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Hello! I’m a woman deeply committed to my faith and the church, with a strong testimony of the gospel that means the world to me. Lately, though, I’ve been feeling a bit isolated in my thoughts and emotions, which has me wondering if others might feel the same way. I find myself agreeing with many ideas shared by progressive LDS members, though I differ when it comes to LGBTQ matters. To be clear, I wholeheartedly believe in showing love and ensuring our LGBTQ brothers and sisters have a place in both the church and society. But when it comes to celestial marriage, I hold firm that it will always be between one man and one woman. Polygamy, to me, feels like something that came up because we live in a flawed, fallen world—I trust it’ll all work out in the hereafter. For me, the celestial ideal is one man and one woman united, and while I know that view might stir some debate, it’s where my heart rests. Throughout my life, I’ve wrestled with how women have been treated and viewed, both in the church and beyond its walls. I’m truly grateful to be living in a time when real progress is happening, especially within the church. I’m so appreciative of the brethren and the meaningful steps they’re taking! Still, there are some things that weigh on me. Just to clarify, I don’t consider myself a modern feminist—I feel the movement has drifted from its roots and now pushes ideas, like equating transgender women with biological women, that I can’t support. In my mind, transgender women aren’t women in quite the same way. If I had to describe my stance, I might call myself an egalitarian—yes, it carries some political weight, but it captures how I see men and women as equal yet distinct, like two beautiful pieces of a divine whole. I deeply value the doctrine that men hold the priesthood to serve others, just as I cherish women’s sacred role to nurture and teach, often through motherhood—though I know not every woman becomes a mother, and they can live out that calling in so many wonderful ways. I’m not one to push for women’s ordination to the priesthood, but I do find myself missing some of the privileges we once had, like when women in the early church could bless the sick. When our roles come together, I believe it creates something truly harmonious. What troubles me, though, is the sense that women’s voices and perspectives don’t always seem to matter as much as men’s—except maybe in certain callings. Too often, I feel overlooked by men who then offer well-meaning but empty comments like, “Women are more faithful than men—that’s why more of them will be in heaven.” That just doesn’t sit right with me. In our culture, motherhood is often lifted higher than fatherhood, but I see them as equally essential. After all, we pray to our Heavenly Father for guidance. I’d love to hear more about women in the church—both from history and today. The scriptures don’t say much about them, and I wish we honored the women of the gospel as much as we do the men and prophets. I’m not looking for attention or a big role—I just want women to be part of the discussion. I also wonder why we still separate Sunday School by gender. I’d love to see callings built more around partnerships—like husbands and wives serving together—rather than splitting priesthood holders and women apart. It feels important for men and women, boys and girls, to learn about each other’s divine roles side by side. Same goes for church activities—I’d rather see events that bring us all together instead of dividing into Relief Society or Elders’ groups. Most couples want to spend that time with each other, and we could design things to include singles without making it all about family stuff. Above all, I’m praying for more revelation about our Heavenly Mother. My love for my Heavenly Father and my Savior, Jesus Christ, runs deep, but I long for a divine feminine example to guide me. My dad was my rock growing up—he shaped my faith in huge ways—but it was my mom’s influence that made me who I am today. I want that kind of connection with my Heavenly Mother, too. I’d still pray to the Father and seek His wisdom, but I yearn to understand the feminine ideal I’m meant to strive for—to see the full picture of what men and women are meant to be together. I hope that longing isn’t out of place; it’s just what’s in my heart. Sorry for going on so long! I hope my words don’t upset anyone—I’m sharing them with an open heart and a lot of faith. Thank you for hearing me out!

The newest feline member of our family. 8 week old female. We’re still trying to decide on a name, though. Update: We decided to name her Zelda.

Greetings @Ann. I will make an attempt to respond. I am an old guy that is at least a generation ahead of you. I am a super nerd that is retired in the field of automation and robotics. Rather than say I disagree with some of your thoughts – may I add to them some of my own thoughts. I am concerned with this generation concerning marriage. I strongly believe that there is much more to marriage than a covenant between a man and a woman. At a minimum we need to remember that a Celestial marriage of necessity needs to also include G-d in the covenant. I am also of the mind that a marriage includes a covenant of children and generations. It is also my understanding (according to the Prophet Malachi) that the marriage sealing connects generations and includes all of G-d’s convent Celestial children. I am unable to comprehend how any Celestial covenant includes any act or intent of the LGBTQ+ community. I agree that we are commanded to love all of G-d’s children and to honor them as His children. But I do no know how it is possible to include such in any Celestial covenant. As for polygamy, I have to little understanding to be of much help – except that if G-d commands us so, that we ought to comply. My great grandfather was a polygamist. But when he first commanded, he and his wife refused. Only after meeting personally with the prophet did my great grandfather and his wife include a second wife in their covenant. Both recorded that they did not understand polygamy and its importance. Unfortunately, neither he or his wife ever explained what was important about polygamy. My one wife has been enough of a challenge for me. I do not feel I have sufficient understanding to make any recommendations to anyone beyond having faith in G-d and his commands. Concerning the roles of men and women concerning the priesthood. I take my understanding from what is taught in the scriptures and the temple. Mainly that in scripture a man is not without a woman nor is a woman without a man before G-d. In the temple we are taught about G-ds and G-ddesses, priests and priestesses. Anciently that title of g-d and priest could be given to the same individual. I assume that plays out as well for g-ddesses and priestesses. I conclude that there is no G-d without a G-ddess and no priest without a priestess; and vise versa. I do not believe it possible to pray to our Father in heaven without including our Mother in heaven. Since Jesus commanded that we address only our Father in heaven, I do not believe we should not specifically address our Mother in heaven. That is unless or until we are commanded otherwise. I am open to discuss any point or possibility. The Traveler

