A little girl once asked her mom out of curiosity, "Mom why don't girls get to have the priesthood?" The wise mother quickly replied "Why don't men get to have babies?" To a little girls mind this made perfect sense. A man's role is not superior to a Woman's and a Woman's role is not superior to a Mans. They are just different but of equal importance and designed to work in harmony together.
"Neither is the man without the Woman, neither the woman without the man in the Lord" 1 Cor 11:11
In a 1965 General Conference Elder William J. Critchlow asked the sisters, given the choice would you choose womanhood over manhood? He says:
In a 1965 General Conference Elder William J. Critchlow asked the sisters, given the choice would you choose womanhood over manhood? He says:
Did women by their own free choice choose to be the family heart rather than the family head?
"There is a center in every home
From which all joys must start.
Where is that center?
It is in the mother's heart."
From which all joys must start.
Where is that center?
It is in the mother's heart."
God, choosing woman to be his partner in the creative process, tucked away somewhere in her bosom a spark of his divine love, which later, at the time of motherhood, glows to brilliancy in every mother's heart.
A poet sensed this seemingly divine gift of devotion when he wrote:
". . . I feel that, in the Heavens above,
The angels, whispering to one another,
Can find, among their burning terms of love,
None so devotional as that of 'Mother'."
(Edgar Allan Poe, "To My Mother.")
The angels, whispering to one another,
Can find, among their burning terms of love,
None so devotional as that of 'Mother'."
(Edgar Allan Poe, "To My Mother.")
Now, Sister, faced with the alternative family head or family heart, did you turn down the head? Faced again with a choice between mother's love or priesthood authority, did you pass up authority?
Possibly some other considerations influenced you to be woman rather than man. I've listed a few suggestions. Now, which in this list of womanly virtues might possibly have influenced your choice—if and when, of course, you had a choice? At the head of the list I have placed:
Motherhood—co-creator with God. "Architects and builders of all humanity" our mothers are.Mother's love—that very special kind for children—a spark of his divine love for his spirit children.
The family heart—with subtle powers to sway the head.
The teacher—if little children pray, give mother the credit. "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it" (
Prov. 22:6).
Prov. 22:6).The dietician—lovingly concerned with the family health.
The cook—employing her daughters in the art.
The nurse—whose loving, tender care a man can never match.
The expediter—lovingly supervising children's chores and study.
The provoker—kindly provoking the husband to good works. (By Joseph Smith, "Minutes of Organization and Proceedings of the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo," March 17, 1842.)
The psychiatrist—principally for her husband, for whom she is the receptacle of all his cares and most of his ill humor. Somewhere it is written that "the virtues of the mothers shall be visited on their children as well as the sins of the fathers."
The "helpmeet" ( Gen. 2:18)—"Men undertake the doing and women the being. Man does, woman is."
Gen. 2:18)—"Men undertake the doing and women the being. Man does, woman is."All of these virtues and functions label the mother the homemaker. God labeled the father the provider or breadwinner when he made him the family head.
The husband is the family head for administrative purposes, solely.
He is first among equals for the sake of order in the family, only.
First among two personalities, husband and wife, is the man. Co partner and equal with him, in the sight of God, is the woman. ". . . neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord" ( 1 Cor. 11:11).
1 Cor. 11:11).Can man achieve exaltation without a woman at his side?
Men were given priesthood (God's power) to bless the lives of Women and their families and themselves. We don't have the priesthood but all the blessings of the priesthood are available to us. Women were given motherhood. We are co-creators with God. One is not more important than the other, they are just specific in their roles. Given the choice, I would choose Womanhood, maybe I did. Women are given divine qualities to nurture, support, encourage, comfort, inspire, teach & build confidence. When we play our part better we help the men play their part better. We are their help meets. Their part is to provide (I don't know about you but I'm glad that heavy burden is not my part, but it is my part to support and comfort) protect and take care of us. God obviously loves his daughters. We have planted in us seeds of godliness destined to become queens, inherit all the father has and share in all the glory.
"If God made man a little lower than the angels, he must then have made Women his very angels"
Women, you are priceless, you are irreplaceable, your role is of paramount importance.
President Brigham Young gave this advice to his own daughter:
"If you were to become the greatest writer and the most gifted and learned woman of your time, and had neglected your home and children in order to become so you will find your whole life had been a failure...if, in addition to your wifely and motherly duties, you can pursue one or more fields of public labor...all the good that you can accomplish...will be so much added glory to your eternal crown"
It is not a question of whether or not women are capable of being providers & having careers. Of course they are, Women are amazing & sometimes circumstances make it necessary that Women play that role. (and to you women, you are incredible!) Loving mothers and wives are needed in the home. Society needs more mothers and Women who know the impact of their humble role.
