Comments for The Exponent http://the-exponent.com Am I not a woman and a sister? Thu, 08 Jan 2009 08:21:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU hourly 1 Comment on The Woman Without a Shadow by amy http://the-exponent.com/2009/01/05/the-woman-without-a-shadow/#comment-10979 amy Thu, 08 Jan 2009 07:04:24 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/?p=1554#comment-10979 I totally relate to you. One reason I don't use any hormonal form of birth control is because of this. As much as I know I do NOT want to get pregnant right now, I feel some sort of drive to maintain my fertility. It's strange and your post identified my mentality beautifully. Growing up, I dreamed of being a mother giving birth every 18 months until I hit 6 or 7 kids. Then I got pregnant with my first and now my daugther's 20 months and not gonna get another sibling for a LONG time. It's wild that what I know that I want and need in my life right now (no pregnancy) still cannot rule out my insecurities about not being a fertile "angel," even though my rational mind shivers at the thought of that... I totally relate to you. One reason I don’t use any hormonal form of birth control is because of this. As much as I know I do NOT want to get pregnant right now, I feel some sort of drive to maintain my fertility. It’s strange and your post identified my mentality beautifully.

Growing up, I dreamed of being a mother giving birth every 18 months until I hit 6 or 7 kids. Then I got pregnant with my first and now my daugther’s 20 months and not gonna get another sibling for a LONG time. It’s wild that what I know that I want and need in my life right now (no pregnancy) still cannot rule out my insecurities about not being a fertile “angel,” even though my rational mind shivers at the thought of that…

