Contents

Editor's Christmas greeting
First Presidency Christmas message, 1937
Handel's Messiah and social justice
Spotlight: Annette Daley
New update on the Huntington miners
Question of the month
Upcoming events and observances
Call for submissions

Merry Christmas from MESJ! The holiday season is a busy time, of course. So it's encouraging to see local MESJ chapters finding time for some activities during this period.

Shortly after Thanksgiving, the Las Vegas chapter attended a performance of Handel's Messiah. That chapter will also hold a discussion on World AIDS Day, December 1, and they will dedicate their fast of December 4-5 to solidarity for people with HIV/AIDS. The Salt Lake chapter has a social planned for December 4. And throughout the month of December, Robert Poort is spearheading a membership drive in San Francisco: contact him if you live in the Bay Area and would like to come together for a MESJ activity. Check the MESJ calendar for details about any of these activities.

Community and civic groups often organize food drives or other service opportunities during this season. Wherever you are, I encourage you to find a way to give of your time and means to fight need.

Be sure to check out MESJ's Christmas-themed family home evening ideas and our electronic greeting cards (thumbnails below).

The following excerpts are taken from the First Presidency's 1937 Christmas message, signed by Heber J. Grant, J. Reuben Clark, Jr., and David O. McKay. While the message clearly reflects its time
--two years before the outbreak of World War II--in certain respects it seems applicable today.

For nineteen centuries Christ's birth has been celebrated by nations that call themselves Christian. Annually the pealing of bells, the harmony of music, and the declaration of voices have united in heralding anew the angelic message "on earth peace, good will toward men."

. . . [T]he present age is entirely different from that in which Jesus lived. People among whom He associated could not even imagine the many conditions, problems, and perplexities of this modern world. Science has brought to light discoveries scarcely ever before dreamed of. . . .

Yet, notwithstanding all these achievements, dissatisfaction with existing social and political conditions is becoming more and more manifest. Mistrust and misunderstanding between capital and labor continually bring distress and destruction of property. The liquor evil is still an unsolved problem. Wars for expansion in which the innocent are mutilated and killed are carried on today as in the days of barbarism. Arbitration as a means of settling international questions is even now stifled by outbursts of ancient brute force. The question of taxation, the production and proper distribution of the products of the soil and of the factory are perplexing the wisest minds. Men need a beacon light to guide them as they grope in the midst of these perplexities. . . .

Men say His teachings are not applicable to modern-day conditions. How do they know, since true Christianity has never been actually tested by any nation or nations? . . . [A]pplicable to present conditions are His teachings regarding the value and sacredness of human life, the virtue of forgiveness, the necessity of fair dealing, the crime of hypocrisy, the sin of covetousness, the saving power of love, universal brotherhood, the immortality of man, and many other vital principles.

Today civilized nations are sitting on a mountain of explosives, accumulated in defiance of Christ's teachings. Let the heat of hatred, suspicion, and greed become a little more intense and there will be such an international explosion as will greatly retard if not forcibly drive from the midst of mankind the hoped-for peace heralded by the heavenly hosts when the Son of Man was born. The good will that was to usher in universal brotherhood will be replaced by envy, greed, and hate with resultant misery and death. . . .

Most heartily we commend faithful Latter-day Saints for their manifestations of devotion to Christ's principles during the past year . . .

Source: "Christmas Message, December 9, 1937," Messages of the First Presidency, 6 vols. (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1965-75), 6: 39.

During December, many community choirs or local churches offer performances of Handel’s Messiah as part of the “build up” to Christmas. Such performances are a wonderful opportunity to be inspired by the words of the premier social justice prophet of the Old Testament. Several recitatives and arias in Handel’s oratorio echo the poetic utterances of Isaiah, who powerfully expressed the Jewish people’s hope for the Anointed One who would bring a reign of justice. This long anticipated reign of justice has become a universal hope, but one mostly still unfulfilled: the majority of our brothers and sisters still live in inequality or abject poverty.

Social justice is a recurring theme in Isaiah. "Learn to do well," the prophet writes; "seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judget the fatherless, plead for the widow" (Isaiah 1:17). "The spoil of the poor is in your houses," he warns. "What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord GOD of hosts" (Isaiah 3:15). In the agrarian society of ancient Israel, Isaiah raises a voice of warning to wealthy landowners who sieze the small farms of the poor (Isaiah 5:8-9). He condemns unjust government: “Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless” (Isaiah 10:1-2).

In a passage familiar to Latter-day Saints, Isaiah links fasting with social justice. After listing the wrong attitudes and actions of the people on their fast days, the Lord asks: "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen; to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter--when you see the naked, to clothe him; and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?” (Isaiah 58:6-7).

One translation of the famous “Unto us a child is born” passage and the verses leading up to it highlights the social justice dimension of this prophecy:

Anguish has taken wing, dispelled is darkness;
for there is no gloom where but now there was distress,
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
Upon those who dwell in the land of gloom
a light has shone.

For the yoke that burdened them,
the pole on their shoulder,
and the rod of their taskmaster
you have smashed...

