I was lucky enough to have an interview with Bryndis Roberts who has been passionately involved in supporting others in going to the temple, in the relief society and in the bloggernacle. In this interview she tells us about herself. If we are lucky, we may also get a follow-up interview about FEMWOC – Feminist Mormon Women of Color.
Tell us about yourself and how you fit into the Church and the Bloggernacle?
I was raised in the Black Baptist faith tradition and joined the LDS Church in January 2008. I have served as a Family History Consultant, Relief Society Teacher, Relief Society Second Counselor, Relief Society President, and Ward Welfare Specialist.
With respect to the Bloggernacle, I am an administrator of and permanent blogger for FEMWOC – Feminist Mormon Women of Color. I am also an administrator/moderator of and permanent blogger for FMH – Feminist Mormon Housewives. In addition, I am the current Chair of the Executive Board of Ordain Women.
How did you come to join the church?
2007 was the year I turned 50 years old. I had always been taught that the 50th year was a time of celebration – that it was the year of Jubilee. In preparation for my year of Jubilee, I embarked on a project to improve and enhance myself in all aspects of my life – emotionally, physically, financially, and spiritually. On the spiritual side, I started an intense Bible study. I also read other sacred texts and watched religious programming. In the midst of doing so, I happened to hear Gladys Knight bear her testimony about joining the LDS Church and decided that I would also read the Book of Mormon.
I then set out to find a Book of Mormon. I started with my favorite Christian book store and the clerk’s reaction made me feel as though I was asking for a book about worshiping Satan. I then went to Barnes & Noble but was still unable to find one. My quest for a Book of Mormon brought LDS Missionaries to my door, and the lessons spoke to my heart and my soul.
Can you tell our readers about your life away from the church and church related things?
I am an alumna of Wesleyan College, Macon, Georgia, the oldest college in the world chartered to grant degrees to women.
I am an attorney and have my own firm – Jenkins & Roberts LLC – where my law partner is my ex-husband, William Jenkins, who also happens to be my best friend. I am the mother of two strong, intelligent, and beautiful daughters, Jennifer Jenkins and Jessica Fay. I am very excited about the upcoming birth of my first grandchild in September.
I am a lifelong Democrat and gladly accept the labels of liberal and/or progressive. I am an active and vocal champion of voting rights and women’s reproductive freedom.
I am passionately interested in genealogy and my favorite vacation spots are any locations where there are lighthouses and LDS Temples.
What is your group or project(s) you are known for or that are dear to your heart? How did you get involved in what you do? Who is involved with you? Give us the details of what you are doing and how you came to be involved?
I am currently serving as the Chair of the Executive Board of Ordain Women. There are a total of eleven people on the Executive Board. More than 600 women and men have posted profiles and more than 7,000 have indicated their support by liking our Facebook page.
I joined the Ordain Women Executive Board in the fall of 2014. I joined because, as I wrote in my profile: “[a]s important as the work is, I cannot believe that it is the divine will that so many workers are not allowed to participate, fully and equally.”
A large part of what we do in Ordain Women is engage in actions designed to “call attention to the need for the ordination of Mormon women to the priesthood.” On Sunday, May 29, 2016, we will be holding a Day of Fasting, Prayer, Reflection and Meditation during which we will be coming together in thought and in sprit “asking that our present-day Church leaders will hear our cries and that they will seek revelation about ordaining women to the priesthood in the LDS Church.”
How can people reach you or your group if they are interested in what you are doing? A link perhaps?
What question do you wish people would ask you that you would like to answer?
Since I love to talk and interact with other people, there are several questions that I would like to be asked and several issues I would like to discuss.
Perhaps the primary question that I would like to answer is why I stay and continue to advocate for change in the LDS Church. My answer to that question has three parts.
First, I believe that the only reason I joined the LDS Church is that God ordered my steps and led me to the LDS Church. Second, I believe that the promises I made as part of my baptismal covenant compel me to stand with and speak out for our LDS siblings who are being mistreated and marginalized. Third, because I believe that God led me to the LDS, I will stay until God directs me to leave.
Is there a question you have for our readers?
I would like to engage with your readers to brainstorm for ideas as to how, individually and collectively, we can make the LDS Church and Mormon culture more welcoming and inclusive.
I would love to hear from your readers on those points.
Wheat & Tares 
I know others in thus forum will disagree with me, but I most sincerely believe the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is already welcoming and inclusive, and that no one is mistreated or marginalized. I regret hearing of those who feel otherwise, and hope for healing and forgiveness.
I remember your interview with Gina Colvin on A Thoughtful Faith and hearing your experiences being a Relief Society President in an Atlanta ward — it’s been a while since I heard that, but I recall there was definitely a real issue with there not being a lot of worthy men, but quite a few worthy women, and yet because of how the church does things, the church had to go to probably not-quite-so-worthy men because that’s the way things are done.
