They Did It!

[Stargazer]

In regard to opening and closing prayers, isn't it supposed to be the rule that closing prayers are to be brief, at least briefer than opening prayers? Those who multiply words possibly need to be taken quiety aside and counseled about it.

[Stone holm]

I think the next step for petitioners will be to complain that the ratio of men to women pray-ers in conference is not 1:1

I would certainly hope so, seems like a logical step to me.

[DBMormon]

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.

In the midst of all the complaining and whining here, I say Amen Tacenda! +1 from me

[Bikeemikey]

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!

That is awesome.

At a stake conference we had some women give the closing prayer (later became informally know as the "prophetess" due to many extended sermon style prayers). Half way through the prayer she said something that sounded like Amen and the whole congregation said amen and started to get up and leave. She went on another few mins though.

[Kerry A. Shirts]

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

And it only took the Lord a couple hundred years......wow, I'm impressed. That this even has to be celebrated is enough evidence to show how totally weird the Patriarchal paranoia has been all this time.

[Kerry A. Shirts]

In regard to opening and closing prayers, isn't it supposed to be the rule that closing prayers are to be brief, at least briefer than opening prayers? Those who multiply words possibly need to be taken quiety aside and counseled about it.

Yes, after all, forget praying with the Spirit when it whispers, just make er quick n clean. Amen.

[Tacenda]

Yes, after all, forget praying with the Spirit when it whispers, just make er quick n clean. Amen.

Yeah, hurry up when you talk to God will ya! (But need to admit, I've probably complained when it's turned into a sermon) but the spirit, go for it! Edited April 7, 2013 by Tacenda

[Bikeemikey]

And it only took the Lord a couple hundred years......wow, I'm impressed. That this even has to be celebrated is enough evidence to show how totally weird the Patriarchal paranoia has been all this time.

Can you let me know what that means please... I think I might agree with it, can't quite figure it out.

[canard78]

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.

Or, it was brought to the brethren's attention that there was no doctrinal reason that women can't pray and, being humble men who don't feel the need to be a dog in a manger, assigned one at the next available opportunity.

[canard78]

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.

More power indeed. Maybe they are mature enough to celebrate the fringes. Maybe they would prefer a membership who actually care and participate in the direction the church is headed rather than sleeping on the back row through life.

As Elder Uchtdorf just said in priesthood, we celebrate diversity, oil in one hand, bread in the other.

[canard78]

I'm just laughing that only progressive feminists are the ones celebrating this. I also wonder if this is going to be included as any part of Church History. If years down the road anyone is going to be mentioning this.

I'm not a "progressive feminist" but I am celebrating this. I'm celebrating the symbol, the evidence that the brethren listen and are not too stuck in their ways to ignore things that matter to a minority of the church. I'm celebrating the joy it will bring some other fellow members.

[CASteinman]

As Elder Uchtdorf just said in priesthood, we celebrate diversity, oil in one hand, bread in the other.

I will have to watch priesthood later. I have been sick and stayed in bed. But it sounds like a good talk.

[CASteinman]

More power indeed. Maybe they are mature enough to celebrate the fringes. Maybe they would prefer a membership who actually care and participate in the direction the church is headed rather than sleeping on the back row through life.

You might not recognized it but those statements are judgmental maybe even hostile in a few different ways.

Edited April 7, 2013 by CASteinman

[canard78]

This in a nutshell, thanks to the pro, you! We need a balance and many women can fill that need.

ETA: I always run out of posts because I'm on "limited" therefore the need to edit, just wanted to make a comment that I think the 1st session of conference went really well...here's a quote from someone I don't know but they say it well....

"Trying to put my finger on what made today different --in addition to Sister Steven's prayer. There seemed to be more energy and confidence from the speakers. There was a wide variety of topics including: addiction, repentance, the priesthood, a women's role in the family and society, the life and atonement of Jesus Christ, and so on. So glad I didn't have to work today!"

*It had to be because women prayed in conference!

