The Divine Role of the Latter-day Woman, as emphasized by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints myself, I have found the LDS Church’s view on the women’s role inspiring and comforting. In a world where women are not always valued, I find the LDS view on the subject matter moving. Not only held as an equal, the LDS church places a woman’s role as divine. A work so imperative to the human race, that it was reserved expressly for women. The ninth President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, David O. McKay said, “There is nothing so sacred as true womanhood.” It is, “creations masterpiece. A beautiful, modest, gracious woman is creations masterpiece” (Mckay, 352, 449).
From a glance it is apparent that, “…we are in a world where we are enticed to believe that we can have anything instantly, from instant meals to immediate pleasures, from self-serving gratifications to prompt fixes. We satisfy the strongest of personal desires quickly and painlessly. The institution of motherhood teaches us differently; it requires time, hard work, and patience” (Cannon, Mothering 87). Many years ago, when my sister Sariah was in Kindergarten she was learning about jobs. After the lesson, her teacher asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up. She said she wanted to be a mom. Immediately she was scolded by her teacher. Sariah was told that being a mother was not a real job and that she had to choose a new one. Sariah was devastated. Everything she knew, the way she prized our mother had been challenged by a teacher who had been influenced by the world’s views. Still, Sariah held her ground. Because of her foundations, and the truths that she had been taught, Sariah knew being a mom was a job, and a very good job. Sariah refused to choose any other position on the assignment, and in fact demanded to go home. It is because of the lessons instilled in our home and from our faith that Sariah knew better, that Sariah was able to stand up against opposition.
Too often is the value of motherhood dismissed and underappreciated. However, as observed from Sariah’s story, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints instills a different lesson within young women. The late Gordon B. Hinckley, fifteenth President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said, “How wondrous is the power of a mother, not only to create life as a partner with God in his eternal work, but also to mold and shape and temper her creation with that strength and integrity that become the fiber of the best of the generations” (Hinckley, 9).
Being a mother is seen by the LDS church as one of the single most important roles in society today. “A Woman will find much satisfaction and joy in being a wise and worthy mother and raising good children. This is a greater contribution to mankind than any other career” (Latter Day Saint Woman, 101). The late President of the church instructed women, “Do not trade your birthright as a mother for some bauble of passing value. Let your first interest be in your home” (Hinckley, 5). It is in the home that values are instilled, that a child learns how to successfully become part of the world around him/her.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints teaches that the mother has the power to turn a life around (Cannon, Mothering 17). “A mother has far greater influence on her children than anyone else, and she must realize that every word she speaks, every act, every response, her attitude, even her appearance and manner of dress affect the lives of her children and the whole family. It is while the child is at home that he gains from his mother the attitudes, hopes, and beliefs that will determine the kind of life he will live and the contribution he will make to society” (Tanner, 2).
Furthermore, “Home is the best place in the world to teach the loftiest ideal and to provide opportunities for its application in social and political life- perfect liberty of action as long as one does not trespass on the rights of others” (Cannon, Mothering 14). Mothers have the “Greatest potential influence in human life” (McKay, 452). In a talk addressing mothers David O. McKay explained that, “Mother performs the greatest duty in all the world.” He then said, “I think it was Napoleon who was once asked what was the greatest need in the world and he answered, ‘Mother! That is all.’” (Cannon, Mothering 14). “It is an exquisite assignment in life” (Cannon, Mothering 21). Mothers are “wise to teach virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, kindness, godliness, charity, humility, honesty, diligence, and, above all, the wide and vital range of love” (Cannon, Mothering 19).
Latter Day Saint Women are taught that they are in equivalent with Angels. That we “are all heaven sent. [We] are the beautiful adornments of the human race” (Faust, Heaven Sent 110). Jeffrey R. Holland, member of the LDS Church’s Quorum of Twelve Apostles, explained, “I want you to be proud you are a woman. I want you to feel the reality of what that means, to know who you truly are” (Holland, 28-30). With pure thoughts, and a compassionate heart, women can touch lives.
Instilled within young women is that their best quality is their femininity. “With its natural grace, goodness, and divinity…[it] is not just lipstick, stylish hairdos, and trendy clothes. It is the divine adornment of radiance, sensitivity, creativity, charm, graciousness, dignity, and quiet strength. It is manifest differently in each girl or woman, but each of you possesses it. Femininity is part of your inner beauty” (Faust, Womanhood 95). “The girls today are the women of tomorrow, and it is necessary that you prepare for that role. Can you imagine the kind of world we will have in the future if the girls of today are weakened morally to the extent that virtue will not be taught in their homes” (Tanner, 31)?
