Peggy Fletcher Stack of the Salt Lake Tribune said “that LDS women are scheduled, as of now [Mar 18, 2013], to offer invocations or benedictions at next month’s General Conference”. Which session will it be? Will it be an invocation, or benediction. My bet is a benediction for the last session, so there won’t be time to discuss it during General Conference. What’s your bet? (The polls close when it happens, or just prior to the last session, whichever comes first.)
In other news, Pres Monson announced new temples in Cedar City, Utah and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Feel free to add any other insights from General Conference.
[poll id =268]
[poll id =269]
[poll id =270]
Wheat & Tares 
Interesting talk by Ballard. In talking about priesthood, I thought he was going to discuss female priesthood. Instead, he equated priesthood with ability to create a family.
So does this mean that all the non-LDS women who are creating families are in fact exercising their priesthood?
Yes they will!
Well that was a short poll! Saturday am benediction!
Post updated and new poll generated.
I was right about the Sun pm session that a woman would pray. I just missed the earlier Saturday am session….
OK, that’s over. Next complaint, please
Isn’t the next complaint “Allowbeards.com”?
Jeff, I’ll remind you of a post I did a while back, about 10 issues on the minds of Mormon women: http://www.wheatandtares.org/2012/01/31/questions-to-consider/
One that seems to be being addressed is more female representation in decision making councils and bodies.
Things we still haven’t touched:
– callings only extended to one gender for no good reason
– discrimination against mothers as temple workers (but not fathers)
– discrimination against mothers in CES (but not fathers)
– no discussion of Heavenly Mother (this GC had several great opportunities to bring up Heavenly Parents and usually opted out)
– male oversight of female activities is creepy
– equal celebration of YW milestones as scouting milestones (results may vary on this one)
– undue emphasis on female modesty which is always couched in terms related to men being tempted
– female garment design blows
That’s the “unaddressed” list. Another “complaint” I’ve heard is finding ways to invest YW in church service the way the boys are by having girls be ushers in SM, a non-PH equivalent function for females.
Oh, and one more I’ll mention is women and girls being required to have sexually explicit conversations with creepy old men routinely. I mean “loving representatives of our Heavenly Father” unless they lose the local leadership roulette. I’ve been mostly lucky on this score (and yes I did just use both “lucky” and “score” in that sentence), but some have not been so fortunate.
There should probably be something about how local leaders handle sexual abuse issues as we still hear far too many stories of girls (or boys even) shamed over situations that were not in their control where a parent or much older person took advantage of a minor.
#10 – I was under the impression that there were some very specific guidelines and policies of how bishops and Stake Presidents were to handle sexual abuse matters; both alleged and known. This in light of no matter how caring and sensitive these men may be, they’re not (usually) mental health or medical professionals and shouldn’t assume the role thereof.
As for the “creepy”, oh, get over it. During a temple recommend interview, if the interviewee is asked, “Are you keeping the law of chastity?”, then it’s a simple yes and move on. Now, I DO agree in the case of sisters that they should be able to have either a trusted member of their choice or the RS President with them for support. I haven’t been a bishop but I wouldn’t feel threatened by such a request provided I could be sure that the “supporter” would keep confidences. If there’s something in the CHI that proscribes it, point it out to me. The idea is to serve the needs of the members, and someone who has committed serious sins and wants to repent is in great need indeed.
“Leadership Roulette”…I’ve hit “00” a few times myself!