The Accusation That Traveled Only One Way

And it came to pass that an accusation was passed among the people. It was whispered privately; often enough to grow legs and run. And when challenged openly the accusation clothed itself in parable and stepped into the public.

The man had frequently taught through scripture and opened the understanding of the congregation through his written word and friendly conversation. He was often invited to expound to the people when gathered. But the man hadn’t shared his scriptural insight in quite awhile. Thus, his recorded words— newly published —generated excitement among the congregation.  They could not recall that he had ever addressed them this way before.  But they discerned that the accusation was now clothed in scripture; spoken by the man they had loved and admired. He—saying it was carried by concern for righteousness.

The one over whom the accusation cast its shadow did not speak publicly. He did not publish his thoughts; he did not teach to crowds; he did not answer through articles or recordings. He had no platform from which to reply. And it was known among the people that this man possessed very little. He did not gather funds; he did not invite donations for his own support; he did not oversee accounts. He moved from place to place, quietly carrying his needs with him.

Meanwhile, the man upon whose lips now carried the accusation into public light spoke often. He sat in the chief seats before the people; he placed himself at the podium; he was heard and recognized. From the upper room he spoke and support followed. 

Yet it was not he who bore the charges. The accusation instead flowed downward.

It traveled from the one with voice to the other with out. From the one with means to the other with out. From the one who could explain himself publicly to the other who answered privately, only when asked. This troubled some among the people.

For scripture had taught them that priestcraft exalts the teacher above the hearer, and places the burden upon those who are taught. Yet here, the burden fell not upon the one receiving support, but upon the other already stripped of it.

The one with resources warned against corruption. The other without purse or scrip was named as its example. The one who lived in luxury cautioned against misuse. The other, homeless, bore the suspicion.

And the accusation did not diminish.

It did not climb upward for examination; it did not test those with authority; it did not weigh the conduct of those with influence.

It flowed downhill like dirty water over rocks.

And the people began to notice that accusations which travel only one way do not purity the people, but contaminate with confusion. They do not refine the community; they render it uncertain.

For when the powerful speak of danger, and the powerless are named as its wellspring, the accusation itself becomes a tool—regardless of the professed sincerity with which it is spoken. 

And so the people were left to consider: priestcraft is known by who is elevated and who is diminished—yet this accusation was regarded by the target and not from whence it was launched.  Wisdom requires that trajectory be tested.

And the people began to perceive that the accusation had done a work—not by what it proved, but by whom it burdened.

The Pattern He Would Not Name

And it came to pass that a man with a public voice began to speak again from scripture.

He said that he was teaching patterns found in holy writ, as he had always done. He reminded his listeners that he had studied for many years, that this was his habit, and that anyone who knew him would recognize the approach. And he chose to begin with a pattern already familiar to the people.

Now it was known among them that this same pattern had recently been invoked in judgment against another man—openly, publicly, and without resolution. The memory of it was not distant, nor settled, nor healed. It was still present in the minds of those who listened.

And a woman, observing the timing, asked a simple question. She did not accuse; she did not presume; she asked only where the man was coming from. She asked whether the pattern he was teaching was meant to be understood in light of what had already occurred. She asked whether he was relating the ancient account to present events. She asked because listeners could not help but hear it that way.

And the man answered her at length. He spoke of his habits; he spoke of his sincerity; he spoke of his long practice of viewing the world through scripture. He said that the message was larger than any recent dispute, and that the matters raised before were small by comparison. He said that he was leaving his own opinions out of the teaching, and that he was not drawing comparisons to the present.

Yet he also acknowledged that listeners would inevitably apply scripture to what was happening around them. And having said this, he refused to say more. He would not clarify whether the pattern was being invoked in reference to the present moment. He would not deny the obvious association. He would not name the pattern as it now lived among the people. Instead, he left the application to circulate freely.

And when it was suggested that the pattern, left unnamed, might nevertheless wound, he spoke not of the effect, but of his interior state. He spoke of anxiety, of inadequacy, of tears, and of the weight he felt upon his soul. He insisted that he did not seek attention, nor influence, nor followers. And the people heard him. Yet the question that had been asked was not answered.

For the question was not whether he was sincere. The question was not whether he felt burdened. The question was not whether scripture mattered. The question was why this pattern was being spoken now, and whether it was being allowed to fall where it already had power to harm. And on this, he was silent. Thus the pattern moved among the people without a name. It moved without ownership. It moved without correction. Those inclined to apply it did so freely. Those already under its weight felt it press further. And the speaker remained untouched by its consequences. For there is a power in naming, and there is also a power in refusing to name.

And it was seen by some that to invoke a pattern while declining to acknowledge its present use is not neutrality, but a subtler form of authority. For though the speaker did not make the accusation himself, he created the conditions in which it could circulate, unowned and unchecked. Thus the pattern was taught. And thus the pattern was applied. And thus the one who spoke of it bore none of its cost. And many began to perceive that what was left unsaid had done more work than what was spoken.

Echo Chambers, Old and New

Some Covenant Christian women have created semi-public forums—Slack channels and Gaggle groups—where participation is conditional. You’re welcome, as long as you don’t disagree with their narrative. Questions don’t open conversation; they quietly close it.

That pattern feels familiar to me.

