The Gospel Doctrine lesson #32 manual objective is “to encourage class members to seek promptings from the Holy Ghost and to avoid attitudes and actions that will keep them from receiving these promptings.” Our Objective To consider both women’s role in teaching and expounding doctrine, and a shared longing for the divine feminine. Commentary Once I sat in a room with a friend right after she put her daughter to sleep with a story, and I asked her what stories the young girl liked best. My friend told me that her daughter liked very complicated stories, and that of every tale, she asked the same question: “Where’s da mama in this story?” because at two, she was young enough to know that a mother should be present, and old enough to know that she often wasn’t. I’ve written elsewhere how I have borrowed this good question, for our theology and faith: “Where is the Mama in this story?” I asked it while reading the scriptural passages for this lesson, and was pleasantly surprised to find, if not an answer, at least a shared asking. I also posed a more general question: “Where are the women?” One woman is found–and named–right away. Indeed, Acts chapter 18 begins with Paul leaving Athens for Corinth, and finding “a certain Jew named Aquila…with his wife Priscilla” (v. 2). The couple shows up again, in two additional verses. In 18, we learn that Paul “tarried there yet a good while,” before taking “his leave of the brethren,” and sailing “thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila.” While we don’t yet know their testimony, we can guess at their faith. We meet another Jew, “named Apollos,” who was “instructed in the way of the Lord.” He “spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord,” but knew “only the baptism of John” (vs. 23-25). Aquila and Priscilla heard Apollos speaking “boldly in the synagogue,” and “took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly” (v.26). There is so much that I love about this, but the thing I love most is that Priscilla taught together with her husband. It seems like such a nice model, women and men teaching together. The thing that I love second most, is that we know the person Priscilla helped teach was himself a learner and a teacher of the things of the Lord. He wasn’t a child or spiritual novice. Still, she had something to offer and “expound.” This reminded me of Mormon historian, Claudia Bushman, who once reminded me that the role of women as set forth in Doctrine and Covenants 25 is “to expound scriptures, and to exhort the church” (v. 7). In that section, Emma was told that her “time shall be given to writing, and to learning much” (v. 8). During the first official meeting of the Nauvoo Relief Society, Joseph read the whole section aloud, and again reminded Emma that she was “ordain’d” to “expound the scriptures to all…and that not she alone, but others, may attain to the same blessings” (p. 8, Nauvoo Relief Society Minute Book ). Priscilla did this, and we may, too. The second half of Acts 19 references the Ephesian worship of the “Great Goddess Diana.” A silversmith who makes shrines for Diana is nervous that Paul’s teachings of “they be no gods, which are made with hands,” will hurt him financially (Acts 19:24, 26). He gathers others in his trade, and eventually the whole city. In a theater, “all with one voice…cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians” for “the space of two hours.” They were only appeased when their town clerk reminded them that Paul and his people were “neither robbers of churches, nor not yet blasphemers of your goddess” (35, 37). The account has no record of Paul becoming such. He wasn’t present at the assembly, and we don’t have his words or thoughts. Mine are that while the silversmith might have been nervous about finances, the rest of the worshippers seem sincere. I see in them something I see in myself and others–a longing for a divine feminine. It makes me feel new gratitude for the restoration and for Eliza R. Snow’s poem, “ O My Father ,” that B.H. Roberts once referred to as “that splendid hymn of ours on heavenly motherhood, the great throbbing hunger of woman’s soul.” 1 We do have a “Great Goddess,” a Mother in heaven, “crowned with glory and majesty” (James E. Talmage) 2 . This knowledge does not take away from our faith and love for either our Father or Brother in Heaven, which latter, Jesus, we know is the name that saves. 1 B.H. Roberts, “Review of Address to the World. Ministerial Association, Salt Lake City.” In Defense of Faith and the Saints, vol. 2, 256-288, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1907. 2 James E. Talmage, “The Eternity of Sex,” Chapter 21, Essential James E. Talmage, ed. James P. Harris, Signature Books; the Young Woman’s Journal 25, October 1914, 600-604. Related Mormon Women Project Interviews Life, By Design , Alyson Von Feldt Years ago when I was a new mother, I was studying the topic of revelation. I was in D&C 76 and I followed a cross reference which took me to the book of Proverbs and I read the first dozen or so chapters as if for the first time. When I came to Proverbs 8:22-31, I read about a woman named Wisdom speaking in that poem and had a significant spiritual experience. One of the most profound of my entire life. I felt like the top of my head was opened up and light and understanding poured into it. I read in this poem about a heavenly woman named Wisdom who was present at creation and I could not believe that I had never noticed her there before nor had anyone ever called her to my attention at church or in my religion classes. It just seemed to me plain as day that a divine woman was telling her story in that poem. I remember standing up in astonishment because I always wondered why the scriptures never mention a heavenly woman of any sort. Not an angel who is a woman, not a heavenly mother, not a single noble and great female intelligence performing a heavenly role. Of course there are many great strong, mortal women in the scriptures, but here was what appeared to be a heavenly woman speaking in her own voice, plain as day. Where Her Truth Is , Moragn Lon Cotti I think a stronger female voice is crucial. I used to teach in the Young Women and now I am in the older teenager Sunday School. I love the new lessons. I love how it is an open curriculum. But the talks and videos that are listed are usually are of or from men. So I usually have to go searching for a talk or quote by a woman. In my opinion, we are going to have to have some mixture of grassroots efforts and having women be more willing to speak up. And then at the highest level, I hope we will continue to see great changes like the mission age change and the emphasis on women’s voices being included in ward council. Other Related Women’s Voices Charity Never Faileth , Elaine L. Jack As sisters in Zion, we still have pressing calls. We have calls to teach the gospel, to lift our families, to bless our neighbors, to aid our friends, to live by example, to share our understanding with others, and to bring souls unto Christ by the way we live and the way we love one another. Yes, as sisters in Zion, we are going to do something extraordinary.

The Gospel Doctrine lesson 33 manual objective is “To inspire class members to seek the blessings that come from being unified in Christ, following the Spirit, and being morally clean.” Our Objective To let ourselves be challenged by Paul’s words about contention and unity, that we may more fully consider what it would mean to seek a Zion unity, built upon Christ. Commentary A friend recently told me that his favorite articles are the ones that are hard to read, because they challenge him. I felt that way, reading the passages for this lesson. In the first part, Paul calls the saints to unity, and without saying it, to Zion. He invites them to “speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment,” reminiscent of Moses 7:18’s, “And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there were no poor among them.” He had been told that there were “contentions among [them],” and that some were saying, “I am of Paul; and I of Appolos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ” ( 1 Cor. 1:11-12 ). If Paul were alive today, could someone tell him that there are contentions among us? I think so, when I think about the Mormonism that I’ve witnessed and experienced in person and online in the last week, month, and years. There are dividing lines drawn up around a number of issues, with the Gospel Topic Essays, seer stones, Ordain Women, and marriage equality being just a few. But there are not just dividing lines. There have been calls for brothers and sisters to leave the church, and some who, in part because they don’t feel welcome, have actually left. Other individuals in and out of the pews feel hurt, because they have been. All of that can leave us feeling, if not saying, “I am of my favorite Mormon historian; and I of my favorite recent excommunicant; and I of my favorite apostle (cough, cough, Uchtdorf); and I of my favorite blogger; and I of my favorite movement,” and perhaps only at the end, if at all, “and I of Christ.” Consequently, what Paul asked of the saints then, may still be asked of us now: “Is Christ divided? Was Paul (aka: everyone/thing mentioned above) crucified for you? Or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” ( 1 Cor. 1:13 ). I remember Jesus’s Intercessory Prayer in John 17, where he affirmed that He and the Father are one, and prayed that we may be one, too. I remember what we all remember every Sunday, which is Christ’s body and blood, before and after his crucifixion. I remember the words spoken during my baptism, “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen” ( D&C 20:73 ). So this is where I admit that while I know the answers to those questions, I don’t know the answer to others. I don’t know if we literally have to say the same things as one another, or if Zion allows for charitable disagreement. I believe in Paul’s “body of Christ.” “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ,” and, “The eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you” ( 1 Cor. 12:12, 21 ). I believe the 11th General Relief Society President, Barbara Winder, when she taught, “We can have unity in diversity and diversity in unity.” So for now, I am just letting myself be challenged by Paul’s words on contention, and considering how I may be more fully one, that I may be more fully “of Christ.” Related Mormon Women Project Interviews All Here Together , Bianca Morrison Dillard Sometimes we say flippant comments like, “I don’t how anyone could do this or think this.” And I feel like that’s because we probably haven’t asked that person. Because when we ask, we can go, “Oh, yeah!” If we listen to other people’s stories, we can say, “Yeah, I still don’t agree with you, necessarily, but I get where you are coming from.” I think that’s so valuable because people do things for good reasons. I feel like it’s made me engage in my local community more. Flunking Sainthood , Jana Riess But one of the things that Mormons do well is community. I’ve thought about why our community is, frankly, superior to a lot of religious communities I’ve observed. That sounds chauvinistic but I firmly believe that one of the strokes of genius in the organization of our church is that we have this old-fashioned community model where we attend church based on geography and no other factor. When left to their own devices, people will tend to go to church where they’re comfortable spiritually, politically, and socio-economically. But our wards are a mish-mash of people of every economic class and need, of every political extreme….I was forced to live in that community fully, to be completely invested. I found the people that I had so wrongly judged had so much to teach me. A Champion for Diversity , Sui Lang Panoke Even though I’m a big champion of diversity, we all understand that it ultimately doesn’t matter what your ethnic background is, what your political affiliation is, what country you come from. We are all daughters and sons of Heavenly Father and we all warrant the same divine love. We all have access to the same blessings.

