In Response to the Pants Movement

Here's the original: click here

And here's where this response is linked to: click here

(Taken from Aimee Whitney, a good friend, on facebook.)  I most emphatically agree with this statement. 

I think this link is a well thought out response to the "wear pants this Sunday" agenda. I really appreciated these words. I've been sorry to read over the last week or so that so many women feel such group frustration and resentment toward the church. And sorry that it is manifesting in what I see as a form of "open rebellion". I say that because that seems to be the intent.

Please consider LDS ladies that it is a social norm that you wear dresses to church and not a commandment. We are asked to show respect to the Lord and to the Sacrament by "wearing our Sunday best". If you cannot afford new or nice clothes that is one thing. Come as you are - and we as Christians should openly accept anyone who wants to come and worship. As was the example given by Christ.

If you have "Sunday best" slacks and you feel more "at your best" in these than in a skirt, by all means wear them to church with pure intent and feel good about it - on ANY Sunday. I take issue, like Adrienne, with the venue and intent to make a large and loud group statement this coming Sunday. Wear pants any Sunday you feel good about wearing them. There is no rule or law that says you can't. Go to the temple in your nice slacks. It may fluster a few old folks, but ultimately if you are a loving, pleasant, and worthy person who happens to be a female wearing slacks - they won't care.

But it is the mentality of rebellion and making a group statement that is wrong in this scenario. I absolutely believe that there are inequalities of the treatment of the sexes in the practice of our religion. But I KNOW it is not inequalities that God condones. Remember that it is imperfect men who run the church on this earth. I've been thinking how frustrating it must be for God to have to rely on us - often selfish, prideful, greedy, sinful, grumpy creatures to move His great work forward. I can just picture Him often shaking His head in disbelief and sighing in disappointment at our behaviors while representing "in His name".

Of the men leading the church today - many or most do their best, some or few create problems for women with their open practice of chauvinism. I have personal experience with encounters with men who clearly view women as "beneath" them and that they need not consider what women think or feel because they have "authority" over them. Generally speaking this kind of behavior tends to come from an older generation, the younger men coming up in the church are more aware of the social acceptance of equality of the sexes - and will heed a woman's opinion more readily.

So again, I empathize with the hurt and frustration. BUT group anger or an attitude of "take that" or "so there" will not help. Trust me, I know. Just learn to be comfortable with what your needs are and take care of you - AKA if you want to wear pants because you feel better in pants, then by all means wear them anytime without having an agenda or something to prove.

In this scenario, I think quiet, humble, truth shown over time by individuals will be more powerful and effective for making change than a loud display of anger or a show of pride on one day by a large group."

A Gathering Of Societal Members Who Provide Relief in A Religious Sort of Way

(pasted from http://www.ldschurchnews.com/media/photos/2012/60493-m.jpg)

Yesterday was the LDS General Relief Society Meeting!  It. Was. Phenomenal.  My lovely presidency and I got tickets to actually go to the conference center!  (Squee!!) So, at 3:30 we piled in my counselor's car and started our journey up to Salt Lake, which is only about an hour drive.  But it was quite the adventure ...

So we're cruising along down the interstate, and we're about 15 minutes away from Salt Lake, when our driver all of a sudden gets a nose bleed.  We then cross four lanes of traffic to stop at a McDonald's in South Jordan and try to get it to stop.  It took us 45 minutes ... 

Then we were off again still thinking we would be just fine on time, as it was 5 pm when we left the McDonald's which is, again, only 15 minutes away from Salt Lake and the broadcast didn't start until 6.  Only ... there were TWO accidents on the interstate.  TWO!  (We checked on the way back; it took us half an hour to go what should have taken us two minutes)  

By the time we had pulled in to Salt Lake and found our parking spot, it was 5:56 pm.  We started booking it for the conference center.  We got there and had to stand in line for probably about 5 minutes and then we were finally in!  By the time we found seats and got to actually sit down, it was 6:20 pm.  And it was an amazing meeting.  Just phenomenal.

Those ladies who were called and sustained at the last general conference to be our general relief society presidency?  They're inspiring, outstanding, and just grand.  

If you didn't get the opportunity to watch the broadcast, I strongly encourage you to do so.
Click here to watch the broadcast.

Oh yeah, another funny story.  There were these ladies standing on the corners of the crosswalk right across from the conference center handing out tissues.  They looked super nice and had name tags on, so we each grabbed a package of tissues.  I thought it was so nice and super sweet, and wondered if they did this for every conference.  I was so impressed, I took a picture of it:

Once we were in the doors, about to have our bags checked, we learn that they were not full of tissues as one would have supposed.  They were full of Anti-LDS literature.  These ladies had taken time to unwrap thousands of tissue packages and alternate the tissues with hateful and inappropriate words, re-wrap the packages, and then seal them with a ribbon and hand them to the thousands of women journeying to hear the words of our beloved presidency and prophet.  

I was so amazed that someone, anyone, would take so much time and effort to attempt to destroy a woman's faith in her religion!  I am still shocked that people go through such great efforts to try and tear down what you know to be true.  While members of the LDS faith do proselyte and send missionaries out, we do not attack any one's religion or beliefs.  If you believe something different than I do, then I respect your views; I don't try to prove them wrong.  I might try to teach you what my religion is all about, but I will not disrespect your religion nor will I tell you that you are wrong and I'm right.  You have the freedom to believe whatever you want; I think all men should be allowed that same privilege.  America was founded on the concept of freedom, particularly that of religion.  Why should LDS members be denied that privilege?

I know that the gospel is true and I will not be moved from it.  I will stand true to the faith that my parents, grandparents, and ancestors have cherished and suffered for.  I know it's true and whether you think it is or isn't doesn't change what I know.

Miss Representation

Just because the media says you can't be, doesn't make it true.  Just because you're a woman doesn't mean you can't rock the world.  Just because you're not skinny or you're not a hot blond bombshell doesn't mean you won't ever amount to anything.  Don't resign yourself to something less than what you can be.

(I don't own video- saw it on facebook and thought it was awesome)

My church believes that we need women in the home, nurturing children, and I wholeheartedly agree with that statement.  But who says you can't rock the world from home?  Who says you can't rise to your fullest potential while raising a family?  Who says you can't be anything other than a homemaker?  

Who?

Who says I can't be a part of the business world?  Who says I can't have a family?  Who says I can't be one of the greats?  Who says I can't??

I can.  And I will.

Just because you're a homemaker doesn't mean you can't do what you've always wanted to do.  Just because you're married and have three kids doesn't mean you can't ever leave the house.  Just because you're a big time CEO doesn't mean you can't raise a family.  

There is balance in all things.

I am a woman.  And I will do great things.  And no one, I repeat, no one is going to tell me I can't.

I know there aren't a lot of you on here, but let's show the world that we are women and we know what we want.  Post a response to this video or comment below.  Share it with your friends- Represent.