• Jason Chaffetz - Mormon Women for Ethical Government
    MWEG Opinions

    MWEG Op-Ed: ‘An open letter to Jason Chaffetz from Mormon Women for Ethical Government’

    “Dear Rep. Jason Chaffetz. As a nonpartisan organization of nearly 5,000 women, many of whom are your constituents, we are profoundly disturbed by apparent Russian involvement in our recent election. The unexpected firing of FBI Director James Comey is one more disruptive action weakening confidence in the current administration.” Click here for the full text of this Deseret News op-ed written by the founders of Mormon Women for Ethical Government.

  • Voices of MWEG

    The Siegmund Refugees: A Transylvanian Immigration Story

    Submitted by Lisa Catmull, edited by Mel Henderson Marianne Siegmund’s father was called up to serve in the Hungarian military just days after she was born in March 1944. Soon the Russian army was approaching, and in August, when Marianne, an only child, was just 5 months old, her mother took her and the rest of her family and fled their native Transylvania for Austria. They thought the relocation would be temporary, that they would later return to their comfortable home, but this was never to be. Marianne wrote, “On this journey my mother was a true heroine in keeping me alive. She could not nurse me, but she had taken…

  • Voices of MWEG

    My Women’s March

    by Courtney Lennberg “Bail me out if I get arrested, please.” I jested as I grabbed my coat and keys. My husband laughed at my sarcasm, but there was a grain of sincerity cloaked in the satire. I had never been to a political rally of any kind, and this one, the Boise Women’s March, was certainly one way to go in with a bang. I picked up my neighbor—a German expat who lived among a landscape and history that stood as a witness to the dangers of demagoguery and nationalism, and her friend—an American woman I’d never met. While we waited on a barista to conjure up their coffee…

  • Voices of MWEG

    An Afghan Family Immigration Story

    Submitted by an anonymous MWEG member, edited by Mel Henderson My husband was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, into a family that can trace its lineage directly to Muhammad. His family was politically active and vocal about it—unwelcome qualities in the social climate of the time. Two of his relatives became prominent political activists who were assassinated in the late 80s. But even earlier, things were very dangerous. The Russian army invaded Afghanistan in the 70s and they had a hit list. My husband’s outspoken family became a target. The Russians intended to find, arrest, and execute every male in his family. This would send a message to others and “put…

  • Voices of MWEG

    Making Friends

    by Ashleigh Lynn Ingebrigtsen I had the wonderful opportunity to attend “Meet the Muslims” at their mosque in Sandy, UT. I learned so much and loved chatting with people who have so much more in common with me than I ever realized. This is Salika, a clinical microbiologist at the University of Utah. She had a job interview in Maryland last week and her husband told her she shouldn’t wear her hijab on the airplane for fear of being kicked off the flight. The fear they feel and the discrimination they endure is real. She also likes Zumba, has two sons who play soccer, and her husband is a physician.…