The Gospel Doctrine lesson #34  manual objective is “to help class members recognize the importance of living according to the doctrines of the gospel and receiving priesthood ordinances.” Our Objective To discuss how to prepare to be partakers of the sacramental feast. Commentary According to Paul, what are the purposes of the sacrament? Why is examining our worthiness an important part of the sacrament? The last night Jesus Christ spent with His disciples, He spent it preparing them for the partaking of the sacrament, where Christ would foretell of the details of the coming day by breaking the bread, as an example of His body that would be broken, maimed and bruised and pouring out of the wine, a demonstration of the blood that would be spilt on our behalf. For the Jews, Passover is an annual meal that represents a defining moment in Israel’s history. Many centuries before Jesus’s last meal, the Israelites had been in bondage to the Egyptians, enslaved by Pharaoh. After God had sent many plagues to the Egyptians in efforts to get Pharaoh to release the Israelites, God sent one final plague: death to the first-born son. The sword of divine justice would fall on everyone. This plague would not “Passover” the Jews simply because they were Jewish. In every home that night in Egypt, from the Egyptians to the Jewish people, there would be a death. The only way your family could escape this death was to put your faith in God’s sacrificial provision, a lamb. You would slay the lamb and put the blood above the door of your home as a sign that your faith was in God. In every home that night there would be either a dead child or a dead lamb. In the morning, justice would be found either in the mourning of the family or in the rejoicing of the sacrificial shelter of the blood of the lamb. If you accepted this shelter and followed God’s commandments, then you were saved. You were saved on the basis of your faith and your willingness to find refuge beneath your sacrifice. There are certain and specific ways the meal at Passover has to be prepared and delivered. It includes four points at which the presider, holding a glass of wine, stands and explains the significance of the meal. At each meal there are four cups signifying the four promises made by God found in Exodus 6:6-7 . These promises include being rescued from the Egyptians, freedom from slavery, redemption and a renewed relationship with God. The third cup is presented when the meal is mostly eaten, where it is presented to bless the elements-the bread, herbs, lamb-by explaining their significance to the Israelites while they were still in captivity. I smile when I think of Jesus as the presider of last feast. I think about how He explained each element to His disciples when suddenly, He breaks the script. “This is MY body…” “This is MY blood…” He explains. All the sacrifices, all the lambs at Passover, all pointed to this moment. All of it points to Him. Just as the first Passover was observed the night before God redeemed the Israelites from the Egyptians through the blood of sacrificed lamb, this Passover meal was to be eaten the night before God redeemed the world from its sins through His Son, Jesus Christ. Thus demonstrating that a new relationship, a new covenant will now happen between us and our Father in Heaven. In 1 Corinthians 11 , Paul states: “Wherefore, whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup.” Are we remembering that sacrifice when we partake of the sacrament each week? Are we grateful for it? Do we understand it’s depth and eternal significance? When I first became a member of the Church, I found the sacramental prayers to be sweet, but over time and with the redundancy of each Sunday, they lost their “meaning” and it became a routine. I do not feel I am alone. Wrestling with our children, checking our phones, tired, hungry from fasting…are we still engaged? Are we thankful? Are we aware? Over time, I’ve learned to appreciate the repetition. Only through the Sacrament can we live intimately with Christ. Our bodies are not just mortal instruments, but a place where God wants to show His glory. I’ve memorized the sacramental blessing and quietly say it along with Priesthood. And though I can’t take the sacrament every day, I find myself whispering those prayers daily. “Eat, drink…always remember Him” D&C 20 I’ve begun journaling before each Sacrament meeting. I ask myself the following questions, “Where do I need the Atonement of Christ to cover me this week?” “Where am I hurting?” “Where do I need His sustaining help?” “Where do I need His comfort?” With that focus, it humbles me and shows me that it’s because of HIS goodness, not mine that I am able to live forever with my Father in Heaven. The sacrament points towards a future with Jesus. Because of this small feast, it makes the ultimate feast possible in our lives. And one day, we will take our seats at God’s table. But until then, we are asked to “remember.” Related Mormon Women Project Interviews An Instrument of Homecoming , Joanna Brooks Part of my idea doubtless comes from Passover. The Jewish people are brilliant at using food to help remember. They have worked it out over millennia: eat and tell your story. I needed something like that for me! So, Pioneer Day: eat and tell your story.Passover is a spiritual, holy day and Pioneer Day is not a holy day but a cultural day, so I don’t try to make it heavy-handed. We don’t say a series of prayers or have a liturgy like you have for Passover, but we sit around a table and eat and tell stories about who we are. I make some form of Mormon dinner, usually camp and light-hearted. I’ll pull out a couple of Mormon cookbooks I have and cook things that will horrify my husband, various Jell-O dishes, and funeral potatoes (which, truth be told, I never ate growing up as a child but I really like them). My kids and I wear bonnets, and we tell stories about our ancestors who came across the plains.I invite non-member friends mostly. They think it’s great. They’re all kind of pleased to witness a cultural experience. Some of them have not eaten Jell-O before. Most of the people I associate with day-to-day are not LDS, as is true of most of us who live outside the Utah corridor, and me probably more than most because I married outside of the faith and because I work outside of the home, so I have a lot of non-LDS contact every day. So I’m just excited to share it in a lighthearted way with people I’m close to, and they are excited to be a part of it. Taught in All the Learning , Dayan Bernal My faith is what keeps me going. I know that Jesus Christ lives and that he helps me accomplish all of my daily tasks. It is because of Him that I have been able to accomplish little by little my dreams and goals. I know that if my foundation is in Christ everything will be okay, no matter what happens. To build my foundation I make sure I do the simple, basic things first and foremost. I believe in gaining revelation and guidance through prayer. There have been many times when I didn’t know what to do about something, but then I was able to gain clarity and answers because I prayed earnestly and studied the scriptures daily. The temple has always given me great strength to do what is right and to trust in the Lord with all my heart, mind, and strength. Using the atonement in my daily life, partaking of the sacrament and renewing my covenants, and doing the best I can in fulfilling my callings allows me to be ever so grateful for this mortality and gives me greater joy. I try to put the Lord first in everything I do, and I know that He blesses me for that. In the Lord’s Time , Peka Holmes It wasn’t until that moment I wanted a child so badly that I just stopped and I made a commitment that I was going back to church. That whole journey of coming back was amazing. I had gone without taking the sacrament for such a long time that once I was able to take it again I didn’t ever want to go without it. Other Related Women’s Voices Remembering, Repenting and Changing , Julie Beck It is not possible to make real change all by ourselves. Our own willpower and our own good intentions are not enough. When we make mistakes or choose poorly, we must have the help of our Savior to get back on track. We partake of the sacrament week after week to show our faith in His power to change us. Look Toward Eternity! , Elaine S. Dalton Satan wants all of us to think that repentance is not possible. This is absolutely not true. The Savior has promised forgiveness. 8 Each week, worthily partaking of the sacrament makes it possible for each of us to become clean and pure as we covenant to “always remember [the Savior], and keep his commandments.” The gospel of Jesus Christ is one of simplicity, and we are given the tools that make the pathway straight and narrow. The way is clear: “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Agency-A Blessing and A Burden , Sharon G. Larsen Because our purpose here on earth has not changed, nor will it ever, our Father steadily and regularly supplies additional gifts to make our world safe and strengthen our wise use of agency. Think about the gift of prayer—opportunities to be heard and understood. Think about the gift of the Holy Ghost, who will show us all the things that we should do (see 2 Ne. 32:5 ). Think about sacred covenants we have made, the scriptures, priesthood and patriarchal blessings. Think about the ultimate gift of the Atonement and its reminder in the sacrament that blankets us with love and hope and grace. These gifts help us use our agency wisely to return back to our heavenly home, where “eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” ( 1 Cor. 2:9 ). That We May All Sit Down in Heaven Together , Kathleen H. Hughes Let me tell you the story of a young woman I met recently. Alicia, as a teenager, had drifted far from the Church, but later she felt stirrings to return. She often visited her grandfather in a retirement home on Sundays. On one of those days she decided to attend the Latter-day Saint meetings there. She opened the door and found a Relief Society meeting, but no empty seats. As she was about to leave, a woman motioned to her and scooted over to make room for her on her chair. Alicia said: “I wondered what the woman would think of me. I was covered with body piercings, and I smelled of smoke. But she didn’t seem to mind; she simply made a place for me at her side.”Alicia, heartened by this woman’s charity, returned to activity. She has served a mission and is now sharing that same kind of love with other women. The elderly sister who shared her chair understood that there is a place for every woman in Relief Society. Sisters, we gather for strength, but we bring with us all our weaknesses and imperfections.Alicia told me something I will never forget. She said: “I only do one thing for myself when I go to church: I take the sacrament for me. The rest of the time I watch for others who need me, and I try to help and nurture them.”

