Blog Tag: General Conference
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Quotation and Gender in General Conference
By Eliza Wells
Introduction
In her April 2020 General Conference address, Primary General President Joy Jones declared, “President Russell M. Nelson taught, ‘It would be impossible to measure the influence that … women have, not only on families but also on the Lord’s Church, as wives, mothers, and grandmothers; as sisters and aunts; as teachers and leaders; and especially as exemplars and devout defenders of the faith.’”
This October, President Eyring quoted those lines once again in his Women’s session address.
Though it certainly might be impossible to measure the influence of women on families, studying quotation in General Conference allows us to...
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A Recap of General Conference
This isn't going to be a summary of general conference - more of a reaction.
I saw several people in my social media feeds in the weeks leading up to conference expressing simultaneous excitement about conference and dismay that it was going to be all virtual. Since I don't live in Utah, general conference has always been all virtual, so it didn't really strike me as functionally different. Whether there are throngs gathered in a large auditorium or whether there are only the speakers spaced several feet apart, the experience is the same to me. I'm at home listening while...
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When the Church asks the ladies to study (male-only) priesthood before...
Just before last General Conference, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) sent out an email instructing "the sisters" (not the men) to study three sections from Doctrine and Covenants prior to Conference. Each section had a common theme: the priesthood (which in our church, is a male-only privilege). Some women were annoyed by the gendered assignment. Why only women? But others were hopeful. Could church leaders be preparing us for an announcement that they would ordain women? Or at least, stop excluding women from some priesthood duties that were currently for...
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Motherhood May Be Hazardous to Your Health
LDS teachings on motherhood are incomplete. Here’s what I wish I had been taught before having children.
As a struggling parent to a newborn and a toddler, I visited the home of a friend and poured out my heart about how defeated, unqualified, broken, and alone I felt as a mother. She listened with empathy and offered words of support. Her teenage daughter was listening in and quietly asked, “If it’s so bad all the time,” she mused, “why doesn’t someone tell women it’s going to be that way before they have babies? To help you prepare?”
“Oh honey,” my friend replied...
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Relief Society Lesson: Careful Versus Casual by President Becky Craven
President Craven's talk can be found here.
by Paula (Paula can be found on Facebook on her page, The Gospel According to Paula, and on Instagram @thegospelaccordingtoPaula
***Teaching Tip: This is a long lesson with three potential deep dive discussions. It would take three Sundays to cover! Feel free to use the part best suited to your RS or change the topic order.
Throughout the lesson there are places for Class Discussion as well as Author’s Commentary, which gives you an idea of the commentary I’d make to guide the discussion.
You’ll want
to replace my notes/ideas with your own!...
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Relief Society Lesson: Women and Gospel Learning in the Home by...
This lesson help was first posted at our sister blog, Zelophehad's Daughters, by permablogger Petra.
President Eyring’s Women And Gospel Learning In the Home talk, from October’s General Conference, has been a popular pick for RS lessons over the past few months, at least judging my social media activity. Up until recently, I was a Relief Society teacher, and I chose this talk for my lesson in November. I’m sharing my lesson outline below, with some commentary in case it helps anyone prepare to teach or participate in a class based on this talk.
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Introduction: I try to keep this limited to just...
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Relief Society Lesson Plan: The Joy of Unselfish Service by Cristina...
I have been reluctant to post this lesson help because I have chosen President Cristina B. Franco's talk at the last General Conference called, "The Joy of Unselfish Service" and I begin by turning the concept of selfishness on its head. When I first read the title I thought, "I can't think of a single woman who I know well in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints giving service for a selfish purpose."
"Misguided?" Perhaps...
I believe that as sisters in Zion, we are coming from a place of good intentions and work hard to eschew selfishness and pride....
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Guest Post: They Forget That We Are There
A letter I wrote Sunday evening after watching General Conference.
To the Primary Presidency, General Young Women Presidency, General Relief Society Presidency, and First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:
I am writing to express gratitude for the messages shared by Sisters Craig and Franco and Presidents Jones and Cordon during this most recent General Conference. I was inspired by their words, experiences, and testimonies about living their faith and striving to become like Christ.
I am also writing to plead with you to advocate for more women’s voices throughout General Conference. It was disheartening to hear only...
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Is not this the fast that I have chosen?
On Saturday evening, Russell M. Nelson challenged women and girls (but not men and boys) to "fast" from social media for 10 days, with the implication that a fast from social media means turning it off. Almost immediately, I started seeing posts in my Facebook feed of people announcing that they're taking 10 days off from Facebook in response. It took all of my willpower not to comment on those posts with Matthew 6:16-18.
This challenge doesn't sit right with me. The first reason is the obvious one - it has the effect of silencing women. Women's voices have...
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Something’s Missing in General Conference: Where Are the Women?
One year ago, it was announced that the Priesthood Session and Women’s Session of General Conference would only be held once a year and each on the Saturday evening of Conference weekend. The October 2018 General Conference marked the first time the Women’s Session took the place of the Priesthood Session on General Conference weekend.
Traditionally, at least for the past 20 years or so, two female auxiliary presidency members speak during the general sessions of Conference: one on Saturday and one on Sunday. (There have been exceptions to this, like when only one woman spoke in April 2017 and...
What is Exponent II?
Exponent II provides Mormon feminist forums for women and gender minorities across the Mormon spectrum to share their diverse life experiences in an atmosphere of trust and acceptance. Through these exchanges, we strive to create a community to better understand and support each other.
Exponent II was founded in 1974 by a group of Mormon women in Cambridge, Massachusetts. These women were inspired by the original periodical, “The Woman’s Exponent,” to create a forum “posed on the dual platforms of Mormonism and Feminism.”
For 50+ years, Exponent II has shared women’s voices in its quarterly magazine, and members of the community have convened at an annual retreat. Our reach has expanded as technology has advanced: the blog, founded in January 2006, has reached millions. As we look to the future, we are focused on growth and building a more inclusive community.
