man and woman, temple vows, annointings, etc.

[_Sethbag]

In the LDS church, men are by right the leaders of the family. Women actually vow in the temple to "hearken" to the counsel of her husband, as he hearkens to God (and who is to judge how well he does that I suppose?). Until 1990 women actually vowed to obey the law of their husband. And the ultimate destiny of a Mormon woman is to be blessed with a relationship where she serves as Priestess unto her husband, while her husband serves as Priest to God. She is subservient to him, deriving her power and authority and status by virtue of her relationship with him.

A man is anointed, in the endowment, to become a King and a Priest unto the Most High God. A woman is annointed to become a Queen and a Priestess to her husband. In the 2nd Anointing, apparently a man is actually anointed and it is pronounced that he is a King and a Priest unto the Most High God, and the wife is anointed and pronounced a Queen and a Priestess unto her husband.

Why shouldn't a woman be a Queen and a Priestess unto the Most High God? Apparently, her husband is to be her God, and she is to be his Priestess.

I'm having a hard time finding the words to express the perplexion I'm feeling at this asymetric power and authority relationship.

There are thousands of Mormon couples on Earth today walking around in the sure belief that the man is a King in the eyes of God, and that his wife is his Queen. And that the man is a Priest unto God, and that the woman is a Priestess unto her husband.

I can't help feeling disturbed at the notion that in the Mormon faith a woman derives her glory and authority in the hereafter from her husband. She is dependent on, and subservient to him.

We can be as condescending as we like and joke about how men only hold the priesthood on Earth while women don't because they're more naturally righteous and we men need the responsibility to raise us up. Oh really? And then what happens once it's done so? That's right, we become Kings unto God and our wives become Queens unto us. We serve God, and our wives serve us. We are Priests unto God, and our wives are Priestesses unto us.

I can't respect this theology. I don't feel like I'm any more than my wife is. We're both human beings, and equal in every way. The cosmic truth of this universe is that it will never be the case that she should have the same relationship of subservience and power derivation to me that I have to God, if God actually even existed. That's arrogance and presumption, and usurpation by men over women of the worst sort. And we all know this to be true.

[_Blixa]

I'm having a hard time finding the words to express the perplexion I'm feeling at this asymetric power and authority relationship.

Heh. I never had a hard time finding the words to express how I felt about this.

[_truth dancer]

Sethbag....

You are one of the few men who can glimpse the degradation of women so accepted by many. YEAH FOR YOU!!!!! :-)

The idea that God created women as second class beings, servants to men, their value based on their relationship to a man speaks of the very core of what is wrong in the world of the human.

The idea that God created women because men were lonely (think Genesis here), in my opinion, is one of the most damaging myths ever to be embraced on our planet. It seems to be a foundational belief that has created a history of degradation, abuse, and sorrow for half the world's population. (What is with taking the life giving abilities of women and giving them to Adam other than a male need to diminish women)?

For me, as a believer, the idea that this long history of degrading and using women would continue into the eternities gave me the most hopeless feeling I could describe... heartache and sorrow and hopelessness.

I used to wonder what sort of God would create such a cruel plan... where women are eternally subservient and degraded? Where women are used for procreating spirits for eternity, sharing a man, being virtually invisible from her spirit children, many of whom are cast out for ever and ever.

The whole thing speaks of a very egotistical power hungry man who hates women except for the service she can provide.

Nothing like a loving God. (IMHO).

I think men who understand this, are quite enlightened, not to mention have a heightened sense of compassion.

:-)

~dancer~

[_Gazelam]

Are you , or do you ever feel, diminished by the Father? Does the plan of salvation belittle you, or does it seem to hold you back from your potential?

A mans role is to bring out the best in both his wife and children. A wife is intended to be one flesh with her husband, the same way the Godhead are one. As a couple they seek to be one with their children.

Just as the Father is the final authority in the Godhead, so the Husband and Father of a family here is the final authority in matters of the home.

There is no unrighteousness in any of it.

[_skippy the dead]

There is no unrighteousness in any of it.

Says a man. ;o)

[_Sethbag]

Yeah, every woman I'm sure is overjoyed to be told that the grand scheme of God is for a man to have the final authority over them in matters of the home. Sir, this is a usurpation, and a shameless one at that.

[_KimberlyAnn]

Gaz, in no way should a man ever be the "head" of his wife.

That misogynistic concept was manufactured for and perpetuated by men who fear women and attempt to exert control and dominion over them by using religion as a club.

I used to put up with that crap, because I didn't think I had a choice. But no more. I'm more intelligent than my husband. Sorry, it's a documented fact. He knows it. I'm more capable than him, and he knows that, too. For years, he used his Priesthood Power to run our home, because I think deep down inside he hates the fact that I am smarter than him--but he had a rude awakening a few years ago when I figured out Mormonism was a fraud, and he's got more rude awakenings in store.

I can only hope all women in relationships with men who believe they are the "head" of the home figure out what a load of crap that is.

I don't need anyone to be my "head". I'm happy to put others first because I choose to. I have a generous nature. But I will never let anyone have ultimate power over me again.

KA

[_The Nehor]

I'm more intelligent than my husband. Sorry, it's a documented fact. He knows it. I'm more capable than him, and he knows that, too. For years, he used his Priesthood Power to run our home, because I think deep down inside he hates the fact that I am smarter than him--but he had a rude awakening a few years ago when I figured out Mormonism was a fraud, and he's got more rude awakenings in store.

And here I was thinking this was about equality.....silly me.

[_krose]

My sister-in-law repeats the refrain, "Somebody has to be in charge, to make the final decisions." That rings completely hollow to me. The whole idea of an equal relationship is coming to a consensus through discussion and mutual compromise. For us, there has never been a time in our 26 years together when I have felt the need to be "in charge;" neither of us has.

But then again, she's never been to the temple to bow her head and say "yes" to a promise to obey me. If so, there would be some changes around here. Let's have some obeyin', now! ;-)

[_Yoda]

"Somebody has to be in charge, to make the final decisions."

I agree with this. As long as the person in charge is me, everything is fine!

;)