The Gospel Doctrine lesson 35 manual objective is “to encourage class members to be true disciples of Jesus Christ through applying Paul’s counsel in 2 Corinthians.” Our Objective To highlight the need for cooperatively ministering and seeking gender equality rather than the empowerment of one gender over another. Commentary For years, I’ve claimed to be a proponent of gender equality. I’ve made myself hypersensitive to many injustices connected with women, some of which were real; some I may have perceived. It wasn’t until I started dating my husband two years ago that I really started to grasp the need for gender equality. For every instance I could cite where I felt a woman had been slighted, he had an equally compelling example of how a man’s rights may also have been suppressed. Let me clear up one thing, my husband isn’t trying to deny that throughout time, the rights of women have lagged behind the rights of men. However, as I have listened to his story and merged some of his ideas with my own, I feel even more convinced that gender equality has to be the aim and not merely the empowerment of one gender over another. I can think of a time when I hardly noticed the limited narrative from women in the scriptures. I suppose I didn’t mind the reduced representation because it often supported my cause. One Sunday, after primary, my young brother and I sat on our front porch with our mother, being quizzed on the articles of faith. “We believe that men must be punished for their own sins. . .” I recited. I didn’t need to hear any more. I pulled my knees up and hugged them close to my body, rocking into this sudden realization. A slight grin spread across my face, and I looked carefully at my brother. He didn’t seem to have realized anything. I think I felt bad for him. Not long after, this brother made me angry. I pinched him hard, and he slapped my hand away. Unfortunately for him, that’s the exact moment my father looked over. My dad caught my brother‘s hand in midair as he pulled away from the slap. Firmly, my dad said, “I don’t ever want to see you hit one of your sisters again.” So there I had it. Proof. My suspicion had been confirmed. While man had to suffer for his own sins, I got off scot-free. The drawback of accepting a version of the world where gospel consequences only applied to men was that eventually, I had to accept that under such an assumption, I had no claim upon the blessings of the gospel either. I cannot press for inclusion yet accept exclusion as it suits me. The New Testament lesson this week really drove this concept home for me. 2 Corinthians chapter 1 teaches us that if we are to be recipients of Christ’s consolation, we must also be partakers of his sufferings. In Philippians 3:10 , Paul calls this a “fellowship of [Christ’s] sufferings.” We stand in this fellowship alongside strong women and faithful men, and we must unite in our cause to emulate the life of the Savior because, “Is Christ divided?” ( 1 Corinthians 1:13 ). Paul admonished, “Now I beseech you, brethren [and sisters], by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” ( 1 Corinthians 1:10 ). Related Mormon Women Project Interviews Choosing Good and Making Change , Bethany Brady Spalding If you really want to make change, you don’t want to alienate people. I try to be inclusive, find common ground, and recognize the contributions that people can make. Change is slow that way, but I think it’s deeper and more lasting when you approach it in a positive, inclusive, hopeful way. Choosing God and Abundance , McArthur Krishna We used to think there weren’t enough women in the Book of Mormon to fill a book, but when I read and researched the Book of Mormon really thoroughly, specifically looking for women, I found over a hundred instances when women are mentioned—even though they’re not often mentioned by name. Our books—including the current Girls Who Choose God Bible stories—have both named and unnamed women. Even if women aren’t named, it’s important to understand that they were active participants. Other Related Women’s Voices Reflections on the Divine , interview by Neylan McBaine Putting Christ in the forefront is actually a gender-neutral solution for focusing on those things that are most important. Covenant Daughters of God , Jean A. Stevens I was an eyewitness to the power of covenants as I watched my righteous parents, who loved and lived the gospel. In my sweet mother I was privileged to see clearly the daily decisions of a covenant daughter of God. Even when she was a girl, her choices reflected her priorities and identified her as a true disciple of Jesus Christ. I have seen the peace, the power, and the protection that came into her life as she made and kept sacred covenants on her journey. Her life on this earth reflected her love for the Savior and her desire to follow Him. Oh, how I want to follow her example.

