Read our series of blog posts on by Mormon feminists across the spectrum of belief
women
Written by
7
Yes, I am angry
Someone messaged me the other day and asked me why I’m so angry. I’m here to explain why and argue that being angry is often necessary. (They were being homophobic, but that's a story for another time.)
The term “angry feminist” is used to turn the conversation, to distract from any valued point by setting the feminist commentator as someone not even worth listening to. It doesn’t matter how rude, or emotional the accuser is, his point is always the valid, reasonable one.
Let me start with a story. In my old branch, there was a woman I often found difficult....
Written by
The Impossible Position of LDS Women: Unsolicited Assertiveness
Several years ago, my bishop mailed a letter about tithing to all the members of our ward. It was wordy and mostly benign, but it contained some statements and advice that I knew weren't doctrinal (specifically, telling members to pay tithing on their gross (not net) income and sharing a “faith-promoting” anecdote about how his mentor got rich because he paid a very generous fast offering, so my bishop followed his example and became financially successful himself). “Prosperity gospel” views are pretty widely-held in Mormonism, and I normally just roll my eyes or laugh off such statements, but I...
Written by
Relief Society Lesson Plan: The Worth of Souls is Great in...
When I was 10, I heard that missionaries had all studied the scriptures for four years at seminary and learnt 100 scriptures by heart. When I asked one of the perfectly lovely Elders who was at our home for dinner that night, if I could please have the list so I could get started memorising, I was surprised that he'd have to go home and check a list. I judged him pretty harshly for failing in his simple duty, which any ten year old could understand.
Of course, when I got to the third year of seminary, and my school...
Written by
Guest Post: Response of a Home Teacher to my Coming Out...
Today is International Transgender Day of Visibility and we are sharing a guest post from Linda Gifford which documents her home teacher's (HT) response to her coming out, and her reply. She shares an article with him and a Facebook post, the latter of which is shared here in full, with permission.
by Linda Gifford
16 Sep 2017
HT: “I have prayed for many days, racked my soul, went to the Temple of my God to find these words to share: I love you as a brother. I have been your home teacher for 10 years. I have testified from the pulpit...
Written by
IWD Series 2018: Trans Women of Mormonism
This International Women's Day, I would like to introduce you all to a few Mormon and former Mormon trans women and non-binary people and their contributions. Too often in our Church we fail to recognize the trans and non-binary children of God in the pews with us.
Allison Bianchi
Allison Bianchi is the ultra-rare only-child in an old Utah Mormon family. She was raised in Orem, Utah and served in the Philippines Bacolod mission from 2001-2003. In 2004 she was married in the Manti temple. She and her ex-wife have three children together.
Allison came out as trans in 2015 and began...
Written by
“Girls Can Be Leaders”: A Letter to My Daughter for Her...
Every so often my husband and I write future letters to our daughters, ages five and three. We email them to an account we set up in their names that we intend on gifting them on their 18th birthdays. This is a modified version of a letter I wrote my five-year-old daughter, whom I'll call “H.”
Dear H,
I will never forget last Saturday, the day our family participated in the NYC Women's March with a group of Mormon feminists. My favorite memory from that day is how boldly and proudly you held up your sign (pictured above). You were MAGNIFICENT!...
Written by
Unideal
Our new prophet, President Nelson, in a Facebook post clarifying his press conference address, sorted living situations into two categories: unideal and other. Sure, he made up a new word for the one group, and didn't actually name the other, but I guess that's because it sounds better than less-than-ideal and normal.
And, sure, it's not like we're stuck in one group forever. Living situations change. Those pesky YSA can get married, widowers and divorcées can remarry, childless couples can get pregnant or adopt. Part-member families can convert the holdouts and get sealed properly. Gay people can put their feelings...
Written by
The Greatest Commandment
In Matthew 22:36-40 (New International Version) we are given the greatest commandment:
36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
I love that Jesus immediately after stating that we are to love God with all of our heart, soul and mind has to clarify with a...
Written by
My Father’s Path, My Mother’s Path, and Mine
I knew, throughout Primary and Young Women, that I was a child of my Heavenly Father, that my soul was one of the noble and great ones, and that I was on a path to become like Him. Sure, kind of arrogant, and it did lead me to be kind of self-righteous until I mellowed in adulthood, but I knew that Heavenly Father loved me at least as much as any other person. The Young Women theme affirmed to me every week that I would become like Him, and it was my sacred duty to live up to those...
Written by
Accommodating the Natural Man
I recently listened to the interview of Amiee Flynn-Curran on Gina Colvin's podcast, A Thoughtful Faith. I know Amiee because the ward she studied is my own. I was curious about her takeaways as a non-Mormon, immersed in our "liberal" ward for a year.
My ward, as "liberal" as it is, is still very Mormon and a person passing through on a random Sunday probably doesn't notice that it's any different than other wards. We're still super Mormon. Can't help that.
So it wasn't a surprise to hear that a lot of Mormon myths still abound. For example, Amiee mentioned women...
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.
