Our church culture stresses the importance of family. Many of us also experience larger cultural messages that privilege romantic partnerships. Without minimizing or overemphasizing these relationships, we want to make space for another essential part of our lives, often overlooked: friendships, especially female friendships. Joseph Smith said, “Friendship is one of the grand fundamental principles of Mormonism.” Why? How?
Tell us your stories about friendship. When did you first realize the value of friendships in your life, and how? When have you felt spiritually inspired to be a friend to someone unexpected, and when has someone been that friend to you? When have you failed? How have you navigated conflicts, and what did you learn? Do you know a particularly vivid character, or perhaps a mentor, who taught you something you won’t forget anytime soon? How has friendship impacted your faith journey?
Submissions should conform to the mission of Exponent II and follow the submission guidelines. They can be up to 2,400 words (with 1,400 words often being the sweet spot). Send us your work by July 22, 2022.
(Photo by Josue Michel on Unsplash)
