Cooperative Ministering

Invited members share how gender cooperation is working in their ward, stake, or mission. We're publishing these stories to draw attention to the many efforts that are making Latter-day Saint women more visible and involved in their local communities. Let's instill hope and confidence that much good is happening and will give you specific ideas for how you can help magnify women's impact at church.

If you have a story of how you or someone you know is cooperating with leaders to bring about more inclusive governance or worship, please share it with us at editor@ldswomenproject.com

Training Leaders to Help Abuse Victims

The Boston Stake Presidency and Stake Relief Society Presidency drafted a letter which was read last Sunday in RS and Priesthood meetings. The Stake President has stated that the “overarching purpose of all of this was to train our leaders on helping any abuse victims.” The first four paragraphs were agreed upon and signed by the members of the Stake Presidency and the Stake RS Presidency.

Julia Blake

Mar 28, 20182 min read

An Extraordinary Council

My stake Relief Society president has demonstrated the most inspired initiative and leadership on the issue of mental health. After consulting with mental health professionals and preparing resource packets, she proposed to the stake president that he invite all ward RS presidents to join the bishops for their regular training council.

Anonymous

Mar 11, 20181 min read

A Stake Dinner for Auxiliary Leaders

Making waves may be a stretch, but maybe ripples. Our stake president has typically held a dinner in between stake conference sessions for different groups each time. Once it was high councilors and wives, once it was new converts, once it was bishops and wives. He asked for ideas of others. I immediately piped up that he should invite RS Presidents, YW Presidents and Primary Presidents and husbands. And let them be served instead of making the meals.

Anonymous

Oct 18, 20171 min read

Linking Auxiliaries in Leadership Development

When I think back on my leadership experiences, the thing I regret the most is not taking advantage of the opportunity to build better relationships with other women auxiliary leaders. In my current calling as Stake Relief Society President, I have relied on my relationship with the Stake Primary and Young Women’s presidents. I am strengthened by their testimonies, and I have learned from watching their leadership.

Christanne Harrison

Oct 13, 20174 min read

Responsibility for the Young Women

I had served as the Primary President for about 6 months when a new Young Women’s President was called. She joined us in Ward Council where a a discussion took place about which priesthood quorum’s turn it was to walk the sisters from the assisted living facility next door to the church building. Our ward rotated this responsibility each month between the High Priests Group, Elder’s Quorum, and Young Men’s quorums. The next month, the Young Women were added to the rotation.

Anonymous

Aug 19, 20171 min read

At the Same Table

Last year, I enjoyed being a part of the Gospel Essentials class in our ward. Before I was called to be a teacher in the Primary, I attended this Sunday School class regularly. We met in a room with a long table around which we all could gather and discuss, as a group of about 10 or less. Men and women of all ages sat at that high council table, discussing the gospel topic of the day.

Anonymous

May 14, 20171 min read

Seeing the Faces of Primary Leaders

In our primary room the children see pictures of the Primary General Presidency underneath pictures of the 1st Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve. The Relief Society and Young Women classrooms also have pictures on the walls of their respective auxiliary presidencies. It’s nice to see a few female faces on the walls at church. The children in primary ask about the women’s faces they see and we’ve had discussions about the ladies that plan Primary for all of the children in t

Anonymous

Jan 27, 20151 min read

High Councilor Quotes Female General Officer

In my Sacrament Meeting this past Sunday, the High Councilor speaker started his talk by quoting Sister Carol F. McConkie’s talk from the October 2014 general conference. It dawned on me that one of the benefits of having our female general officers speak on doctrinal topics, as opposed to topics that are only applicable to the women and children under their specific organizations, is that all of us have more content from which to quote women in talks and lessons.

Anonymous

Nov 25, 20141 min read

Women at Church Discussion Questions

Are you hosting a discussion or book club about Women at Church? If so, feel free to use these questions to stimulate discussion. Also, add your own questions or responses in the comments section here for others to learn from and use.

Neylan McBaine

Nov 7, 20143 min read

Follow the Prophet(ess) Lyrics

I’m the Primary chorister in my ward. My 9 year old daughter had said to me “Mom, there aren’t a lot of girls in the scriptures are there?” I wanted her and other kids to be more aware of the wonderful women who are in there. The scriptures about Anna the prophetess lend themselves really easily to a verse ((they’re from Luke 2:36-38), so I used those scriptures as the source for a new verse in the popular Primary song, “Follow the Prophet."

Anonymous

Oct 30, 20141 min read

Family History Authority

As a young mother, still in my twenties, I was called as Family History Leader in my ward. In this capacity, I organized the other family history consultants (all men but one) to put together family history activities and home visits. I worked closely with the High Priest Group Leader, and was surprised when he invited me to join monthly in their High Priest Group leadership meetings.

Anonymous

Sep 20, 20141 min read

High Councilors and Wives Speak Together

When we were in our early thirties, my husband was called onto the high council of a university stake. We were asked to speak once a month together in the various wards of the stake. We were also asked to have our 4 children participate through songs and talks. The stake president said, “We want the women of our stake to be taught by the experience of the women and well as the men who are their leaders.”

Anonymous

Sep 20, 20142 min read