Guns

            I was in 7^th grade when I learned of the death of a classmate due to an accidental shooting.  He and a friend were cleaning out a neighbor’s garage when they came across the loaded gun; the friend accidently shot him while handling it.  It was shocking.  A 12 year old, someone my age who I had gone to school with, was gone.  I didn’t know him especially well, but he seemed great.  He was usually smiling and worked hard at school and I think I remember him playing soccer.  I couldn’t imagine how his family was feeling, or the friend, or the neighbor.

            Guns have been in the news a lot lately- deliberate violence, accidental deaths, new laws, and 3D printing.  However, one article particularly has been on my mind, “Another ‘accidental’ childshooting shows that child shooting deaths are not accidental”*.  It isn’t suggesting that children are being shot deliberately, but that these deaths are preventable and shouldn’t simply be treated as isolated tragedies.   This made me reflect on my own experience.  I know a lot of gun owners who feel more secure because they have a gun in their home; however, I’ve never met a person who has protected his home from danger using a firearm, but I did know a child who died in an accident with a gun.  As I started searching for more information I came across an analysis/article about “unintentional shootings of Utah children” that found that there were “250 unintentional shootings or children by children in Utah between 1988 and 2003, or about 16 per year”.

            I want to come to a conclusion, a poignant observation about what we should be doing, but it is complicated.  It's frustrating- it is complicated but the answer is not to do nothing.  It is so frustrating to me how it feels like, excuse the expression, a loaded conversation whenever "guns" and "regulation" are in the same sentence.  But it seems absolutely crazy that we aren't doing more to keep people safe- we regulate cars, drugs, and many other things that contribute to the overall public safety of our country.  I'm not proposing anything specific, but the first step is to be open to the conversation.  The current system isn't working, let's try and change it.

*The author of this article recently posted a follow up: “Another day, another ‘accidental’ child shooting death”.

A quick review

Life is an adventure.  I’m going to start writing more regularly, but before I do I want to recap a little bit on the amazing experiences that this most recent chapter of my life has brought.

So in no particular order, in the last 5 years I’ve:

1. Met, dated, and married by incredible husband (this lead to other little adventures like moving to Salt Lake City, purchasing a car, and improving my cooking skills)

80s dancing!  Only time Jed has rocked this mustache

2. Ran my first half-marathon

3.      Enjoyed classes and deepened my understanding of gospel matters at the LDS institute

4.      Worked as a LEAP peer advisor, a technician at ARUP laboratory, and an assistant teacher at the JCC preschool and had eye-opening volunteer opportunities with the Welcome Baby program and Hser Ner Moo

5.     Began taking organ lessons and enjoyed teaching children new primary song as the primary music leader

6.     Learned to garden- and enjoyed some great produce

7.      Discovered a new favorite book: Anna Karenina

8.      Earned an undergraduate degree at the University of Utah (I've learned so much!)

9.      Went skydiving

10.    Traveled to Portland, Seattle, San Diego, Moab, Bear Lake, Jackson, and the Wind Rivers

It’s hard to believe that five years have already passed since I graduated high school- and here we are preparing for a baby to come in August!  I'm so grateful for the huge amount of support and love I've received from my family and friends- and very grateful for the new friends I've had the opportunity to meet. It’s been an incredible five years and I look forward to many more adventures in the future.  

Wearing Pants to Church

I believe in Christ.  I believe he lives and that he loves everyone.  His gospel is all about love; not an abstract love, but a love of God and love of every individual.  He truly is mindful of individuals and asks us to follow him. 

I want to share the gospel because I see how blessed my life is.  When I choose to trust Christ, he becomes my foundation and my strength on which I can rely.  This testimony helps me face challenges with hope and face success with humility.  He teaches me every day how I can be forgiving of my self and others, appreciate where I’m at in my development, and strive to be more patient, kind, loving and happy.  Life isn’t easy but I’m learning to appreciate the rough spots that give life added beauty and meaning.  The gospel of Jesus Christ makes my life rich- it adds value to my relationships and every day interactions with the world around me.

The scriptures state, “for this is my work and my glory- to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39) and also “men are that they might have joy” (2 Nephi 2:25).  I have not done enough to share the gospel, but I want to start, because I know that in this turbulent world I have peace and joy by following the Savior. 

Wearing pants to church is a small thing and I know I need to do more to share the gospel.  But I also know there are many women who leave the church because when they express feelings of or questions concerning inequality they receive glares and reprimands from other ward members rather than love and support in finding answers.  We are asked to sustain and follow our leaders, but we are not asked to do so blindly. We’re encouraged to ask questions, seek answers, and develop our testimony: “Therefore, ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (3 Nephi 27:29). 

I hope that by wearing pants today I’ll have the opportunity to support those women who struggle with questions surrounding the relationship between gender equality, gender roles, and church leadership; to show them that they aren’t alone and that they are welcome and wanted.    

             A note from my husband Jed: I am also wearing pants today, but I always wear pants to church. However, I am wearing a purple shirt. Purple was the color used by suffragists early in the 1900s when trying to obtain the right to vote for women. I support my wife and others who are expressing themselves in this way. I also believe in the gospel and this church and welcome everyone to join in its blessings.