Please saddle us with *jaramiq*, not Accusation (Takfir): Memoirs of a Writer and Psychiatrist -2-

When your mind is as vast as God’s earth, you will be amazed by the abundance of trees and flowers that sprout within it, and by the variety of birds singing in its open spaces.
You will view life through the eyes of wisdom and love, rather than those of a foolish extremist´-or-a fanatical zealot.

The mind with which God has endowed us is capable of perceiving beauty and drawing lessons and wisdom from every culture and religion on this earth.

This is what we told Alma Lily when she asked us, "Mom, Dad, are we Mormon? Why, then, are we visiting this place?"
Alma Lily is fifteen-;- she has far more questions than we have answers...

This took place on June 19, 2026,
when the San Diego California Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) opened its doors to visitors after a long closure.

Google tells us that the San Diego California Temple is a prominent landmark featuring ten spires. Located near La Jolla, it is clearly visible from the I-5 freeway.
The temple first opened in 1993, following an "open house" period during which it was visited by over 720,000 people. It closed in July 2023 for extensive renovations.
The temple holds historical significance for the Latter-day Saint community in San Diego, a community with roots dating back to 1847 and the arrival of the Mormon Battalion.

Yet, what I taught my daughter was about love and life—about rejecting rigid boxes and embracing the "other," and about learning from every person, religion, sect, nationality, and group on this earth. What I—a woman well into her fifties—learned there was far greater. Listen, beloved of God, you who use your minds.

We stood in line to enter the building-;- on either side of the doorways sat women, men, and children, ready to put something resembling *jaramiq* on people’s feet.

Many of you might ask: what are *jaramiq*? Before reading on, try to picture what they might be.

A cloak?
A hat?
A scarf?

Or a symbol?


No, my friends-;- they fitted us with disposable covers to wear over our shoes, designed to protect the carpets from -dir-t.

(Technically, the term *jaramiq* refers to waterproof gaiters´-or-covers worn over the lower legs and boots for outdoor use.)

Is the primary lesson here simply learning what *jaramiq* are? Of course not.

I want you to picture it: women, men, and children greeting you with welcoming smiles, then humbly bending down at every visitor s feet to slip on a shoe cover, before thanking them for their visit. I want us to grasp the psychological significance of entering a temple—without anyone asking about your religion, race, ethnicity, gender,´-or-political affiliation—only to have someone—quite literally—put your footwear on for you. I want our children to grow up knowing that "whoever humbles himself for the sake of God, God exalts," and that one s true worth in life lies in one s deeds and in helping others—not in trivial gossip, the superficiality of brand-name status,´-or-fads.

We entered the temple—a marvel of beauty and architectural and human craftsmanship. White dominated the space-;- the white carpeting helped explain why we were required to wear those protective shoe covers.

Each group followed its own tour guide to learn about the site.
We heard no claims of superiority, no dismissive questions like "Who are you?", and no in-dir-ect accusations of heresy against any person´-or-religion. On the contrary, they highlighted the similarities shared with many other faiths.

They spoke of their strong emphasis on the importance of family, including the belief that families can be "sealed" (bound) together for eternity within these sacred structures.
They showed us two facing mirrors in the room where this eternal family bonding—symbolically speaking—takes place. When you look into the mirror facing the one behind you, you see your own reflection repeated infinitely, symbolizing eternity.

Mormon proselytizing is rooted in love and peace-;- their church is known as "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."

Like followers of Islam and Judaism, they possess a strong collective identity and missionary zeal.
Mormons place great importance on dietary and lifestyle guidelines (such as the "Word of Wisdom," akin to *Halal* standards), and they also regard *Zakat*—or charitable giving—as a religious obligation.

They once practiced polygamy—as was the case in Islam—though this practice has since been officially discontinued.
Mormon scholars and leaders maintain that their faith is a restoration of original Christianity, rather than a derivative of it.

I also learned that they believe in continuing revelation. ...the divine through a living prophet, and they typically abstain from alcohol, coffee, tea, and tobacco.

Indeed, my friends, there are approximately 17 million members worldwide who pay tithes (10% of their income) as a fundamental practice of being Mormon. Since its founding by Joseph Smith in 1830 in upstate New York, members were driven westward by persecution, eventually settling in Utah.

Persecution has taken its toll on minorities all over the earth!

The Mormon faith subsequently became one of the fastest-growing Christian denominations of the 20th century, driven by a strong emphasis on self-reliance, community service, and education.

********

In the twenty-first century:
While Alawites, Druze, Kurds, and other minorities in our strife-torn lands—stretching from the Ocean to the Gulf—struggle to preserve their lives, their knowledge, their beliefs, and their way of communing with God, the Mormon community stands respected and protected by American law and the concept of peace—a principle meant to be the foundation of all religions.

While my family and I visit the Mormon temple with confidence and affection, we fear visiting many Islamic places of worship, lest our lineage and background be scrutinized, and we be branded infidels based on the length of a robe´-or-the style of a beard.

Oh, proponents of chauvinism and supremacy:
Your nations will never rise until you separate religion from state. You will never become a "Singapore"—or even a new Syria—until you define an "opposition member" as someone who cares for the country rather than their own self-interest, and define a "criminal" as anyone who encroaches upon the lives of others—whether with their hands, their tongues,´-or-even their hearts.

Until then, we—the community of open minds—remain a welcoming land for all of God’s people. The mind and the soul, in an age of consumerism and the glamorization of crime.

And to you, the sorrowful:
Never in history has injustice endured forever-;- what endures forever is gratitude and appreciation for the one who once helped us put on our " Jaramiq".

To be continued…

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