I enjoy your contribution here, so am hoping you're back in full status soon.

Is this the MDDB equivalent of being disfellowshipped?

[Stargazer]

I enjoy your contribution here, so am hoping you're back in full status soon.

Is this the MDDB equivalent of being disfellowshipped?

I think that status is awarded to someone who has gotten into a habit of writing intemperate things. I think it's a life sentence, too. Pa Pa has been limited forever, for example, and he's gotten out of that downer intemperate phase he was in last year or so. Yet the status is still stuck to him. I gotta be careful or I might get limited too. Or banned. That would really make me cry.

[volgadon]

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.

When I was in my wife's branch in Ukraine, one of the missionaries anounced another meeting, and our friends' daughter who barely turned two shouted loudly, "boycott!"

[canard78]

You might not recognized it but those statements are judgmental maybe even hostile in a few different ways.

I would not characterise anyone on this board as 'sleeping on the back row' - the fact they're on this board suggests there's no sleeping.

[CASteinman]

I would not characterise anyone on this board as 'sleeping on the back row' - the fact they're on this board suggests there's no sleeping.

mmmm.. I was not thinking of anyone on this board with regard to that.

[Bikeemikey]

When I was in my wife's branch in Ukraine, one of the missionaries anounced another meeting, and our friends' daughter who barely turned two shouted loudly, "boycott!"

Out of the mouthes of babes...

[Tacenda]

I enjoy your contribution here, so am hoping you're back in full status soon.

Is this the MDDB equivalent of being disfellowshipped?

Eternally, atleast in the real world there is a repentance process, mods aren't even communicating with me. So I guess I'll liken it to outer darkness, haha. And the biggest regret is losing my power to give rep points!

ETA: Canard, forgot to thank you for the nice comment.

Edited April 7, 2013 by Tacenda

[CASteinman]

Eternally, atleast in the real world there is a repentance process, mods aren't even communicating with me. So I guess I'll liken it to outer darkness, haha. And the biggest regret is losing my power to give rep points!

ETA: Canard, forgot to thank you for the nice comment.

Is that also why you cannot get mail messages?

[sunstoned]

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.

They didn't whine, they brought up an inequity. Something that probably should have been taken care of years ago. If anything we should be concerned that outside pressure is about the only way to get you message to the top leaders.

[De Groote]

My understanding is that it was decided who was going to pray in Conference before the "Let Women Pray" campaign took place.

From my colleague Joe Walker's story in the Deseret News on March 19th:

“Decisions on speakers and prayers at general conference were made late last year,” said Scott Trotter, spokesman for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “Customarily, details of the conference programs are not announced until general conference.”

So this is a case of coincidence. Or, for you conspiracy theorists out there, perhaps the people behind the "Let Women Wear Pants" got wind of it and wanted to generate a victory.

Personally, I think it was nice. The only sad part is because there are a finite number of slots during General Conference, some poor member of the Quorums of the Seventy will never have a chance now to speak or pray in General Conference, while the women in leadership will have multiple opportunities. That is a curious and ironic artifact of this all. There are so many male leaders that the fewer women leaders have already become more visible than all but a few of the men.

Edited April 7, 2013 by De Groote

[CASteinman]

They didn't whine, they brought up an inequity. Something that probably should have been taken care of years ago. If anything we should be concerned that outside pressure is about the only way to get you message to the top leaders.

It is not the only way

People are different about the way that they view things. All the women in my family are appalled at the way the women went about this. My wife in particular feels insulted by it. My older daughter thinks that they should not have permitted a woman to pray in this conference because of the protest. My younger daughter has mixed feelings -- does not like the shallowness of the concerns and the protest process, but she is genuinely happy that some hearts feel healed over this.

[emarkp]

They didn't whine, they brought up an inequity. Something that probably should have been taken care of years ago.

And will you vigorously keep track of the % of prayers given by women, making sure it is in line with population? Or will there be a committee of whiners tracking that one?