Young women are instructed to develop high standards. They know to stand strong and immovable, accepting nothing less than that which they are worthy of. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland advised young women to “Choose your clothing the way you choose your friends...choose that which improves you and would give you confidence…Good friends would never embarrass you, demean you, or exploit you. Neither should your clothing” (Holland, 28-30). “Immodesty in women cheapens their image. It causes embarrassment and loss of respect…It is not likely to win them the hand of a worthy, honorable young man” (Faust, Motherhood 95).
Emma Ray McKay, the wife to President David O. McKay believed, “If there is righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in the character, there will be harmony in the home, there will be order in the nation. If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world” (Cannon, Mothering 17). This not only applies to those of religious standing, but to every civil being. With so many evils in the world, it might be supposed that peace starts at home with the right teachings, and with the right beliefs and values instilled within. The song What the World Needs Now, Is Love gives a prime example of these things.
Members and leaders of the church continue to have faith in women, they foresee their abilities. President James E. Faust, Apostle and Counselor to Gordon B. Hinckley, advised, “No matter what circumstances you sisters experience, your influence can be marvelously far-reaching. I believe some of you have a tendency to underestimate your profound capacity for blessing the lives of others. More often than not, it is not on the stage with some public pronouncement, but in your example…and the countless gentle acts of love and kindness done so willingly, so often on a one-on-one basis…You are the nurturers and the caregivers who have… ‘feelings of charity and benevolence’” (Heaven Sent 110).
Spencer W. Kimball, twelfth President of the Church, said it perfectly, “Among the real heroines of the world who will come into the Church are women who are more concerned with being righteous than with being selfish. These real heroines have true humility, which places a higher value on integrity than on visibility…Great women and men are always more anxious to serve than to have dominion” (Faust, A Message to My Granddaughters 16).
A woman’s “primary concern is what will be the greatest good for the greatest number of those around her. In value terms this would be called ‘care and mercy.’ For men the research indicated that the moral thought process was probably much more direct. It generally boiled down to firm rules of right and wrong, black and white” (Faust, A Message to My Granddaughters 16). “He [God] has given us as women to think and lead with the heart. It is not a taking away from our intelligence, or logic, or reason. On the contrary, it is an addition to it! It is softened and refinement in a most brutal world” (Canfield, 95).
Likewise, it is a blessing that males and female are different. Elder Boyd K. Packer once said, “Among the species of birds in which both male and female sing, the different sexes sing a different melody. Yet it is pleasant to hear them singing at the same time, for they harmonize beautifully together” (Faust, A Message to My Granddaughters 16). If two different melodies tried to sing the same, the beauty of the harmony may never be discovered, this is why it is necessary to work with one another. It is impressed upon members that “A daughter in the Lord is as precious in his site as is one of his sons” (Sharp, 14).
Moreover, the divine role of women in mortality is not only to be responsible for her own salvation, but to be a helpmate to her husband and guiding example to her children, hourly and daily” (Sharp, 14). In the Holy Bible, we are taught, “The man is not without the woman, nor the woman without the man in the Lord” (Faust, A Message to My Granddaughters 16). However, “becoming like men is not the answer; being who you are and living up to your potential and commitment is” (Faust, A Message to My Granddaughters 16). “Being the best of what we are, male or female, working to improve our lot as we go, is the answer to life’s journey” (Cannon, The Case for Mary 42).
By the same token, President James E. Faust, in giving a talk concerning what true beauty is, spoke of someone he had met some years ago. “A woman not of our faith once wrote something to the effect that in her years of working with beautiful women she had seen several things they all had in common, and not one of them had anything to do with sizes and shapes. She said the loveliest women she had known had a glow of health, a warm personality, a love of learning, stability of character, and integrity” (Faust, A Message to My Granddaughters 16). “Be proud of your womanhood. Enhance it. Use it to serve others” (Faust, Womanhood 95).
I have been entirely blessed by my faith and my parents to counter the example of general society where motherhood is undervalued. I know in my personal experiences how little many others appreciate their mothers. I have been confronted by others throughout my school years that look down upon my mother staying home and raising her children. When I am asked about what my mother does for a living, I inform them that my mother is a homemaker and I love her for it. I find that as a result of my mom being a stay at home parent has brought me closer to her. I get to spend time with her, bonding and learning.
I fear for our society, I fear that too many mothers are leaving their homes at crucial stages for their children’s lives when there is not an apparent need. When becoming a mother, you are a mother first. It is not me first, money first, life first. In creating life a mother has signed away her own personal self and is now the provider for a little miracle of her very own. What a miraculous thing pregnancy and birth are.
Women are so blessed to be able to have such an opportunity that men shall never share. I was a daddy’s girl growing up. There are stories of me demanding a cup of milk, but would not take it unless it would come from my dad. But as the years have passed, and I have spent more time with my mom I can say she has become one of my best friends. I would not change the world, and I am ever so grateful for the blessings and knowledge I have received from her being a homemaker, and for being a mother to myself and my five younger siblings.