And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way. And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest. - Mark 11:8-10 May we today, on this Palm Sunday, spread out our robes of love and palm leaves of charity, walking in the footsteps of the Prince of Peace as we prepare to celebrate, this coming Sunday, the miracle of the empty tomb. As brothers and sisters in Christ, let us joyfully proclaim, “Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.” - Ulisses Soares, Followers of the Prince of Peace

This is an interesting post and I have a lot of thoughts, which I'll get to eventually. My overall thought though is that there is risk here, as in many things, of looking beyond the mark. All of us have the same mark. That mark is the Savior. That should be the center of our approach to any issues. Our roles in the kingdom are worth consideration. But at the core of those roles is the primary role we all have... to take on the name of the Savior and know Him. Worrying too much about other things can, as I said, amount to looking beyond the mark.

Welcome Ann. Sorry for the delayed response. Been kinda busy. But anyway, welcome. There's much we don't know at this point about the roles of both men and women in the divine society of the Gods. We can only surmise how it looks based on how things are here. And how things are here aren't always necessarily Celestial in nature, even within the Church. And I don't mean that as a negative, just that God continues to reveal His will truth upon truth and as yet we don't have the full picture. As such, I don't see anything wrong with longing for additional insight of the true roles of women in the divine plan so long as we don't grow discontent with what God has chosen to reveal up to this point. Trying to force God's hand puts us great danger of getting revelation from the wrong source, which I'm sure you are aware of. Moses 1:35 But only an account of this earth, and the inhabitants thereof, give I unto you. I think this is a good scripture to keep in mind in your pondering. God deliberately withholds information from us about how things are beyond our tiny corner of the universe and our blip in time of eternity. I assume that is to keep us focused on the here and now. This requires faith in His plan for us and to some degree contentment with those truths He has chosen to reveal.

This was, very, very helpful. Thank you. So simple, but so true.....

Because Jesus owed no debt to justice, He could pay our debt and meet the demands of justice for every soul. And that includes you and me. Jesus Christ paid the price for our sins. All of them. On that most important day in history, Jesus the Christ opened the gates of death and cast aside the barriers that prevented us from passing into the holy and hallowed halls of everlasting life. Because of our Lord and Savior, you and I are granted a most precious and priceless gift—regardless of our past, we can repent and follow the path that leads to celestial light and glory, surrounded by the faithful children of Heavenly Father. - Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Behold the Man! Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. - Isaiah 1:18

OK. I saw it yesterday. From a Bible standpoint, it's basically the Cliffs Notes (C) version of the Gospels, which isn't surprising as it's meant to be a one-off family-accessible movie. From a movie standpoint, it's a masterpiece of voice acting and cinematography, which Hollywood should feel really bad about as it's putting a lot of their recent live-action releases to shame in that regards.

Nothing done before or since has so affected mankind as the atonement wrought by Jesus of Nazareth, who died on Calvary’s cross, was buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, and on the third day arose from the grave as the Living Son of the Living God—the Savior and Redeemer of the world. - Gordon B. Hinckley, The Greatest Miracle in Human History And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world. Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death. And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more. And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain! Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy. - Alma 36:17-21

A seeming reason for the sleepiness was that the Bridegroom tarried. I interpret that to mean it took longer than expected for Him to appear. One of the signs of the times is that people will say the Lord delayeth His coming. I go back and forth on my interpretation of that, between them using it as an excuse to not prepare, thinking there's plenty of time left and wondering why it's taking so long for Him to appear, feeling despair because of the delay. I guess it could be both. Sis Johnson in GC referred to His coming "at the unexpected midnight hour" implying I believe that it took longer than expected. So if that is the case then sleeping could reference a time when the sense of urgency has passed and the saints fall back into their normal routines of living, either faithfully living the gospel day in and day out or starting to slide in their gospel living.

I hadn't thought about that. Might be something there I did find this: D&C 35:21 For they will hear my voice, and shall see me, and shall not be asleep, and shall abide the day of my coming; for they shall be purified, even as I am pure. But this is definitely negative. Not something the wise virgins would be guilty of in my thinking.

Matthew 26: 40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep⁠, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Sometimes during the sacrament my mind wanders and I am reminded of this verse.

Does it have to symbolize something? If it does, I'd suggest just going about day to day life. In that story, at that point in the day, their usual business would be sleeping.