Poem: Women Who Love

Treasure Cave by Lou Jordan

Manifesto: Let Us Be Women Who Love

by  Idelette McVicker on shelovesmagazine.com

Let us be women who Love.

Let us be women willing to lay down our sword words, our sharp looks, our ignorant silence and towering stance and fill the earth now with extravagant Love.

Let us be women who Love.

Let us be women who make room.

Let us be women who open our arms and invite others into an honest, spacious, glorious embrace.

Let us be women who carry each other.

Let us be women who give from what we have.

Let us be women who leap to do the difficult things, the unexpected things and the necessary things.

Let us be women who live for Peace.

Let us be women who breathe Hope.

Let us be women who create beauty.

Let us be women who Love.

Let us be a sanctuary where God may dwell.

Let us be a garden for tender souls.

Let us be a table where others may feast on the goodness of God.

Let us be a womb for Life to grow.

Let us be women who Love.

Let us rise to the questions of our time.

Let us speak to the injustices in our world.

Let us move the mountains of fear and intimidation.

Let us shout down the walls that separate and divide.

Let us fill the earth with the fragrance of Love.

Let us be women who Love.

Let us listen for those who have been silenced.

Let us honour those who have been devalued.

Let us say, Enough! with abuse, abandonment, diminishing and hiding.

Let us not rest until every person is free and equal.

Let us be women who Love.

Let us be women who are savvy, smart and wise.

Let us be women who shine with the light of God in us.

Let us be women who take courage and sing the song in our hearts.

Let us be women who say, Yes to the beautiful, unique purpose seeded in our souls.

Let us be women who call out the song in another’s heart.

Let us be women who teach our children to do the same.

Let us be women who Love.

Let us be women who Love, in spite of fear.

Let us be women who Love, in spite of our stories.

Let us be women who Love loudly, beautifully, Divinely.

Let us be women who Love.

Quote: Lifting People Up

Mother Mary

Of Dvorak's Mother and Child by Kay Eniem

As a woman and a mother, I am always drawn to Mary's story this time of year. I wonder what she was thinking and feeling. I love this painting as I think it captures her contemplative spirit as well as the holiness of the Christ child.

Others also seem to be thinking of her as well and there were two beautiful posts about Mary this week on Rational Faiths:

A Christmas Search for the Divine Feminine

The Only Gift

Quote: Real Things

Quote: Educating the Heart

Quote: Possibilites

Reading List 2015

LDS History and Plural Marriage 

In Sacred Loneliness 

by Todd Compton

The Persistence of Polygamy 

by Todd Compton

Eliza

by Karen Davidson and Jill Derr

Revelation, Resistance and Mormon Polygamy  

by Merina Smith 

Religion and Sexuality

by Lawrence Foster

Mormon Polygamy

by Richard Van Wagoner

Religion and Feminism 

Jesus Feminist 

by Sarah Bessey

Rebirth of the Goddess 

by Carol Christ

Man's Dominion

by Sheila Jeffreys 

At the Root of This Longing

by Carol Flinders

Women and Authority 

by Maxine Hanks

Faith Unraveled 

by Rachel Evans

Events: Single in the Borderlands 12/20/14 Salt Lake City, Utah

For More Information: 

Sunstone Event Registration

Facebook Event Page

Also read: "The Single Stigma" on Rational Faiths

Quote: Trying

Event: Council of Fifty Meet the Editor

More Information: Signature Books

Events: For the Cause of Righteousness Lecture and Book-Signing

ZION'S BOOKS is pleased to welcome historian Russell Stevenson, author of 'For the Cause of Righteousness: A Global History of Blacks and Mormonism 1830-2013,' for a special lecture, discussion, and book signing, next Tuesday, December 16th, at 7 pm at our store in downtown Provo. The event will celebrate the release of the book, and promises to be an informative and fun evening. Russell will present a short lecture on the intersection of Mormon history, global history, and black history, followed by a Q&A/discussion with the audience. Attendees will get a chance to meet and chat with the author, get a copy of 'For the Cause of Righteousness' signed and inscribed, and enjoy some light refreshments.

