Mormon Women

There are many misperceptions about members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, especially about Mormon women.  First of all, Mormons do not practice polygamy.  Secondly, Mormon women are not oppressed, nor treated as second-class citizens, nor are they expected to stay at home, barefoot and pregnant.

Heavenly Father’s expectation, as far as life priorities are concerned, is the same for women as for men, and that is “family first.”  The late Mormon prophet David O. McKay stated, “No success can compensate for failure in the home.”  Both husbands and wives are counseled by church leaders to arrange their career commitments, hobbies, and outside interests so that they do not compromise marriage and family.

Note in the following video, that this husband and wife have prayerfully decided to implement a role-reversal in their home — Mom is out working, while Dad has most of the responsibility for child care.  The word, “prayerfully” is the watchword here.  They prayed for inspiration and guidance to make the best decision for their family, unwilling to follow professional patterns that might harm their marriage or child-raising:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=donMKpPhf18&feature=related&rel=0

Mormon women don’t dress funny, either.  They dress according to the styles of their home cultures, but try to be modest, especially if they have been through a Mormon temple and wear the symbolic garment of the temple under their clothing.  Daisy is a good example of a Mormon woman.  She is a convert to the Church, as are 70% of Mormons.  She’s a working woman, educated (and the best-educated members are the most active members in Mormonism):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiX5H33SZ2k&feature=related

Mormons tend to have larger families than is the norm today.  However, this is a matter of free choice.  Although the Church is strongly against abortion, birth control is left up to married couples to make their own decisions.  However, Mormon leaders counsel couples not to postpone or prevent children from coming into the world for material reasons, like to acquire more wealth or luxury.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNkSqwgMiqU&feature=related&rel=0

Since the Mormon Church has no paid clergy, every member helps to run all of the programs in the Church.  Women over 18 belong to the largest and oldest women’s group in the world.  It is called the Relief Society, because it was formed in the 1800′s to bring relief to the sick and the poor.  Relief Society enables Mormon women to provide service, offers companionship and encouragement and training in many areas for the female members of the Church.  Though Mormon women spend a lot of time serving in the Church, including in positions of great responsibility, they are also active in their communities:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7EKkYo_hoY&feature=related&rel=0

Often, Mormon women will put their careers somewhat aside while they are raising their children, and then enthusiastically re-enter them after their children are grown.  They are treated as equal partners by their husbands, and husbands are expected to help out at home, as well as to provide for and protect their families:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SUbFOvGxiU&feature=related&rel=0

To read more about Mormon Women, click here.