The Bishop's Wife

[_consiglieri]

Last Saturday evening, we went over to the new bishop’s house for dinner and conversation. Turns out the bishop’s wife has been struggling for many years with her perception that women are treated as second class citizens in the Church, and wondered what I thought of it.

I told her she was right; it is a patriarchal organization in which men have all the power.

She asked about Heavenly Mother, and why we don’t talk more about her, relating the excuse she (and all of us, I imagine) have heard that she is “too sacred” to talk about.

Nonsense, I told her.

This is just the way the patriarchal church has of damning her with faint praise, which is really the same thing they do to all the women in the church—talking about how wonderful they are; even more wonderful and spiritual than the men—and yet making sure all the while they are kept in their place.

She wasn’t too sure about this part, so I asked her on what two occasions a missionary may call home. She didn’t know. Her husband, an RM from Japan, immediately jumped in with the correct answer—Christmas and Mother’s Day.

Not Father’s Day—Mother’s Day.

It has also become common for priesthood leaders to extol Eve’s actions in the Garden as being superior and more “in tune with the Spirit” than Adam.

And yet when it comes to leadership in the Church, women remain inferior to men.

And the same goes for Heavenly Mother—in spades.

She agreed, but followed up by asking why it was she was virtually never discussed. “Simple,” I responded, “This is a patriarchal organization and the male leaders are afraid of her.”

This seems to have made a lot of sense to her.

I finished off by telling her that the white patriarchal church finally figured out they were wrong in denying the priesthood to black men, and within the next fifty years, they will come to the same realization about women.

We discussed some other things, but I think the conversation was therapeutic to her in that she found out there are others who see things that she sees, and she is not in some sort of apostate time continuum.



All the Best!

--Consiglieri

[_Tchild]

I told her she was right; it is a patriarchal organization in which men have all the power.

She asked about Heavenly Mother, and why we don’t talk more about her, relating the excuse she (and all of us, I imagine) have heard that she is “too sacred” to talk about.

The LDS leadership only has the "power" that others give to them. Otherwise, what power do they have, except to demand that individuals comply with certain gender roles under duress of guilt and shame?

As for Heavenly Mother, what can LDS leaders say? Since Joseph Smith didn't "reveal" anything about the subject, they are just as clueless as the membership concerning any reality or attributes of a heavenly mother. It isn't like anybody over there is communicating with God, so what do they know about it?

[_just me]

What a wonderful opportunity!

[_Yoda]

This is just the way the patriarchal church has of damning her with faint praise, which is really the same thing they do to all the women in the church—talking about how wonderful they are; even more wonderful and spiritual than the men—and yet making sure all the while they are kept in their place.

Amen, Consig!

I am glad you were able to talk with her and make her feel better. Out of curiosity, what did her husband, the bishop have to say about your thoughts?

[_Zelder]

As for Heavenly Mother, what can LDS leaders say? Since Joseph Smith didn't "reveal" anything about the subject, they are just as clueless as the membership concerning any reality or attributes of a heavenly mother. It isn't like anybody over there is communicating with God, so what do they know about it?

This is the cold hard reality. We've seen enough assumptions and extrapolating in the church. If there is no revelation on the subject then then is nothing to discuss. At least not in terms of policy or doctrine.

[_3sheets2thewind]

A more reasonable and less speculative answer about Heavenly Mother is:

God is a polygamist and thus we all for the most part have a different Mother in Heaven.

[_Yoda]

A more reasonable and less speculative answer about Heavenly Mother is:

God is a polygamist and thus we all for the most part have a different Mother in Heaven.

How is this less speculative? We have no idea whether or not Heavenly Father is a polygamist or not. Where is it stated that he is?

[_Dr. Shades]

We have no idea whether or not Heavenly Father is a polygamist or not. Where is it stated that he is?

Brigham Young repeatedly taught it.

[_Fence Sitter]

We have no idea whether or not Heavenly Father is a polygamist or not. Where is it stated that he is?

Brigham Young repeatedly taught it.

I can hear a bus approaching.

[_Yoda]

We have no idea whether or not Heavenly Father is a polygamist or not. Where is it stated that he is?

Brigham Young repeatedly taught it.

Yes, in the JoD, which is not recognized as doctrine. Show me, in the scriptures, Mormon or otherwise, where it is taught that God is a polygamist.