When I was in my 20s I fell in love with the desert. It felt ancient and wise. The silence called to me and the desert became a sacred refuge. Through the years, desert trips became yearly family events and I slowly became aware of the loss of protections needed for these sacred spaces. When I was younger, I often contemplated the beloved primary song, “My heavenly father loves me” and was perplexed as to why the LDS Church did not take a stronger stance on protecting these places. I am older and wiser now.
Over time I have come to understand the relationship between the control of land, supremacy, oppression of people, religion, politics and power. Our country prospered on the premise of controlling and extorting land and bodies. This is apparent in what is happening around the world, especially in Palestine, Sudan, and Ukraine, and what continues to happen to human rights and the sacred body of our planet.
The apocalyptic narrative and self-fulfilling prophecy which is and has been created through the exploitation of natural resources, the dismantling of human rights, and the self-propelled war machine has helped create the diaspora of refugees and immigrants around the world, as well as the extreme weather patterns due to climate destabilization. These “latter days” result from the continual attempt to destroy, diminish and deny the fullness of reality.
We’re here to love and care for each other. Instead of waiting for a savior, take on the challenging, imperfect and disciplined inner work of questioning personal bias and cultivating love, compassion, joy, inclusion, reverence and trust.
Discipline is an act of free will. Obedience takes away choice and is necessitated as a means of control out of fear.
Choice is the gift. Choose love. Cultivate peace.
Maurena Grossman, Salt Lake City
