I watched the first session of general conference a few weeks ago, known as the general women's session. It's a unique opportunity to hear from the female leadership of the LDS church. One theme that stood out to me was that of service, and I wanted to share some thoughts.
She hath wrought a good work...She hath done what she could. --Mark 14: 6-8
This is all the Lord asks of us.
"...there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up." --Doctrine and Covenants 84:88
We are never alone, especially when we are serving the Lord's children.
I often think about language's ability to simultaneously limit and expand our understanding of Christ's doctrine. Communication is a funny thing; language facilitates the exchange of communication, but the efficacy of communication depends upon how the message is sent and received. Words have myriads connotations to different individuals, but culture also influences what notions we associate with certain words. When speaking about the role of women, I want to broaden how we interpret certain words that are typically associated with that topic. Neill Marriott spoke last night and I loved how she took expanded our understanding of three words in particular: to nurture, to mother, and to create. We don't have to think of these words in a way that limits them to a biologically essentialist understanding. Instead, we can see how these words apply in a variety of situations and encompass all of God's daughters. Thinking of these words and concepts in new lights allows us to broaden and value women's roles and influences and purposes in many ways. It's liberating.
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