The Gospel Doctrine lesson 36 manual objective is “to remind class members that they are children of God and to encourage them to live worthy of their divine inheritance.” Our Objective A closer look at the female disciple who labored with Paul to build up the early church. Commentary We teach writers to “show, don’t tell.” Paul shows, not tells, us how women functioned in early Christianity in Romans 16 . This chapter consists of Paul’s comments to people in the church in Rome and gives us an interesting glimpse into the experience of the early followers of Jesus. About one-third of the people named in this chapter are women. That alone is significant and speaks to the prominent role of female disciples. The first person mentioned is Phebe. It is probably the case that she is the person physically transporting this letter to Rome (see the note at the end of Romans 16) and hence Paul’s words about her in Romans 16:1-2 are her letter of introduction to the saints in Rome. Note that in Romans 16:1, the word translated as “servant” is precisely the same Greek word translated as “minister” in Romans 15:8 , where it describes Jesus Christ. Either “servant” or “minister” is an acceptable translation—each reflects early Christian ideas of servant leadership—but it is not easy to justify translating the word one way when applied to Jesus and another way when used just a few sentences later. Whichever translation is chosen, it is important to realize that Paul views Phebe as performing a role similar to Jesus’. In Romans 16:2, Paul calls her a “succourer,” which means a protector or a patron. Phebe may have been a traveling missionary (hence her role in carrying the letter); regardless, she provides us with an example of faithful female disciple of Jesus who sacrificed to share the gospel. Romans 16:3 names Priscilla, also known as Prisca. Priscilla is frequently mentioned in the scriptures (see Acts 18:1-11 , 24-26 , 1 Corinthians 16:19 , and 2 Timothy 4:19 ), in conjunction with her husband Aquila. The material from Acts suggests that she and Aquila probably employed Paul. Her name usually appears before her husband’s; in the Roman world, the more important person is named first. Apparently, she risked her life for Paul. Priscilla and Aquilla provide us with an example of a married couple devoted to Christ and his gospel. Junia is named in Romans 16:7; Paul says she was “of note among the apostles.” It is debated whether this means that herself was an apostle or whether she was noted by the apostles; it seems that the former interpretation is more likely. Note that the title “apostle” in the New Testament is not identical to the office of apostle in the church today: it often extends beyond the twelve; in origin, the word “apostle” simply means “one sent out,” so perhaps Junia is best understood, in modern LDS terms, as a missionary. Regardless, her service was noteworthy and she apparently spent time in prison (possibly at the same time as Paul) as a result of her discipleship. Junia is another example of devoted discipleship. Many people are concerned over some passages in Paul’s letters which seem to suggest a limited sphere for women. It is important to note that Paul relates positively to an early church where women enjoy prominent roles and are examples of devoted discipleship. The women mentioned in the letter to the Romans are actively engaged in discipleship: they are leaders, they are missionaries, and they are persecuted for sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. Related Mormon Women Project Interviews We Are Made for Love and Light, Rachel von Niederhausern It’s just all messy! I don’t know much these days about balance. I have learned, however, about priorities. Serving my family is my top priority, and my life’s work of serving humanity as a disciple of Jesus Christ is my priority as well. And there’s time to do both. But at different times I might be spending more actual physical time with one or the other. Choosing God and Abundance, McArthur Krishna I learned about seeing with God’s view. I was reading a talk by President Monson and he was talking about people making choices. He said when God needed the best missionary effort he didn’t recruit from among his advocates but from his adversaries—and Saul got the opportunity to become Paul. We see the world so much as it is now rather than as God sees: what is possible. For me to walk this path forced me to try to trust God’s vision of what could be, rather than what is. To Be a Vessel, Jamillah Ali-Rashada ..because of my experiences of going to Muslim services and participating, I can be perfectly comfortable and content. To be able to be there and know how to serve those who are where I am. I can also go to the temple and serve. I believe that the experiences that I have had have actually broadened my base because I believe that it allows me to be more multi-faceted rather than locked into one way of service. I remember when Paul in the scriptures was teaching the people, and the essence of what he was saying is: You meet people where they are. You can’t go into some place and teach or guide them to truth if you don’t even know who they are. You live the example, so that they have some path to follow. Other Related Women’s Voices Wanted: Hearts and Hands to Hasten the Work , Linda K. Burton …our true identity is that of a disciple of Jesus Christ! Wide Awake to Our Duties , Carole M. Stephens After my call to the Relief Society general presidency, I felt a desire to know more about the women who had served before me. I was impressed by the teachings of Sister Zina D. Young, first counselor in the second Relief Society general presidency. She said, “Sisters, it is for us to be wide awake to our duties.” I pondered on the words awake and duty and did some additional searching in the scriptures.In the New Testament, Paul taught the Saints of his day: “It is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer…The night is far spent, the day is at hand:…let us put on the armour of light.” (Romans 13:11-12) I Know It. I Live It. I Love It , Ann M. Dibb I hope we will never be afraid or reluctant to acknowledge, “I’m a Mormon.” We should be confident, as was the Apostle Paul when he proclaimed, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.”1 As members, we are followers of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Such conversion and confidence is the result of diligent and deliberate effort. It is individual. It is the process of a lifetime. What I Hope My Granddaughters (and Grandsons) Will Understand about Relief Society , Julie B. Beck Every day, Relief Society sisters around the world experience the entire range of mortal challenges and experiences. Women and their families today live face to face with unrealized expectations; mental, physical, and spiritual illness; accidents; and death. Some sisters suffer loneliness and disappointment because they do not have families of their own, and others suffer from the consequences of poor choices made by family members. Some have experienced war or hunger or natural disasters, and others are learning about the strain of addictions, unemployment, or insufficient education and training. All of these difficulties have the potential to bleach the bones of faith and exhaust the strength of individuals and families. One of the Lord’s purposes in organizing the sisters into a discipleship was to provide relief that would lift them above “all that hinders the joy and progress of woman.” In every ward and branch, there is a Relief Society with sisters who can seek and receive revelation and counsel with priesthood leaders to strengthen each other and work on solutions that are applicable in their own homes and communities.

The Gospel Doctrine lesson #37 manual objective is “To remind class members that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ and obedience to his commandments.” Our Objective To discuss the role of Christ in alleviating and sanctifying the inevitable pain of mortality. Commentary Mormons believe that a war in heaven took place before the foundations of the earth over the question of human agency. Unfortunately, LDS thinking around it and the counsels that preceded remain somewhat obscure and over-simplified. Generally, it is thought that Satan’s plan entailed coercion of some sort. We would either be forced to behave well, or, if we behaved badly the natural consequences that bad behavior entails would be rendered null and void. Lucifer’s recommendation was rejected. Scripture tells us that in order for us to develop and strengthen the attributes belonging to the members of the Divine Family it is necessary for us to “taste the bitter that [we] may know to prize the Good”—the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus the Christ. 1 Edward Beecher, author of “Concorde of Ages,” offers a brilliant insight into this more compelling and theologically satisfying theory—the idea that the pain we experience in mortality is not punitive. Rather it is educative: “From pleasure, of course, there was no temptation to revolt; but from a discipline of suffering such as was needed to fit them to be founders of the universe with God, they could be tempted to revolt.” 2 Today’s lesson contains three vital truths on the nature and necessity of suffering and the power it entails, if we so choose, to make us holy. On four occasions Christ encourages us to pick up our cross and follow Him. 3 We all have crosses to bear. There are no exceptions. We all agreed to walk the path of which Christ is both “the author” and “the finisher.” In order to become the author of our faith Jesus Christ determined to come to earth, divest Himself of His Godhood and pick up the cross that being born into mortality entailed. In so doing he became our “captain” showing us, by His Divine example, the way back to the Celestial Family. Secondly, we learn that “we do not have a high priest [Christ] who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are.” 4 Christ, as the author of our faith, descends from His place among the Gods to enter mortality in order to experience the “discipline of suffering,” so that we would know that our High Priest, our Advocate with the Father has Himself been subjected to the same (and even greater) pain, isolation, loneliness, rejection and grief that mortality inherently entails. His walk along the path of suffering empowers Him to be the “Finisher of our Faith: “Father, behold the suffering and death of him, who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed….Wherefore, Father, spare these my [sisters and brothers] that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life.” 5 Thirdly, “It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer [author] of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. For this reason Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.” 6 Christ, sanctified through suffering becomes the Sanctifier of our own pain. Having suffered as we suffer, Christ now has the power not only to empathize with us but to lighten our grief and sorrow: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” 7 Christ, therefore, becomes our anchor in times of distress. He has become both the High Priest and the Sacrifice in whom resides the hope of our salvation. For, as we read in Hebrews: Jesus Christ is “now crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that…he might taste death for everyone.” 8 The Son of Man has become our Saviour through His suffering and everlasting death—the fear of which is “swallowed up in victory.” 9 Walking through those final moments of physical and spiritual agony into death, He thereby also opened the doors of Resurrection to us all with the promise that he “shall wipe away all tears from [our] eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain.” 10 By so doing, The Saviour of the world becomes the “Finisher of our faith.” 1 Moses 6:55 . 2 Edward Beecher, “The Concorde of Ages: or the Individual Organic Harmony of God and man” (New York: Derby and Jackson, 119 Nasau Street, 1860), 98. 3 Matthew 16:24 , Mark 8:34 ; Mark 10:21 ; Luke 9:23 . 4 Hebrews 4:15 . 5 D&C 45:4-5 . 6 Hebrews 10:10-11 . 7 Matthew 11:29 . 8 Hebrews 2:9 , NRSV. 9 I Corinthians 15:54 . 10 Revelation 21:4 . Related Mormon Women Project Interviews Standing Firm When It All Falls Apart , Ashlee Birk I’ve always had faith, I’ve always known that Heavenly Father answers my prayers, I’ve always seen His hand in my life. But it wasn’t until I went through this total low point where all I had left with was Him that I realized how much He cared and was there for me. I’ve always known about the Atonement and known that the Atonement is there for me when I make a mistake. Whenever someone would wrong me, I knew I needed to forgive them. But as I have gone through this tragedy, in which three people wronged me on so many levels, my faith has helped me understand the Atonement on a much deeper level. The Atonement is there even if you’re just struggling with the fact that the story you’re living is different from the one you had planned. The Atonement is also there to help you forgive and feel compassion for a man who made a really bad choice. I think that’s been my greatest blessing, to understand the Atonement and the power that it can have on those hard days when it feels like your faith has been flat in the dirt for weeks and someone is just dragging you. If you pray for help, Heavenly Father will send you a little light, and He will send you the right person to say the right thing. A Calling and a Purpose , Katie Jennings Being childless will never be easy or less painful for me, but I’ve learned to use that pain and that experience to help others come to accept their path in life and their purpose in the world and in the kingdom of our Heavenly Father. Believe me when I say that He knows what He is doing. Learning to trust in that is never easy, but it’s so worth it. I can make it through anything if I trust in Him and “lean not unto of mine own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5). I am grateful for the trials that I’ve been given because they’ve made me the strong, compassionate woman that I am today. Other Related Women’s Voices Hope in Christ , Barbara W. Winder Sisters, the anxiety and disquieting influence of this earth life could have been avoided had we stayed nestled in the household of our heavenly parents, but then how could we have progressed? As our Father and the Savior planned for us to come to earth, they said, “We will prove them herewith, to see if they [you and I] will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them” (Abr. 3:25). This was to become a testing ground; we would come to an understanding of good and evil, of happiness and suffering, of joy and pain. We knew the plan. We desired it; we endorsed it. We defended it. We even fought for it! A Time For Hope , Ardeth G. Kapp There will be some steep climbs ahead, but our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has covenanted and promised to climb with each of us every step of the way. Think of it! Young women, covenant this day, this very day, if you haven’t already, to plant your feet firmly on the path to the celestial kingdom. Lift up your heart, lift up your heart, and let your soul rejoice, and never, never, never give up. The Light of Hope , Dwan J. Young The Lord wants us to be filled with hope—not just because it points us to a brighter tomorrow, but because it changes the quality of our lives today. Hopeless may be the saddest word in our language. Despair is the enemy of our souls. It can paralyze us, halt our progress, and cause us to lose our way. But hope awakens us like a light shining in the darkness….We can endure all things when our hope is centered in one who will never fail us—our Savior, Jesus Christ, who is the light of the world.