Years ago, while attending the LDS Church, my temple recommend was removed after I asked questions in Relief Society. I was told by the bishop that I was there to learn, not to teach. Apparently my questions were too instructive. When I asked if I could simply read a scripture aloud, the answer was an emphatic no—you know too much about the scriptures. I was permitted to participate only insofar as my comments aligned with the narrative being presented.

I eventually left that community.

Today, I worship among a different group of people who call themselves Covenant Christians—a new community beyond church structure, yet with the same instinct. I’ve watched familiar dynamics resurface, driven by the same reflex: protecting unity by controlling who gets to speak and which questions are allowed to surface.

To be clear, there is one Slack channel still open to all Covenant Christian women, and I’m genuinely grateful for the integrity of the admins who keep it that way. Open spaces matter. They are rare—and worth protecting.

I don’t take myself or my situation too seriously. But I do take patterns seriously. Especially the ones that repeat themselves under new names.

So I wrote a song.

The Gaggle Slack Echo Chamber is a lighthearted folk satire dedicated to exclusive platforms that can’t quite tolerate disagreement. It’s not about individuals. It’s about process. About what happens when curiosity is managed instead of engaged, and when “safe space” quietly becomes agreement only.

Truth doesn’t need an echo chamber.
It needs daylight—and maybe a fiddle.

Christmas Worship 2025

Enjoy these Christmas Originals written by Emily Willis! We're loving these new songs!

Fasting: Physical and Spiritual Benefits

Fasting is a powerful practice that offers both health and spiritual blessings. Over the past month, as I’ve applied this law and principle in my life, I have felt a deep desire to fast more often. I’ve seen that fasting works as a principle—its blessings are received in proportion to my sincerity and intent—and yet it is also a law, a divine commandment that strengthens both body and spirit when honored.

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The Health Benefits of Fasting

Dr. Sten Ekberg teaches that fasting supports the body’s natural healing processes. When we stop eating for a period, insulin levels drop, allowing the body to switch from burning glucose to stored fat. This reduces insulin resistance, supports healthy weight loss, and decreases harmful visceral fat.

Fasting also activates autophagy, the body’s cellular cleanup system, which recycles damaged cells, supports mitochondrial function, and may slow aspects of aging. Many people notice steadier blood sugar, fewer cravings, and improved metabolic flexibility.

Reduced insulin and oxidative stress can decrease inflammation, resulting in clearer thinking, less joint discomfort, and improved vitality. Heart and metabolic markers, including triglycerides and HDL, may also improve.

Because fasting allows ketones to become a primary fuel source, many report sharper mental focus and better mood. Hunger and satiety hormones rebalance, helping the body recognize true hunger. Finally, fasting gives the digestive system a rest, calming the gut, improving digestion, and resetting eating patterns.

What Happens If You Don't Eat For 5 Days? Watch on YouTube.

Safety note: Fasting is not recommended for children under 18, pregnant or breastfeeding women, those with eating disorders, type 1 diabetes, or certain medical conditions.

These physical benefits naturally lead to the deeper mental, emotional, and spiritual clarity that many people experience through fasting.

Spiritual Benefits of Fasting: Receiving the Holy Ghost

While fasting has physical benefits, its spiritual blessings are even greater. The Glossary of Terms on Fasting explains:

“And blessed are all they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled with the holy ghost (3 Nephi 5:15). This scripture is not about hunger or poverty. It is about fasting and seeking after righteousness. All qualify for this blessing by ‘hungering after righteousness.’ All qualify by ‘thirsting after righteousness.’ In other words, one receives the holy ghost in proportion to the hunger and thirst he or she displays. Fasting is a promised means for increasing the holy ghost in one’s life.”

Wow! Look at this incredible blessing! Fasting is a promised means for increasing the Holy Ghost in one’s life. "The Lord speaks in simple formulas; they work. When tried in sincerity, acting no hypocrisy, with real intent, they work. Half-hearted efforts are not so effective. But when a soul, any soul, hungers and thirsts after righteousness, they are filled with the holy ghost."

Fasting and prayer open the spirit and allow individuals to know matters through the power of the Holy Ghost. As Alma testified:

“And this is not all; do ye not suppose that I know of these things myself? Behold, I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true. And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety? Behold, I say unto you, they are made known unto me by the holy spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself” (Alma 3:8).

The sons of Mosiah also illustrate this principle. After their missionary service, they returned to Alma having “given themselves to much prayer and fasting,” and as a result, “they had the spirit of prophecy and the spirit of revelation… and they taught with power and authority” (Alma 12:1).

The Glossary further explains:

“Fasting is the most effective way to slacken the grasp of this telestial world on the mind and to move toward another ambience. To fast is to do without some normal necessities; your everyday considerations must be put aside because you will be doing other things that require a totally different mind-set. To fast is to disengage from the temporal and wasteful activities of the ‘real world.’”

Fasting, when done with sincerity and real intent, promises:

• Greater companionship with the Holy Ghost
  
  

• Clarity of mind and spirit
  
  

• Increased sensitivity to revelation
  
  

• Alignment of the heart with God’s will

Hungering and thirsting after righteousness is the pathway to being filled with the Holy Ghost.

Ideas taken from Glossary of Terms on Fasting