Episode 009 | Does the Mormon Church Give Authority To Women?

Does the Mormon Church Give more authority to women than any other religious organization? What a claim! (Made by Sister Dennis, First Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency) But can you blame her? Swimming in Mormon waters make the Patriarchy very difficult to see. And this is something that I (it's me, Elisha) experienced first hand. I supported and honored the priesthood holders in my life and I never even wanted that "power and responsibility" (eye roll, please). It's shocking to me now looking back that I wasn't even in the ORDAIN WOMEN camp!!
In this episode of Faith Unraveled, we'll dive into the topic of woman and authority within the mormon church by comparing and contrasting our OWN EXPERIENCES growing up in Mormonism. Guys, I brought my Fascinating Womanhood manual into this episode AND my personal progress manual. I think it's a good one.
*Reddit post written by ldsgems on r/exmormon: / seriously_folks_what_i...
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[@Wren402]

Your question at the beginning, “would a man join a religion that . . .” Was the best explanation of the unequal treatment of women that I have heard yet. Thank you!

[@staceyh7264]

As a woman who was part of a ward council as Relief Society president and primary president I can tell you that I had no power to do anything. Received inspiration on callings, direction or even small decisions within my organization? All subject to a man's approval. How disconcerting is it to be encouraged to seek guidance and direction from God, only to have your answers shot down by a man. So many stories of women in the church trying to contribute only to be undervalued at every turn. Please don't tell me I have pretend power. I had no voice in the smallest of decisions. How can the"world" understand the importance of moving towards equal representation for all but God's organization gets it wrong?

[@emilysnow6757]

Elder Holland gave a talk a few years ago (it may have been an interview, now that I think about it) where he pointed out that the Church is always behind the world. When the world moves, we move after them. He was trying to make the point that the world is radical and evil and that's why we do things on our own time, not as the world dictates. But... in his example, the Church FOLLOWS the world. That analogy just means that we get evil at a slower pace than the world. But... why would God be having the church slowly become evil? I get the feeling that he realized half way through his analogy that it wasn't very good, but apostles can't make mistakes so he went with it.

[@pjpoet1]

I appreciate the “water you swim in” analogy, and understand that it is broadly applicable. However, I sensed, from the youngest ages, before age 8, that something was not right, off balance, missing. But I didn’t have words for what I felt. When the words finally did come (by age 12), dismissal and indoctrination began at full bore. I spent years shelving, shelving, shelving…. Feasting on breadcrumbs. Finally, at age 58, depleted of energy to deny my own truth, and constipated with more shit sandwich than I could digest, I stood on my own 2 feet, my female feet, and I took up my bed and walked.

[@Faith.unraveled]

Powerful!!! 🙏🏻

[@trustitcoaching]

That took a great deal of courage. Thanks for sharing

[@michelle5784]

As a primary child, I remember watching the deacons pass the sacrament and thinking about how I would organize it to do it more efficiently. I used to mouth the words of the prayers while they said them so that people would see that I knew them too! I think I was hoping they would want me to do it one day because I was so good at it? But that's when I remember noticing the differences between how I was treated in the church vs the boys my age. As an adult, my husband worked with the YM and I was in YW, and I remember being so annoyed that they got to go on a monthly camp out when the YW weren't even allowed to do sleepovers. I remember talking about how extended time spent with others outside of church in informal settings allowed for more fun and strengthened relationships in the group and with the leaders, and the girls just weren't given that. Thank you for this discussion! It was fascinating!

[@aBrewster29]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="3510">58:30</a> we gave a blessing to a woman once, and her husband, who is not a member, hopped up and joined us. After momentary butterflies we just rolled with it, and how awesome to have a man participate in that way with love and support for his wife. I have very complicated views on blessings but that is one of a few beautiful memories.

[@rebekahrutledge1633]

My whole life I never thought it was strange or unfair that women never get the priesthood. It wasn’t until my junior year in high school that we read about the myth of Lilith, who left the garden of eden because she didn’t want to submit to Adam. Something in my brain rewired and I realized how unjust this system is.

[@katiecrozier3179]

I taught a elders quorum meeting once. At YSA. The topic was dating. That breadcrumb felt like a feast at the time.

[@Faith.unraveled]

This actually happened to me as well, for family history.

[@Faith.unraveled]

And same I felt like it was huge

[@emilysnow6757]

Yes! I'm so thrilled to see a new video pop up from you guys. You were born to do this. Your dynamic together is so excellent.

[@Faith.unraveled]

This means so much!!❤❤

[@tawneenielsen4080]

We have the authority to put on a little lipstick, make cookies, and to talk, but not to much. Can I say, I always hated the women's talks in conference because they were always fluff talks and always talked about how proud they were that their husbands held the priesthood. And the quivering voice....oi!

[@Faith.unraveled]

I feel that

[@silvajr9021]

Eu acho que no futuro as mulheres irão receber o sacerdócio ou parte dele como sacerdocio aaronico, assim como os negros receberão em 1978 e demorou mais de 100 anos assim. Será co. As .mulheres no futuro eu acredito :Abraços do seu amigo do Brazil

[@iamjustsaying1]

It sounds good on paper to have more women speakers for General Conference; but it still doesn't change anything. We know they just quote and parrot everything said by the male leaders. It's frustrating to listen to that stuff coming from a woman's mouth, in their sing-song, high pitched, very sweet, acceptable to the men, vocal delivery.

[@emilysnow6757]

Good point. But... at least it would stop the men from having so much time to say new things that could be parroted back!