The Gospel Doctrine Lesson #39 manual objective is “To help class members understand that the process of ‘perfecting … the saints’ (Ephesians 4:12) requires us to increase our faith in Christ, follow the teachings of the apostles and prophets, and protect ourselves from the wickedness of the world.” Our Objective To examine what it means to have no strangers in the household of God. Commentary I have always loved Ephesians 2:19, which says: Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; This verse felt especially important as I went to church after I moved to India. I was sitting in church the first week and I was so grateful to be there. I live 400 miles from church and so I am only able to go once a month. To get there and hear hymns coming from the open door just gave my soul peace. I had been to many LDS churches around the world as I traveled. It was always an adventure trying to find the building. But this time I had MOVED… this was to be my home… and it just didn’t feel like it. I looked around and thought, “These are my people?” Well, yes and no. No, I am not Indian. No, I do not live in Delhi. No, I have very different life experiences than everyone in there. And then I remembered this verse: no more strangers and foreigners. And a quote by Gandalf I have always loved, “I am a stranger no where unless I choose to be.” And so, YES, these are my people. These are fellow saints. And, more importantly, children of God just like me. One of my most profound experiences with this concept was actually in my very own hometown. I was living at my parents’ house recuperating from having a baby while they were on their mission. It was the first few weeks after giving birth and not only was I not sleeping enough (like everyone says), I had also woken up sick. I literally thought, “How am I going to do this?” But, a sister from my ward whom I had grown up with but not spent any significant time with in twenty years showed up on my doorstep. She held my baby for two hours so I could sleep, she did my dishes, she brought a bag of helpful items for a newborn. She saved me… a relative stranger. Were we anything alike? Not on the surface. She had eight children and had started young. I had one and started at forty-one. She lived in our hometown; I lived abroad. She had dozens of relatives in the area; I had none. I had worked outside of the home; she had mostly worked inside. (Though raising eight kids takes a fair amount of work both inside and outside a home!) And, still, we sat on the couch and caught up. We made each other laugh and kept saying, “exactly! exactly!” as the other relayed a life perspective. We were not strangers, but just two members of God’s household. May we each find a way to welcome another soul.. whether in our congregation or our neighborhood, let’s find a way to help everyone remember we are all part of God’s family. Related Mormon Women Project Interviews A Champion for Diversity , Sui Lang Panoke Initially, I found it rather ironic actually that I would be called to serve in the RS, because growing up in Utah, I used to actually make fun of the RS ladies–wearing their Christmas sweaters, always knitting something, swapping Jell-O salad and funeral potatoes recipes. I never really felt like I fit into that mold. But, over the years I have grown to love the women in RS as I admire the manner in which they raise their children, foster sincere and loyal friendships with each other and their husbands, adhere to the needs of our communities, pursue successful careers outside of the home, and even serve in our armed forces. Cherish One Another , Cathy Stokes Lucy Mack Smith said it all: “We must cherish one another, watch over one another, comfort one another and gain instruction, that we may all sit down in heaven together.” That is where we need to focus. Never mind who’s working outside of the home and who’s staying—whatever choices we make, we must cherish one another. We need to support each other in our choices as much as we righteously can. Other Related Women’s Voices Sisterhood: Oh How We Need Each Other , Bonnie Oscarson To be sisters implies that there is an unbreakable bond between us. Sisters take care of each other, watch out for each other, comfort each other, and are there for each other through thick and thin. The Lord has said, ‘I say unto you, be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine’ (Doctrine and Covenants 38:27). Here to Serve a Righteous Cause , Carol F. McConkie We all experience times and seasons in our lives. But whether we are at school, at work, in the community, and especially in the home, we are the Lord’s agents and we are on His errand.

The Gospel Doctrine lesson  #40  manual objective is “To encourage class members to develop the characteristics of true followers of Jesus Christ.” Our Objective To encourage the development of Christ-like attributes – for both men and women. And to strength testimonies in the saving power of Jesus Christ. Commentary In the 13th Article of Faith we read, “we believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous…if there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.” These Christ-like attributes are ones we should seek and develop as His disciples. Also in this verse, we find the declaration: “we follow the admonition of Paul”. In today’s lesson, the class will review several letters of Paul: Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon, where Paul admonishes the Saints to develop Christ-like attributes. Other attributes are listed in Colossians 3:12-15 : mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, forbearance, forgiveness, charity, peace, and gratitude. Paul calls these the attributes of the “elect of God”. As we strive to be numbered among the “elect”, we should strive to develop these attributes. It can be noted that these Christ-like attributes are gender-neutral. At times we want to assign certain virtues to women (ie: nurturing, kindness, faithfulness) and other virtues to men (ie: bravery, dutiful, strength) – in reality we should all (both men and women) be trying to develop all of these virtues/attributes. We are striving to follow the example of our Savior, who possessed all virtues. Any number of these attributes can be discussed in class, and I have chose three: unity, humility, and sacrifice. UNITY In Philippians 2:2–3 , we read that we should have the “same love, being of accord, and one mind” and that we should “each esteem other better than” ourselves. And Colossians 2:2 we read that our hearts should be “knit together in love”. Unity is obviously important in the kingdom of God. This is one reason I like worshiping in assigned wards. We don’t get to choose the people we worship with, but we are asked to love one another, serve each other, and be unified. Developing this unification with people we may not like is hard – but our efforts will bring us closer to Christ. Each ward has a variety of members with a variety of views on life style, gospel commitment, gender bias, and politics. As we get to know each other better and open our hearts to different types of people, we grow. Finally, forgiveness is an important part of being unified. We will need to forgive our fellow saints of their sins, mistakes, and give grace when we don’t understand behavior. Paul encourages Philemon to be forgiving toward Onesimus – and we can learn from this counsel in the book of Philemon . HUMILITY Philippians 2:5–8 speaks of humility. Jesus, himself, was the perfect example of humility not only in submitting to the will of His Father, but in the way he lived: simply. Pope Francis recently addressed Catholic church leadership and members in New York City at the St. Patrick Cathedral. (You can find his speech on YouTube here . He begins speaking at the 20 minute mark.) He spoke beautifully about living in a humble, simple way – as well as the virtues of gratitude, hard work, and sacrifice. He encourage people to remember their many blessings and their beautiful encounters with Jesus Christ. He warned us not to get caught up in our own good works or seek outward success, but rather to let our work been seen by God and evaluated in his eyes. He cautioned us not to seek worldly comforts because they block our encounters with God and alienate us from people who suffer material poverty. SACRIFICE Paul speaks of sacrifice in both Philippians 3:7–8 and Philippians 3:9–12. And the Prophet Joseph Smith taught: “A religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation; for, from the first existence of man, the faith necessary unto the enjoyment of life and salvation never could be obtained without the sacrifice of all earthly things” ( Lectures on Faith [1985], 69). We also covenant to sacrifice while in the temple. Whether we commit to sacrifice our will or curtail our earthly possessions, it is a hard thing to do. We must fight against the natural man/women in order to give freely. But as we do sacrifice the things of this world, we draw closer to spiritual things and to our Savior. ALL THINGS IN CHRIST One of the most beautiful scriptures in the New Testament is Paul in Philippians 4:13 : “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me”. Christ’s atonement is not only for comfort and forgiveness, it also gives us strength and courage and resolve. We are able to move through the challenges of