Comments on First Fig: What Mary Kay Women Know

And, to k green and others like her (I wish I coul...

2008-10-17T16:28:00.000-07:00

And, to k green and others like her (I wish I could respond to you directly), Meghan's expression of frustration does not mean she is "disgruntled" or trying to tell the prophet what to do. This is a serious issue for some women who feel like they have no voice and do not feel like they belong within the greater RS organization, largely becuase of comments of women like you (k green)and how they are talked down to by some men in the church.

What the prophets say is not the problem - we know that the primary guiding principle/doctine of the church is to become devoted disciples of Christ throuh his Atonement - but when it trickles down into a RS lesson where one group of women are bashing another group of women because of their choice to work outside the home or not, or to bear 10 kids or not, to have hobbies, interests, whatever that go beyond our role as mothers: that is not in the spirit of Christ and has no place in our organization.

We should be supporting one another, not tearing each other down. Maybe if WE did that, as a sistehood, Sis Beck's talk would have been recieved as inspiring and energizing to ALL the women, mothers or not, instead of making some feel like they were worthless as women.

Well-written points. It is an honest assessment o...

2008-10-17T16:17:00.000-07:00

Well-written points. It is an honest assessment of what some women have felt for many years as mormons.

The only thing I significantly disagreed with in this post is the assumption that RS was created to make a place for women in a male-dominated world/institution.

Point 1: RS was created and ordained as a women's organization to bring to pass the three fold mission of the church: basically to bring souls unto Christ and help us become disciples of Christ. Exactly your point. It was ordained and organized in a manner similar to the women's organization in the primitive church, meaning to me, that this organization transcends modern "mommy war" issues - in its ideal form it is a powerful tool for good, no matter what era we live in or what challenges that era brings.

What has unfortunately happened through the passage of time, is that some women have hijacked the original purpose of RS by making it a gossip/socializing/craft group and have instituted practices that encourage others to think that is the norm (flower arrangements, clever handouts, etc.). Not it's original purpose.

Point 2: it was created as a church wide oranization for the purpose of mobilizing women in a group effort to affect change and provide righteous leadership examples for women worldwide.

What we suffer from, on a local level, when it comes to "mormon culture" issues, is the result of the frailties of mankind (or womankind). Men and women can choose to follow the guidance of the church handbook and the general authorities or they can choose to do things their way because they think they know better, and they have always done things a certain way (in steps that pesky culture issue again).

What we have to fight for is the ideal of the organization, as it was meant to be, as ordained by God from the beginning. I know people get frustrated with how slow or backwards some church members can be - it can be like banging your head against a brick wall some days to get people to understand. But I truly do beleive that it is worth it to work within an organization like RS to affect the changes that are needed - if women abandon RS because they are frustrated or feel isolated, who is left to defend the ideal?

It saddens me that women felt internal guilt and self-contempt after listening to Sis Beck's talk. I hope that in turn they will also listen to talks given by Pres. Uchtdorf and others who have spoken specifically to us women about our feelings of inadequacy. Satan would have us beleive there is no hope, there is no solution to our struggles - and that is a lie.

The question is, are we strong enough, diligent enough, faithful enough, to see this mortal life through and help each other come closer to Christ and what He truly wants for us?

I don't really understand where you think you have...

2008-09-18T13:45:00.000-07:00

I don't really understand where you think you have the say over what the prophets "should be preaching" Mabey you don't believe that these leaders are chosen and inspired of God. mabey you didn't hear President Monson's very first talk as the prophet of the world at the worldwide leadership training meeting (where all adult members were invited) where he said that we teach the correct pattern, the pattern ordained by God. They teach the pattern so that we can follow it as closely as we can according to our circumstances. I think that is simply what Sister Beck was doing. I for one was grateful for her talk becuase I was able to again have the spirit witness to me that even though it is a sacrafice and the world won't recognize that what I am doing is of value that the Lord does. You are obvouisly frustradted with the members of your ward and/or stake. Remember just becuase the members of the church aren't perfect that does not mean the leaders are no longer inspired. I am not questioning your "standing with God" or even your theorizing about the solemn assembly becuase as you said if it is just tradition then sure mabey it could be rethought although I am thinkin it is something either Jospeh Smith or Brigham Young was inspired on (I am going to look into it just for fun). I just believe that is is dangeous to question the General Authorities of the Church. The Lord has promised us that he will not let the prophet of his church lead us astray and even though the talk in question were not his words he would have come forth and told us if something she said was not correct. He was in attendance you you know! I know there are injustices in this world toward women but please let's not critcize one of the Lord's chosen servants who also just happens to be a well educated and experienced women.