December 1: World AIDS Day 
The Las Vegas chapter observed World AIDS Day by holding an awareness meeting. The meeting quickly came to the realization that the serious challenges of AIDS are closer than we may think in our own LDS communities. Chapter members pointed out that they know families in their Las Vegas wards who are struggling with acknowledging and accepting a family member who has AIDS.
The discussion focused on the need to avoid stigmatizing groups or individuals and to become open and aware of the particular issues involved in the lives of loved ones.

November 29: Handel's Messiah 
Members of MESJ's Las Vegas chapter attended the annual Desert Chorale Messiah concert held at the UNLV concert hall in Las Vegas. The idea of attending Handel's Messiah as a MESJ activity was inspired by the realization that Isaiah, from whom many of the oratorio's best-known texts come, is also the Hebrew Bible's greatest prophetic voice on behalf of social justice.

November 15: First MESJ Meeting in Madison
The Madison, Wisconsin, chapter met for the first time to discuss the group's goals and to take a vote on whether to organize an MESJ chapter. Chapter members were especially interested in discussing social justice issues and taking action to help alleviate inequities, with primary concerns in the environment, workers' rights, and economic disparity. Founding members of the Madison chapter were: Sarah Ashby, Reed Cornia, Shelley Cornia, Alexa Dimick, Matt Dimick, Emily Freeland, Leslie Huber, and Michael Stevens. The group includes scientists, social scientists, educators, lawyers, and artists.

October 15: Las Vegas MESJ Meets with Senator
Upon invitation, members of the Las Vegas chapter attended the annual social held for US senator Harry Reid (D-Nevada). As Senator Reid's constituency is largely non-LDS, once a year he gets together with LDS supporters. Reid, who is himself LDS, was presented with a file printed from MESJ's website; he seemed pleasantly surprised to find out about MESJ and even offered to come and speak at one of the group's meetings. Flyers with the MESJ Mission Statement were distributed among the more than 100 Latter-day Saints attending the social, in an effort to raise awareness about MESJ among local Church members.

September 11: If Walls Could Talk
On the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Salt Lake MESJ co-sponsored a presentation by long-time activist Sara Jordan about the controversial wall being constructed around the state of Israel. Jordan, who comes from an LDS background, had recently returned from a trip to Palestine, where she witnessed the devastating effects of the wall for the people and the land of Palestine. Other co-sponsors for this event were Occupation NO! Peace and Justice for Palestine, People for Peace and Justice, the Wasatch Coalition for Peace and Justice, and Utahns for a Just Peace in the Holy Land.

July 28: Discussion of Yucca Mountain
Eight members of Las Vegas MESJ held an animated discussion on environmental issues that focused on the recycling policies of the city of Las Vegas and the controversial proposed nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain. The repository was perceived as a particularly pressing issue, given its potential to affect future generations for thousands of years to come. The chapter plans to continue exploring issues related to the repository, such as energy policies, long-term effects of nuclear weapon systems, and protection of the environment.

May 15: "Walk as One" 
Members of Salt Lake MESJ participated in "Walk as One," an event organized by the National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ) to support peace, justice and unity in local communities. Participants walked from Pioneer Park to Washington Square and back. Following the walk, MESJ members laid our banner on the grass in the park and gave out literature to interested passers-by.

May 15: MESJ Conference
In the evening, MESJ members gathered in the Salt Lake home of Public Liaison Suzette Smith for a MESJ Conference. According to the organization's bylaws, MESJ Conferences serve as the organization's primary governing body at the global (rather than the chapter) level. Three new resolutions were discussed: on immigration, wildlife management, and forest preservation. Also, plans were made to launch an electronic newsletter, with the purpose of helping MESJ members stay connected with one another and providing a forum for gospel-centered discussions of social justice that can uplift and motivate.

April 15: Visit with Sulak Sivaraksa
Salt Lake MESJ sponsored a discussion with seventy-year-old Thai Buddhist and social activist Sulak Sivaraksa, a Nobel Prize nominee known for his work with rural development and for speaking out against Thai dictatorships. About 50 people attended the discussion. Sulak touched on various dimensions of integrating spirituality and social activism, including: becoming aware of suffering in the world around us, overcoming anger with compassion and loving-kindness, and constantly evaluating our own way of living. At one point, Sulak referred to recent teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley about the importance of reaching out to others in order to build community. Prior to speaking at the MESJ-sponsored discussion, Sulak had addressed faculty and students at BYU as well.

March 27: MESJ Appears in National Interfaith Newsletter
The March 2004 issue of Faith Works, the newsletter of the National Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice, included an article about the striking miners in Huntington, Utah. The article named MESJ as one of the religious groups that have supported the miners (along with Quakers and Catholics). Accompanying the article was a picture from MESJ's online photo gallery, showing MESJ members with the miners during a November 2003 visit.

March 8: First MESJ Meeting in Las Vegas
A newly emerging Las Vegas Chapter held its first meeting at the home of Rob Poort. About 12 Latter-day Saints of different ages and nationalities, with a staff member of Senator Harry Reid (D-Nevada), met for a lively discussion on the topic, "The Ethics of Non-Violence." Based on an essay of Eugene England, "Thou Shalt Not Kill," from his book Making Peace, the discussion focused on the connection between non-violence, abortion, and capital punishment. The group expressed excitement about their chapter's prospects, as Las Vegas is one of the fastest growing cities in the US, with a large LDS population. The present focus of the chapter is to get more people actively involved with MESJ, to build a solid foundation for future activities.

March 8: International Women's Day
Salt Lake MESJ tabled at an International Women's Day event held in the Gould Auditorium at the University of Utah, and Bonnie Tyler gave a brief introduction to MESJ as part of the program, which also included remarks by Utah Governor Olene Walker and Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson. A brief social was held around the MESJ table at 7:30 that evening, after which we watched a performance of musical parodies by the Saliva Sisters.

January 10: MESJ Conference
Members from Salt Lake, Utah County, California, and Arizona gathered for a MESJ Conference in the Olpin Union at the University of Utah. MESJ Conferences serve as the organization's primary governing body at the global (rather than the chapter) level and must be held at least once a year. Business transacted at this conference included the following:

• New resolutions were adopted on the FTAA, women's empowerment, equity in education, and civil disobedience.
• It was decided to institute an annual award recognizing a Latter-day Saint who has demonstrated a sustained commitment to working for social justice.
• A subcommittee was formed to explore fundraising options such as grants.
• Amity Condie reported on her work with the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign.
• With James Tobler moving out of Utah to do labor work in Los Angeles, Suzette Smith was chosen to replace him as MESJ's Public Liaison.

January 5: Letter to Orrin Hatch
By action of the Steering Committee, MESJ sent a letter to Utah Senator Orrin Hatch urging him to reexamine his support for the so-called "Patriot Acts" and to "consider alternative responses to the threat of terrorism that would not endanger constitutional rights."

January 3: Salt Lake Tribune Article
In the Salt Lake Tribune's list of the top ten stories of 2003, MESJ was named in item #2, about the reactions of religious communities to the war in Iraq. MESJ was one of several religious organizations mentioned that expressed opposition to the war, in company with Unitarians, Episcopalians, and Roman Catholics.