[@kaijusushi8165]

Just keep your eye on the money if you want to know who holds real power in the MORMON church. Who collects the tithing, makes the bank deposits and tracks the donations on the local level? Men. Who decides how the tithing money is spent and manages the church's funds at church headquarters? Men.

[@lazylearner967]

It will be interesting see if any “revelations” are announced this conference. Also when your stake got reorganized, was it due to declining membership? And did they spin it as growth?

[@chase8326]

I think even when women are “fulfilling there role as mothers” they an after thought. In my last ward we had an infant and so my wife frequently used the mother’s room to breastfeed. It was literally a closet in the women’s room with a chair! There was no AC or heat so it was either freezing or a sauna. There’s was no way to listen to sacrament meeting and it was just an all round miserable place to feed a baby. I told the bishop about it and he just kind of shrugged and said “I don’t know if we can really do anything about but we’ll see.” I will say it did make leaving the church a little easier but it was by no means what broke our shelves.

[@tawneenielsen4080]

Ha ha, we have so much power and authority that we have to wait for the men to give it to us. He he

[@Faith.unraveled]

👏🏻👏🏻

[@helenafreitas4467]

The sister lady talks like she is in a hostage situation or something... 😓

[@tylerboyce6502]

Yes, she has that "be sweet and obey" demeanor. Much like Michelle Duggar. Speaking of how much power women have...in meekness.

[@Faith.unraveled]

The childlike mannerisms are rough. I’m still trying to shed that

[@tylerboyce6502]

​@Faith.unraveled, I hope you don't think I was referring to you, Alicia. You are great! That Dennis lady though, has the subservient tone and rhythm to her speaking style. It's very telling.

[@Faith.unraveled]

@@tylerboyce6502 definitely!! Thanks for chiming in 🙏🏻

[@markbillietravels]

glad I found you. I just came out after 46 years TBM two times young women president. my last was in the stake relief society presidency. It’s been a dark night of the soul , wild self loathing, a wild exit. What helps is people such as yourself. I never thought in a million yrs I would ever leave.

[@Faith.unraveled]

I feel every bit of this! So happy to connect! Warmest wishes on the journey ahead💖🫶🏻

[@Sarahwithanh444]

Based on the wording of “sister” Dennis, I do think she believes the Mormon church really does empower women… and I think her bubble, or what she calls “the world” is really incredibly infinitely small… “the world” in her statement clearly refers to the “world of mormonism”, not the actual world.

[@craiglaw7578]

Where did Joseph Smith get his priesthood? If he got it from Peter, James, and John then go with it! If he got it out of thin air; then it doesn’t really matter. Good grief, he couldn’t even come up with a date for this “marvelous event”! If that REALLY happened; could any person FORGET the day/date? Think about it…

[@Faith.unraveled]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@saaranghaae]

This is an amazing video 😮 very precious !!

[@fatemeetsluck]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1590">26:30</a> that whole excerpt sounds like the worst fanfic erotica a terminally online Internet user could stumble upon

[@dougtovey8172]

Women and men serve different roles?! 😳 Crazy stuff...

[@annwood6812]

It wouldn't be a problem if men and women swapped roles every other year. The women would be up for it, but would the men? And if not, why not?

[@ivonna.tinkle]

Since your fans of EDM who are your favorite EDM artist(s)? Mine is (currently) Dom Dolla, Deeper Purpose, Black V Neck, Ca$h Out, Cats n’ Dogs, Armani White.

[@redexon]

We have tickets to go see Dom Dolla, John Summit, Lane 8, Odesza. Tiesto, And Illenium. Most of them are non DJ set venues.

[@ivonna.tinkle]

I have another question! What would you say to a TBM person who’s spouse decided that they no longer believe in the church, but the TBM still believes and feels as though they should get a divorce? Do bishops, stake presidents, family, etc encourage the split of families because one person in the marriage no long believes? I have a unique store in SLC, I talk to a lot of former Mormons, I love asking questions, like what was your temple name? @FaithUnraveled Elisha & Jamie, can I ask what your temple names are?

[@user-jv5pj3lr9i]

We should be thanking Eve, for having the insight to eat the fruit so that we could be born and experience life! Adam was too wimpy to take on that responsibility.

[@Gerald-ge3or]

Before I begin. Although I respectfully disagree, I genuinely want to thank you for your effort and time in attempting to get through to we hard-headed men. ;-) I think however, it appears that you may be missing quite a bit of what's going on or has happened within the church, and blessings and power available to women in the church. I'm concerned that you seem to be excessively critical about the "injustices" and "unfairness" that, in reality will exist whether men run the church or women run the church or both do so equally. Indulge me as I share an anaolgy. I work on cars/trucks. Older vehicles operate strictly mechanically; ONLY an engine drives the car. Modern vehicles operate with a hybrid mix of mechanical and computer; the engine and the computer work together to drive the car. A computer without the engine ,CANNOT run the automobile down the road. I see this like God's church. The heirarchy is not contrived of men, although that may be difficult to see for those who feel injustice. The order of the church is similar to an automobile. Although an automobile CANNOT operate with just a computer, where I don't doubt that the Church could operate by just women, nevertheless God ordained it the way it is, in his wisdom--whatever that wisdom is. After saying these things. I wish to be transparent and admit that at the beginning of your video I was pretty irritated at the beginning of listening to your passive-agressive toxicity. It was difficult for me to listen, not to what you had to say, but the way you said it. I made it difficult to be open to what you had to share. Nevertheless, I persevered and listened to your entire video, and I'm grateful for doing so. I learned a lot about me and I learned better ways to provide more middle-ground for women in my life. Godspeed!