Nyt's "growing Role For Women"

[juliann]

 

 

Is the Virgin Mary ever depicted in art in LDS chapels and/or temples?  I don't remember seeing her in the chapels I have been in, which are admittedly few, and I can perhaps understand why her depiction might be limited because of the huge focus Catholicism (and Orthodoxy -- Theotokos) place on Her and Her image, but I'm wondering if here and there a picture of Her might be found.

 

Anyone on the board have a picture of Her in their home?

 

She's the first thing you see when you open my door

I love this.  I think our depictions are Nativity related with the birth not Mary emphasized. This would be a great step in giving women more visibility in the Mormon church.

[MiserereNobis]

I love this.  I think our depictions are Nativity related with the birth not Mary emphasized. This would be a great step in giving women more visibility in the Mormon church.

 

I think the Virgin Mary is a wonderful role model for any woman in any Christian denomination.  Maybe emphasizing Her more in the LDS church would bring about more visibility to women.  Her meek submission to the will of God, as recorded in Luke 2:38 ("And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word") is an example for us ALL, not just women, but it is wonderful to point out that a woman was the chosen vessel for the incarnation of God and that without Her, without a woman, there would have been no salvation possible.

 

I think I'll stop by my local LDS chapel and donate a few statues of Mary

[Bikeemikey]

What I am saying is that the mormon feminists would be fighting for heavenly mother to have more of a say in earthly affairs. For example, praying to heavenly mother...asking her to answer prayers etc. Or maybe to intercede with her husband.

 

Maybe we can have opening prayers to heavenly father or to heavenly mother in church. Closing prayers too. Why not? Anything goes when it comes to making people happy.

If heavenly mother is real why not pray to her?

Also the notion of praying for her to intercede with her husband is still it self highly gender biased; it is still filled with the concept of the female being passive and the male being the agent of action.

The idea of prays to both genders of the divine ought to not be framed as a negative criticism or be raised as an example of objectionable behavior.

If there is female deity, why not include ceremony and worship around said deity; right now we just pretend it doesn't exist in any meaningful capacity.

[Calm]

Let us see if this will work:

http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&hl=en&biw=1024&bih=672&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=r7EbU8HrE4ruoASqx4GwBw&q=site%3Alds.org+mary+%22mother+of+jesus%22&oq=site%3Alds.org+mary+%22mother+of+jesus%22&gs_l=img.3...15393.30411.0.31030.20.19.1.0.0.0.285.2514.0j18j1.19.0....0...1c.1.37.img..20.0.0.90p0331XmDI#

[MiserereNobis]

I'm going to start a new thread on Mary in the LDS church.  I have a few questions and I don't want to totally derail this thread.  Thanks!

 

ETA:

 

Here's the thread:  http://www.mormondialogue.org/topic/63025-the-blessed-virgin-mary-in-the-lds-church/

Edited March 9, 2014 by MiserereNobis

[mtomm]

Actually when I asked my husband as we left the temple the other night, (who is NOT a Mormon feminist in the least) if MiH was a member of the Godhead he was the one who answered .." How can she not be." With no hesitation whatsoever.

So not just a feminist idea. But he is the one who is always telling me that we are one and I'm thinking he thinks our relationship should emulate our heavenly parents.

[why me]

She is a precious vessel and most beautiful and fair indeed

 

Thank you for sharing those Book of Mormon verses about Her.

 

Is the Virgin Mary ever depicted in art in LDS chapels and/or temples?  I don't remember seeing her in the chapels I have been in, which are admittedly few, and I can perhaps understand why her depiction might be limited because of the huge focus Catholicism (and Orthodoxy -- Theotokos) place on Her and Her image, but I'm wondering if here and there a picture of Her might be found.

 

Anyone on the board have a picture of Her in their home?

 

She's the first thing you see when you open my door

The problem is that since the United States was basically a protestant country, the virgin mary seemed to not have such a prominent place in protestant churches. And since many of the early converts were protestants, including joseph smith, it may not have been so important.

 

For catholics, Mary is more important than a statue or a picture. Mary can act as an intercessor. So, there is the rosay which is basically dedicated to Mary. The lds put sole emphasis on the godhead. And not on mary and joseph. If one gives attention to mary one must also give emphasis to joseph. Such is equality.

[why me]

Actually when I asked my husband as we left the temple the other night, (who is NOT a Mormon feminist in the least) if MiH was a member of the Godhead he was the one who answered .." How can she not be." With no hesitation whatsoever.

So not just a feminist idea. But he is the one who is always telling me that we are one and I'm thinking he thinks our relationship should emulate our heavenly parents.

However, heavenly mother is not given much attention. My point was simple: for mormon feminists their relationship with heavenly mother is important. So, they will be calling for more power for her in the lives of the saints, such as praying to her in church and in their daily lives, sanctioned by the church.

 

You should ask your husband what he meant by his response.

[Bikeemikey]

However, heavenly mother is not given much attention. My point was simple: for mormon feminists their relationship with heavenly mother is important. So, they will be calling for more power for her in the lives of the saints, such as praying to her in church and in their daily lives, sanctioned by the church.

You should ask your husband what he meant by his response.

So to clarify, you don't think it is a negative thing that mormon feminists will be calling for a greater focus on the female divine? Your suggestion that mormon feminists would want prays to heavenly mother officially sanctioned by the church was also not a criticism. You do not object to this idea, you were just stating what was likely to happen? Edited March 9, 2014 by Bikeemikey