our mortal existence with confidence when we claim the atonement of Christ. And we can accomplish all that is needful for our salvation. Related Mormon Women Project Interviews Tis A Gift to Be Simple , Rachel Whipple My idea is to show that these simple things – like how you do your laundry, how you take care of your home, how you feed your family – are not extreme, and they make our lives better and they’re in line with the gospel teachings. As we walk more, we know our neighbors and we’re building more of a sense of Zion and community and that’s incredibly valuable. I want to show people that they can do these things. It’s not that hard to add a bike ride with your family if you’ve already got the bikes. If you don’t have the bikes, it’s not that hard to go for a family walk. When you do that you’re spending time together that’s qualitatively different than when you are riding in a car together and everyone is watching their little videos that pop down from the ceiling or playing on their Gameboy devices. I think we’ve forgotten we can do that. Let’s start doing that again. To Always Serve and Love , Bérengère Doby I’ve always had an altruistic personality. I’ve always loved going to people and helping them. Even my husband says, “Stop already!” But I don’t. Sometimes I go over the top in serving and helping people. Being close the patients was a way for me to put that service into practice by taking care of them and to giving them lots of love. School, Sacrifice, and Service , Rachel Esplin Odell Of course, it’s not only our family relationships that matter. Our relationships with all of our brothers and sisters in the world matter. That’s part of what drew me to working in international affairs in the first place. But I think in international affairs, there can be too much of a tendency to prioritize people and issues on some faraway continent while neglecting the people that we interact with in our daily lives and the issues in our home communities. I’ve seen examples in my life that have taught me that you need to be a good, Christ-like person in your interactions with people right around you too, not just on the other side of the world. Other Related Women’s Voices Strength in the Savior , Chieko N. Okazaki I believe the strength we need can always be there because it comes from the Savior and his love. Sometimes our own faith enables us to draw on that love. Sometimes it is the faith and love of others that strengthen us. We do not know the challenges and adversities that life will give us. But the scriptures promise us that “with God nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:37), and we can say with the Apostle Paul, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philip. 4:13). We Are Women of God , Sheri L. Dew The Lord revealed the remedy for such spiritual disaster when He counseled Emma Smith to “lay aside the things of this world, and seek for the things of a better” (D&C 25:10). And Christ provided the pattern, declaring prior to Gethsemane, “I have overcome the world” (John 16:33; emphasis added). The only way that we may overcome the world is by coming unto Christ. And coming unto Christ means walking away from the world. It means placing Christ and Christ only at the center of our lives so that the vanities and philosophies of men lose their addictive appeal. Satan is the god of Babylon, or this world. Christ is the God of Israel, and His Atonement gives us power to overcome the world.

The Gospel Doctrine lesson #41 manual objective is “to encourage class members to learn and teach true doctrine and be righteous examples for others.” Our Objective To examine what is and is not “true doctrine” in 1 Timothy, in light of both its ancient context and modern LDS teachings. Commentary This week’s lesson covers 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus. I will focus on two passages with particular relevance to women: 1 Timothy 2 places some limitations on women, discusses the story of Adam and Eve, and then concludes in verse 15: “Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.” We need to be clear that this is not true doctrine. It is obviously not the teaching of modern prophets and apostles that women gain salvation through bearing children. To suggest so is to deny the power of the atonement. (Note that virtually no scholars believe that Paul wrote 1 or 2 Timothy or Titus, so that taking this position does not require one to deny an apostolic witness.) The context here is also important: Timothy is associated with Ephesus, which was known for its impressive temple to the goddess Artemis. Artemis was believed to save women from dying in childbirth. This would have been extremely important in a culture where nearly half the women would die giving birth. In this light, it seems that the author of 1 Timothy may be suggesting that women do not need to rely on Artemis to protect them during childbirth; rather, their faith in Jesus Christ can save them—and here, saving can refer to either physical preservation or spiritual salvation—when they bear children. It is important that we are very clear that being a biological mother is not necessary for salvation or for being a worthy disciple. The scriptures themselves make this point; see Luke 11:27-28 . 1 Timothy 3 refers to the qualifications of a deacon (which may or may not overlap with the role of a deacon today) and then verse 11 refers to “their wives.” However, it is more likely that this passage refers to female deacons than to the wives of deacons. Note that there was no similar passage regarding bishops’ wives earlier in the chapter, but there are other references to female deacons in the New Testament (see Romans 16:1 , the KJV translates “servant” to describe Phoebe, but this is the same word translated as “deacon” in 1 Timothy 3:8 and 12 ). The author’s advice to these female deacons is that they do not gossip (slander) and that they are completely trustworthy (“faithful in all things”). The scriptures call of us to consider whether we could be described that way. Related Mormon Women Project Interviews To Be A Vessel , Jamillah Ali-Rashada I grew up with the knowledge that you can do anything you want to do or anything that you put your mind to. In the scriptures when it says ”I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength,” to me that’s a testimony not only to the witness but to anyone. And as a woman, I hold to that role because it’s like sometimes we don’t walk in our strength. To me, being a woman is profound. When I look at the scriptures and things that happen, God chose women to bring forth the Savior. You know, a virgin. He brought Christ through a woman. That’s a powerful place. God thought enough of me as a woman to entrust this with me. Not just me individually, but as a woman. That is very important for us to look at as a model for who we are and who we can become in the eyesight of God. I believe that when God fashioned a woman out of man, he made her equal. We have different roles but she is his equal and his helpmate. So if that is the case, that’s a powerful position and I believe as a woman I am learning to walk in the power and have the power to hold the space, because you could have the title and not be able to honor the position. To me, to honor it means that you work on yourself to be the best that you could ever be and let God do the rest. Choosing Good and Making Change , Bethany Brady Spalding I have three goals for the book [Girls Who Choose God], which I admit are a bit of a stretch. But that’s how change-making begins, right? First, that the book will provide strong role models to girls and illustrate that they can be devoted mothers as well as judges, generals, social justice advocates, and many other roles to be a force for good. The second goal is that girls and boys will consider themselves to be spiritual equals, which will lead to more equal partnerships between men and women. The third is that we as a people will grow more comfortable speaking about bold, powerful, spiritual women. And that will eventually lead us to be more comfortable discussing our ultimate feminine role model, Heavenly Mother. Other Related Women’s Voices Rowing Your Boat , Chieko N. Okazaki Not all situations are ideal. Not all women are mothers, and not all mothers have children at home. Furthermore, not all mothers can make the choice to be home with their children all of the time. Often circumstances constrain their choices. At other times, other responsibilities and opportunities require that difficult decisions be made. Women and families will be happier with these decisions if they are made using both study and faith. Relief Society: A Sacred Work , Julie B. Beck We [Relief Society] operate in the manner of the priesthood—which means that we seek, receive, and act on revelation; make decisions in councils; and concern ourselves with caring for individuals one by one. Ours is the priesthood purpose to prepare ourselves for the blessings of eternal life by making and keeping covenants. Therefore, like our brethren who hold the priesthood, ours is a work of salvation, service, and becoming a holy people. Looking for additional perspectives on this lesson? OCM Editor Meredith Nelson joined the Mormon Sunday School podcast this week to discuss 1 Timothy. We also recommend Meridian Magazine  and LDSLiving .