I’m wondering how these sorts of stories can be amplified, because that was really compelling to me (then again, I can’t say I’ve ever really been opposed to women’s ordination, so maybe that’s just preaching to the choir).
ji — read the true story of our guest poster.
http://www.wheatandtares.org/21036/i-have-not-abandoned-you-you-have-abandoned-me/
There is a problem for some.
Part of it is a growing class divide. Some of it comes from a growing neo Calvanism.
But in many, many places there is a real issue.
I did. From that thread:
May God bless all those who try to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ, imperfect as they may be. May we forgive our fellow pilgrims for whatever offenses we have endured. May we rejoice in the Gospel and its restoration in these latter days, and thank God for so many blessings, opportunities, and even challenges. May the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints continue to grow, both as an institution and also as a collection of individual members. May each of us be kind to our neighbors, even the neighbors in our pews, and encourage each other in faith, hope, and charity.
I believe that it is the nature of the gospel that we can always do better.
I am an unofficial member of the Bryndis fan club. I would love to be in a ward with her and I expect many in her ward feel the love she has for them. I bet she stands up for some in her ward that may not have had people stand up.
And congrats on soon becoming Grandma B! Make sure you spoil ’em (with love).
Two thumbs up Happy Hubby. I feel the same.
ji – I absolutely agree that there are many very welcoming people in the church. But I do think there are some strong currents in Mormonism that accept certain types of people, but have aversions to other types. We have such strong convictions about some things (say smoking or being gay) that we see it as a huge moral failing and we can’t see/love the person.
Once again – not everyone has this issue. I know of saints that are “Saints” in almost the Catholic sense.
Also I think that in some wards most do feel very accepted and it feels like everyone is accepting. All is well in Zion! But this can be caused by survivorship bias. The people that don’t quite fit in and are not quite as accepted could have just stopped coming.
If you want to hear a bit more about this, I enjoyed listening to https://youarenotsosmart.com/2014/04/24/yanss-podcast-022-how-we-miss-what-is-missing-and-what-to-do-about-it-with-statistician-megan-price/
Please don’t let anything that feels like pushback keep you from continuing to comment. We need all (respectful) comments.
Hubby,
When you write “we” as in “We have such strong convictions…,” are you including yourself in the “we”? Or me? This is an honest question.
To answer “ji”
I was not trying to say anything about your lack of accepting others. You may very well be approaching Mother Theresa levels of accepting and loving others. Maybe you are in a ward that is extremely accepting and loving of others – even when they are different.
I have come to believe that almost everyone has conscience and sub-conscience biases. Anybody that says they are free of them is just fooling themselves. So I have to be included in that “we” that “I” have issues I need to work on. I admit I have a hard time when someone in priesthood says, “I am looking forward to having at least a half dozen wives after I die.” If I want others to allow me to have my own ideas and beliefs, I need to get to a place where I can respect theirs.
Thanks. Sometimes, a person saying “we” really means other people, not him- or herself. I tend to dislike that use of “we.”
Yep ji, “we” need to stop using “we” so much. 😉
I don’t if Sister Roberts is answering questions, but I have a couple. Do you view men and women as being essentially different? Or are they the same? I’ve read a lot on blogs advocating for the equality of women in the church. Some are simply advocating for women’s voices to have greater influence, others for complete equality/equivalence (eg., priesthood ordination). The church’s doctrine, at least as read in the proclamation on the family and currently heard in general conference, does not present men and women as being equivalent. In fact, it might even be said to celebrate in their differences. Yet at the same time, the roles and influences of women seem to be growing (praying in conference, PEC being effectively replaced with Ward Council, greater visibility in general). If women and men were different, it seems that it could be justified that they be treated differently. If they are the same, it would seem very arbitrary to segregate them in any way whatsoever.
An extension to that would be whether there should exist separate spaces for the sexes. Should women receive the priesthood, would there be a justification for separate meetings for the sexes? Would we have RS, or simply a combined PH meeting? Ordain Women significantly changed the way General PH meeting is experienced. In the past, since it was only broadcast via satellite to stake centers, attendance at Gen PH was a sacrifice expected by PH holders, almost as part of their PH duties, and was well attended. Subsequent to OW’s protests and the resulting internet broadcasts, Gen PH became no different from any other session of conference: if watched at all, from home. That space for men was dissolved. On the other hand, women are no longer excluded (except for the conf center). Our RS had an activity teaching a certain skill. A couple men from the ward wanted to sign up. The RS pres turned them away, saying that the activity was just about the skill, but about having a space for women. The men were genuinely shocked that they were not welcome. Was this an injustice? If separate spaces for the sexes have value, what would it be, and how can they be justified?
