Then I saw this article posted in the New York Times yesterday
So I knew something had to be said. Yes this is one of Marlee's soapboxes again however, if you are going to complain about the Church... you better know what it is you are complaining about and know your facts. This is what I sent in to CBS This Morning and felt like even though they recieved this comment, it would serve a good purpose if anyone could read it. Here it is.. Feel free to comment but please make sure that all comments are intelligible, contain no swearing, and are open minded. Thanks!
Good Morning!
My name is Marlee Brady and I am from Arizona. I faithfully
watch this news show in the mornings before I start my day and I love the
reporting done on this show. I especially wanted to comment on the story that
was reported on March 7th about Mormon women questioning traditional roles in
the Mormon Church. As a Latter Day Saint, or Mormon, woman I was intrigued by
the story and felt like there were some points that needed to be clarified as
far as church policy and how things actually happen and why they do.
First I would like to say that I felt that Jodi Kantor
presented the story to the best of her ability with the information she had
been given. However, those she spoke to do not have the understanding of why
things are the way they are within the church. It is true that as Latter Day
Saints, we believe that God has placed men and women on earth with very
different but equally important roles. It is also true that only men can hold
the priesthood in the church. We have a program in the church called Home
Teaching in which men go out to minister to families and even to single women
within their area; those women who do not have a husband or father in her home
can ask her home teacher for any assistance with the priesthood at anytime. Why
do women want the priesthood when they already have access to at any time? Men
do not benefit from the priesthood that they themselves hold, they have to ask
another man to use his priesthood for any help he may need. Changing this
policy is not a matter of signing a petition and hoping the General Authorities
(or Brethren) of the church will change their minds on this or any issue. The way
that policy is changed in the church is through revelation. As Latter Day
Saints we also believe that Jesus Christ leads and directs this church through
appointed representatives. The Brethren do not lead the church. So whatever
changes are made within the church, we believe, comes from revelation or the
mind and will of God being made known unto us. That is the only way. We do not
know why men were given the responsibility of the priesthood. We do not know
why God chose men instead of women but we know He did and until God changes his
mind that is the way it will stay.
Women have a different role to serve in the world and in the
LDS church. Our calling in life is not out in front of the world to see like
the men’s role is. Ours is of quiet and selfless sacrifice, of nurturing and
strengthening families and individuals, and of standing as an example to those
around us. The fact that a man holds the priesthood does not make him in a
higher standing with God; the priesthood is meant to strengthen families and
individuals, yes, but there is more responsibility and accountability with
holding that power. Women seeking leadership positions within the church
grossly misunderstand that positions, or callings, are not given out based on a
list of qualifications and worldly accomplishments. They are given by knowing
God’s will. That is the only way by which any leadership position is obtained
within the church, male and female.
I found that in the report, there was no mention that women
do serve in leadership positions within in the church. We do not just sit in
the back of the chapel and let the men run the show. Men and women work in tandem
with each other in their respective church units, wards or stakes as they are
called, in different committees and leadership positions to help aid those
under their “jurisdiction.” Women have the blessing of serving in Primary
Presidencies (for the children), in Young Women’s Presidencies (over the young
women), and in Relief Society Presidencies (for the women 18 and older). I
currently am serving as a counselor in my ward’s Primary Presidency. I have my
meetings to attend and children to minister to and families to serve. We work
with the priesthood to make sure that those whom we’re over are being taken
care of and that needs are met. The same pattern is followed in the upper
levels of the church. We have wonderful and capable women who serve as General
Primary, Young Women’s, and Relief Society Presidencies that have obligations
to the entire world. Not just to those in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
Day Saints but the entire world. These women were included in the committee
when the topic of lowering the missionary age for both young men and young
women were discussed. They were valued for their unique perspective as to how
this would affect children, the youth, and parents if the age was lowered.
Women in the church are revered for their role as mothers and wives in their
families and their unique contributions to the church that men don’t have.
The last point that needed clearing up was the point sexual
purity. We do believe in living a chaste and virtuous life as Latter Day
Saints, both men and women. That means no sexual conduct before marriage and
complete fidelity after marriage. When being interviewed by the bishop for a
temple recommend, both women and men are asked if they life a chaste life. That
is it. Only when sexual sin has been committed and a voluntary confession is
scheduled with the bishop, is the bishop ever going to ask deep and uncomfortable
questions about what took place. The reason being, sin is uncomfortable,
telling anyone about anything that has been done that should not have been done
is uncomfortable. If I ever had to have a talk with my bishop about such a
serious subject, the last thing I would want would to have a third person in
that room that had no business knowing what I had done. The bishop in a ward,
we believe is a judge for personal worthiness within a ward and is the only one
that members go to for confession of serious moral transgressions. The reason
why bishops will press with further questions that are even uncomfortable for
him to ask is because if he does not, he cannot help that individual to do the
necessary steps of repentance to enjoy the full blessings of the church. That
is the purpose to confess to a bishop, to right oneself with God and the church
and get back on track. It’s not because an older man is interested in what
happens behind closed doors with women. He asks the exact questions to men and
they do not have the privilege of having a third party present either.
The purpose in my comment is show that this church is not
run by old, power seeking, chauvinistic men wanting to continue to oppress the
female membership of the church. It is to show that there is no gender
inequality within the church; we simply have different roles than men do. The
church will not change its policy just because 1,300 women signed a petition;
it will change when God tells us to change. I am a proud member of The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and as an independent woman myself that
has accomplished much in my young life, I say that women do not need to hold
the priesthood. Women are blessed by the priesthood but we do not need to hold
it in order to feel important or that we are equal to our male counterparts. We
just need to do what God has appointed and has asked us to do, whatever that
may be, and work with the men in our lives; not to try to compete or keep up
with them. We are nothing without men and men are nothing without women.
Thank you for reading this and as always I will continue to
get my news from Nora, Charlie, and Gayle every morning.
Marlee Brady
