I never did return to the LDS faith, though I hold many of
its teachings in high esteem. Throughout my teen years, I
explored a variety of spiritual paths. In my twenties, I earned
two degrees in the field of religious studies and traveled
extensively. I lived in Jerusalem for a year to more fully
examine Abrahamic faiths. Later, I studied at a meditation
center in the Himalayas to research Hindu philosophies. While
I love studying the beauty of each of the world’s wisdom
traditions, I resonate most deeply with practices that directly
engaged the body through dance, yoga, or meditation.
Certainly, I realize it is a gift to be born into a tradition that
deeply resonates with one’s inner being. A lifelong practice of
a spiritual tradition can yield tremendous light. Yet, a gift also
awaits those who don’t feel at home in their family’s religious
tradition. It’s a gift to trust that feeling of dissonance and begin
one’s own search.
My mother used to tell me that I made guardian angels “work
overtime.” Looking back on the choices I made as a young
woman, I’m sure I was the source of many sleepless nights. I
chose a different, unmarked, and pretty adventurous path from
the one she intended for me. It was a path distinct from the
prescribed life patterns of a conservative Mormon woman.
Continued on Page 18.
SHIFTING SPIRITUAL LANDSCAPES
BY AMY WRIGHT GLENN