By Kat Hnatyshyn, Council of Twelve Apostles
For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.
There’s a sign you’ll see across Kansas and Oklahoma—one that confused my out-of-state friends every time we drove past it. It reads: “Do Not Drive into Smoke.”
Growing up, those signs were just part of the landscape. I spent countless hours on rural roads surrounded by grasslands and cattle, so their meaning felt obvious. But visitors would ask, “What does that even mean?” And my answer was always the same: “Don’t drive into the smoke… duh.”
But of course, there’s more to it.
In late winter and early spring, ranchers conduct controlled burns across the prairie. These fires clear out dead vegetation, make room for new growth, control invasive weeds, and reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires. They are necessary, intentional, and ultimately life-giving. But they also produce thick, rolling smoke—sometimes so dense it blankets the highway. If you drive into that smoke blindly, you lose visibility. You lose your sense of direction. You risk harm to yourself and others.
In the USA and beyond, we are being called into bold innovation and sacred risk, trusting that God is still revealing new paths forward. But stepping into that calling often feels like driving into smoke. We can’t see the whole road. We don’t know what lies ahead. We’re not sure how things will unfold. And yet we are invited to move forward anyway.
Sometimes God clears away what is dead or no longer life-giving. Sometimes God burns away what chokes compassion or limits our imagination. Sometimes God prepares the soil for growth we cannot yet see. And yes—sometimes that process fills the air with smoke.
Amid the smoke of a changing religious landscape in Field 5, I want to share the story of a grassroots community called Nomads for Peace and Love. This small group of disciples from across the USA is experimenting with what it means to follow Jesus through embodied action. In October, they will embark on a 14-day bicycle pilgrimage from Georgia to Independence, Missouri, arriving at the Community of Christ Temple in time for the Peace Forum.
This journey is both spiritual practice and public witness. Across nearly 1,000 miles, they will carry prayers for peace and for the needs of others, gathered through the Prayer Per Mile initiative. Others are joining as virtual riders, engaging daily with shared scripture, prayer, and acts of peace. Together, they will all “arrive” at the Temple for the Peace Forum.
This experiment in discipleship is becoming a new expression of Christ’s peace—one small but steady spark visible through the smoke.
Prayer Phrase
“a new community…is being born” (Doctrine and Covenants 164:5).
Spiritual Community
Meditate on a time when you experienced true belonging—a moment when someone welcomed you, listened to you, encouraged you, or reminded you that you were not walking the journey of faith alone. Prayerfully consider the qualities that help build a Christ-centered community: hospitality, compassion, forgiveness, patience, courage, joy, and a willingness to walk alongside one another. Offer a prayer of gratitude for the communities that have shaped you and a prayer of commitment to help create spaces where all people can experience the love, peace, and presence of Christ.
Today’s Prayer for Peace
Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.