On another note, I understand that OW is campaigning to have our male church leaders genuinely approach God about ordaining women to the priesthood. Presumably they have not asked, and presumably that’s because they already think they know the answer. What if the 1st Pres and 12 presented themselves, humbly declared that upon the people’s request, they approached the Lord in prayer and fasting and asked Him to ordain women to the priesthood, and the response they received was clearly “no”. Would that be a clear indication that they are not inspired men, or is OW operating on the presumption that that would not happen? (Obviously, one could ask similar hypothetical questions of those who are comfortable with the status quo, but that’s not you)
Finally (and you might not want to touch this question with a ten foot pole), do you feel that Kate Kelly could have and should have been accommodated by the church to be able to remain a member in full fellowship? Are the PH leaders who decided she should be excommunicated responsible for shattering her faith? Or did she cross a line that OW board members no longer cross? Or is this just an unavoidable and unfortunate outcome of the passionate meeting the complacent? The reason I ask is that while trying to make the church a more welcoming place, where, if anywhere, are there boundary lines? Is everything and everyone welcome, and if not, where/how should the line be drawn?
I understand it’s a lot easier to ask questions than to answer them, and that given your position you might need to be careful not to be misunderstood or potentially misrepresented. I personally tend to be more of a traditionalist, but these aren’t supposed to be gotcha questions. I really am curious, and I have no intention arguing anything or making a point.
Martin–I think your questions and framing are exactly the sort of thing she might answer.
I do think that the answer probably requires addressing both the questions and the framing (though since I don’t know the answers I don’t know for sure).
Without questioning we don’t get answers.
While I get annoyed at begging the question or similar rhetorical tricks, I’m glad of questions that express the honest questions people have.
Andrew S.,
Thank you for your comment. Because of the geographic size of our ward, it needs to be split. However, although we have many righteous, stalwart women in our ward, the split cannot occur until we have forty active Melchizedek Priesthood holders. As a result, a lot of our missionary and ministering efforts are focused on men. This situation troubles me because, while I do not claim to have any insight into anyone’s personal testimony, there does seem to be a lot of pressure (whether intended or unintended) put on men who may not be ready for the duties and responsibilities of the priesthood. At the same time, there are active women in the ward who cannot fulfill perform those duties and responsibilities.
I do not know the best way to amplify or share these stories. I have often wished that Church leaders could come and spend a week in our ward. I believe it would be an eye-opening experience.
Martin,
After I had some time for thought and prayer, I will respond to your questions.
Bryndis
Bryndis, girl, you are apostasizing. Turn from your path.
Genhy, please add something to a conversation without insult. I am really tired of your insults.
Calling an adult professional “girl” which is a racist use that goes back to slavery is something that will result in severe displeasure on my part.
Genhy you need to apologize now.
Thanks for the opportunity to pose questions. I’d like to know why (or why she thinks) OW doesn’t appear to be addressing the female temple experience. In my mind, equality there is foundational. But I’m truly interested to know how others view and prioritize. Thank you.
Sister Roberts, I was so excited to see this post.
I’ve admired the work you have done, thank you for interacting with us.
This may overlap somewhat with what some of Martin’s questions.
I know many feminists differ on how to approach women’s issues in the Church, and not all of us feel that ordination is necessarily the goal. Was your decision to advocate specifically for women’s ordination, as opposed to other advocacy measures, spiritually inspired?
Thank you for your work in “stand(ing) with and speak(ing) out for our LDS siblings who are being mistreated and marginalized.” I wish I would have been in SLC the weekend you stood outside the Church Office Building with all of those letters, I wanted to introduce my daughters to you. I was heartbroken the letters were not graciously received by the leadership.
Wow, I do not envy anyone attempting to answer these questions.
Sister Roberts, thank-you for agreeing to the interview. It always seems like wards tend to be better united and welcoming when there are shared challenges or when members are rallying to the aid of someone. Do you think the call to aid refugees at home and abroad could help members be less divisive and more welcoming by nature of the comradarie arising from that outward-turning service?
Bryndis, thank you for sharing your testimony and spirit. I know when I met you last summer and sat to hear your conversion story that your testimony strengthened mine. I’m so grateful for the body of Christ that allows for everyone to play a different part and that there are some that are able to touch our lives in ways that other people aren’t able to. I hope that makes sense.
Sister Roberts, even though it’s been a while, I’m still really interested in your answers. I’d understand if it was too much work for too little reward, though. Tough stuff to answer. But, if you’ve decided not to attempt it, let us know so I won’t keep feeling the need (compulsion!) to check back.
Martin,
I will be answering in due time.
Bryndis
Sister Roberts, I’d still be really interested to read your responses if you wrote them. I’m sure you have many other things that are higher priority, but you got my hopes up.