Mid, I don't see how this article made any claim of female superiority in celebrating the unique sisterhood that we share. I have often felt that Heavenly Father, in His wisdom, gives the priesthood because it fits with the male psyche. In many cultures, we see rites and passages to manhood. In the church, living a worthy life and receiving the priesthood says to our young men that they have achieved manhood. Women don't seem to need that symbol. Instead we seem to need to know that we have a purpose and that we belong somewhere -- and look at how Relief Society is set up. Just as it is wrong to denigrate one person or group to raise another up, it seems wrong to assume that one group is being denigrated because another is being celebrated. God truly does not respect people by gender, race, or social status in their value to Him or in the blessings He intends to pour upon each head. However, He is definitely perfect in giving each exactly what is needed. Let's celebrate women in their sorority, and men in their fraternity.
MidMarch 24, 2013
I wish that we as a church valued the role of Fatherhood more. This type of discourse, claiming that women are naturally spiritually superior because of this potential to be mothers, denigrates the role of fathers. My husband is just as much a part of the nurturing, teaching and raising of my children as I am. And if you don't have to have given birth to be part of this 'sorority' then why not let men in? The savior himself exemplified these nurturing qualities that we so often associate with women, and he is held as the example for women AND men to emulate. Let's give fathers the credit they are due!
RitaMarch 21, 2013
Oh, dear Anna, you are most definitely in the club! Every woman who has faith in her Savior is in His sorority. As much as the Church talks about children and families, our relationship with the Savior is individual, not collective. You are just as much a savior as any mother in Zion--because you ARE a mother in Zion. I have found that motherhood is not in the bearing of children, but the salvation of children. There is not an absolute need for biology in salvation.
One of my dearest friends is not a physical mother; she is married to a very good non-member man, but has long felt the acute pain of being childless. At a recent RS retreat, she said that she had made peace with God, both for her childlessness and the lack of Priesthood in her home. She has adopted an eternal view, one that strengthens her love for every child she comes in contact with. She mothers and mentors every child; she was a first grade teacher for several years, and now holds a leadership position at a teaching university. When she held the position of RS President for our ward, she found a special perk--several times she was the second person to cuddle the new babies in the ward. Most of the children in the ward were "hers".
Your experiences are not 'second best', your tasks are not of lesser value. The pain you feel now, while very real and occasionally overwhelming, will in time be swallowed up in the joy of meeting Christ, being embraced by Him, and finally seeing the huge difference your work has made in His kingdom. Every bit of attention, love, concern, help, encouragement and charity you have or will bring to another person is the sum totality of your work as a savior. There is nothing "second" about that.
AnnaMarch 21, 2013
A lovely article. I would love to be in your club, but I don't think I fit the bill. I am a single, middle-aged sister; I sometimes get mentioned as an afterthought. I know the gospel is true. I believe in the importance of the family, it's central role in the gospel, and I understand why this is so and why it must have and does have a prominent place in the life and teachings of the church. As much as I acccept these things, I will always be an outsider, and I can only hope to achieve life's second best experiences and perform the second most valuable tasks.
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ElizabethMarch 30, 2013
Mid, I don't see how this article made any claim of female superiority in celebrating the unique sisterhood that we share. I have often felt that Heavenly Father, in His wisdom, gives the priesthood because it fits with the male psyche. In many cultures, we see rites and passages to manhood. In the church, living a worthy life and receiving the priesthood says to our young men that they have achieved manhood. Women don't seem to need that symbol. Instead we seem to need to know that we have a purpose and that we belong somewhere -- and look at how Relief Society is set up. Just as it is wrong to denigrate one person or group to raise another up, it seems wrong to assume that one group is being denigrated because another is being celebrated. God truly does not respect people by gender, race, or social status in their value to Him or in the blessings He intends to pour upon each head. However, He is definitely perfect in giving each exactly what is needed. Let's celebrate women in their sorority, and men in their fraternity.
MidMarch 24, 2013
I wish that we as a church valued the role of Fatherhood more. This type of discourse, claiming that women are naturally spiritually superior because of this potential to be mothers, denigrates the role of fathers. My husband is just as much a part of the nurturing, teaching and raising of my children as I am. And if you don't have to have given birth to be part of this 'sorority' then why not let men in? The savior himself exemplified these nurturing qualities that we so often associate with women, and he is held as the example for women AND men to emulate. Let's give fathers the credit they are due!
RitaMarch 21, 2013
Oh, dear Anna, you are most definitely in the club! Every woman who has faith in her Savior is in His sorority. As much as the Church talks about children and families, our relationship with the Savior is individual, not collective. You are just as much a savior as any mother in Zion--because you ARE a mother in Zion. I have found that motherhood is not in the bearing of children, but the salvation of children. There is not an absolute need for biology in salvation. One of my dearest friends is not a physical mother; she is married to a very good non-member man, but has long felt the acute pain of being childless. At a recent RS retreat, she said that she had made peace with God, both for her childlessness and the lack of Priesthood in her home. She has adopted an eternal view, one that strengthens her love for every child she comes in contact with. She mothers and mentors every child; she was a first grade teacher for several years, and now holds a leadership position at a teaching university. When she held the position of RS President for our ward, she found a special perk--several times she was the second person to cuddle the new babies in the ward. Most of the children in the ward were "hers". Your experiences are not 'second best', your tasks are not of lesser value. The pain you feel now, while very real and occasionally overwhelming, will in time be swallowed up in the joy of meeting Christ, being embraced by Him, and finally seeing the huge difference your work has made in His kingdom. Every bit of attention, love, concern, help, encouragement and charity you have or will bring to another person is the sum totality of your work as a savior. There is nothing "second" about that.
AnnaMarch 21, 2013
A lovely article. I would love to be in your club, but I don't think I fit the bill. I am a single, middle-aged sister; I sometimes get mentioned as an afterthought. I know the gospel is true. I believe in the importance of the family, it's central role in the gospel, and I understand why this is so and why it must have and does have a prominent place in the life and teachings of the church. As much as I acccept these things, I will always be an outsider, and I can only hope to achieve life's second best experiences and perform the second most valuable tasks.
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