Ally Isom's Faith-Centered Dialectics: Talking About Differences Transforms

[Calm]

More joy, people:

http://www.fairmormon.org/perspectives/fair-conferences/2016-fairmormon-conference/faith-centered-dialectics

[Calm]

"Today, I want to talk about how, when we show up, when we engage in that arena—the places where we have public dialog and explore solutions—and we talk about our differences, it changes us. Just by being present and earnestly listening, by practicing discipleship from a center of faith, compassion and vision, we are transformed. Our heart is made new (Ezekiel 18:31). We are changed. We are more (Alma 32:28).

First, the disclaimer—I’m here as Ally Isom, the dark chocolate-loving, mom of four, grandma of one, from Kaysville, Utah, where you are going to find my bed unmade and our food storage lacking. (And for the record: When the big one hits, I do plan to barter with chocolate, so bring your homemade canned peaches and salsa. I’ll be the one with the brownies.)

In my professional life, I’m no historian or academic. I’ve been a spokesperson for other people or the LDS Church, but today my remarks are my own. Given the chance to share my thoughts with other people who also think about and talk about faith, people who want to engage in the public arena and facilitate dialog or dialectic that affirms faith, there are four core concepts I want to discuss.

1. Words matter
2. People matter
3. You matter
4. We matter

My intent today in sharing these four principles is not to over-generalize or over-simplify. Rather, I hope to provide a little hope, because it can be risky, even rough, out there in that arena. More importantly, I pray my words provide a platform for the Spirit to instruct you, to provide you custom principles of your own that can help you in whatever arena you find yourself..."

[Buckeye]

I enjoyed reading this talk as well. Thanks for the transcript.

[Tacenda]

Thanks for posting the link Calm...it's a breath of fresth air to read Alley's talk. She's so positive and not pointing to negativity but how to proceed triumphantly. Love her, and hope she's able to rise to the top in women's leadership. I love her thought process. Below is a c/p of a couple of her remarks that were so true!!

 

"So let me ask you something: Whether it’s in our homes, or on the floor of the legislature, or on a local podcast, what if the point isn’t the outcome? What if the point is the process? Could it possibly be that the process is more important than the outcome? Could it possibly be that good works of discipleship are more important than good outcomes in the arena? What if, in the grander schemes of eternity, it’s not what we fought for, but how we contributed; it’s not the tangible deliverables, but whom we touched; it’s not the widgets produced or the book published or the bills passed or the size of your portfolio? What if it’s the understanding gained, the charity demonstrated, the patience refined, the relationships cherished, the friends kept, the people nurtured, the peace made, the hearts healed, the partnership with Heaven? What if the truest meaning in any arena is not in being right, but in becoming true? True disciples."

 

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
It is in dying to self that we are born to eternal life.

 

Edited August 17, 2016 by Tacenda

[bsjkki]

I loved this from the article.  

"In my portfolio are several assignments, one of which is chairing the Women’s Outreach Committee for LDS Public Affairs, where we work to elevate the voice, visibility and perceived value of women, both internally and externally. Too often, the concerns of women are framed in artificial binaries. The easy default is women vs. men. But I believe strongly that meaningful and durable solutions are found when we all engage.

And as I asked, “Why am I here?” the image that came to my mind was two hands, both left and right, cupped together. The Spirit said, “You are here to help men and women work together. We hold more Living Water together than we do separately.”

In the arena, it doesn’t matter who is the left hand or the right hand; what matters is that we work together, in partnership with Heaven, to share the Living Water and Light of Truth with others that all might feast upon the words of Christ and have eternal life."  

I was happy such an assignment exists!  I am quite opinionated politically so this was also a reminder to quit thinking angry thoughts about my friends and family that see things so very differently.  The disciples checklist really helped with that.

 

[BHodges]

Ally Isom did great. 

[juliann]

I like this 

Quote

 

Aren’t people often like those porcupines? We need each other, but we often approach the solution from completely different directions. And when we start to get close and work together we inadvertently poke and hurt one another. Working together requires care and patience; otherwise, someone gets hurt.

Today, I want to talk about how, when we show up, when we engage in that arena—the places where we have public dialog and explore solutions—and we talk about our differences, it changes us. Just by being present and earnestly listening, by practicing discipleship from a center of faith, compassion and vision, we are transformed. Our heart is made new (Ezekiel 18:31). We are changed. We are more (Alma 32:28).

 

 

[Meadowchik]

It does change us. Most people want to make things better. It's just that we all have very different issues to work on. One may be ignoring one issue in front of them because they have another waiting for them elsewhere, one perhaps only they can address.

That, to me, is the point of intellectualising problems. We have to in order to be mindful and not just reactionary,  even if the reaction seems good for the situation.