ALSSI Newsletter
February 2023
I was scrolling past one of Elder Uchtdorf’s social media posts the other day and saw this one-line comment: “can u become prophet and change everything?” Such a wistful expression. It also reminds me I’m not the only one who’s hungry for something new in my church life. I spend a lot of time wondering whether our leaders know, whether they care, and what they think when they hear the persistent restlessness in the pews.
Meanwhile, I’m reading a book by one of my favorite thinkers, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. In September 1991, when inducted in London as the sixth Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, he gave an address titled, A Decade of Jewish Renewal.* He took the opportunity to “set the direction” for his time as leader, beginning with the idea that, “The greatest love parents can have for a child is to want him always to grow.”
He explained what he meant by a Decade of Renewal like this: “I do not mean that I have a personal programme which I am determined to impose on the community with or against its will. That is not how I understand leadership. I want to encourage leadership in others; to be a catalyst for creativity; to open closed doors and let in the fresh air of initiative and imagination. I want to start a process that will gather momentum over time. I want to listen to and involve everyone willing to work with me in three great areas—leadership, education, and spirituality.”
He continued, “…if we do not renew our institutions, they will die the slow death of increasing irrelevance. There is more than one way of building a shul, or conducting a service, or teaching Torah, or constructing a communal institution. Every year Rosh Hashana tells us that we are living now, not a century ago. We must search out a hundred new ways of letting prayer speak to our souls, learning to our minds, and mitzvot to our lives; and if they fail, we must search for the hundred-and-first way. […] I want above all to liberate spiritual energy so that Judaism lives as if it were given new this day.”
He then gives a list of what, in his mind, they should hope to achieve. I’ll repeat his list here, because I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since I read it.
Call it My List of Holy Envies:
(But I’ll say Mormonism** where he said Judaism. Because my hope is for us.)
A Mormonism in which we reach out in love and with respect to every Latter-day Saint.
A Mormonism in which we do not pretend that all is right with our community so long as there are groups who feel neglected; and there are groups who feel neglected: women, the young, intellectuals, the less well-off, the provinces, the small communities. (I would add LGBTQ members, single members, and all members who feel marginalized in any way).
A Mormonism in which Mormonism challenges us at the highest levels of our minds, hearts, and souls.
A Mormonism in which we praise the success of others, because we are not threatened but enlarged by the many ways of serving God.
A Mormonism in which, precisely as committed Latter-day Saints, we make a distinctive contribution to (insert wherever you live) as a compassionate society.
A Mormonism in which we bring all our powers of leadership, creativity and energy to the service of God.
A Mormonism in which we are never afraid to grow as Latter-day Saints.
A Mormonism of open doors, open hearts and open minds. Open to the love of God, scripture/doctrine, and the Latter-day Saint people.
“Can it be done?,” asked Jonathan Sacks. His answer was, “God never sets us tasks that cannot be done. Never for one moment believe that it cannot be done.”
I want to believe it can be done. I want to believe I could turn on General Conference and hear our leaders set just such a course for renewal. If not in April, then maybe in October. If not in October, then maybe the next April. At the very least, I’m not going to stop talking about my own needs, hopes, and desires. My own testimony of what we can become if we will, and what I believe Christ would want me to become as a member of this church. Until then, I’ll keep saying it.
— Susan
*From The Power of Ideas: Words of Faith and Wisdom, by Jonathan Sacks
** If the word “Mormonism” bothers you, consider the alternatives. I couldn’t live with writing Latter-day Saintism every time, could I? Is that even a thing? Until they give us the word-tools we need, writers gotta do what we gotta do.
“Without leaps of imagination, or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming after all, is a form of planning.”
—Gloria Steinem
Coming up next —
Hopefully you received an email announcing our February online discussion group. The month is whizzing by, so if you haven’t registered yet, please do so! It’s almost here.
ALSSI Ladies’ Lunch In
Wednesday, February 22
12:00 pm MST
Register Here or on our website events page
Blakelee, from the new ALSSI team, will be hosting. (We can’t wait to turn the mic over to her.) Plus there will be a bunch of wise women putting our heads together to listen and offer support, and of course Cynthia and Susan will be there too! We’ll be talking about whatever sets your heart, mind and soul aflutter.
Hope to see you there!
If it’s February,
Season 6 is in full swing! We’ve had some great conversations so far. If you missed Becky Edwards, Jody England Hansen, or Kajsa Berlin-Kaufusi, you’ll want to circle back and pick those episodes up for sure!
For this season we have so many conversations in the works our heads are spinning a bit. In the next few weeks, you can look forward to an episode we said we’d never do (Tithing! Eeek! We’re pleased to report no one was struck by lightning, despite the purely coincidental tempest that raged during our recording session). Also a discussion with perennial favorite therapist C.A. Larson, some heavy-duty grace peddling, women wearing whatever we want (pants? crosses?), a chat about Mary and Martha, and a special conversation between Cynthia and her sisters.
“Dreams pass into the reality of action. From the actions stems the dream again; and this interdependence produces the highest form of living.”
—Anais Nin
Looking ahead:
Our calendar is roughed in for the year, and we have several live events on the schedule. Watch for announcements on our social media, and plan to join us at any or all of the following:
Pop-up Gathering in Mesa, AZ
April 15
Pop-up Gathering in St. George, UT
April 29
Our pop-up gatherings will include a quick message from Cynthia and Susan, yummy snacks, and a great opportunity to meet other ALSSI listeners in the local area.
Fall Gathering in Salt Lake City, UT
October 21
Our Fall Gathering will be a lot like last year, with new speakers (we’re so excited!), lunch, and plenty of time to visit with old friends and make new ones.
An additional event or two may be added. We’ll keep you posted!
Quick Note:
After a lot of requests, we’ve added Venmo as a new option for donating. You can find details on our website. Your generosity continues to amaze us! Whether it’s with your ears, your voice, your ideas and comments, or your hard-earned dollars, thank you for all the ways you continue to support our project.
Cake time!
This month it’s a favorite basic spice cake recipe. I like it with a browned butter frosting, but cream cheese frosting is yummy too. It’s simple enough to make any time and just right to brighten the waning days of winter. Even when you can’t depend on the weather, you can always count on cake! — S.
Spice Snack Cake
1 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cloves
Stir dry ingredients together.
In another bowl, whisk until well-combined:
2 large eggs
1/2 c sugar
1/4 c dark brown sugar
Add:
1/4 c vegetable oil
1/2 c applesauce
1/2 c buttermilk
1/2 tsp vanilla
Mix well. Pour over dry ingredients, mixing as little as possible, just until smooth. Pour batter into greased 8x8” pan. Bake at 350° 30-40 mins, until toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Allow to cool completely. Frost as desired.
“Dreams are the seeds of change. Nothing ever grows without a seed, and nothing ever changes without a dream.”
—Debby Boone
Onward…
Thanks for everything you do to help this community continue to thrive! We can’t do much to change the big stuff, but in our little ALSSI corner of the garden, the future feels very growy and very good.
Much love,
The ALSSI Team
Cynthia, Susan, Katie, Tiffany, and Blakelee
Thank you for helping me grow outside my many years of traditional thinking. You have added new concepts and ways of how to do life. I have not missed an episode. You two are part of my meditation each day as I walk outside in nature. As women, both of you and your guests have blessed my life and helped me become a better female representative in our world. I smile more!