, Congregational in Bedford, Massachusetts just completed an interfaith clothing drive so migrants could have the coats, boots, and gloves they would need to get through a “typical New England winter.” Brr!

Context matters: the newest Speaker-designate

We hesitate to spend too much time on Rep. Jim Jordan’s speaker bid. (Steve Scalise, we hardly knew ye.) But Jordan is already notable as one of the “most vocal” Congressional boosters of ex-President Trump’s allegations regarding the 2020 election. And as part of his campaign to lead the Republican caucus and preside over the House of Representatives, he’s made a radical statement:

As Greg Sargent notes for the Washington Post (paywalled), this provision would end all interviews of people seeking asylum in the US, which is illegal, immoral, and impractical:

Jordan’s impractical grandstanding is particularly frustrating because while some elected Republicans love to talk about the US-Mexican border, the House GOP caucus has routinely prevented any updates to our immigration laws and policies.

A decade ago, the US Senate passed a comprehensive immigration bill by a large, bipartisan majority. Republican Speaker John Boehner refused to bring it up for a vote. He argued that House Republicans would only vote on bills that received a "majority of their majority” - a principle called the Hastert Rule.

Ironically, this “majority of the majority” principle is a key reason the House Republicans have struggled to elect a Speaker. We note that Speaker-designate Jorda was recently ranked as one of the least effective members of Congress in sponsoring bills that go on to become law. We’ll see what this next week brings.

Out of the best books: Room for everyone

The Mouse Who Carried a House on His Back by Jonathan Stutzman (Goodreads link) is a delightful picture book about a very welcoming mouse who happens to have a magical house. It is beautifully illustrated, well written, and has a message of inclusion. The book is also fun! Check it out at your local library and read it with someone you care about.

Ward newsletter: Using our voice

The editors at Dialogue have put out a call for submissions on the topic “The Family in Latter-day Saint Culture and Thought.” If you or someone you know wants to submit a creative work, personal essay, or scholarly article you have until January 14, 2024, to do so. See their call for submissions for more details and guidance on what kinds of work they hope to include.

Thomas Griffith, the former general counsel at BYU and Judge of the US Appeals Court for the DC Circuit, was honored two weeks ago by a portrait unveiling in the DC Circuit’s chambers. Attorney General Merrick Garland’s remarks in praise of his former colleague drew on one of Judge Griffith’s speeches, reading in part:

We also recommend Judge Griffith’s BYU Forum on understanding the Constitution. In April 2021 President Biden named Judge Griffith to the Presidential Commission on the Supreme Court.

The first writer to raise national alarm bells about Tim Ballard learned this week that Ballard allegedly told another woman that he had “buried” the writer. Meg Conley shares more backstory on how her piece in Slate came to be, the ways people in power dismissed the allegations, and poignant reflections on the courage and difficulty of making hidden things known.

Of our own free will: Reflections on this week

This week we wrestled with what to write about the conflict in the Middle East. We both had heart-to-hearts with friends who have strong feelings about the violence against civilians, friends, and family members. We read essays and news reports that articulated the geopolitical and personal struggles in ways we are unequipped to do. We didn't feel it was appropriate not to mention the violence but struggled with how to present a perspective helpful to our community.

On October 12th the Church released a statement from the First Presidency on Middle East violence. What jumped out to us was the closing reminder: “As servants of God, we affirm that He calls upon all of us to love our neighbors as ourselves.”

Recognizing the humanity of others kindles empathy. We can then recall memories and emotions and use them as inputs for what we choose to do. We hope and pray that the brutal violence ends while recognizing that real change requires action.

We invite each of you to show love to someone in your sphere of influence. Be the friend who mourns with those that mourn. Reach out to at least one person and tell them how much you appreciate them. Don't be afraid to say "I love you." Simple honest acts help us see other people for who they are, our spiritual siblings with the same human needs as us.

One more praiseworthy thing: Red Sea

Jewish Currents published a poignant piece about processing feelings of grief surrounding the conflict in the Middle East. It included the poem “Red Sea” by Aurora Levins Morales which we include as a conclusion to this week’s newsletter.

Thank you again for reading and engaging with us. We sincerely appreciate it.