This event is free and open to the public.

This Week In Mormons Episode #254

Quote: Gratitude

Events: Wear Pants to Church Day 12/14/14

For More Information:

Facebook Events Page

pantstochurch.com

Faith and Doubt

Redeemed by Kelly O'Neill

“I have a lot of faith. But I am also afraid a lot, and have no real certainty about anything. I remembered something Father Tom had told me—that the opposite of faith is not doubt, but certainty. Certainty is missing the point entirely. Faith includes noticing the mess, the emptiness and discomfort, and letting it be there until some light returns.”

- Anne Lamott

7 Christian Thinkers Who Wrestled With Doubt

Events: BYU Women's Studies Conference 12/11/14

For More Information: BYU Women's Studies

Quote: Healing

Healing by Shira Sela

"You can't go through a traumatic experience, 

return to life as usual and expect to eventually heal. 

You must pay respect to the event in a way that resonates with your spirit 

or it remains forever wounded. 

Ignoring is a complete dismissal of what happened 

and frankly it's disrespectful. 

But I would encourage you not to just be content to heal either. 

Step into your power and be empowered. 

Then go forward and give others permission to do the same. 

It is the ultimate way to honor your wounds." 

Holly Bowerman
hopehealempower.com

Events: Elizabeth Smart at UVU 12/10/14 Orem Utah

For More Information:

UVU Blog

Events: National Day of Prayer to Fight Against Pornography and Sexual Exploitation

For More Information:

Porn Harms

Events: LDS LGBT Suicide & Homelessness Awareness Day 12/07/14

For More Information:

Facebook Event Page

Poem: For My Daughter

art by Natasha Milashevich

FOR MY DAUGHTER

By Sarah McMane

“Never grow a wishbone, daughter, where your backbone ought to be.” – Clementine Paddleford

Never play the princess when you can

be the queen:

rule the kingdom, swing a scepter,

wear a crown of gold.

Don’t dance in glass slippers,

crystal carving up your toes --

be a barefoot Amazon instead,

for those shoes will surely shatter on your feet.

Never wear only pink

when you can strut in crimson red,

sweat in heather grey, and

shimmer in sky blue,

claim the golden sun upon your hair.

Colors are for everyone,

boys and girls, men and women --

be a verdant garden, the landscape of Versailles,

not a pale primrose blindly pushed aside.

Chase green dragons and one-eyed zombies,

fierce and fiery toothy monsters,

not merely lazy butterflies,

sweet and slow on summer days.

For you can tame the most brutish beasts

with your wily wits and charm,

and lizard scales feel just as smooth

as gossamer insect wings.

Tramp muddy through the house in

a purple tutu and cowboy boots.

Have a tea party in your overalls.

Build a fort of birch branches,

a zoo of Legos, a rocketship of

Queen Anne chairs and coverlets,

first stop on the moon.

Dream of dinosaurs and baby dolls,

bold brontosaurus and bookish Belle,

not Barbie on the runway or

Disney damsels in distress --

you are much too strong to play

the simpering waif.

Don a baseball cap, dance with Daddy,

paint your toenails, climb a cottonwood.

Learn to speak with both your mind and heart.

For the ground beneath will hold you, dear --

know that you are free.

And never grow a wishbone, daughter,

where your backbone ought to be.

Events: Beehive Bazaar

For More Information: 

Beehive Bazaar

Events: We For She 12/04/14 Provo, Utah

We For She

Willing to be Dazzled

Still, what I want in my life

is to be willing

to be dazzled—

to cast aside the weight of facts

and maybe even

to float a little

above this difficult world.

I want to believe I am looking

into the white fire of a great mystery.

I want to believe that the imperfections are nothing—

that the light is everything—that it is more than the sum 

of each flawed blossom rising and fading. And I do.

