The Role(s) of Women in the Church?

[Vort]

I'm going to be an awesome old man. Gonna yell at all those kids on my lawn and wear suspenders

Vort in a few decades:

[LeKook]

After reading through all the pages in this thread, I'm a little sad that I won't ever get to be an eccentric old woman with a red hat.

I hereby declare you an honorary Eccentric Old Woman with a Red Hat. I do hope this makes you a little bit happier today. Also, don't forget to wear your tie-dye smiley face shirt (which I wear often). Yeah, I'm just a few months from 50, but prematurely gray, so I get the eccentric old woman title by default. Especially when I meet people at my door wearing my smiley face shirt and pig slippers.

[RMGuy]

I hereby declare you an honorary Eccentric Old Woman with a Red Hat. I do hope this makes you a little bit happier today. Also, don't forget to wear your tie-dye smiley face shirt (which I wear often). Yeah, I'm just a few months from 50, but prematurely gray, so I get the eccentric old woman title by default. Especially when I meet people at my door wearing my smiley face shirt and pig slippers.

It's the eye shadow and lipstick I want to see him in...lol!

-RM

[LeKook]

It's the eye shadow and lipstick I want to see him in...lol!

-RM

I think that would qualify as one of those "between himself and the Lord" circumstances... LOL!!!

[LeKook]

An eccentric old lady at almost 50 ... man am I in BIG trouble. I am nearly 58, single, and a life long member of the church (well since I was 8 anyway). I have never turned down a calling or asked to be released from one but that doesn't mean that some of the Bishops couldn't wait to get rid of me either. A couple months ago someone told me that I was intimidating ... can you believe that?

LOL!!! I find you intimidating only because your avatar is very frightening (in an over the top cute way!)! Yeah, my prematurely gray hair wins me the nod for old lady when my eccentricity won't.

Just be who you are .. that is what you have been given to bring to your brothers and sisters ... and if folks don't like it ... well ... they can just get over it. I say what I think and mean it and if they don't like it ... oh well! </QUOTE>

I hope this is how things really are, because most of my experience of being who I am means being excluded. And I'm not even really that eccentric, just somewhat kooky but only because I like to see people smile and laugh and enjoy life. Dour I am not.

As I said I am single, never been married or had kids but I currently have 10 kids. I teach the teens in Sunday school and love it ... most would rather cut off their arm than work with the teen agers ... we each have our spot that we can grow and be of service ... we just have to look for it and then go for it. You will never be asked to do anything you can't handle and as Pres Eyring (I think) said the Lord magnifies those who magnify their callings. It amazes me what I can do when I rely on the Lord for help.

I keep hearing this about working with teenagers, I wonder what's up with that?

The Priesthood may be the backbone of the church but the sisters are the heart and soul and stand behind the priesthood reminding them to stand up straight! One saying goes that if you want a job done call the Relief Society. (We had a request in our area for 144 quilts in 2 weeks during a flood here, our stake turned out 1400 in 5 days) Read some of the stories of the early sisters .. those ladies were amazing. Mary Fielding Smith is my all time hero ... or I guess heroine is more correct. That lady had a backbone of steel, an iron will and faith beyond belief.

I haven't read any biographies of other saints but will have to look her up.

Just always remember who you are ... a daughter of God and that who you are is who He will use to His purposes. Be the best you you can be.

Here's to continuing kookiness! :)

[LeKook]

Callings in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are an interesting gospel study by themselves. My wife likes to watch a TV program called “Runway”. The program has an interesting saying that applies to LDS callings. It is “One day you are in and the next day you are out!” If there is anything to describe church callings as any kind of progression - that saying does it best.

Okay, so I'm seeing a continuing theme in comments here about it being less about callings and more about simply jumping in with our own abilities and letting the Lord handle the outcomes... am I reading this right? :)

Having served for many years in many prestigious callings - the truth be known - though I was thankful to serve, I was also thankful to be released. Having served in bishoprics I have yet to meet or even hear of a Mormon bishop that is doing a poor enough job that I would rather be that bishop myself.

Someone I spoke with before we went to the Temple last night made a similar comment! They have had prestigious callings also but were just glad to be released when their time was up. No, they didn't say it like the calling was a drag or anything, just that they were ready to move on and try something else.

I have had two callings I would rate as my favorite. The #1 was primary teacher. I asked to teach a particular primary class because it was a so-called problem class - in particular one boy. My first day in class I say this youth as I was at his age and I actually broke down seeing how he was being treated by others in the primary. We established an immediate repot and years later I still talk in length with this individual each week at church as he is part of the young men’s program.

What a wonderful story! Glad for you both!

I am not a touchy feely kind of person. My wife and kids think it is funny to force me from my comfort zone in public with hugs. Or they hand me one of their crying babes telling me to cuddle the child. Theirs is a very sick sense of humor. However, one of my primary children was very shy and never said anything before or after class. One Sunday at the end of church I was conversing in the hall when this wonderful little girl suddenly hugged my leg and said something like I was the best friend ever and then ran off. I was shocked and embarrassed beyond belief - my wife thought it both funny and touching - as did I.

LOL that is so totally CUTE!!!

My point to all this? If you are lucky you may have callings of great honor - but if you are really lucky - you will get to teach for a time in the primary.

The thought of teaching in the primary scares me, which means I'll probably end up being asked to do it. LOL I'll remember your story when it happens!!!

- LeKook

[bytebear]

Another quick Primary anecdote, and maybe a heads up in case you are ever in the same situation.

A newly baptized member was called to be in the primary presidency. As one of her duties, she was in charge of birthday wishes, and there is a primary birthday song in the children's song book (not the traditional Happy Birthday To You). It's been around for at least a generation since I remember singing it when I was a kid. Anyway, she goes to lead the children in singing Happy Birthday, and of course she sang the traditional song whereas the entire room sang the church song. But, hey, it's all part of the experience, right?

Then there was the time I was wrangled into being the substitute pianist for the primary. I can play all of two hymns, and can't sight read for the life of me. Of course, this was discovered when I had to play some snowman song I had never heard of. But it made the kids laugh, so it's all good.

[garryw]

For some reason I have it in my mind that this is really all that women can aspire to within the church.

Men don't aspire to hold leadership positions in the church. I know I don't aspire to. Working 50 hours/week plus commuting to work plus having multiple callings leaves me with no time. I don't aspire to have any more work than I got. In fact, truth be told, I would not shed a tear if I got released from a calling or two.

I guess the grass is always greener on the other side. If I was female, I would just rejoice about it. Who knows, maybe have time to read a book or get some exercise.

[LeKook]

If it's too much, why not just say "No" when asked? If you're already too busy, there's no reason someone could object to your declining.... or is there?