Sunday July 13th

The lesson in Relief Society today was on the Priesthood, so you know that there was some discussion on the latest events in the news concerning women and the priesthood.  I haven't been following the drama very closely, but I do have a few thoughts on the subject.

There have been some wonderful advances in our world on behalf of women in the last century.  Women have stood strong and gained many new privileges that historically have been denied them.  They can not only vote, but can also receive an education equal to any man's.  They can hold any public office and are seen as capable leaders.  Women are found in every profession, including those traditionally filled by men.  I am grateful that I was born at a time when there are so many opportunities for women to use their talents and abilities.

However, in our efforts to make things equal, we have managed to tip the scale the other way.  Women, to this date, still have the unique ability to bear children.  We are still special and unique and have a divine calling.  But what about men?  Women have slowly taken over every area that used to belong to men alone.  The workplace used to belong to the men, but is now flooded with women - women who are perfectly capable and do an amazing job, I might add.  Men have traditionally held a place at the head of families, but fewer and fewer families now have that blessing.

So what is left for the men?  Are men and women equal now that men have nothing that is their own?  I applaud the advances for women, but I worry about our men.  How will my sons have pride in being men, when men have become superfluous? 

The objective in the beginning was Equal Rights for Women, but I worry that it's become Everything for Women. Would women do a good job in leading the church?  Absolutely.  Would women be responsible priesthood holders?  I'm sure they'd do just as well or better than the men.

But why?

Why do we need to do everything?  We've proven that we're capable of doing anything, but we're also breaking under the strain from trying to do everything.  We're trying to do everything the men do, just to prove that we can, and also trying to doing everything the women do.  Why not let the men do something?  Why not let them lead the church and hold the priesthood?  Don't the women have enough to do already?  Why not let the men have something that is their own, something that makes them special and unique and possessors of a divine calling?

Just because they can do something we can't, doesn't make us unequal.  We can do something they can't, so let's just call it even.  Let's be equal again, with each gender contributing his or her part to make things complete for everyone.