–Mary Oliver, from “The Ponds”

Pretty Pebbles: 11/30/14

source

Why Did Adam Name the Animals Without Eve?
"I think God preparing Adam in such a manner also hints that Eve was always supposed to be the first one to choose to leave the garden. Eve, the one who would bear the burden of bringing souls into the world, the one who would suffer nigh unto death to bring new life, would have to be the one who first made the decision. Adam making that decision first would be a sort of unrighteous dominion--he'd be making a commitment for Eve's body that she should rightly make for herself. Eve needed to be the first, and Adam needed to follow."

The Real Cost of a World-Wide Church
"If I am truly to take my baptismal covenants seriously, I am entrusted with bearing the burdens of my brothers and sisters, even if those burdens originate in a land far away. This experience made me realize the real cost of an international church: Disasters and wars no longer happen to distant people far removed from us, they happen to our people. The world’s fate is our fate because our people are everywhere in it. The price is not money, but comfort. Our hearts must collectively expand to hold everyone’s burdens."

Beard Ban at Mormon Schools Getting Stricter

Both Feet Forward (Video)
(Text)
"Am I celebrating weakness? Yes! The Lord said:
I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them. [Ether 12:27]'
Clearly, weakness and the recognition of it, the humility that follows, and the application of faith in Christ are essential to our eternal progression. Weakness is also the key to authenticity."

The Answer to All the Hard Questions
"Perhaps. Truth isn't always obvious, particularly when it has to compete with alternatives presented in attractive packages. Often we understand the truth only in part, while the whole remains yet to be learned. And in the learning, we face the uncomfortable prospect of abandoning imperfect but heretofore comforting understandings. But trusting that God has all the answers, that He loves us, and that He will answer all our questions—in His way, on His timetable—can simplify our searching. It may not always be easy, but simply trusting in God’s counsel can safely steer us through clouds of confusion."

Many Mormons Are Unaware of the Messy Details
"Other Mormons, however, have downplayed the novelty of the information contained in these essays. They have argued that the LDS Church has never intentionally hidden this information and that Mormons have a responsibility to study their own history (see here, here, and here). Thus, they blame the Mormon rank and file themselves for their ignorance on these matters.
These arguments, however, stand in contrast to statements made by faithful and well-respected Mormon historians ... Placing the blame on the members themselves also ignores the fact that Mormons who publicly discussed the messier details of polygamy and other historical issues have often been marginalized and sometimes even excommunicated by Church leaders in the not-so-distant past."

God Knows the Desires of Your Heart 
"I know that God is aware of each of us. Even in the times when things don't seem fair, or life doesn't turn out how we imagined, I just want you to know that He sees you. He hears your prayers and knows the desires of your heart and, often in ways you never dreamed of,  He will make them happen... promise."

A Lesbian Mormon Perspective

Book Review: Walking With the Women of the New Testament

Walking With the Women of the New Testament by Heather Farrell is a touching tribute to the testimony, courage and charity of women who lived long ago. But it is much more than that. In a time when many are becoming aware of the need for more women's voices, this book offers the reader over 60 stories of faith, strength and courage from New Testament women.

Too often women's lives and contributions in the scriptures are overlooked or undervalued. I loved Heather's story illustrating this point. When speaking about women in the scriptures she often asks the audience how many women they think are in the scriptures. After allowing a few people to guess, she reveals the astonishing number: 500. I shared this story with a friend, who responded, "Yes, maybe that's true, but they don't do anything important." Unfortunately, I think that this is the message many women receive in the church. This book can open our eyes and our hearts to see and value women. In the New Testament women are there at every major event in the Savior's life and in the early church. Women were not merely present, but participated as well. Mary and Elisabeth were the first to know of the Savior's coming. Mary bravely carried and brought him into mortal life. The Woman at the Well was the first person we know of to whom the Savior revealed his mission as the Messiah. Women stood with him when he died and a woman was the first to testify of his resurrected body.

As Heather so beautifully described,

"In a time period when women's participation in religious life was limited to that of an observer, Christ invited them to be active participants in His church - learning, serving , teaching and leading … Jesus broke down barriers between people, especially between men and women, in an incredible way. He challenged the mentality and customs of a fallen world and elevated the status of women to the plane on which God sees them: a view of women that didn't base a woman's worth on her physical appearance, her marital status, her ability to bear children, or what she had done but instead celebrated her intrinsic worth as a daughter of God."

