October 8, 2018
The past few weeks leading up to Saturday’s Supreme Court confirmation vote have been difficult ones for America. In an effort to score a political win, politicians on both sides gambled with the trust of the American people, and the result is that we all lost. We watched in real time while hyper-partisanship dealt a serious blow to one of our most sacred democratic institutions.
Some have asked why MWEG engaged so publicly in this particular battle. We did not see this as a contest between Republicans and Democrats or between conservatism or liberalism. We reject the notion that every engagement in the civic sphere must necessarily be driven by partisan motives. We engaged because we felt that the way this process was handled was of profound importance to our democracy. We engaged out of a desire to protect the legitimacy of the Supreme Court. And we engaged because of our conviction that sexual assault allegations should be taken very seriously and investigated thoroughly. Although our members may differ in their views of the outcome of the confirmation vote, we are deeply concerned that public trust in our civic institutions has been harmed by the bitter and divisive partisanship manifested throughout the confirmation process.
So where do we go from here? It may be tempting, in this moment, to respond with contempt, disgust, or even rage. But as an organization, we can’t. This does not mean we are advocating for neutrality in the face of injustice or timidity in the face of oppression. Quite the opposite. We are choosing deliberately to act according to the difficult but most fundamental teachings of our Savior Jesus Christ. We are attempting to follow in the footsteps of other giants who also embraced peace and non-violence—bold, faithful, optimistic idealists like Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who were filled with righteous indignation and yet still preached and practiced love as the best and, ultimately, only effective solution.
For months, we have been practicing the Principles of Peacemaking in our interactions within the MWEG discussion group and beyond. Adherence to those principles matters most in the moments in which they would be most easily discarded. Sisters, let’s choose in all cases to be proactive and courageous makers of peace. We realize that some women may still feel too angry or too anguished to take up arms right now to wage peace. We honor that. But, in the meantime, we intend to march forward, and we’ll keep circling back until everyone feels strong enough or healed enough or hopeful enough to rejoin us.
Yesterday, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland reminded us, as only Elder Holland can, that “Jesus is asking us to be instruments of his grace” and “ambassadors of Christ” in the great “ministry of reconciliation.” He continued: “The Healer of every wound, he who rights every wrong, asks us to labor with him in the daunting task of peacemaking in a world that won’t find it any other way.”
And so we must be proactive makers of peace, secure that in this, God will be with us. “We will fight with focus and determination and even ferocity when necessary. We will drive out the darkness, drive out the hate—but with light, and with love, because those are the only weapons that can heal this broken world.” (The Little Purple Book: MWEG Essentials, p. 2-3)
We conclude with some suggestions for concrete actions each of you can take as you seek to process your thoughts and feelings regarding the events of the past few weeks:
1) We invite you to read, study, and learn from Dr. Martin Luther King’s luminous “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” This letter models the pattern for all aspiring makers of peace. The majesty of the text is breathtaking. The voice is forceful, yet dignified; powerful, yet restrained; a masterful blend of earnest goodwill and excoriating condemnation; unsparing, yet laced with deep civility and abounding hope.
2) We encourage you to take this unique opportunity to reach out in civility to your senators. At a time when many communications are filled with vitriol or threats, civility will be noticed and appreciated. Consider writing about how the last week has affected you, follow up on last week’s messages with a renewed request for bipartisanship, or set up a meeting to discuss an issue that is important to you (we will be sending out a group email later this week with some suggestions). Please let them know you are a member of MWEG and then report back about any connections you make with staffers. Even contact information alone can be extremely valuable when important, time-sensitive issues arise.
3) Please host or otherwise participate in some kind of Voter Preparation activity. We must spend the next four weeks preparing ourselves and others to vote wisely. Time is running out. We all need to do whatever we can to help elect candidates who demonstrate good character, honesty, trustworthiness, bipartisanship, and a commitment to ethical leadership. Reach out to candidates to share your ideas and assess whether they are more committed to their parties or their country. Then please do whatever you can to help others register and prepare to vote. Voter preparation materials are available here.
Thank you for your tireless efforts. We must continue to reach across ideological boundaries and find common ground. We must commit, individually and collectively, to help heal the terrible rift in America by being proactive peacemakers in this vital work of advocating for ethical government.
Blessings to you, sisters, and onward!
(Photo credit: Linda Hoffman Kimball)
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