They Did It!

[Scott Lloyd]

Sister Jean Stevens, first counselor in the Primary general presidency, is the first woman ever to give a prayer in general conference.

[emarkp]

Whoop de crap. I'm truly astonished that anyone cares.

[Duncan]

neat! put it up on my FB!

[Scott Lloyd]

Whoop de crap. I'm truly astonished that anyone cares.

With all the build-up, I wanted to be the first here to take cognizance of it.

[bluebell]

I loved the smile on elder uchtdorf's face when he announced it.

[Duncan]

Peggy Stack was right

[MorningStar]

Oh good. Now I can be annoyed at a woman when the closing prayer goes too long.

[Rivers]

I never even noticed before that women haven't prayed in General Conference.

[CASteinman]

It took me a while to figure out why *some* women wanted this so bad. I think its all about Priesthood. Well, its perceived to be all about Priesthood and if not that then at least a path toward it.

I hope that they are satisfied as it is. I don't think this will stretch to the priesthood.

[Peppermint Patty]

Oh good. Now I can be annoyed at a woman when the closing prayer goes too long.

Hilarious!

Her prayer was actually much shorter than the opening prayer. So, I imagine we will still be stuck just being annoyed at the men's prayers.

[Scott Lloyd]

It took me a while to figure out why *some* women wanted this so bad. I think its all about Priesthood. Well, its perceived to be all about Priesthood and if not that then at least a path toward it.

I hope that they are satisfied as it is. I don't think this will stretch to the priesthood.

Priesthood is about service, and there is already ample opportunity for both women and men to serve in Heavenly Father's kingdom. (See my thread about Mormon women leaders providing insights into Church leadership.)

[MorningStar]

Seriously, when the kids have had enough and the person giving the closing prayer closes with every version of the Lord's name they can think of, I want to scream.

[rongo]

Oh good. Now I can be annoyed at a woman when the closing prayer goes too long.

lol.

Yes, a woman has yet to say things like "the Alpha and Omega, even the Great I Am, the Stone of Israel, even Jesus the Christ. Amen." I've always wondered why "even" would be put in there like that.

[rongo]

Creepy, Morning Star. Your post cleared just as I clicked "post."

[MorningStar]

lol.

Yes, a woman has yet to say things like "the Alpha and Omega, even the Great I Am, the Stone of Israel, even Jesus the Christ. Amen." I've always wondered why "even" would be put in there like that.

I remember having a really fussy baby and after a really long prayer, that's what the brother did. Oh, the agony! I thought, "Are you kidding me?!"

[mercyngrace]

Seriously, when the kids have had enough and the person giving the closing prayer closes with every version of the Lord's name they can think of, I want to scream.

True story -- my oldest was about 3 and we were in the middle section of the chapel when halfway through the closing prayer, he stood up in the pew and shouted "Amen". The congregation chuckled and the brother praying cut short his sermon-disguised-as-a-prayer. I've often considered coaxing other people's little ones to follow my son's example.

Edited April 6, 2013 by mercyngrace

[MorningStar]

Creepy, Morning Star. Your post cleared just as I clicked "post."

Good to know I'm not the only one who noticed this phenomenon. "In the name of our Savior, our Lord and Redeemer, the Lamb of God ......." Why don't they sing the Messiah?

[MorningStar]

True story -- my oldest was about 3 and we were in the middle section of the chapel when halfway through the closing prayer, he stood up in the pew and shouted "Amen". The congregation chuckled and the brother praying cut short his sermon-disguised-as-a-prayer. I've often considered coaxing other people's little ones to follow my son's example.

My friend texted "Amen!" to his sister-in-law during a very long eulogy she was giving about her father. She was one of about 8 speakers and had already gone on for 15 minutes. So her phone made a loud noise and she said, "RICH!!!" Hilarious.

[Jude2]

Not to take away from Sister Stevens, she's a lovely dedicated servant of the Lord,

but they gave into an itty bitty minority group of whiners. I have a big problem with whining women.

It won’t be enough ya know, they’ll just keep on whining.

Edited April 6, 2013 by Jude2

[Duncan]

We have two guys in our ward that give speeches before they pray. About a month ago one gave his speech and forgot to pray!

[MorningStar]

Not to take away from Sister Stevens, she's a lovely dedicated servant of the Lord,

but they gave into an itty bitty minority group of whiners. I have a big problem with whining women.

It won’t be enough ya know, they’ll just keep on whining.

Well, I'm sure they'll be devastated if a woman doesn't pray at the next session too.

[CASteinman]

Reading these comments -- I get the impression that these prayers are from people who felt it was a great honor or something to give a prayer in Church. Or perhaps they needed to satisfy their pride and grant everyone the spiritual experience of praying with them at length.

I don't notice these things so much, but once in a while...

I am curious -- how many people here view giving an opening or closing prayer as some sort of honor or distinction or something like that?

[Tacenda]

Hilarious!

Her prayer was actually much shorter than the opening prayer. So, I imagine we will still be stuck just being annoyed at the men's prayers.

I missed the opening prayer because I was rigging up an old walkman device so that I could listen to conference on the radio while pruning. But then got to hear the closing prayer, did you see how early conference ended? They must have wanted to leave her plenty of time. I got real emotional unexpectedly because I didn't think I cared about it, no nig deal, but feel the reason for it is that my well has been so empty and was filled somehow and don't know why it meant so much, but feel our leaders do care and are listening.

[CASteinman]

but they gave into an itty bitty minority group of whiners. I have a big problem with whining women.

It won’t be enough ya know, they’ll just keep on whining.

Maybe.

I wonder -- and have been concerned -- that this will logarithmically increase the numbers of petitions for all kinds of things. But maybe the Brethren feel that they are up to that! If so, more power to them.

[mercyngrace]

I am curious -- how many people here view giving an opening or closing prayer as some sort of honor or distinction or something like that?

Not I. In fact, I hate praying in church. I'm terribly self-conscious because I feel like I'm in this awkward position of making small talk with an intimate friend and worse yet, doing so on a stage. It's hard to describe but it feels like play acting and I suck at small talk.