The book's layout is straightforward, addressing each woman's story in approximate chronological order. The chapters are short, perfect for a busy mom like me. I could pick the book up and read one or two chapters in the morning and spend the rest of the day pondering the lessons contained in each story. Even if the stories are brief, it is evident that Heather has thought deeply about each, for she brings each woman to life and gives her a voice.

The tone was so personal and tender that I felt as if I was talking to a dear friend or an older sister. Heather has a gift for taking modest narratives, many of which are a few lines at most, and give them life. I felt like she was describing people and events from firsthand experience. She sees applications and connections in small things that others may gloss over. Heather may not be an historian or a scholar, but her prayerful study and powerful testimony is evident on every page.

Walking With the Women of the New Testament also lends itself well to sharing with others. Next year, our adult Sunday School classes we will turn to the New Testament. This book would be a perfect companion for anyone looking to deepen their study or any teacher looking to breathe life into the text. Almost immediately after I received Walking With the Women of the New Testament I started using it in my youth Sunday School lessons. I teach three interesting and engaging young women and I found this book perfect for illustrating the gospel principles we are learning. I felt impressed that it was important for them to see and hear the stories of women who were close to the Savior.

Recently my spiritual life has been like a difficult journey in the wilderness. As I ponder my life I often think about the women who traveled with Nephi and Lehi on their journey. Like those women, I have been blessed to grow stronger, but along the way I have wandered, hungry and tired. I found in the pages of this book a spiritual abundance that I had been thirsting for. Heather brought these women to life and allowed me to see Christ through their eyes. Her blog and this book are a part of the ministry to which God has called her and I am glad she has responded to that call. For me, at least, Heather has achieved her stated purpose:

"… it is my hope that reading this book will spark a desire within you to open your own scriptures and to learn more about these women - and about God's plan for women - for yourself."

Letting Go

Faith and Doubt

Dancing Water Spirits by Annie B.

"Take faith, for example. For many people in our world, the opposite of faith is doubt. The goal, then, within this understanding, is to eliminate doubt. But faith and doubt aren't opposites. Doubt is often a sign that your faith has a pulse, that it's alive and well and exploring and searching. Faith and doubt aren't opposites, they are, it turns out, excellent dance partners."

Rob Bell, What We Talk about When We Talk about God

Perfection

https://www.etsy.com/listing/116668364/john-steinbeck-east-of-eden-quote-made

Motherhood

Motherhood: A Prose Poem
By Christianna Reed Maas

My willingness to carry life is the revenge, the antidote, the great rebuttal of every murder, every abortion, and every genocide. I sustain humanity. Deep inside of me, life grows.

I am death’s opposition.

I have pushed back the hand of darkness today. I have caused there to be a weakening tremor among the ranks of those set on earth’s destruction. Today a vibration that calls angels to attention echoed throughout time. Our laughter threatened hell today.

I dined with the greats of God’s army. I made their meals, and tied their shoes. Today, I walked with greatness, and when they were tired I carried them. I have poured myself out for the cause today.

It is finally quiet, but life stirs inside of me. Gaining strength, the pulse of life sends a constant reminder to both good and evil that I have yielded myself to Heaven and now carry its dream. No angel has ever had such a privilege, nor any man. I am humbled by the honor.

I am great with destiny.

I birth the freedom fighters. In the great war, I am a leader of the underground resistance. I smile at the disguise of my troops, surrounded by a host of warriors, destiny swirling, invisible yet tangible, and the anointing to alter history. Our footsteps marking land for conquest, we move undetected through the common places.

Today I was the barrier between evil and innocence. I was the gate-keeper, watching over the hope of mankind, and no intruder trespassed. There is not an hour of day or night when I turn from my post. The fierceness of my love is unmatched on earth.