"God himself established the first family unit. It is not an institution developed by man which can be outgrown and cast aside in the course of human progress. All that is nearest and dearest in our lives is associated with our families. Love has its center here, and where love is, there we find happiness also. Truly, it is not good for man to be alone. The Lord in his wisdom has provided a way for man to be happy on this earth, and to carry that joy on through all eternity. The greatest joy and happiness comes through the family unit. It has been so through all mortality, so why will it not be so in the next life?" Elders G Smith, 1954 General Conference
Elder Boyd K Packer said:
"Some Women, long married, have no idea, it seems, about how a man is put together, what his needs are, how he can be lifted, inspired and encouraged...He needs to know that he is protecting you. He needs to feel and know that he is the leader in the family. He needs a wife and a sweetheart with whom he can share his love. He needs to have a family circle, a family circle with children. This makes all that he must face out in the world seem worthwhile. He needs to feel dominant. He needs to be the protector.
When he feels this he is a better man. He is a better husband. He is a better employee, a better employer. He is better adjusted and happier in life. He can do better work. He can even be more prosperous. But for the sake of all that is important, above all, he can be a better father, and a better holder of the priesthood. Young Sisters, if you take that role from him, the one he needs, you reduce his manhood."
The Prophet Joseph Smith said:
"Treat your husbands with mildness and affection. When a man is borne down with trouble, when he is perplexed with care & difficulty, if he can meet a smile instead of an argument or a murmur- if he can meet with mildness, it will calm down his soul & soothe his feelings; when the mind is going to despair; it needs a solace of affection & kindness."
The husbands effectiveness in his role is greatly dependent upon the wives. He plays his part better of a protecting, affectionate husband when we do ours. Of course, all men have their agency and we are only expected to follow them when they follow the Lord. But maybe we can do better at helping them follow the Lord. Not with criticism but with kindness and confidence in their ability. They need us, that was evident when the Lord gave man a help meet in the first place.
President David O. Mckay said
"Before marriage we should keep our eyes wide open, but after the ceremony we should keep them half shut- shut to our spouses weaknesses." This is done by concentrating more fully on your spouses strengths.
"Pray for the love which allows you to see the good in your companion. Pray for the love which makes weaknesses and mistakes seem small. Pray for the love to make your companions joy your own. Pray for the love to want to lessen the load and soften the sorrows of your companion" -Henry B. Erying
Joseph Smith said:
"Not war, not jangle, not contradiction, or dispute, but meekness, love, purity- these are the things that should magnify you in the eyes of all good men." He said "Let the weight of your innocence, kindness and affection be felt, It is more mighty"
I look at being a Woman as a huge blessing. I am proud to be a woman. I believe Womanhood is next to godliness. I am happy to be the nurturer, the comforter, the help meet. I love doing that. I am happy to be protected and taken care of by my man. Women's role in this life is vital. We are a huge part of Heavenly Fathers plan. We are precious to him & he expects men to treat us like the precious daughters we are. But he also needs us to be their help meets.
-Meg
ADSENSE HERE
"Treat your husbands with mildness and affection. When a man is borne down with trouble, when he is perplexed with care & difficulty, if he can meet a smile instead of an argument or a murmur- if he can meet with mildness, it will calm down his soul & soothe his feelings; when the mind is going to despair; it needs a solace of affection & kindness."
President David O. Mckay said
"Before marriage we should keep our eyes wide open, but after the ceremony we should keep them half shut- shut to our spouses weaknesses." This is done by concentrating more fully on your spouses strengths.
"Pray for the love which allows you to see the good in your companion. Pray for the love which makes weaknesses and mistakes seem small. Pray for the love to make your companions joy your own. Pray for the love to want to lessen the load and soften the sorrows of your companion" -Henry B. Erying Joseph Smith said:
"Not war, not jangle, not contradiction, or dispute, but meekness, love, purity- these are the things that should magnify you in the eyes of all good men." He said "Let the weight of your innocence, kindness and affection be felt, It is more mighty"
I look at being a Woman as a huge blessing. I am proud to be a woman. I believe Womanhood is next to godliness. I am happy to be the nurturer, the comforter, the help meet. I love doing that. I am happy to be protected and taken care of by my man. Women's role in this life is vital. We are a huge part of Heavenly Fathers plan. We are precious to him & he expects men to treat us like the precious daughters we are. But he also needs us to be their help meets.
-Meg