The Gospel Doctrine lesson #42 manual objective is “To help class members understand the characteristics we should develop to live our religion more fully.” Our Objective To comment on several verses included in the lesson, as they have related to my life as a woman of faith. Commentary This Life is Not a Test James 1:3 “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” I was a newborn mother. My child was beautifully pleasant during the day, but at night he would cry on and off for hours. I was teaching full-time at BYU, and had to leave the house at 6:30am every day. I was dead with fatigue. Every night, my husband and I took turns sitting on the yoga ball, and bouncing while we sang to our son as he cried. We consulted with experts, read every book, and prayed ourselves dry. It was 2:00 am, and I found myself in hot tears along with my son, praying again, “Dear God, Why do you feel the need to prove me like this? You already know my heart. Why this test? Why don’t you answer my prayer, night after night, that my son will sleep? I know my faith isn’t perfect, but I have never ceased to call on you. Isn’t that enough?” I was stuck philosophically in a phrase I had heard throughout my life in Sunday school lessons: “trial of faith.” I thought I was on trial. That God was pushing me just to see how strong my faith was. It felt cruel, meaningless. Then the answer came tenderly, direct to my heart: “This is not a test. This is not a punishment. This is just a part of mortality. And it will make you like me.” Suddenly, every endless hour became meaningful. This challenge was not an arbitrary “test” or “trial.” Rather, it was a means for me to learn how to be God-like in patience, how to give the touch of the Comforter, how to sacrifice in love. I have come to believe that is true for every challenge in my life. The Orson F. Whitney quote in the lesson manual is a beautiful support for this idea. Ask in Faith, Nothing Wavering James 1:6 “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind, and tossed.” In my story above, and in many other instances in my life, I was afraid that the reason my prayer wasn’t answered was because my faith was not sufficient in some abstract way. But I have learned to shake that fear off. “Nothing wavering” has come to mean that I do not take the time to worry over my faith at the moment I am exerting it. I go to God and say, “Here I am, imperfect in faith, yet expressing all the faith I have by coming to you. Help thou mine unbelief.” Acknowledging the weakness of my faith is steadying for me. I feel far less “driven and tossed” when I do it. It reminds me to rely on the power of Christ, which is sufficient, and by which I may be made perfect ( 2 Corinthians 12:9 ). Why Do I Ask and Not Receive? James 4:3 “Ye ask and ye receive not, because ye ask amiss…” Quoting myself here (insert eye-rolling emoticon) from a comment on another post: I haven’t refined this idea yet, but it occurred to me only very recently that the reason we often end up confused about why God allows this or that to happen in our lives, and sometimes blame God, or on the other hand excuse God, is that we have a very different focus from God. We care almost exclusively about the things that happen to us and around us — those are what occupy the bulk of our fervent prayers (help me pass this exam, cure my mother’s cancer, protect my son from harm). God cares almost exclusively about what happens inside of us. Everything external to us is a means toward the purification of our hearts, toward filling us with love. So while we wring our hands begging God to change the situation in our family, at work or at church, God is waiting and wanting to change our hearts. It is a sign of God’s essential love and mercy that our prayers about the office, the house, the school, the church, are also often answered. Swift to Hear James 1:19 “Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:” This month, one of our Mormon Women Project interviews received tens of thousands of views, and several comments condemning the interviewee for her life choices. Were those who typed the comments swift to speak, slow to hear? Slow to hear the sorrow and pain this woman had experienced along the way, slow to hear her joy and fulfillment, slow to hear her spiritual depth, slow to hear how closely she had consulted with the Lord? I read the comments, and felt my lips pressing more tightly together as I reminded myself to really, really hear people. Why is the Mormon Women Project important? It gives us a chance to hear without speaking. Hundreds of women of faith share their stories, without a chance for me to interrupt. The result is that so many of their stories have changed me. If I assumed the right to judge each woman on the site, based on how her life choices compare to mine, I would miss the chance to learn and be changed. It is the gorgeous variety of the life paths portrayed at MWP that has given me confidence and patience in my current life: I will not follow the same path as any of them, but because of these women, I believe that I have infinite possibilities in my life’s work and in the Spirit. Related Mormon Women Project Interviews Your Trial is Your Greatest Treasure , Barbara Barrington Jones I don’t think I could have done anything in this life without my faith. Nothing. I’m still on my knees every day thanking God: Thank you for trials. Thank you for those years. And I tell women, “Your trial is your greatest treasure. Go out and share it with other women. Somehow this trial will be for your benefit. You know there is a god. You know why we are here.” It seems very trite and we hear it all the time, but it’s so true. Sharing the Burden , Dawn My faith has so many times come up against a wall. In that moment I can either lose my faith or reconcile my faith to the truth, to the bigger picture. It is in those moments of desperation, those moments of the greatest pain, fear, and uncertainty, that I’ve had to reach out into the dark and ask for my Savior’s help. Other Related Women’s Voices A Women of Faith , Margaret D. Nadauld A woman of faith trusts God and faces adversity with hope. She knows of His interest in her life. She knows that He knows her. She loves His words and drinks deeply of that living water. She is grateful for the prophet He has sent for these latter days, and she trusts his counsel and follows it, for she knows that by so doing she will find safety and peace. In prayer she seeks the kind, unfaltering guidance and help of a listening Heavenly Father. As she prays, she listens—allowing the communication to be two-way. She trusts that in His still and quiet way, He will lead her by the hand and give her answer to her prayers. Agency: A Blessing and a Burden , Sharon G. Larsen Choices would not be a dilemma if good were rewarded as quickly and spectacularly as was Elijah or if wrongdoing meant immediate death. But it is not that simple when our work is to increase our faith. Looking for additional perspectives on this lesson? We recommend Mormon Sunday School , Meridian Magnetize  and LDSLiving .

The Gospel Doctrine lesson #43  manual objective is “to help class members live in holiness and be a chosen generation” Our Objective A commentary on Peter’s directive to faithful wives in 1 Peter 3:1-7 . Commentary In 1 Peter 3: 1-7 , Peter directs faithful wives to “be in subjection to [their] husbands” even if the husband is a nonbeliever for obedient and amiable wives may be able to convert their husbands. Furthermore, wives are not be concerned with their outward appearance but instead focus inward and adorn themselves with “the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit.” Husbands are to partner with their wives “giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel” so that prayers may not be “hindered.” This counsel of subjection is problematic for me and creates an ire in my belly. As an advocate, abolitionist, feminist and disciple of Christ, I cannot adhere to a belief system or ideology that subjects a person or persons to another. We are agents unto ourselves and the only appropriate subjection is to the Divine and even that is a refiner’s fire of choice. So, what do I do when I cannot reconcile my beliefs and lived experience with scripture? I translate. In Letters to a Young Mormon , Adam S. Miller says that it wasn’t enough for Nephi to translate Isaiah and for Joseph Smith to translate Nephi, we too must engage in the act of translation. “God wants the whole thing translated once more, and this time he wants it translated into your native tongue, inflected by your native concerns, and written in your native flesh. To be a Mormon is to do once more, on your own small scale, the same kind of work that Joseph did…Led by word and Spirit, you’ll be empowered to do it and when you’re done, you must ask the Lord if – for you, at this time, at this place – you’ve done it right.” I am not a historian nor a theologian. I do not know with surety the historical and religious traditions and environment that Peter is writing from or how Peter’s words may or may not have been modified through the various translations. So, I do as Miller suggests and translate into my tongue, concerns and lived experience. I bring to the table resonating words by people who inspire me. “Virtue can only flourish amongst equals.” – Mary Wollstonecraft “That woman has too long rested satisfied in the circumscribed limits which corrupt customs and a perverted application of the Scriptures have marked out for her, and that it is time she should move in the enlarged sphere which her great Creator has assigned her.” – Angelina Grimke I bring to the table my own experience with subjection taken to an extreme. I know how seemingly benign directives and ideologies can coalesce to create an environment that sustains abuse and oppression. I was in a domestic violence relationship for ten years. I know how the soul is systematically dismantled and the pain of a loss of self. During that time, reading a scripture such as this one would have reinforced the the thinking error that my obedience and submission to my husband was righteous. An abuser could also use such scriptures to justify oppressing a spouse. Many Church leaders have explicitly condemned abused. President Hinckley’s words on the matter are particularly powerful. I bring to the table the counsel of modern-day leaders. “When we speak of marriage as a partnership, let us speak of marriage as a full partnership. We do not want our LDS women to be silent partners or limited partners in that eternal