Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
I thought it was interesting too. My husband said that when he was a missionary, you steered clear of the hard questions with investigators the best you could because once they went to google or friends and found out about polygamy, blacks, etc., it was over. With that in mind, I thought it was most interesting that people seeking the missionaries online would be those most likely to google mormons and find these tough “anti-mormon” topics. So, why would they have such a high conversion rate? And if I remember correctly, better retention rates from this group of converts. Thoughts on what would seem opposites? When I was first struggling, I talked to my husband about how I felt the subjugation of women in the church (it was the sole reason for my crisis at the time) and he just said, ” have faith, it all works out in the end” then he would be mad at me for struggling with my testimony over it. He also believed that when a female speaker was having a turn to speak in conference, it was a bathroom break. I wouldn’t describe him as a mysoginust, but this is how the church teaches men to think (indirectly teaches). Since then, he has had a faith crises and is now totally inactive. But now he looks at these situations and the inequality is so blatantly obvious to him. I think it also helps that he saw the unfairness of polygamy through JS’s practice of polyandry. Also, we have a 2 year old daughter. the idea of telling a 14 yr old girl hers and her family’s salvation hung on her decision to be a plural wife. I don’t think the daddy in him liked that if it applied to his little girl. And all the aforementioned things. Roy,
In regard to Ann’s post, I’ve seen BY quotes that women now suffer the pains of birth and jealousy (in polygamy) because of eve’s sin in the garden. (So I guess to him, the article of faith: we will not be punished for Adam’s transgressions, really does just apply to Adam). I stumbled upon those statements in the lds scriptures app somewhere. I will try to find it. Not sure if that was what ann was referring to.
Keep reading, I swear it will get to my point about OW: My problems with the church started with the idea of polygamy and how it is still alive today. I don’t believe it’s fair to let a man be sealed to more than one woman, let alone the fact that women can’t be sealed to more than woman. This presents inequality. In modern apologist context, a widower loves his living wife so much, he wouldn’t want to choose, and wants to be with both for eternity. If it’s simply out of love for both spouses (one dead, one living), why not allow women reciprocation of this principle of love. If my husband died today and was sealed to his next wife, I would be stuck in a polygamist marriage for eternity. What’s more? I never gave my consent (and I wouldn’t). I just don’t see how that could possibly lead to eternal happiness for me. So, when I see inequalities in things like this, it makes me feel pain, and brings out the feminist I never knew I was. That is how I began my dissent from orthodoxy. When I realize that other women agonize over this same thing, I don’t think it unfair to have the prophet/apostles administer to us in our call for guidance or revelation. Why not prophesy, reveal “how this works” how it “brings happiness.” I firmly believe that the church still believes in 132 as applied to plural marriage and the celestial kingdom. I can’t stand it. It really brings me pain. So why can’t they (apostles/prophets) clear it up? Or is their silence to be taken as fact that it is current doctrine?
So, how does this apply to ordain women thread?
I would LOVE to support them for the cause of having communication with the leadership, find a way to reach more equality, truly ease the questions we (maybe just I) have. But, I won’t sign the petition for OW because I don’t want the priesthood. I can recognize a division of responsibilities; yet, I also see ways women can be included in the priesthood more. I didn’t know until recently that women in the early church used to bless others. If that was okay then, why not now?
Maybe this is way out there and the TBM RS member would look at me very strangely, but when we joke that if a bishop (mission president/stake president/etc.) has the calling, his wife does too- why doesn’t she? IF we truly share in the priesthood with our husbands, why aren’t there some joint callings in the church in regard to leadership? I can name a few examples I’ve seen over the internet where it was inappropriate for a priesthood to be behind a closed door with a girl. Wouldn’t a woman’s involvement cushion that?
So, I support the OW for some feminist purposes, but I don’t.
Perhaps this post is too “all over the place” but I’m new here. Let this one slide?
