This morning, as I sat in Primary, a substitute pianist for the children's singing, I was deeply touched by the message in their powerful, heartfelt songs. These children, MY children, are the hope that my heavy heart has been longing for. They are the hope for healing through love and faith. And strength through UNITY.
Their voices and spirits joined TOGETHER, any differences aside, to share their testimonies of Christ. I choked (not uncommon these days) but rejoiced—a deep joy filling my heart. I was again impressed that my own children need to know where and how I stand. That if we teach our children well, they will continue strong and brave and GOOD—the hope for mending a hurting and divided world.
The two great commandments are to love God and love our neighbor. These are not mutually exclusive. Faith, love, and unity are the foundation of what I believe. They are at the heart of what the Savior taught and lived. These are not soft or weak—they are the strength we need to combat violence and vitriol (which are never the answer). And because I feel so strongly about that, I also need my girls to know how those beliefs guide me in the choices I make as a citizen.
So, in hopes that my girls (at least) will know…
Where I Stand
I don’t often share political thoughts openly, but lately, politics and morality are exceptionally blurred, and I’ve felt the need to put my convictions into words—not to argue or persuade, but so my daughters will know where I stand. When the world feels divided and voices are loudest in anger, I want my girls to understand what guided my choices and what I believe matters most.
I am a moderately conservative Christian. I am a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother. My faith as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and as a daughter of God, grounds me, and my love for this country and its divinely inspired founding principles runs deep. I believe that with freedom comes responsibility—the responsibility to think, study, and act according to conscience, not simply to follow the crowd.
Over the past several years, I have wrestled with the character of our leaders. Policies are important, yes, but character, integrity, honesty, and dignity matter just as much—if not more. I cannot bring myself to excuse dishonesty, mockery, or bigotry simply because someone claims to represent my values—lip service cloaking hypocritical self-gain.
For me, a vote is not wasted if it reflects principle. It is wasted only if I use it to excuse or even condone what I believe to be wrong.
I want my daughters to know this: disagreement never justifies cruelty. Standing firm never requires mocking, belittling, or hatred. Christ Himself taught truth with boldness, but always with compassion. When leaders choose disrespect, selfishness, cruelty, and intentional divisiveness, it leaves marks on our society that policies cannot erase. My hope is to model something different—to take a stand with dignity and civility, to fight for what is right without losing kindness.
I believe America’s greatness does not lie in superiority but in responsibility. We are blessed, and that blessing calls us to strengthen what is good and to speak up against what is harmful. Gratitude for freedom means using my voice—not to tear down others, but to bear witness to the values I hold sacred.
So, to my girls: this is why I speak up. This is why I sometimes choose differently than those around me. I want you to see that truth and kindness can walk hand in hand, that courage and compassion are not opposites, and that faith and integrity matter more than winning an argument.
At the end of the day, administrations change, policies shift, but the way we treat people—the example we set—that lasts. My prayer for you, my girls, is that you will grow strong in truth, bold in kindness, and steady in integrity.
May you never mistake loudness for strength, or cruelty for courage. May you always know that standing firm and standing loving are not opposites, but companions. That is where I stand, and where I hope you will stand, too.
