Grunt

https://youtu.be/6506Bc1BHls

I think that is the key point that bears repeating. Not being equal doesn't not mean that one is superior. It just means that they are different. My wrench and my screwdriver are unequal. I need both to rebuild the engine on my lawnmower. The screwdriver is superior to the wrench at manipulating screws. The wrench is superior to the screwdriver at manipulating nuts. They are both required to complete the task, and they are both equal in importance.

I'm confused then. How much time do you spend watching other people's children? If you don't does that mean you don't care about our brothers and sisters?  This ^^^ As I responded before, every time I'm asked unless it harms my own family.

Good old Pierre Delecto.

Well, she picked a great thread to jump into. 😁

No it isn't. She confirmed that later. I'm not sure why you're chasing this strawman for her. She isn't chasing it.

Look at me in public

Being nice and pleasant isn't the same as being Christ-like or supporting the Church and Prophet. . I know many nice and pleasant people that I respect very much who ignore their covenants, drink alcohol and coffee, don't tithe or take Sacrament, don't wear their garments, etc. The bar isn't "nice and pleasant".

A further example: My brother calls and asks me to help him run a propane line to his new fireplace. I say "I don't know anything about propane and don't feel comfortable. Is there anything else I can help with? Moving the tanks? Installing a hearth?" What I don't say is "I didn't buy a fireplace. I'm not helping."

That's really irrelevant. Again, as I pointed out, she didn't say "I'm disabled so even though I wish I could serve my family with childcare, I'm unable". She said "I didn't have the kids. They aren't my responsibility. I won't help raise them."

As I pointed out above, you didn't say "can't". You said "won't".

"I can't" is a much different answer than your previous answer, which was "I didn't have them, they aren't my responsibility, so I won't". That said, I have never yet met someone who worked outside the home that couldn't assist with the domestic duties of raising children.

Every time I'm asked, providing it doesn't harm my own family. Regardless, frequency is irrelevant when your stance is you refuse to do help at all.

False. I don't forfeit the right to correct mischaracterizations at all.

Looks like my interpretation of her comment was spot on.

Then maybe she can clarify what she meant.

You don't feel we have a responsibility to assist our brothers and sisters?

Interesting. I'm not sure this clears things up for me much. Maybe it's just the concept I struggle with. Since this thread got me thinking, I'll spend some time research and see what comes up.

It's always harder on the families. I work very hard to minimize the impact on my family.

That's exactly right, though I don't know the percentages. They are high, though. When I leave, my wife is a single mother. Time "on the Homefront" doesn't pass for me. If I'm gone a day, week, month, etc, it feels like nothing has changed when I walk back through the door. I assume my normal role immediately. I can imagine that for many women, that is frustrating. For them, time HAS passed at home. Something as simple as a child asking if they can go for a hike in the woods, something SHE has decided during that time, now becomes a joint decision. My wife and I are very in sync, but I can imagine that scenarios like that can result in differing opinions, which can cause controversy and aggravation. Who is this guy suddenly questioning my decisions? He didn't care while he was gone? Bouncing in and out of the family can cause major problems. I'm lucky to have such a great partnership with my wife.

It's tough to even explain. I believe Priesthood is the power and authority to act on behalf of God. That includes blessings, ordinances, leadership, etc. I can see examples of women exercising priesthood authority, but I'm not sure I see examples of them exercising priesthood power (unless something like what @Anddenex posted is an example of power). Are blessings (healing, Sacrament, etc) examples of Priesthood authority, power, or both? I also understand that men and women have different roles in the Church, just as in life. My own home is a very clean example of that. But that is by nature and choice. Now that I read what I wrote, I wonder if what I see is actually power being exercised, and authority comes from ordination to offices. If that's the case, is the Primary President operating on borrowed authority? Does she hold those keys? If she has the power and authority of her office, and I'm the Primary Activities leader, does she hold that authority over me? Does my wife, also Primary Activities leader (and a much better one) have the same power and authority in that area that I do? Is the Primary President doing the same work, or more, as a someone ordained to office? If so, is there something specifically that keeps her from holding that office? Maybe everyone has Priesthood authority and power? Maybe Priesthood offices have additional authority and power that includes ordinances? Only men can hold those offices? If so, why? Is it because (as I've been told is the interpretation) that women should not "teach or have authority over men"? If so, then how is the Primary President in my ward explained? She certainly appears to have authority over me and definitely teaches me. When I believed "men held the Priesthood" and that women exercised it under their authority, it made sense to me. That puts the neat Patriarchal/Matriarchal lines in order for me. Now it seems to be much mushier than that. I'm no longer sure I understand what the Priesthood is, who has it, how they have it, what it means to exercise it (outside of the obvious use of office), what the keys are, who has them, why offices are gender-defined, etc. I completely realize what I wrote probably makes no sense to anyone. I apologize, but even after reading it over I don't know how to clean it up so it makes better sense. I also apologize if this sounds progressive, anti, or anything of the sort. It's not intended to be that way. It's simply a stream of consciousness. I've been on this forum over 2 1/2 years, so most of you know I just ask things bluntly with good intentions. This isn't a "faith crisis". It's simply one thing in MANY that I don't understand. I'm VERY accepting that I don't understand things. I either research them until I do, ask questions of everyone, or put it on a shelf. Things on my shelf no longer bother me. I'll understand them in due time.

Depends on how long they served and what they did. I think most do to some extent, but not in a debilitating way, but just learning to interact with people again. For example, when I walk into one of my section rooms, everyone jumps to their feet and calls the room. Drives me nuts because it's unproductive, but it's courtesy. If I then give any of them an instruction, they respond affirmatively and immediately drop whatever they're doing to do it. I have to be very specific when talking to people, like "finish what you're doing, THEN do my task". That isn't my leadership style. I prefer to collaborate. I prefer to find people better than me at things and let them run with it. I have to teach them that is OK because in any other scenario, when someone from my rank sits at a table with their subordinates, any "suggestion" or out loud thought is taken as an order, not as offered for discussion. Most adjustment difficulties are really just cultural or climate things like that. Things like the army writing style, which is drilled into us, comes across as very insulting sometimes. We've seen that on this forum. It's not meant to be. It's direct, conveying facts in as few words as possible. It avoids confusion, but sounds short and crabby. The longer you're in, the harder it can be. Many senior Soldiers leave the military where people jump if they look at them and go to entry or mid-level jobs. That requires adjustment. Not having people kissing your butt or following your directions without question. When discussing combat fatigue or PTSD, that's a whole different level of adjustment. The same with spouses who have been head of household for years while Dad is away, then suddenly he walks in the door and wants to be the boss again.

With my current position, I spend a TON of time dealing with corporations and civilians, so it's not that bad most of the time.

I REALLY struggle trying to understand women and the priesthood.

It's not hard, it just looks wrong to me so it bugs me. Much of the stuff we do is in Zulu time. When I write an OpOrd that spans timezones, it's the only way it makes sense.