Relief Society prez Julie Beck the new "June Cleaver"?

[_Jason Bourne]

Some LDS dude:

Too many women spend their time in socializing, in politicking, in public services when they should be home to teach and train and receive and love their children into security.

If that is so, why are so many LDS women up to their eyeballs in callings and church commitments that take them away from home?

How many LDS women do you know with callings up to their eyeballs. What are those callings and how many hours per week do their callings and church commitments take them out of the home?

From the years of 2000-2003, I held the following callings simultaneously: Stake Primary Presidency, Ward Relief Society Education Counselor, Ward Music Chairman, Visiting Teacher. Previous to that I was ward YW president, and visiting teacher to six women. The YW presidency calling was the most time consuming of them all and I averaged about 15-20 hours a week (Sunday preparation and lessons, weekday preparation and activity, weekly presidency meeting, monthly stake leadership meetings, regional YM/YW activities and camp. I did this calling with four small children, by the way)

I was released from all four of my callings in 2003 because (due to inactivity) our ward was combined with another low-activity rate ward to try to alleviate some of the functional strain on all of the active ward members. I moved shortly thereafter and was quickly called in by my new bishop and quizzed about my previous callings. At which point I informed him I was never going to accept another calling ever again in this church. And he understood. He really did.

Since Jason and Gaz both asked for examples, and Trinity eloquently provided this example from her own experience, I would like to hear their responses...preferably an "I'm sorry for asking such a stupid question" will suffice.

Let me also add that I have had similar experiences. I served as both the Stake and the Ward Girl's Camp Coordinator while I was in Utah, with two small children (and I mean SMALL...under the age of 2). I had to attend Girl's Camp for a week. My husband was kind enough to be supportive...but do you not think that the kids had to be farmed out to daycare while my husband worked?

Also, my husband helped prepare meals which he drove up to the campsite as part of the coordination of this event, since none of the parents of the girls could be bothered to help!

I have also served in multiple callings (Primary Presidency 1st Counselor, Primary Pianist, Young Women Leader, Achievement Days Coordinator).

If you think that these callings didn't add up to MUCH more than 40 hours per week, I want some of what you've been smoking!

I did not mean to imply women do not have demanding callings in the church. I think I can nail down the average hours any particular calling can take. I have had almost every calling a man can have in a ward and a few in the stake. My wife has served in many callings as well.

I am not sure which of your callings took more then 40 hours a week. I think I have had the two or three of the busiest callings one can have in a ward and not one of them took 40 hours a week. Maybe 15-20 and one, when there were issues, might have had a week here or there that was 25-30. Just curious.

[_Yoda]

I am not sure which of your callings took more then 40 hours a week. I think I have had the two or three of the busiest callings one can have in a ward and not one of them took 40 hours a week. Maybe 15-20 and one, when there were issues, might have had a week here or there that was 25-30. Just curious.

When we lived in Utah, I was both the Stake Young Women Camp Director, and our Ward Young Women Camp Director. I was also the Personal Progress Coordinator for the Young Women in the Ward.

I was in charge of certification for all girls, and for overseeing the food for camp.

I had very little parental support. Oh, I was also in charge of camp certification clinics, and accounts receivable for the Ward Camp Fund.

8-5 Monday through Friday, not to mention Sunday, was a short day for me when I held these two callings.

Also...sorry if I was snippy. I have had enough private conversations with you to know that you are very supportive of women in the workforce, etc.

My snippiness was actually more directed at Gaz, who actually seemed surprised that women with Church callings spent so much time out of the home fulfilling those callings.

In my opinion, the men spend way too much time away from family with Church callings as well. They have it worse.

"Family....isn't it about time?"

What a joke!

[_Jason Bourne]

I am not sure which of your callings took more then 40 hours a week. I think I have had the two or three of the busiest callings one can have in a ward and not one of them took 40 hours a week. Maybe 15-20 and one, when there were issues, might have had a week here or there that was 25-30. Just curious.

When we lived in Utah, I was both the Stake Young Women Camp Director, and our Ward Young Women Camp Director. I was also the Personal Progress Coordinator for the Young Women in the Ward.

I was in charge of certification for all girls, and for overseeing the food for camp.

I had very little parental support. Oh, I was also in charge of camp certification clinics, and accounts receivable for the Ward Camp Fund.

8-5 Monday through Friday, not to mention Sunday, was a short day for me when I held these two callings.

Also...sorry if I was snippy. I have had enough private conversations with you to know that you are very supportive of women in the workforce, etc.

