Skip to main content

Gender Roles in the Church

photo by Dominik Gwarek

I have been gearing up for a post about the Ordain Women Movement, but this blogger beat me to it and did a great job. Plus, I love her style!

"Mormonism, Feminism, and Being Snarky"

I also encourage you to join the Facebook group Mormon Women Stand. The admins post powerful quotes and talks and invite discussion about gospel truths.

Just some points to remember about women and men:
  • Men are not better than women, and women are not better than men. Neither is superior over the other. We are simply different.
  • We are incomplete without each other (1 Corinthians 11:11). We are supposed to become one, like two halves of a puzzle fitting together to complete a beautiful picture (Genesis 2:24).
  • We were given different innate qualities and different opportunities to develop those qualities. However, both men and women are supposed to develop all the qualities of Christ (3 Nephi 27:27).
  • We share the most important role we can be given: parenthood. For we are here to become like God, and God is a Father. Therefore, we are preparing to become eternal parents like Him. 
  • Men are not the priesthood and should not be referred to as such. They are priesthood holders or bearers. The priesthood is the power of God.
  • Women can act in God's name and perform miracles through faith, prayer and fasting, and obedience.
  • Elder Dallin H. Oaks said, "We are not accustomed to speaking of women having the authority of the priesthood in their Church callings, but what other authority can it be? When a woman—young or old—is set apart to preach the gospel as a full-time missionary, she is given priesthood authority to perform a priesthood function. The same is true when a woman is set apart to function as an officer or teacher in a Church organization under the direction of one who holds the keys of the priesthood. Whoever functions in an office or calling received from one who holds priesthood keys exercises priesthood authority in performing her or his assigned duties."
  • Instead of focusing on what we think we lack, let us focus on improving what we have (Alma 12:9-10, 2 Nephi 28:30-31, Matthew 25:14-30). Let us magnify the callings with which we have been blessed.
Discussion: Are there any questions or concerns you have about gender and Church doctrine or practices?
Labels:

Comments

DAD said…
wrong - I am better than you when it comes to bad jokes!
June 26, 2014 at 12:27 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

New URL Coming Soon To Avoid Using "Mormon"

photo by ilker In light of President Nelson's talk in October 2018 general conference , I will be changing the title and address of this blog very soon to eliminate the use of the word "Mormon." Because I won't be buying a domain name, I don't know what the new URL and blog name will be yet. I'm not very literate in the website world, so please bear with me as I roll out these changes. I'm trying to learn as much as I can quickly to reduce broken links and errors. Thank you, and I hope you keep reading my blog!
Post a Comment
Read more

"Be Thou an Example of the Believers" at Home

Today, my husband and I spoke in sacrament meeting. Here is the first part of my talk ( read Part 2  and Part 3 ): “The effect of our words and acts is tremendous in this world. Every moment of life you are changing to a degree the lives of the whole world.” Those are the words of President David O. McKay.* If we have such an astounding influence over the world, we need to be examples of righteousness. As Paul counseled, “Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. . . . Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in so doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee” (1 Timothy 4:12, 16). The Lord said, “He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also” (John 14:12). So to be an example of the believers is to do what the Lord has done so that we can “save [ourselves], and them that hear [us].” We usually apply this principle to missionary work, but it also e...
3 comments
Read more

One but Not the Same

Zion --lds.org Moses 7:18 describes a Zion people as being of "one heart and one mind." And Mosiah 18:21 shares that when organizing the church, Alma commanded the people to "look forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism." All this talk of oneness leads some people to believe that we are all supposed to be the same in thought and personality. That belief can scare away people from accepting the gospel. President Uchtdorf set the record straight in his talk during the priesthood session of the April 2013 General Conference: But while the Atonement is meant to help us all become more like Christ, it is not meant to make us all the same. Sometimes we confuse differences in personality with sin. We can even make the mistake of thinking that because someone is different from us, it must mean they are not pleasing to God. This line of thinking leads some to believe that the Church wants to create every member from a single mold—that each one...
2 comments
Read more