Thursday, May 9, 2013

audience participation

I learned a valuable lesson about being the bishop's wife this week: when he's trying to decide on topics to assign for sacrament meeting and he asks you your opinion, don't give him a really good answer because then he'll have YOU speak in sacrament meeting.

I get to speak on Mother's Day.  Woo.

I'm steering clear of the sappy eulogizing of my own mother or over-idealizing motherhood in general and am trying to focus solely on gender roles and how they have a divine origin and stuff.  But I can't just google "What are men supposed to do and women supposed to do" because that brings up a whole lot of interesting opinions.  Trust me.

So do YOU have an opinion on the subject?  I know what the role of a mother and father, but what about just as men and women?  The stereotypes are funny and all that, but I'm trying to get down to the niiity griiiity.  (Nacho Libre reference.  Of course.)  What is our job here on earth as a woman or man?

Go on.  Get all up in here with yo' opinions and junk.


11 comments:

M said...

This is a topic I find very interesting. I don't know if this applies, being a Jewish thing (I'm Jewish by marriage), but one of the explanations for why men wear kippot and women don't (you know, head coverings) is that men are directly responsible and the women are under their protection . . . There's something to be said, too, for the idea that women are the spiritual/emotional side, there to remind men that life is not all about the physical.

Jane said...

Hah! Tarzan is speaking on Sunday too. Apparently y'all are way skilled in the Mother's Day thing.
As for gender roles, I think of men as the protectors, and women as the civilizers (is that a word?) Men forge the frontier, blow up the mountain, women refine and make it habitable.

Cath said...

I have mostly stopped going to church on mother's day, because other than the time I was in the singles ward relief society presidency and we spoke on faith, hope, and charity, it's never actually about the gospel. I think an interesting point that I can't remember where I read is that Heavenly Father has "feminine" traits, is a nurturer, etc. We all participate in all aspects of gender roles, but in different amounts. That said, the past 23 weeks have been an amazing education in my role in the power of creation. Sure, hubs provided some raw materials, but I am making this thing! It is a uniquely female experience.

Em T said...

Hey, random commenter here. I actually have thought about this a lot having had a hysterectomy after only "baring" one child. It challenged my views on myself and my role as a mother, wife, child of God, etc. Not only that, but I *cue the gasps* work part time.


I'm not exactly living the Mormon dream. And yet, I am. I have a ridiculously happy marriage, spend most of my time being mom, and love my life in general. I think our divine role is to make our situation work. The goal is to make sure your family knows they come first and to invite the peace of gospel living into the house. In a time when situations can vary so widely, we can't be caught in the trap of thinking we missed our divinely appointed role because we can't have ten kids, or our house isn't decorated only with homemade crafts, or heaven forbid, our child ate cold cereal for breakfast.

Number one job, make the home a spiritual haven. The only reason I would attribute that more to women is simply because we are there more often. We set the pace of day to day living. Men come in and reinforce. The lines in my home are not clear cut, maybe that's because it's us, maybe that's because my husband works a lot from home. Anyway, I'll just stop babbling now...

Em T said...

I was brushing my teeth and realized that I didn't connect my thoughts. surgery made me feel like less of a woman, made me feel like I wasn't upholding my end of the marriage. I also didn't have very much energy for a long time and it made me feel like a failure of a mother. And then it made me realize that we put too much pressure on ourselves and that a lot of gender assignment is ridiculous. I'm not taking a shot at traditional roles (it's what I prefer, actually), I'm just saying we have to be careful in acknowledging the difference between tried and true, and doctrine about marriage.

Master P said...

You are heaven-sent, Em!! There are so many women in our ward who don't fit the mold and I an trying to figure out how to approach this. You must have been inspired!

Mara said...

It's hard to endure the torture of listening a whole 15 minutes or so of someone narrating how awesome and perfect their mother is and such or how awesome is to be a mother, on Mother's Day- (this is not gospel doctrine). No to mention that a lot of people can't even relate to those situations.
Whenever I prepare a talk I make sure I base my talk on gospel doctrine and its principles, always quoting General Authorities,that way you can never go wrong!
Something all can relate and is a relevant topic for Mother's day for example is talking about "Sacred Family Relationships". This is actually a topic lesson of the book "Teachings of President Snow".

Mara said...

But I'm sure you will do great, cause you have it in you sis =)

Master P said...

I love that! Thank you!!

Tarzan said...

Try this article "What Abraham Learned About Leadership from the Stars" By Larry Barkdull found here: http://www.ldsmag.com/article/1/12621
substitute motherhood for leadership and parts of this talk work for mother's day.

The Atomic Mom said...

I missed this fantastic poll, because I checked your blog too late. I think yes, moms raise the kids, dad go to work, unless that's not working for your family, then do what does work for your family. Also, just do the work at home, no matter what needs to be done. Laundry, diapers, playing with kids etc, etc, just do it. Someone quoted Elder Ballard in our Sac Mtg. Elder Ballard gave some good advice to the dads to the effect of, don't come home and plop in front of the TV, help your wife, play with your kids, read them stories. I like Elder Ballard.

I hope your Mothers Day was great. You're a good, fun, creative and amazing mom! :)

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