On the Sin of Weaponizing Testimonies
I’ve been asked on several occasions to bear my testimony. On one occasion I was seeking a renewal of my Temple Recommend from a counsellor in the Stake Presidency who announced: “I’ve heard your...
View ArticleLeaving the Church to Lead the Nation
For the last month, New Zealand has been in the grim, dim shadow space between a general election, vote counting and coalition deals. Tonight it was confirmed that New Zealand First has chosen a deal...
View ArticleFinding a Priestly Response to Faith Crisis
Utah! No other place outside of New Zealand feels more like home. A lot of this has to do with the relationships that I have here. Utah is where I have ‘family’ and soul friendships that have been...
View ArticleRevisiting Mormonism: Week One: On Certainty
Last week I stated that I was going to bring my best and honest out-of-the-box self to the Mormon pew for a year. Just to see what happens. Yesterday was Week One and here’s my report: I belong to...
View ArticleDear First Presidency: We are not your flavours
Dear First Presidency, I refer you to just one of the many conclusions from the many years of research done on culture and identity. “Cultural identity is an important contributor to people’s...
View ArticleWhen the Soul Needs a New Home
I think I’ve always been a God girl. I knew I loved Jesus when at seven years old I heard the story of the Good Samaritan. I remember staring intently at the sepia picture of religious leaders...
View ArticleOn the twists and tangles of church: Reflections on Kirtland
A few days ago I sat in the Kirtland Temple. It’s currently the only Mormon (or should I say an ‘Expression of the Restoration’) temple in which I’m permitted entry. So, it meant a lot to me to be...
View ArticleWhen the LDS Church Disciplines a Woman
Whatever you may think about the soteriology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it offers big, audacious blessings. I went to the temple to be sealed to my first husband when I was...
View ArticleAn Open Letter to the Christchurch Stake on the Day of My Church Discipline
Dear Sisters and Brothers of Christchurch Stake, I recall several years ago talking with a former Stake President about the reasons for church disaffiliation. He’d just been to a regional meeting and...
View ArticleA Reign of Dangerous Lunacy
In 2016, when Donald Trump was elected to be President of the United States, I was simultaneously dumbfounded and unsurprised. I was dumbfounded because I couldn’t believe that such a human being,...
View Article
