So, one day, my husband tells me that there's word on facebook going around about an event- "Wear pants to Church on Sunday". It was part of a Mormon feminist movement. First off I felt disgusted and then a little angry. Let me explain.
I love being a woman. I do not believe in being submissive, weak and being easily pushed aside. I believe my testimony and thoughts and opinions are equal to any man. I believe men are no better (and sometimes I think us women really are the best- to be humble). In my study of the Old Testament I gained a strong testimony of the influence and importance of women. It seemed that whether a man or nation was righteous or wicked was completely dependent upon the woman. A woman's influence is powerful and important.
Now, onto the actual event before I explain a little more of my opinion. What a stupid idea?! Wearing pants to Church on Sunday? We go to Church for us and the Lord and we go in our Sunday best to show the Lord our respect. You want to disrespect the Lord and tell Him He doesn't love you as much as men because you are generally expected to wear a dress or skirt? I understand if you don't own a dress or a skirt and your Sunday best IS a pants suit, or something like that. But this event was the stupidest thing I had ever heard of.
Now, let's take a look at other Equal Rights Movements. Let's start with Civil Rights and the Blacks wanting equal rights. Think about it in your mind.... were the Blacks wanting to bleach their skins and BECOME whites? Or did they just want to be treated equally? Now onto homosexuals. Are they fighting to be treated equally? Or do they want to be the same as heterosexual couples and be forced to be straight? I think the answers to those questions should be obvious. Now onto the Mormon feminist movement- is it about being treated equally or becoming a man? The reason women do not generally wear pants is not to show they are unequal but to celebrate womanhood and the fact that there is a difference, not in treatment (hopefully) but just in who they are. The way we are asked to dress has nothing to do with inequality but celebrating who we are and our differences without necessarily being unequal.
Back to a few things about feminism. I had someone close to me who was a strong feminist, so I learned a few things from her. The fact is "Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose." (The Family: A Proclamation to the World)
One part goes into differences between men and women: "By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children." But it also says, "In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation." So there are differences between men and women but they are still supposed to be equal and there is room for adaptation. The fact is, we have innate differences that are part of our gender- almost genetic in a sense. I'll give an example from my life: I have decided I want to major in teaching (not sure what level yet or subject). I did not choose it because I generally think of teaching as a woman's major- easy to do with a family because you have the same schedule as your kids... I actually fought that major for this reason for awhile. I looked into Civil Engineering for a little while- a field that makes me think- men. Although I still have an interest in that it wasn't meant for me. And likewise the medical field- there are many women nurses and some women doctors, but the thing is: I have a weak stomach. I would not make a good nurse or doctor. I chose my major based on my strengths, and our difference in roles as far as gender goes is based on strengths and weaknesses of the genders. There are cases where there will be adapting because sometimes, perhaps, we don't fit the stereotype, but women are naturally more sensitive and nurturing than men. Even my feminist friend was a nurturer.
Now onto serving missions. The age difference is now smaller. It used to be women at age 21 CAN serve and men at 19. Now it's just a year different and women can go at 19. I've heard a few complaints as to the length of time... women can only serve for 18 months and men go for 2 years. First off, it's 6 months... Not a big deal. Granted, I loved my mission and would've loved staying for an extra 6 months. I think it's easy for a woman/sister to enjoy serving a mission. You are nurturing people, spiritually and emotionally and serving and teaching- it comes easy to us. But when I came home I realized that I wanted to stay because staying seemed easier. I think it's easier for sisters to get lost in the work (which is good) and then want to avoid the rest of their life. I think if extensions were still allowed, you would see many sisters who would miss out on their own life thinking they were doing good by serving. But there comes a point where you are using a mission and service as a way to avoid living your own life and finding your own life's mission. Men: it is considered a Priesthood responsibility (Priesthood brings up another issue for later). Therefore they are required to go. Personally, I think this helps a guy mature. The ones who serve faithfully learn things that influence the rest of their lives for good. It helps them learn to be more in tune with people, more sensitive to needs and concerns and more caring.
Now onto the Priesthood: I've heard women complain about not having the Priesthood. I kinda disagree with this. Above I mentioned that our genders give us innate differences. Men are given the Priesthood as a means to serve others. That's what it's about- serving others. They cannot give the Sacrament to themselves, they have to hand the tray to another before partaking. They cannot give themselves a blessing. I think the Priesthood helps men keep a sense of service and Christlike qualities in their life. It is also a blessing. The Priesthood is God's power given to men on earth to act in His name. Now let's examine this a little more closely. When a sister serves a mission it is as if she is there FOR Christ himself, and she is supposed to act as He would in His name- written on her tag. She is given permission to serve as a missionary to proselyte and serve just as the men are. Granted she is not given permission to baptize or perform ordinances- but still is given power with permission from God to act in His name. Now onto creation. We are told that the ability to create is a power of God. Women can create in many ways. They can create a home, or a spiritual place of refuge. They can create life within our bodies (with the initial help of a man). This is a special power that we are given permission to use ONLY WITHIN the bonds of marriage. And finally, I served in the temple. In the temple you make covenants and ordinances are performed. In order to perform an ordinance you must have the Priesthood. Yet, when I went through for myself all my ordinances were performed by women. When I worked in the temple I was set aside as a temple worker (like someone is set aside for any calling) but I was not given the Priesthood. The following is not doctrine, but I believe that women DO hold the Priesthood. Because our gender is different, we are given different responsibilities, but I believe we are born with it in us. I guess permission isn't granted automatically in the cases I listed, except that members are supposed to be missionaries... But generally our permission to act in God's name is given when we are set aside as missionaries, or married, or when we work in the Temple. But even when a man receives the Priesthood he still has to report and do it with the permission of local leaders. So, just food for thought I guess, but I think we do have access to God's power, both through the men and their Priesthood and through our own talents and strengths and gifts and power.
In conclusion, yes, there are differences between men and women in the Church. It is because of our different strengths, not because of any inequality. Or our difference in responsibility. Women do not need to be called to the Priesthood to serve their fellow men care for others- we do that on our own, naturally because we are natural nurturers. I am proud to be a woman, and my husband can tell you that I am equal to him, even if I have to remind him of it. :) Be equal to men, but be proud to still be who you are. Demand respect if needed and remind men that you are equal when needed.
