I Was Meant to Make a Garden of This Land
In-progress, independent research project | Salt Lake City, UT
I Was Meant to Make a Garden of This Land aligns opposing narratives within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, finding the nuances within current and historical pilgrimages of faith.
Beginning in the summer of 2023, and now, in an ongoing effort, I have visited many landmarks in Utah (and beyond) inextricably tied to my ancestry and general LDS history. Through researching and documenting these landscapes, I hope to acknowledge the harm caused by colonizing, patriarchal Mormon settlers while also having a compassionate understanding of those who, in good conscience, crossed the plains with the sole purpose of pursuing what they believed in.
The work proposes the garden as a metaphor for religious tradition and contemplates the choice to either continue the harvest or to abandon expectation for something better fit for ourselves. In the process of photographing and writing, I have come to reflect on my own parting of ways with the LDS Church and have experienced a strong healing power in weaving the past with the present.
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