I exclude you out of respect...

[_just me]

An interesting comment from Oaks was brought to my attention because it was highlighted on By Common Consent.

It is interesting.

Authorities break ground for new LDS temple in Payson

Following his remarks and the closing exercises, Oaks invited the four general authorities in attendance to shovel a scoop of dirt from the shallow trench, followed by the 26 stake presidents in the Payson Utah Temple District, then local government officials, and lastly, any 12-year-old ordained deacons.

Oaks noted that he purposefully excluded women from the ceremonial shoveling out of respect for them because of the muddy conditions in front of the podium. He didn't want their shoes to get soiled.

If you go to the article you will notice that the men are standing on a strip of fake grass to keep their shoes from becoming dirty.

One also notes that Oaks asked that any 12 year old BOYS be actual ordained deacons. This makes it sound like the ceremony is actually a priesthood ritual and that the women would naturally be excluded on that basis alone. Although, local government officials were included and I wouldn't assume they are all male priesthood holders (don't know how to find out that information).

Comments?

[_just me]

Someone in comments linked to a different article with 25 photos from the event. It looks like area residents were able to come play in the dirt after the ceremony was over.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/7001 ... emple.html

[_Rambo]

Gee I know a lot of girls that don't mind a little dirt once and a while. I think if they got asked to be part of it then I am sure there would be lots of women that would love that opportunity.

On a side note my Dad's ward (while he was bishop) had mud wrestling in front of the church with the youth. The young men and young women wrestled each other. I heard that the young men would also wrestle the young women. All I can say is that sounds like a really fun activity!

[_why me]

I think that it was a nice gesture of him. Certainly back in the day, it would be the gentlemanly thing to do. However, I do realize that some women these days are not used to be treated like a woman. Best to wear boots and sludge away in the mud to show equality.

[_sock puppet]

An interesting comment from Oaks was brought to my attention because it was highlighted on By Common Consent.

It is interesting.

Authorities break ground for new LDS temple in Payson

Following his remarks and the closing exercises, Oaks invited the four general authorities in attendance to shovel a scoop of dirt from the shallow trench, followed by the 26 stake presidents in the Payson Utah Temple District, then local government officials, and lastly, any 12-year-old ordained deacons.

Oaks noted that he purposefully excluded women from the ceremonial shoveling out of respect for them because of the muddy conditions in front of the podium. He didn't want their shoes to get soiled.

If you go to the article you will notice that the men are standing on a strip of fake grass to keep their shoes from becoming dirty.

One also notes that Oaks asked that any 12 year old BOYS be actual ordained deacons. This makes it sound like the ceremony is actually a priesthood ritual and that the women would naturally be excluded on that basis alone. Although, local government officials were included and I wouldn't assume they are all male priesthood holders (don't know how to find out that information).

Comments?

Maybe he thought the women looked like white salamanders. Oaks seems challenged in the veracity department.

[_jon]

Good of him to make the decision on their behalf.

[_LDSToronto]

This isn't gardening, sweetie. No, this is serious work, manly work, construction work! It makes sense that Elder Oaks wouldn't allow women to soil their shoes. After all, a good LDS woman must be frugal and wise with her husband's resources, and not waste them those sweat-soaked dollars to make purchases as frivolous as new shoes.

Besides, no dutiful LDS woman would even dream of attending this temple groundbreaking. Women who know ought to be at home cooking, cleaning, washing clothes, and preparing for the triumphant return of Husband and Father from a long day at work! Women who know don't dream of manly work, children - not possessions, not position, not prestige, not shoveling dirt - are your greatest accomplishment, and your time is better spent creating a gospel-y good home, perfumed with fresh-baked cookies and clean, laundered linen.

I hope this helps, JustMe, and all of you sweet sisters out there!

H.

[_Everybody Wang Chung]

Good points LDST.

Also, lest we not forget, according to Mormon Doctrine, "Loss of virtue is too great a price to pay even for the preservation of one's life--better dead clean, than alive unclean" (McConkie pg. 124)

Oaks was probably just making sure that all the women remain clean, both literally and figuratively.

[_Ceeboo]

Mormon feet?

Only at MDB.

:)

Peace,
Ceeboo

[_MsJack]

It's silly, especially given the green astroturf they were standing on to keep their manly shoes from stepping in the mud.

But it kind of rates a "meh" on the scale of "sexist things the LDS church does that concern me."