Worth of women

[moocow]

I have been struggling recently while doing my scripture study. I know that men sometimes ignore women who sound like women's rights activists, but I assure you I am not.

In the scriptures you will find that for the most part, women are not given much attention as far as having any kind of authority. Instead, Paul wrote about how men are governed by God, and women are governed by men. So essentially, a woman is under the man and is not directly under God. Also, you read in Acts that women should not talk in church and in Timothy is says women should learn in silence and not teach. Well, before you write this off as "olden days" talk, realize that it's ALL OVER the scriptures so it must be something that is important or else why is it included?

Another thing that I noticed was that, when referring to sexual sin, women do tend to get a lot of the blame. They are called whores, concubines, etc. but the men are not labeled. Instead, it's not that big of a deal if a man in the scriptures has concubines. He's not looked at as a whore. I just feel offended as a woman because I am frustrated with not understanding my role. If women are just for pleasing their husbands as it says in the scriptures, then why would God create us with brains just as smart as men? It would have been kinder to make us all ignorant of our situation.

I do not expect to be given the priesthood. I do not think women should be the same as men. I just wish men in general would give women more credit and not get so cocky that they were born a man and not a woman. Unless you are a woman, you don't know how it feels to realize that you are limited because of your gender.

[LittleWyvern]

There's

on this. :)

[Martain]

In my eye, women are God's finest creation.

We've come a long way's in regards to woman's rights. You can own land, you can vote, you can work outside the home, you can lead etc.

You would not want to have been a woman in the ancient days. Without a man (father or husband brother) to look after her, culturally a woman had very few options to either protect herself or provide for herself. In that light, I think it less surprising that women turned to sin and I believe this was one reason they did.

My feeling is that there was a general pervading feeling that women were special and sacred and were mentioned less because of this. After all, we know that we have a Heavenly Mother yet our Heavenly Father does not mention her. He doesn't want her name to be blasphemed or taken in vain.

A lot of it was indeed cultural but you're right, women aren't the same as men and should become so. You're special. You're more pure. Women are naturally caring and loving, full of mercy and charity. Since we're not so likewise blessed, men are given the priesthood and responsibility which tutors us in these same areas.

As to how often sin is blamed on the women in the scriptures, I agree that more of it should have been placed on the men. I'm glad we live in a day where this is more often the case then it used to be.

As to understanding your role, here is a reference that will help.

Eternal Marriage Student Manual

On the bottom of this link is "Woman's divine roles and responsibilities". I also enjoyed reading the section there under "Differences Inherent Between Man and Woman" and "Equality of Men and Women"

I hope they help.

In His eyes you are not less.

Neither are you in mine.

[Guest FixingTheWrongs]

In my eye, women are God's finest creation.

I agree! Isn't there a joke that goes: when God finished making man he said "I can do better!"

While I don't have answers to your questions it sometimes gives insight to put yourself in another person's shoes.

Imagine if you will a Matriarchal Society. The whole past, even scriptures, would be about women and their choices, roles and leadership(yes women would have the preisthood), men would take the female roles you mentioned in your OP. I've often thought of this, wondering(and hoping) if the world would be a better place today with this kind society more than anything. Would we of had a female version of Hitler? More or less wars? Would the governments be better? Would early female members of the church of felt good taking on poor and destitute men as multiple husbands to provide for them as commanded by the Lord through a Prophetess? Remember the body wouldn't of changed in this imaginary world, women would still bear children. Only the roles. How would you feel in these situations? How would you feel about your husband(if married)? Would you think it far? It may surprise you that a lot of men perceive women as having things easy in life and wishing things would be as easy for them in certian cases.

Again this isn't an answer, but something to think about, you may even realize that the grass isn't always greener on the other side of the fence. I don't know why the Lord set the roles up this way but he did, he must have his reasons, and perhapes we won't fully understand it until the other side of the veil.

[beefche]

AUnless you are a woman, you don't know how it feels to realize that you are limited because of your gender.

How are you limited?

