By Emily Rose 
peace and justice minister, 
Sierra Pacific USA Mission Center 

I recently was reading a book called Untamed by Glennon Doyle, and I came across a quote that stopped me in my tracks: 

Let’s conjure up, from the depths of our souls: …The truest, most beautiful world we can hope for. Let’s put it all on paper. Let’s look at what we’ve written and decide that these are not pipe dreams; these are our marching orders. …May our dreams become our plans. 

These words lingered with me because my first thought was to imagine the truest, most beautiful version of our faith movement. When I think about the truest, most beautiful version of Community of Christ, I envision a movement of people so inspired by the Enduring Principles that we implore our civic leaders to honor the Worth of All Persons and the Sacredness of Creation. 

We would build meaningful, ecumenical, and interfaith partnerships to tackle systemic injustices. We would sing together and eat together. We would loosen our grip on the question, “How can we save our congregations?” and instead start asking “How can we save the world?” 

I truly believe Community of Christ has unique gifts to bring to a world longing for wholeness and solidarity. I think it starts with putting all our yearnings on paper and deciding that they are not pipe dreams. 

We have been spending intentional time dreaming in the Sierra Pacific USA Mission Center, and I want to share some of our projects that I find inspiring and motivating. 

The first is a peace-and-justice reading circle called Love Out Loud. Three years ago, in response to the Black Lives Matter protests and the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, we wanted to create a space where we could come together to read and learn to do the work of becoming actively anti-racist. 

As we deepened our reading, we became more keenly aware of the intersections of many social-justice issues, and we expanded our book selection to reflect that. Over the years we have read books about anti-racism, body image, gender identity, environmental and food justice, and much more. Most recently we learned from Indigenous author and spiritual leader Kaitlyn B. Curtice through her book, Living Resistance: An Indigenous Vision for Seeking Wholeness Every Day. 

This group brings me meaning for so many reasons. First and foremost, we have covenanted to listen deeply to each other and to turn to wonder when we are feeling defensive. We read our covenant at the beginning of each gathering as an anchor for how we will engage each other. 

Secondly, this group has brought deep sincerity to the work of living Maya Angelou’s words that when you know better, you do better. Systemic change and interior change go hand in hand, and people in this group are committed to each other and to becoming agents of change. 

I truly believe Community of Christ has unique gifts to bring to a world longing for wholeness and solidarity. I think it starts with putting all our yearnings on paper and deciding that they are not pipe dreams. 

The second project that has evolved from our dreaming is our upcoming Redwoods Peace Colloquy, where we will explore the theme “Sacred Soil.” This event was inspired by the documentary “Kiss the Ground,” which investigates how regenerative agriculture can be an effective solution in the climate crisis. We are bringing in theologians, activists, organizers, and artists from across the country to address what a faithful response can look like in the face of climate degradation. We are asking ourselves what it would mean to take our Enduring Principle of the Sacredness of Creation so seriously that we make tangible action. 

Our goal is to care for a world that “shudders in distress,” as we read in Doctrine and Covenants 163:4b. We specifically have invited several guest speakers who will help us learn to engage civic leaders on issues that matter to us because we are compelled by our faith. My hope is that participants will leave with renewed hope and practical skills to activate change and better the climate in their local context. 

We are called to follow Jesus, the peaceful One, toward building a more inclusive, equitable, and beloved world. When we take our Enduring Principles to heart and really ask what it would look like to honor the Sacredness of Creation, or value the Worth of All Persons, or expand the Blessings of Community for everyone, I’m convinced the world we’d create would be one of radical love and concrete action for peace and justice. 

So here’s my invitation, and I know it feels daunting: 

Right now, take a few minutes to breathe, dream, and put pen to paper. What is the truest, most beautiful version of Community of Christ in your mind? What is the truest, most beautiful world you can imagine? What might it look like in your context and in your community to loosen your grip on the question, “How can we save our congregations?” and instead dare to ask, “How can we save the world?” 

Now, take a deep breath and look at what you have written. In the words of Glennon Doyle, “these are not pipe dreams; these are our marching orders.” May we dare to be a people who dream, and a people who turn our dreams into plans. 

Let’s get going!