The thoughts that keep me company whilst doing dishes...

I think, perhaps, due to my sporadic--intermittent, at best--posting, I've lost what ever small readership I might have once have.

No matter.

I write to purge my thoughts, mostly.  I choose this public forum mainly because maybe, just maybe, there's someone out there who needs to connect with another kindred soul on random points that, at times, plague, and, at others, burst our emotions, psyche, well-being or what have you.

I preface this post with the caveat that I've lost my brain.  There was something deadly in that progesterone...and over the course of 10 months, plus a year, it seems to have picked off my brain cells, one by one--like clay pigeons in the sky.  Funny?  Perhaps to you.   Embarassing?  Most definitely for me.

So, with that excuse, and no promise of a well-reasoned article, I continue with my brief, but heartfelt treatise of that which has been weighing on my mind over the past couple of days:

Feminism.

And not just feminisim in the I-should-get-equal-pay-for-equal-work sense.  But feminism, as it claws at the cultural core of the church which houses my religion and the doctrines to which I have quite literally ascribed my soul.

I have, as of late, read blog posts, Facebook rants and news articles calling for a feminist movement within the LDS church--challenging long-held traditions of gender roles, male leadership and cultural norms.

I do not wish to state who, of all these people, is right.  I do believe that there are points to consider in every argument.  Let me clearly state here that I feel strongly about women having the opportunity to become actualized in any and every way that is right and good.  I feel strongly about championing the abilities and contributions of women in society, and doing away with any systemic inequities.  I also should point out that I think gender is important and that there is something divine to gender roles in their purest, God-given forms.  I do not wish to argue the finer points of feminism, or its role in LDS society.  But, I do want to take issue with the twinge of animosity with which such opinions are often stated.  In some cases, I can almost feel the sneering.

My thoughts are these:

1.  God, our Heavenly Father, and his Son Jesus Christ, have unequivocally stated that He is no respecter of persons.  Meaning:  He loves each of His children with a love so pure it's difficult for those of us who do not yet have that capacity to love to understand.  And I feel strongly that He does not bless one gender more abundantly than another.  I would submit that those who would feel otherwise do not know God in the way that I believe He wants us to know Him.

2.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true and living church upon the face of the earth.  It houses the Gospel of Jesus Christ and one of its crucial purposes is to perfect the saints.  Meaning:  The Church is true, its members are not necessarily true.  Due to a host of reasons (mostly to the fact that we're a bunch of imperfect souls seeking to become perfected in Christ), certain sub-cultures, jargon and psuedo traditions crop up within the Church.  Some of them help us to more fully understand and live the Gospel.  Some, regrettably, do not.  However, I think it is possible to navigate these stumbling blocks, as it were, without becoming so easily offended.  It's accomplished through the personal application (and incessant reapplication) of faith, hope, and a whole lot of charity.

3.  The pattern that Christ set in his mortal ministry shows us that He does not give (or change) knowledge or commandments or policies faster than His faithful followers can reasonably handle.  He moves at our pace.  And, it is evident that He directs His prophets to do the same in our day.  We are not force-fed the mysteries of eternity, and most changes have come about when the saints have been collectively ready for such.  Which leads me to my next point:

4.  This is His Church; His prophets and apostles speak for Him.  He will direct the proceedings of His Church as He sees right and good.  His Gospel is as it is--whether understand all of its mysteries or not.  He is all truth, and He is unchanging and will not accommodate the philosophies of man--whatever those may be. 

5.  We are mortal individuals, with a finite understanding of eternity.  Our lives here are "but a small moment"; and whatever injustice, unequity or perceived foul has been wrought upon us, is reconciled, recompensed and made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  Additionally, as we grow in light and truth, we will more fully gain God's eternal perspective.  And eventually we may see what was once so troubling in a different light, and understand as God understands.  In the meantime, we should do our best to apply (and incessantly reapply) faith, hope and a whole lot of charity.

6.  We do not follow blindly--and have never been encouraged to do so.  Not only are we encouraged to search, ponder and pray, but baptized members in the Church have been given the Gift of the Holy Ghost.  This can essentially mean having a constant companion who knows everything, and who will help us to know everything, as we prove our trust worthiness, committment and patience.  Further, we have been given the opportunity to counsel with leaders within one of the most effective and efficient heirarchies of all organizations in the world.  If we are troubled, we can communicate with them and express our concerns.

So, in short, there is no need for animosity.  There is no need for open criticism.  Yes, there is plenty of room for questions and concerns.  But, I maintain that it is how we seek to address those questions and concerns that makes all the difference--and opens the windows of Heaven unto us.