[Spartan117]

I remember this one time I was out with the missionaries while they were teaching a female investigator. This particular time, we were talking about Joseph Smith and the restoration of the Priesthood. Out of no where she sits up in her chair and and very matter-of-factly asks "Why can't women hold the priesthood? Are we not good enough?" One of the missionaries fumbled with his words for a minute, but she definitely caught us all off guard. I gave the missionaries a minute to respond but they kinda froze up. So I leaned in over the table and explained to her "You are a Daughter of God. You are also a mother to a beautiful 5 year old girl who is blessed to have you as a mother. You've been blessed with divine qualities that help you be the best mother she could have. If you chose to be baptized, you will eventually receive a calling in the ward. There are callings within the Relief Society that are some of the main gears that make the church turn. If it wasn't for those sisters, the church wouldn't be able to function day-to-day. Does that help at all?" And it seemed to, then I summed it up for her just to make sure and said "Basically the reason men get the priesthood exclusively, is so we will have something to do."

I am forever impressed with the women at church, juggling 3,4,5 kids, keeping them in line at sacrament meeting while their husband sits on the bench and looks important. I come home and I can't even get my cat to not jump up on the table when I'm eating. I would be a horrible woman. Ugly too.

[Vort]

then I summed it up for her just to make sure and said "Basically the reason men get the priesthood exclusively, is so we will have something to do."

This is false. You should not have said it. Until that point, your answer was fine.

[Vort]

I do not expect to be given the priesthood. I do not think women should be the same as men. I just wish men in general would give women more credit and not get so cocky that they were born a man and not a woman.

No pun intended.

I am sorry this has been your experience. As a man, I have a different perspective. But I have known few men who think themselves better than women because of their maleness. Frankly, I have probably known more women who think themselves superior to men than vice versa. But either case is disgusting.

You're special. You're more pure. Women are naturally caring and loving, full of mercy and charity. Since we're not so likewise blessed, men are given the priesthood and responsibility which tutors us in these same areas.

This is false.

I agree! Isn't there a joke that goes: when God finished making man he said "I can do better!"

Antimale "jokes" are no more funny than their misogynistic counterparts.

I summed it up for her just to make sure and said "Basically the reason men get the priesthood exclusively, is so we will have something to do."

Too bad you added this. Until this point, your answer was reasonable and helpful. The part you added above is false.

If not, then I am sure that Jesus Christ will be shocked to learn that he has the Priesthood just so that he has something to do, but that if he were a woman, he wouldn't need it.

Edited September 5, 2011 by Vort

[Guest]

How are you limited?

I can't pee standing up, or belch the alphabet.

[Vort]

I can't pee standing up, or belch the alphabet.

This is not true. Actually, you CAN pee standing up.

Not saying it's a good idea...

[Guest]

This is not true. Actually, you CAN pee standing up.

Not saying it's a good idea...

Good point. In fact, my 4-year-old daughter did so this morning. The results were not good.

[skalenfehl]

It goes both ways. For example, King David, highly favored of the Lord, a man after God's own heart according to Marion G. Romney, ultimately forfeited his exaltation, which resulted from a series of sins beginning with his lust for Bathsheba who he found bathing on a roof. I cannot remember any woman in the Bible committing sins so grievous as David, to fall so far from grace.

Edited September 5, 2011 by skalenfehl

[Dravin]

No pun intended.

Antimale "jokes" are no more funny than their misogynistic counterparts.

The counterpart of misogyny is misandry. And the opposite of misogyny would be philogyny.

Just being a language nerd, don't mind me.

[Spartan117]

Too bad you added this. Until this point, your answer was reasonable and helpful. The part you added above is false.

I thought the sarcasm came across rather well. Apparently not.

[Vort]

I thought the sarcasm came across rather well. Apparently not.

Sorry, I did miss the sarcasm. I actually still don't see it. Why were you being sarcastic with an investigator?

[Spartan117]

Sorry, I did miss the sarcasm. I actually still don't see it. Why were you being sarcastic with an investigator?

It was all in the delivery. The noble and proper tale of the importance, significance, and necessity of the sisters and the roles they fill in the church that keep it from falling apart day-to-day. After the "moment" is established and there, inappropriate sarcasm to defuse the whole thing. I was really impressed with my writing style in this one. Blah

As far as acting like that with an investigator, she had been investigating for about 2 years. I should have mentioned that in my first post. I met with her twice a week with the missionaries for months trying to help her along. We became very good friends and sarcastic remarks like that were common and appropriate.

You're right to question that though. Believe it or not I am exactly the same in person as I am online, very blunt and direct, sometimes insensitive but not offensive so much ... anymore ... and in need of a little tact. It's a process

Additional: I moved out of that ward 11 months ago but heard that just a few weeks ago she was finally baptized.

Edited September 5, 2011 by Spartan117
spleling