“Michele is a wonderful vivacious woman. She is talented and well suited to speak to large groups. She is direct yet tactful. She leaves the audience with an understanding of the topic and with a hope and desire to do better. Her manner is upbeat and instructive. I would highly recommend Michele to anyone who is looking for a speaker to inspire their group.” Quote from Richard Beard after hearing Michele’s speech “Love thy Neighbor”, (Corner Canyon Stake President, Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints)

Mark 12: 29-31 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
30: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength; This is the first commandment.
31: And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.


People generally want to love each other. They want to embrace mankind. But, when their ego and fears enter their heart, they lose their way.

I am a mother of 2 children and a stepmother of 4 children. My husband of 9 years is Mormon and I am Presbyterian. Yes, that is a religion, not just a social club.

I grew up with a very restless soul, searching for the meaning of life. I found it among the hearts of people. On my journey for inter-peace I have been fortunate enough to travel to over 35 Countries. I have prayed with the monks in Tibet, broke bread with women in Egypt, helped build schools with the people in Bali and Burma, been on freedom walks with Hungarians, and even ran from KGB in Prague as some kind people there hid me under their legs. When I was too sick to walk, strangers in Peru carried me to their hospital. The hearts of these individuals have truly showed me what it means to love thy neighbor. It doesn’t matter whether people believed in Buddhism, Hinduism, Catholicism, or Atheism. When I looked into their hearts I truly felt the love of God. God’s love is everywhere protecting us and embracing us with his long arms. I was reminded one day while sitting in primary, that God can answer our prayers three different ways: through scripture, through the Holy Ghost, and by using someone as his instrument. No matter what color our skin is or what our background happens to be or even what religion we were raised in, God works through all of us to help answer our prayers.

A few years ago, we sold our place in New York City and moved to Utah on a permanent basis. I was scared, but determined to keep an open mind. I received the cold shoulder from some people in a neighborhood. I had one mother ask me why she had not seen me in Church. It was impossible to make play dates for my children, because no one would return my calls. I will never forget one spring. There was a teenage boy across the street that was going for his Eagle Scout badge. He was playing basketball in his front yard. I went out to get the mail and somehow I twisted my angle on the curb. I was in the middle of the road screaming that I had hurt my ankle. He stopped dribbling for a second, looked up and then went back to playing basketball. Even in NEW YORK CITY someone would have helped me. He didn’t even ask if I were okay or even go get his mother.

I wanted to know why people were acting like this. After all, I moved to Zion.

3 Ne. 12: 16 Therefore let your light so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

After I got over being mad I remembered a quote from Gandhi’s grandson. “You must be the change you want to see in the world. You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops go into the ocean that is dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.”

A small voice reminded me not to judge my neighbors. So I needed to take the first step and reach out in order to get to know them. I started to go to the local Latter Day Saint Church. When I went, people were friendly. I met some great people like the Evens, Fries, Merrills, and Jordans. As I continued to attend church, the walls between the neighbors and me began to slowly come down. I was invited to speak at an enrichment night about the “Art of Being Grateful”. This was a true blessing because it allowed others to see that even though I am not a Latter Day Saint, we still have many things in common.

It’s very easy to judge someone that is of a different religion or ethnic background. However, with this easy judgment comes condemnation to us from the Lord. If we don’t take time to get to know our different neighbors we truly are limiting ourselves from the blessings of the God.

I remember a story I was told many years ago of a farmer who lived in California. His son’s dream was to go to Harvard University. His son was a model student and a much respected member of the community. A few weeks before he was going to leave for his first semester at Harvard, he died in an accident. His parents were devastated. After the funeral, they began to drive across the country and ended up at Harvard University. As the couple entered the President’s office, the President noticed how this couple was dressed. The father had a tattered suit, and there was dust on his shoes because he was a farmer. The mother’s outfit was out of date and wrinkled. The President listened to their story about their son. When the couple expressed they wanted to make an endowment in their son’s name, the President repeatedly said “an endowment is very expensive”. I am sorry about your son, but to name a building after him is very expensive. The President continued to say that Harvard is a renowned University and endowment gifting is monetarily restrictive. No amount of money was ever talked about and the President showed the couple out. The couple left the office once again devastated. When they returned home to California, they still wanted to do something for their son. So they donated some acreage of their fruit farm to put the campus on and built some of the initial buildings and Perry Stanton B. Stanford University was born.

Mosiah 29: 12
12: Now it is better that a man should be judged of God than of man, for the judgments of God are always just, but the judgments of man are not always just.

The President quickly judged these people because of the way they were dressed. He really never took the time to hear their story and get to know them. Because of his quickness to judge, he deprived Harvard University of a great endowment. How often do we judge people quickly? For this might be the very person the Lord has sent to answer our prayers.

“When you’re standing over me in judgment; you’re blocking my view of the Lord.” (Dr. Tracy Kimble)

D&C 112:10
10: Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers. 11: I know thy heart, and have heard thy prayers concerning thy brethren. Be not partial towards them in love above many others, but let thy love be for them as for thyself; and let thy love abound unto all men, and unto all who love my name.

I read somewhere my knowledge is only equal to a pebble that lies on the beach. The more I humble myself to the power and love of God the more lessons he introduces me to, because God is everywhere.

My son, Christian, has a speech problem that continues today. I have worked with the public school system to get him speech therapy. I was not happy with his progress, so I began to pray and do some research in order to find him a private speech therapist. The offices I called were not on my insurance plan, too far away, too expensive, or just full. I was frustrated and continued to pray for guidance. One day Christian and I were playing in the Draper Park. He was trying to work his way into a group of children that were all playing together. He was having a difficult time being accepted. Finally my 4 year old Christian told me to “Go and sit with the other mommas”. He was persistent “Go and sit with the other mommas.” As I thought about it, that was very astute of him. If the other mothers accept me, then it will be easier for Christian to be accepted by their children. So I went over and sat with the group of mothers and sure enough the children began to play with Christian. As I opened up and began to speak to these women, I learned one of them was a speech therapist and had a student who just graduated, leaving an opening. She lived close to my house and took my insurance. She was very reasonable and had many years of experience. With Christian’s persistence, I reached out to befriend some strangers and my prayers were answered.

I am not the most perfect neighbor, but one thing I have learned is if I chose to live in a box my light will go out. But instead, if I allow fresh air into my life, my faith can grow. I have faith the Lord will lead me to where he needs me. I have faith that my brothers and sisters of all races can enrich my life. I have faith in my children to grow strong roots in the community and accept diversity. I have learned to take off the blinders and leave the eyeglasses of judgment at home. With an open heart and mind, the Lord will answers my prayers through a neighbor with a different faith, a man dressed in a tattered suit, or a group of strangers in the park.

When I die and face judgment day before the Lord, what will the Lord see in my heart: fear or love, judgment or acceptance, blindness toward others, or an open-minded person with a helping hand?

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.