assignment! Please be a contributing and full partner” – Spencer W. Kimball “We need women who know how to access the power that God makes available to covenant keepers and who express their beliefs with confidence and charity. We need women who have the courage and vision of our Mother Eve. So today I plead with my sisters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to step forward! Take your rightful and needful place in your home, in your community, and in the kingdom of God—more than you ever have before. “ – Elder Russell M. Nelson I bring all of that to the table and have a reckoning by working these things out in my mind, keeping a prayer in my heart and a desiring to learn the will of God. I have great love and compassion for Peter. In his complicated journey of belief and faithfulness I can see myself. This act of reckoning and translating has little to do with Peter and everything to do with my commitment of transformation into the likeness of my Heavenly Parents. Through this process I come to this translation: Walking a path together as lovers, friends, collaborators and supporters as equals creates an environment that nurtures both parties to live to the fullest measure of their creation. Our bodies are a divine gift and how we adorn them is a direct reflection of our relationship with that gift and our relationship with the Divine. We each have of a responsibility, unencumbered,  to take ownership of our place in the world, to fully participate and to be living testimonies of Jesus Christ. Related Mormon Women Project Interviews We Are Made for Love and Light , Rachel von Niederhausern My ultimate desire and dream is to have freedom in the world, and to have everyone have the joy of being free. To have good health, good educational opportunities, and to be able to live their own truth. I hope by me living my passion, that my children are inspired and motivated to also live their truth. It doesn’t matter what that is. Each person has their own unique gift to give to the world, and I hope that they are empowered to do that. Especially as they see other cultures and people who have different life experiences. That’s the second thing: I want them to see people who have many different life experiences so that they know that they’re okay, no matter what. You are loveable and you can be loved no matter what has happened to you or where you live. God loves us all equally and wants the same blessings for all of us. Other Related Women’s Voices The Crucible of Diversity , Meredith Marshall Nelson I learned directly from God in that marital crucible that my only responsibility is love — not judgment. That my primary role toward my husband is supporter and friend, as his is to me. I learned that in the grand scheme, I’m walking the same road he is. We now enjoy a much richer model of Gospel life, one based on respect, patience, trust, and love. Not every day! But we’ve got a foundation to build on. Looking for additional perspectives on this lesson? We recommend Mormon Sunday School , Meridian Magnetize  and LDSLiving .

The Gospel Doctrine lesson #44 manual objective is “To help class members understand how the Father and the Son show their love for us and how we should show our love for them.” Our Objective To discuss John’s teaching that God is love, and how it instructs us on our mortal journey. Commentary Some years ago, I watched a piano tuner work on repairing our very old grand piano. It is a wonderful piano of high quality. It has a worn and scratched finish, since it is over 80 years old and was used in a night club for many of those years. This man was an expert tuner and repairman, and it was a pleasure to watch him remove the keyboard, and mechanism, then carefully find a small, intricately carved wooden part which was broken, and work on repairing it. I remarked on how beautiful the workmanship was. I could almost hear the passion in his voice when he said that a well made piano is one of the most beautiful things in the world. Then he talked about how disappointing it was that so much of his time was spent tuning and working on PSOs – Piano Shaped Objects. He explained that there were many people who were building nicer and bigger homes in the area, and they usually had a large picture window in the living room. Many of them seemed to think the best thing to put in front of the large window was a shiny grand piano. But many of these shiny grand pianos were cheaply made at sea level in a hot humid country far away. Now that they are sitting in a room at high altitude in a dry climate, the hastily prepared wood and poor workmanship would prevent this piano-shaped-object from ever making the beautiful sounds that a well made, true piano could make. He then told me that, even though my piano was scratched and worn on the outside, it had the fine inner workings of a real piano. The sound it made was truly beautiful. It struck me in that moment that I might be a something-shaped-object. I might look the part, and even act the part of, a loving mother, a strong woman, a good Christian. But where was my heart? Did my inner workings express who I claimed to be? Who I promised to be? Was I just a Christian shaped object? The reading for this lesson is about the being of God. Who God is. There is no attempt to describe God as a shiny object, with an outer look meant to impress. There almost seems to be an unspoken recognition that there is no language, no words that can comprehend the incomprehensible. So there is this simple, yet sublimely universal statement. God is love. No conditions. No limits. No boundaries. Then there is the simple lesson of us experiencing this God of love. The lesson is to love. This is not about looking like you love. It is about being love, expressed from each part of you, in all ways you live. I think we, as humans, have a deep need to process, discuss, and wrestle with our thoughts, expression of belief, and the countless differences in opinions and interpretations. After all, there are as many ways to be Mormon as there are Mormons. I truly believe that God sees that and reaches out to help us learn love for all, not in spite of, but rather feasting on the delicious messiness of the differences. One of the few things I think I come close to knowing, is that God knows and loves us each in our individual, unique different being. We are asked to completely do the same. In that, we experience God, in pure light. Here is one of the simple lessons. 1 John 2:9-11 9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes. Regardless of what you say, or how you appear, if you are not love, you are blind to light. Blind to God. God, who is love, sees us clearly and completely, and loves us. Then asks us to do the same, because God loves us, and wants us to experience that great light. The covenant we make when we are baptized, and then renew each week in partaking of the sacrament, is also a part of this reading. Mosiah 5:7 And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters. This miracle of being reborn as God’s literal children, the moment we take on the name of Christ can be transformative as we allow our hearts to transform, and choose the inevitable path that a child of God would follow. The path to see as we are seen, and love as we are loved. This past week, I was able to glimpse what God might possibly feel if this verse is part of the divine experience. 3 John 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. On Saturday, my husband and I became aware of some heartbreaking news that impacts many people in our life. Our first thought was how our children were doing. We were able to have a number of conversations with them, and talked with each other about our concerns. Then we saw what they had done on their Facebook pages. They had each posted the picture of the three of them, gathering at a celebration, arms around each other, love and devotion for each other. With it, there were firm and clear expressions of their love for each other, and nothing had power over that. Not now, not ever. Even in the different and unique natures of each of their lives, they stood with and defended each other, eloquently speaking for that love they share. This showed me they were living the deep truth that we have tried to teach them in the way we try to live. Love one another. Turn to that love at all times, especially when life happens, and circumstances or the actions of others cause pain or confusion or heartache. They were there for each other, standing together, holding each other, fiercely loving each other. Walking in truth. I have joy in my children. I try to comprehend the deep pain of our God who weeps for us when we cause pain and suffering to each other. I can only imagine how God, being love, has joy in us when we are beings of love. Related Mormon Women Project Interviews All Here Together , Bianca Morrison Dillard Sometimes we say flippant comments like, “I don’t how anyone could do this or think this.” And I feel like that’s because we probably haven’t asked that person. Because when we ask, we can go, “Oh, yeah!” If we listen to other people’s stories, we can say, “Yeah, I still don’t agree with you, necessarily, but I get where you are coming from.” I think that’s so valuable because people do things for good reasons. Playing From Her Heart , Tina Richerson I live an abundant life. The blessing of knowing that at any moment I have access to divine energy is just awesome. I know who I am now. I know who I am. I’ll tell you what – one of the biggest blessings is saying, “I’m a homosexual and I’m a daughter of God. The Lord loves me and there’s a work to be done, brother and sisters. There’s a mighty, mighty work to be done and it’s called building up Zion.” Other Related Women’s Voices Eternally Encircled in His Love , Bonnie D. Parkin All that we do in Relief Society should reflect the love of our Savior and the love of our Heavenly Father. This great love should be the source of our motivation to serve others. It must be both our point of origin and our destination! Strength in the Savior , Chieko Okazaki Through the years, my circumstances have changed. I was a single woman, then the wife of a nonmember, then a partner in a temple sealing, a mother, a mother-in-law and grandmother, and now a widow. I have known the Savior’s love in all of these circumstances. My own faith has been rewarded as I have felt the Savior’s presence and power in my home. Looking for additional perspectives on this lesson? We recommend Mormon Sunday School , Meridian Magnetize  and LDSLiving . All Here Together