My snippiness was actually more directed at Gaz, who actually seemed surprised that women with Church callings spent so much time out of the home fulfilling those callings.

In my opinion, the men spend way too much time away from family with Church callings as well. They have it worse.

"Family....isn't it about time?"

What a joke!

Yes the balance is tough......And it does seem contradictory.....

[_Yoda]

Yes the balance is tough......And it does seem contradictory.....

Agreed...and thanks for putting up with me. I'm PMS'ing.

LOL

[_harmony]

Don't ya think the church downplays the father's input into the home? I mean, it's not at all unusual for fathers to be out of the home 2-3 nights a week plus all day Sunday.

Family... it's about time!

[_Gazelam]

"It is the duty of a husband to love, cherish, and nourish his wife, and cleave unto her and none else; he ought to honor her as himself, and he ought to regard her feelings with tenderness, for she is his flesh, and his bone, designed to be an help unto him, both in temporal, and in spiritual things; one into whose bosom he can pour all his complaints without reserve, who is willing (being designed) to take part of his burden, to soothe and encourage his feelings by her gentle voice. it is the place of the man, to stand at the head of his family, and be lord of his own house, not to rule over his wife as a tyrant, neither as one who is fearful or jealous that his wife will get out of her place, and prevent him from exercising his authority. It is his duty to be a man of God (for a man of God is a man of wisdom,) ready at all times to obtain from the scriptures, the revelations, and from on high, such instructions as are necessary for the edification, and salvation of his household. - And on the other hand, it is the duty of the wife, to be in subjection to her husband at all times, not as a servant, neither as one who fears a tyrant, or a master, but as one, who, in meekness, and the love of God, regards the laws and institutions of Heaven, looks up to her husband for instruction, edification and comfort." (Elders journal 1:61-62)
- Joseph Smith

[_moksha]

"It is the duty of a husband to love, cherish, and nourish his wife, and cleave unto her and none else..." (Elders journal 1:61-62)
- Joseph Smith

Er, ummm, ah, so none else, eh?

[_harmony]

"It is the duty of a husband to love, cherish, and nourish his wife, and cleave unto her and none else; he ought to honor her as himself, and he ought to regard her feelings with tenderness, for she is his flesh, and his bone, designed to be an help unto him, both in temporal, and in spiritual things; one into whose bosom he can pour all his complaints without reserve, who is willing (being designed) to take part of his burden, to soothe and encourage his feelings by her gentle voice. it is the place of the man, to stand at the head of his family, and be lord of his own house, not to rule over his wife as a tyrant, neither as one who is fearful or jealous that his wife will get out of her place, and prevent him from exercising his authority. It is his duty to be a man of God (for a man of God is a man of wisdom,) ready at all times to obtain from the scriptures, the revelations, and from on high, such instructions as are necessary for the edification, and salvation of his household. - And on the other hand, it is the duty of the wife, to be in subjection to her husband at all times, not as a servant, neither as one who fears a tyrant, or a master, but as one, who, in meekness, and the love of God, regards the laws and institutions of Heaven, looks up to her husband for instruction, edification and comfort." (Elders journal 1:61-62)
- Joseph Smith

This, from a man who not only lied to his own wife, straight faced and looking at her, forsook his marriage vows and made a fool of his wife repeatedly, but lied to his friends and his followers as well, as he spread his "love" amongst up to 33 women, depending on the list. And you expect me to believe he was worthy of high regard? Praise to the man, indeed. NOT.

[_Jason Bourne]

Yes the balance is tough......And it does seem contradictory.....

Agreed...and thanks for putting up with me. I'm PMS'ing.

LOL

Ya know I love ya Liz! by the way, who is THAT in your new avatar? I think I recognize her but not sure-Denise Richards??? Whoever, she is, she is lovely. Not a June Cleaver.

[_Jason Bourne]

Don't ya think the church downplays the father's input into the home? I mean, it's not at all unusual for fathers to be out of the home 2-3 nights a week plus all day Sunday.

Family... it's about time!

Well in talks and all the do not down play it. Dad's are important. But then active dedicated Dads seem to get lots of busy callings. Over the years as I listen to conf talks it is always amazing how often a GA starts some anecdote about family or home life with "One night when I arrived home late after a Church assignment" or "One evening when I was stopped home for dinner on my way to a Church assignment...." And I could say the same thing. My life has been one long fairly busy Church calling after another with only a few minor breaks in between.