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Primary
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September 2014 General Women’s Meeting – Jean A. Stevens
It seems that the theme for this women's meeting is covenants and the temple. Sister Jean A. Stevens, first counselor in the Primary Presidency focused on the covenants, starting with the baptismal covenant and leading up to the temple. She used her own mother as the central example saying she had a "remarkable connection to heaven" and later used quotes from many women of differing ages and their examples of looking to the temple. I loved that she used regular Church members and especially women as examples and multiple times emphasized that we all have different paths. We have...
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The Family is of God
LDS congregations will soon have their annual Primary programs. This year, the theme song that the children will sing is The Family is of God. I love the catchy tune and clever rhyming pattern of this song, so I created this meme about it that you can add to your Pinterest boards or print as a scripture bookmark.
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Girl Scouts Sans Troop
I was never a girl scout but I wanted my daughter to be one. American Mormon boys enroll in church-sponsored Boy Scouts troops. However, the LDS church does not sponsor Girl Scout troops. To be fair to my children and give them equal opportunities, I wanted to find a way for my daughter to access the Girl Scout experience outside of church.
When I went to the Utah Girl Scouts website and tried to sign up, I received a notice saying that because of the high demand for Girl Scouts in my local area, my daughter would not be able...
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Sacred Music: “Be strong! Stand up! Lead out!”
In a few weeks, Mormon women will attend General Women's Meeting. This will be the first General Women's Meeting in many years, but not the first ever. The return to the old format has brought back memories for me. When I was 12 years old, I sang in the choir at General Women's Meeting, alongside my mother and my Primary-aged sister. We sang three musical numbers, one for each auxiliary represented. The songs were designed to complement the talk given by that auxiliary leader.
Young Women Program: Come Hold Your Torches High I like the way this song encourages young...
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Children’s Nativity Script
Here is a simple, readers theater nativity I wrote for my Primary Sharing Time. I also used it for a Family Home Evening. Other than Joseph and Mary, all parts are gender-neutral. You may increase the number of parts by having two shepherds, two angels and two wise men/women, as each role has two speaking parts.
Song: Away in a Manger
Children's Songbook 42
Mary
One day, when I was engaged to Joseph but not married yet, an angel came to see me. The angel told me not to be afraid. He said that God had chosen me to have a son named Jesus,...
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The Assistant Primary Chorister
In June, I volunteered to be the Assistant Primary Chorister. I emailed the Bishop and the Primary President and asked if they would consider an unusual arrangement … I offered to conduct, helping out the Primary Chorister once or twice a month even though that is all I attend my ward. The Bishop responded he was supportive, but left the decision up to the more conservative Primary President, who talked with the Primary Chorister – who said I “was an answer to her prayers".
After I came and watched her once and then co-did singing time the following week, we’ve...
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Institutionalized Gender Inequality Starts in the Church at Age 8…
...when our boys got into Cub Scouts and our girls begin attending Activity Days.
Program Accoutrements
A Wolf Cub Scout (8 year old Boy)
An 8 Year Old Activity Days Girl
Uniform
$35.99 (including patches)
None
Handbook
$8.99 Cub Scout book + Faith in God
Faith in God
Awards
$1.23 per pin; $1-$4 per patch; $1.50 per belt loop*
None
Academic Year Programming
Weekly meetings with dens and an end of the month pack meeting where awards are given to boys
No more than two times a month (see Primary handbook)
Summer Programming
Monthly pack meetings and a 3 day Cub Scout Day Camp**
No more than two times a month (see Primary handbook)
Leadership Ratio
4:1
No requirement
Leadership Protection
Background...
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Guest Post: Heavenly Mother’s Hiding in the Primary Closet
Guest post by Bethany
Bethany is a community activist in Richmond, Virginia, focusing on creating a healthy food culture in public schools. In her spare time she works to create a healthier gender culture at church. She's finding that getting adult Mormons to say "Heavenly Parents" is a lot harder than getting kids to eat kale. She mothers three young girls, loves to cycle with her husband, and digs cooking spicy vegetarian food to share with neighbors.
I don’t know anyone who anticipates the unveiling of the General Primary theme for Sharing Time for the year. I know I certainly never have. This...
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Heavenly Mother in Primary
Today was the ward's primary program. Sophie (age 5) stood up to talk about her blessings and said "I'm thankful that Heavenly Father loves me and for Heavenly Mother too ......." It made me smile. My ward in Alexandria, VA seemed unconcerned about the mention of Heavenly Mother in sacrament meeting. And it made me wonder how the church-at-large is doing with "over the pulpit" mentions of Heavenly Mother.
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Poll: Summertime, and the Meetings are Easy
I've lived in wards where the culture is to suspend activities for Relief Society, Mutual, Cub Scouts, and Activity Days during the summer. Other wards have maintained the same schedule year-round.
I see positives and negatives to doing both systems. As a kid and teenager, I loved having activities continue. As an adult who's in charge of planning an implementing those activities, I'm happy to have a break. What does your ward do and what is your preference?
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.