And because I smiled instead of frowned, the world will know the power of grace. Hope has feet, and it will run to the corners of earth, because I stood up against destruction.

I am a woman. I am a mother. I am the keeper and sustainer of life here on earth. Heaven stands in honor of my mission. No one else can carry my call. I am the daughter of Eve. Eve has been redeemed. I am the opposition of death. I am woman.

http://podcasts.ibethel.org/en/podcasts/the-original-women-s-liberation-movement

Vision

"I have a vision. I have a vision of Mothers around the globe beginning their days in peace. I have a vision of our children experiencing a gentle calm surrounding them as they venture out into this too-fast world. I have a vision of each of us—myself included—growing in our capacity to experience an inner spaciousness that will inform our choices, our tone’s of voice, our inner resonance. I have a vision of truly living the proclamation that real peace begins at home. May we all shed our worries about all that has to be done today, our urgency about the ticking clock and break open our anxious hearts instead with the beauty of present moment awareness. Notice intently the sleepy morning stretches. Notice the sticky breakfast fingers. Notice the snail-paced pulling on of socks. Notice and rejoice." Love, Megan Nathanson

http://meghannathanson.com/

Woman

Woman is the first to know sorrow and pain, last to be paid for her labor.

First in self-sacrifice, last to obtain justice, or even a favor.

First to greet lovingly man at his birth, last to forsake him when dying,

First to make sunshine around his hearth, last to lose heart and cease trying.
Last at the cross of her crucified Lord, first to behold him when risen,

First, to proclaim him to life restored, bursting from death's gloomy prison. 

First to seek knowledge, the God-like prize, last to gain credit for knowing.

First to call children a gift from the skies, last to enjoy their bestowing.

First to fall under the censure of God, last to receive a full pardon.

First to kiss meekly the chastening rod, thrust from her beautiful garden.

First to be sold for the wages of sin, last to be sought and forgiven.

First in the scorn of her dear brother, man, last in the kingdom of heaven.

So, a day cometh, glorious day, early perfection restoring.
Sin and its burdens shall be swept away, and love flow like rivers outpouring. 

Then woman who loves, through sorrow and shame, the crown of a queen will be wearing. And love, freed from lust, a divine pure flame, shall save our sad earth from despairing. 
That latter-day work is already begun, the good from the evil to sever.
The word has gone forth that when all is done, 

The last shall be first, forever.

"Woman," Woman's Exponent, 21 15 January 1893. By Sarah Lucinda Lee Dalton

http://www.daltondatabank.org/Chronicles/Sarah_Lucinda_Lee_Dalton.htm

Quote of the Day 9/9/14

“Women need to see themselves as strong, as capable of hard labor for a goal, as deserving of the pleasures of achievement, as worthy of honor. Their sacrifices need to count for something. They need to see how their efforts are acts of salvation, deeds of redemptive love. They need to see that they are important and that they make a difference in the lives of the people they love the most.”

-Chieko Okazaki, Boundaries, p. 14

My Journey to Mormon Feminism: Pondering the Issues

Mary Kept All These Things and Pondered Them In Her Heart by Alice Mary Halvers

In my past two blog post on this subject I reviewed the emotional and spiritual journey that brought me to Mormon Feminism, what that means to me at a basic level and why I think it is important. I intended to take each of my issues and make them into separate blog posts, but have since changed my mind. Perhaps I will again take up the issues I mentioned before and flesh out my thoughts and feelings, but for now I have felt called to other topics.

I chose the above painting not only for its beauty, but also because I have been feeling like I should take some time to "ponder all these things in my heart." There is so much that has already been written and debated regarding the issues of Mormon Feminism. As someone who is so new, I feel my time and energy would be better spent learning all I can rather than trying to act as a source of knowledge. I would recommend reading "Women and the Church – Constructively Engaging the Arguments," a post recently added over at Times and Seasons. The author, James Olsen, does an excellent job of summarizing the discussion and debate up to this point. While the post is rather long, I think it is important to read in order to understand where things stand now and ponder where we should go from here and what we each can add.

Monday Memes: Obedience