For a child is born to us, a son is given us;
upon his shoulder dominion rests.
They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero,
Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.

Annette Daley was born in London, England, and joined the Church in Frankfurt, Germany, where shortly after she served as a stake missionary. She was, as she explains, married twice in one week to her husband, once in Denmark and the second time in the Swiss Temple. (At the time, LDS sealings were not recognized as marriages in Europe.) They were married for 15 years and have four boys: Ryan, 19, Kyle, 17, Tye, 15 and Bryce, 7. The marriage ended after Annette's husband came out of the closet as a gay man.

Annette has been active in MESJ activities in Salt Lake City, where she currently works in the office of mayor Rocky Anderson. In January 2003, she spoke alongside another MESJ member, Debora Wrathall, as part of a panel at the University of Utah titled "Mormons Reflect on the Legacy of Martin Luther King." In July 2003, she was quoted, and her photo featured, in a story about MESJ that ran on the front page of the religion and ethics section in the Deseret News.

The fact that you're a convert to the Church is particularly noteworthy given the negative perceptions many black folks have about the Church because of the priesthood restriction. Why did you join?

I converted to the Church in the Frankfurt Germany Servicemen's ward in 1982. I was raised in the Church of England and was "sent" to church by my parents each week with my sisters, which greatly impacted me and why I go to church regularly with my children. Worshipping as a family is a tradition.

I joined the LDS Church because I went "just once" to keep my friend happy and was amazed at the happy families that I saw there. I recall my mother telling me in my youth that no marriage is a happy one, and that we (my sisters and I) would be better off living with a man than marrying. Interestingly enough, until two years ago, I am the only one of my sisters who ever married.

I stay in the LDS Church because I believe with all my heart that this is God's church. While I struggle with living in Utah and some sense of prejudice against blacks, I know that this is where God wants me to be. Upon relocating to Utah initially, everything was so different. People seemed to be so much like Zoramites, glad that they were not like "those" non-members. Hence Elder Ballard's recent admonition in General Conference that we embrace those not of our faith, and hence the creaation of the Alliance for Unity. As far as the priesthood being withheld from black men, I consider it all in the historical context of the country at the time. It would have been difficult to have had the ban lifted too many years earlier, because the members of the Church just weren't ready for it. It does bother me somewhat that the ACLU was on the verge of bringing a massive lawsuit against the church for its actions relative to the issue of blacks and the priesthood.

What are some of the social issues that particularly concern you?

I am most concerned with homelessness. It does not seem right that a country with so much wealth can allow this scourge to continue to permeate our society. I worked for a year or so as a volunteer at The Road Home Shelter in Salt Lake City. I was amazed at the people who walk through the doors--I have often thought "there but for the grace of God go I." I think back and shudder to recall the time when my husband left me without a job, money, or car and four small children to take care of. Were it not for my youngest sister and the LDS Church, I too would have been homeless.

I think that we are absolutely wrong on how we approach healthcare in this country. Even those who pay high premiums for insurance are often unable to make co-pays and deductibles. All this while our neighbors to the north in Canada are able to get students through medical school for one tenth of the cost that we pay here in the U.S. It is a disgrace that we allow children to go without, the poor to go without, the elderly to choose between food and medicine, due to the price gouging and lobbying that takes care among the pharmaceutical giants. They have unprecedented access to government, and this is something that needs to be addressed. Again, I focus on our neighbors to the north; they are able to provide decent and affordable prescription coverage. Indeed, many of our own citizens are choosing to either drive to Canada or purchase their pills online at considerable cost savings.

How have you been able to focus on some of these issues in your work?

One social issue with which I am greatly concerned and have been able to address through my work in Rocky Anderson's office is "The Great Divide" between Mormons and non-Mormons. While I believe that this is a uniquely Utah phenomenon, it causes my heart great sorrow. I have been meeting with two committees to discuss how we can better understand one another and recognize that we are more alike than dissimilar. I believe in the Alliance for Unity and their admonition to embrace others and diversity. On November 17 we held atown hall-type meeting at the city library, where members of the mayor's committee on "Bridging the Religious Divide"could discuss their findings and personal stories in a public forum. I believe that we should let each worship--or not--"how, where, or what they may."

How do gospel principles influence your social values or the way you approach social justice issues?

I am a believer in the inspired Articles of Faith and in King Benjamin's exhortation in the Book of Mormon to help those who are downtrodden, to reach out to the poor, hungry, and homeless. As a direct result, I believe, of being raised in a socially minded country. I esteem everyone as my brother or sister and believe that addressing social justice issues is something that God would want us to do. Indeed, we have been told that we "should be anxiously engaged in a good cause." I believe firmly in this scripture.

Christ was the perfect example of one who fought for social justice. He spent his time around the meek, lowly in heart, downtrodden and leftovers of society. He loved them, blessed them and refused to judge them. We should all be following his example more closely.

How did you discover MESJ? What appeals to you about the organization? What might you like to see MESJ do more of?

