April 2021 - Fewest female speakers at Conference in recent history

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IHAQ
God
Posts: 1533
Joined: Wed Nov 18, 2020 8:00 am

April 2021 - Fewest female speakers at Conference in recent history

Post by IHAQ »

On Saturday, the church named three women — Camille N. Johnson, Susan H. Porter and Amy Wright — to oversee the children’s Primary. However, the gathering featured the fewest female speakers (two) in recent history. And only one woman offered a prayer.
https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2021/04 ... onference/

Back in 2017 the Trib made the following comments under the headline "Many may be called, but few women are chosen to speak at Mormon General Conference"
To plenty of Mormons, the just-completed LDS General Conference may have signaled a troubling trend, with its lack of female speakers and its failure to recognize the faith's female deity.
For starters, only one woman delivered a sermon on the final weekend of the twice-yearly gathering. That veers from a tradition in place since the early 1990s of including at least two female speakers over those two days.
https://archive.sltrib.com/article.php? ... type=CMSID

April 2021 saw 1 female speak on Saturday, and 1 on Sunday morning. By comparison there were 33 male speakers (excluding the auditing and sustaining slots).
There were 10 prayers offered, with only 1 by a woman.

The Church just took a large stride backwards in terms of the equal involvement of women in the leadership of the Church.
IHAQ
God
Posts: 1533
Joined: Wed Nov 18, 2020 8:00 am

Re: April 2021 - Fewest female speakers at Conference in recent history

Post by IHAQ »

“Sincerely asking for and listening to the thoughts and concerns voiced by women is vital in life, in marriage, and in building the kingdom of God.”*
This quote was given by Elder Neil L. Andersen during the Saturday Afternoon Session**, which, ironically, had no women’s voices included. No prayers, no speakers. Nothing.


In total for the April General Conference, two women gave talks: outgoing Primary President Joy Jones and Relief Society Counselor Reyna Aburto. And one woman, Relief Society Counselor Sharon Eubank, gave the closing prayer to the final session of conference, surprising me, because I wondered if we were going back to the 1970s where women were not allowed to give prayers in mixed-sex meetings.
This. Is. Unacceptable. We cannot say on one side that we need to listen to women but then have so few women speak.
Elder Gerrit Gong, in his inclusive talk about the Good Samaritan , also noted the importance of “coming together in counsel and listening to one another, including each sister.” Because unfortunately the default is not to do so.
So let me say it again. You cannot listen to women if you don’t invite women to speak.
https://bycommonconsent.com/2021/04/06/ ... -to-speak/
The number of women speaking compared to men this conference was abysmal. The number of times women will be included in the coming Sunday lessons and talks based on the conference texts will similarly be abysmal. It’s sad, frustrating, and terribly disappointing because it feels like the church wants to continue to be able to say that women are important without actually showing it.
And finally, just yesterday, Young Women President Bonnie Cordon posted on Facebook a message about the new Area Organization Advisors trainings, saying “it was truly a historic day!” alongside a photo of a zoom meeting of women from around the world
So historic, it wasn’t mentioned in conference as a new calling or even in the setting apart of officers.
She also said “These women of God will be part of an effort to better support the members of the Church in their region…I believe that we will soon recognize these area advisors as a vital voice for women, young women, and children at all levels. Sisters, I hope you know you are needed. You are wanted. And now more than ever, you are called!”
Needed. Wanted. Called.
Really?
From the blogs comments:
This continually proves to be the MO of the church during conference, and it’s increasingly upsetting to see in real time. Say one thing, perform another.
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