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This church is the best place in the world to be a woman.  This is because the doctrine of the church allows us to be women.  Other sources tell us to be more like men.  Sometimes more like children.  How can we find joy and fulfillment in that?

“I’m sorry, ladies, that your bodies and minds are uniquely suited to creating and nurturing children, but you shouldn’t do that.  You should feel embarrassed about that role.  You should only fill that role if you are no good at anything else.  You should only fill it after you have done everything else on the planet you can think to do.  You should only do it part-time.   And you really should not love it.”

Is that what you hear?  And do you find joy and fulfillment in following it?

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints boldly teaches this doctrine: “Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward… Happy is the man that hath a quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed.”  This scripture is from the Bible.  All those who believe the Bible should wholeheartedly proclaim it too.  Many don’t… because it’s not popular.  (But when has the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints ever cared if it is popular or not?)

The leader of our women, Julie Beck, said some pretty controversial things about motherhood.  Take a look.

Mothers who know desire to bear children. Whereas in many cultures in the world children are “becoming less valued,”  in the culture of the gospel we still believe in having children. Prophets, seers, and revelators who were sustained at this conference have declared that “God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force.”  President Ezra Taft Benson taught that young couples should not postpone having children and that “in the eternal perspective, children—not possessions, not position, not prestige—are our greatest jewels.” …Faithful daughters of God desire children. (Mothers Who Know, Julie B. Beck, October 2007 General Conference).

Lots of people had a problem with this. They seemed to say that possessions, positions, and prestige were our greatest jewels.  But where, outside of the home, will your name be praised for generations?  Where, outside the home, can you help people who need you more?

People really should create the same sort of hubbub around William Ross Wallace… I mean, didn’t he also imply that the only place for women is in the home?

Blessings on the hand of women!
Angels guard its strength and grace,
In the palace, cottage, hovel,
Oh, no matter where the place;
Would that never storms assailed it,
Rainbows ever gently curled;
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.

Infancy’s the tender fountain,
Power may with beauty flow,
Mother’s first to guide the streamlets,
From them souls unresting grow–
Grow on for the good or evil,
Sunshine streamed or evil hurled;
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.

Woman, how divine your mission
Here upon our natal sod!
Keep, oh, keep the young heart open
Always to the breath of God!
All true trophies of the ages
Are from mother-love impearled;
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.

Blessings on the hand of women!
Fathers, sons, and daughters cry,
And the sacred song is mingled
With the worship in the sky–
Mingles where no tempest darkens,
Rainbows evermore are hurled;
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.

Such repressive filth.  How dare he downplay the other roles that women play.  How could he forget about the women who work outside of the home because they are forced to?  And why didn’t he say that men should help with the chores too?  This man does not know what he is talking about. 

Have you heard that LDS women are repressed by their leaders?  Here is one of our leaders, speaking about us in a talk entitled “LDS Women are Incredible.”

Author and historian Wallace Stegner wrote about the Mormon migration and gathering to the Salt Lake Valley. He did not accept our faith and in many ways was critical; nevertheless, he was impressed with the devotion and heroism of our early Church members, especially the women. He stated, “Their women were incredible.” I echo that sentiment today. Our Latter-day Saint women are incredible!

Women are daughters of our Heavenly Father, who loves them. Wives are equal to their husbands. Marriage requires a full partnership where wives and husbands work side by side to meet the needs of the family.

The priesthood leadership of this Church at all levels gratefully acknowledges the service, sacrifice, commitment, and contribution of the sisters. (Quentin L. Cook, LDS Women are Incredible, April 2011 General Conference)

The church is the best place to be a woman because our leaders love and praise us.  They recognize our special contributions and express their appreciation every time they turn around.

Here is another of our leaders, Spencer W. Kimball, who was the President of the Church from 1973 to 1985, speaking about us as well.

I marvel at the faithfulness of so many of our sisters and their unswerving devotion to the cause of righteousness…

Someday, when the whole story of this and previous dispensations is told, it will be filled with courageous stories of our women, of their wisdom and their devotion, their courage…

The place of woman in the Church is to walk beside the man, not in front of him nor behind him. In the Church there is full equality between man and woman. The gospel … was devised by the Lord for men and women alike.

Sometimes we hear disturbing reports about how sisters are treated. Perhaps when this happens, it is a result of insensitivity and thoughtlessness, but it should not be, brethren. The women of this Church have work to do which, though different, is equally as important as the work that we do.

The righteous woman’s strength and influence today can be tenfold what it might be in more tranquil times. She has been placed here to help to enrich, to protect, and to guard the home—which is society’s basic and most noble institution. Other institutions in society may falter and even fail, but the righteous woman can help to save the home, which may be the last and only sanctuary some mortals know in the midst of storm and strife. (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball.  Chapter 20: The Women of the Church)

I know I’m young and only have one child, but it seems to me that we are NOT being repressed.