I had just come back to church after a one-year hiatus, during which time I searched deep into my soul and asked God whether I could stay in the Church and live in Utah with its many ironies, controversies, and idiosyncracies. Once I decided to stay, I went to church but felt that something was missing. During that time, I was assigned to represent the west side of Salt Lake City in my work as a Community Affairs Analyst for Mayor Anderson. I attended the very popular KRCL's Day in the Park. There were people from diverse socio-economic groups, various races and ages. I was amazed at this incredible celebration of community. I happened upon James Tobler, who was staffing a MESJ table. I eagerly approached and read a pamphlet about MESJ. I was thrilled that such an organization existed and realized that I had found an answer to my prayers. I could be a socially minded person and seek for social justice and still live in Utah! It amazes me to this day.

MESJ is a wonderful tool for its members to reach out to others in the community with like belief, whether that be organizing a peace rally, supporting the Kingston mineworkers, or protesting the war
--MESJ is right on target. I know that the organization does not speak out against stances the Church has taken, but I would like to see MESJ address intolerance and discrimation against gays in our society. This is an issue that is dividing the nation and families.

Thank you for this wonderful opportunity.

In last month's newsletter, we provided an update on the striking Huntington miners, whom MESJ has supported together with several other labor and social justice organizations. Utah Jobs with Justice, an organization with which Salt Lake MESJ has ties, has provided a further update, excerpted below:

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has ruled that Kingston family members will not be allowed to vote in a union election at the Kingston Co-Op mine!

Thank you to all of you who took the time to send faxes to the NLRB urging them to make the right decision on this important case back in September. We definitely got their attention: 1400 faxes were sent to the NLRB Regional Office in Denver until they called to beg us to stop sending them--they got the point. Back in May, 1800 of you sent faxes to the Kingstons urgnig them to reinstate the workers they illegally fired. The amazing amount of support that the workers have received from people like you around the country has undoubtedly made a huge difference in this uphill battle.

The Kingstons are planning to appeal the ruling, but it is hoped that the NLRB will set a date for an election in the near future. Many of the miners originally fired from the mine have moved on to other jobs, but those remaining strongly support the union. Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff is now running a financial probe of the clan and hopes to bring an organized-crime-style prosecution against the Kingstons and has sent a letter to the NLRB regarding his experience with the Kingstons. In July, the National Labor Relations Board ordered the Kingston family to reinstate the fired workers with back pay.

We posed this question in last month's newsletter. Here's how some readers responded:

In order to justify his unilateral, war-minded approach to foreign policy, President George W. Bush has shamelessly abused religious rhetoric. Many Europeans fear that he will continue his "war on terror" by attacking additional sovereign nations not connected with the horrific 9-11 events. I seriously hope that he will not. At the same time, European statesmen, such as German chancellor Schroeder, have instrumentalized this fear to build up their own popularity and win elections. What we need now is a new beginning in US-European relations with renewed respect and partnership. Bush ought to soon visit Germany, France, and other European nations opposed to the war in Iraq.

Ralf Gruenke, Erlangen, Germany

I would like to see a foriegn policy that encourages liberty, equality and justice for all rather than one that perpetuates a narrow and often dogmatic definition of freedom. I would also like to see a foreign policy that encourages global economic development rather than a protectionist model that fights to maintain the U.S.'s grip on the global economy. These two things would do a lot to bring more peace and goodness to the world.

James Tobler, Palm Springs, CA

The Wall that the state of Israel is building across and around Palestine lands must be halted!

Stacey Chard, Nampa, ID

NEXT MONTH'S QUESTION Do you have a socially conscious New Year's resolution?

Maybe you're thinking about increasing your fast offering, or supplementing it with donations to another organization. Or maybe you want to be better about recycling. Or you've resolved that this is the year you'll write that letter to the editor you've been thinking about. Or maybe you've decided to let that embarrassing Sam's Club membership expire. Was that last one a little too polemic? Well, let us know what's on your list of resolutions.

Send your responses by December 25 to jcduffy@hotmail.com. Please put "Anxiously Engaged" in the subject line. Include your name and your city. Responses may be edited for space, tone, and clarity.

Dec. 1	World AIDS Day
Dec. 1	LAS VEGAS: World AIDS Day Discussion
Dec. 2	International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
Dec. 3	International Day of Disabled Persons
Dec. 4	SALT LAKE: Social
Dec. 4-5	LAS VEGAS: Solidarity fast for people with HIV/AIDS
Dec. 5	First Presidency Christmas devotional
Dec. 5	International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development
Dec. 7	International Civil Aviation Day
Dec. 10	Human Rights Day
Dec. 18	International Migrants Day
Dec. 25	Christmas Day  (family home evening ideas, greeting cards)

Anxiously Engaged welcomes submissions! Here are some things we'd be especially interested in hearing about:

• What are your thoughts in response to the Question of the Month?
• What have you been doing, as a concerned citizen, to promote social justice?
• Have you seen or heard about something inspiring--something that shows people can make a difference in working for a better society?

Send submissions to Media Director John-Charles Duffy at jcduffy@hotmail.com. Please include "Anxiously Engaged" in the subject line.