]]> Comment on Scholarly Strategies for Debunking Women’s Subordination in Religion: Can We Apply Them to Mormonism? by Laurie T. Jemison http://the-exponent.com/2008/12/31/scholarly-strategies-for-debunking-womens-subordination-in-religion-can-we-apply-them-to-mormonism/#comment-10978 Laurie T. Jemison Thu, 08 Jan 2009 06:02:18 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/?p=1547#comment-10978 There is a book called excavating our Mormon past. There are also tons of other "new" Mormon history books that paint quite a different picture of early Mormon women. What the Church was excommunicating Mormon scholars and feminist in the 70's and 80's for...is now available even in the BYU library. I just finished a historiography about Early American Mormonism and the women who joined the Church. What I found was fascinating. Also, a sociologist named Lawrence Foster has written and studied communal societies including Mormonism and his work is highly objective. After I finished my paper I felt the presence of those early Mormon Women gathered around me. The bottom line is there were many communal societies springing up all over New York. Mormon's were not persecuted because of polygamy, that was just a smoke screen. They were persecuted because they had the numbers to swing any vote. I have come to believe the reason Mormonism grew and the others did not was that Joseph Smith had a vision of total equality not only between the sexes, but races as well. Mormon women were ordained to the priesthood, they did perform priesthood ordinances. The relief society was not under the umbrella of the male priesthood but was under the direction of the female priestesshood. From the beginning women had an equal vote in the Church, owned their own land and even commerce. They were not only encouraged to engage in the first wave of feminism, they were sent by the Church to feminist rallies and conventions. Joseph Smith also baptized and ordained to the priesthood at least 1 black man that we know of. 13 of Joseph Smiths wives had and lived with other husbands and so clearly it was not one sided in the beginning. Plural Marriage would be much more fitting a term than polygamy. My next paper I will address the question, "What Happened." As far as I can tell, their was a huge change when polygamy was banned by the Church. All of the early Church leaders had died, and slowly Church policy started to change. The church tried to keep it a secret for many years and pandora's box was open when Leo Arrington--who was the first official church historian--began to notice the journals of early Mormon women. He then tutored several university students who all became renowned historians, on writing a New Moron History about the women. Not long afterward he was removed from his post and the Church Archives were closed off to the members of the Church. However, the history could not be stopped. It is fascinating to me. All of it. It has led me to many more questions all of which I look forward to researching. It has also helped me come to peace with many of the issues I have with the Church. What I know is, I am in love with a Church that no longer exists. I do not look upon it as a judgment because I realize that in order to be accepted and to grow and thrive, there are many sacrifices that need to be made. However, I still have a problem with them blaming their racism on God. I could write about this for hours. There is a book called excavating our Mormon past. There are also tons of other “new” Mormon history books that paint quite a different picture of early Mormon women. What the Church was excommunicating Mormon scholars and feminist in the 70’s and 80’s for…is now available even in the BYU library. I just finished a historiography about Early American Mormonism and the women who joined the Church. What I found was fascinating. Also, a sociologist named Lawrence Foster has written and studied communal societies including Mormonism and his work is highly objective.
After I finished my paper I felt the presence of those early Mormon Women gathered around me. The bottom line is there were many communal societies springing up all over New York. Mormon’s were not persecuted because of polygamy, that was just a smoke screen. They were persecuted because they had the numbers to swing any vote. I have come to believe the reason Mormonism grew and the others did not was that Joseph Smith had a vision of total equality not only between the sexes, but races as well. Mormon women were ordained to the priesthood, they did perform priesthood ordinances. The relief society was not under the umbrella of the male priesthood but was under the direction of the female priestesshood. From the beginning women had an equal vote in the Church, owned their own land and even commerce. They were not only encouraged to engage in the first wave of feminism, they were sent by the Church to feminist rallies and conventions. Joseph Smith also baptized and ordained to the priesthood at least 1 black man that we know of. 13 of Joseph Smiths wives had and lived with other husbands and so clearly it was not one sided in the beginning. Plural Marriage would be much more fitting a term than polygamy.
My next paper I will address the question, “What Happened.” As far as I can tell, their was a huge change when polygamy was banned by the Church. All of the early Church leaders had died, and slowly Church policy started to change. The church tried to keep it a secret for many years and pandora’s box was open when Leo Arrington–who was the first official church historian–began to notice the journals of early Mormon women. He then tutored several university students who all became renowned historians, on writing a New Moron History about the women. Not long afterward he was removed from his post and the Church Archives were closed off to the members of the Church. However, the history could not be stopped. It is fascinating to me. All of it. It has led me to many more questions all of which I look forward to researching. It has also helped me come to peace with many of the issues I have with the Church. What I know is, I am in love with a Church that no longer exists. I do not look upon it as a judgment because I realize that in order to be accepted and to grow and thrive, there are many sacrifices that need to be made. However, I still have a problem with them blaming their racism on God. I could write about this for hours.

]]> Comment on Relief Society Lesson 24: Leading in the Lord’s Way by Haley http://the-exponent.com/2008/12/09/relief-society-lesson-24-leading-in-the-lords-way/#comment-10976 Haley Thu, 08 Jan 2009 05:22:57 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/?p=1490#comment-10976 I'm looking forward to reading RS Lesson 25: “Truths from the Savior’s Parables in Matthew 13″. Thank you for your post. I love reading it. I’m looking forward to reading RS Lesson 25: “Truths from the Savior’s Parables in Matthew 13″. Thank you for your post. I love reading it.

]]> Comment on Scenes from a Marriage: Buche de Noel by Caroline http://the-exponent.com/2009/01/07/scenes-from-a-marriage-buche-de-noel/#comment-10974 Caroline Thu, 08 Jan 2009 02:28:05 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/2009/01/07/scenes-from-a-marriage-buche-de-noel/#comment-10974 Ha! That's a great conversation. Ha! That’s a great conversation.

]]> Comment on Scenes from a Marriage: Buche de Noel by Douglas Hunter http://the-exponent.com/2009/01/07/scenes-from-a-marriage-buche-de-noel/#comment-10973 Douglas Hunter Thu, 08 Jan 2009 02:14:18 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/2009/01/07/scenes-from-a-marriage-buche-de-noel/#comment-10973 My late grandmother used to make Buche de Noel every year. I haven't had one in close to 20 years. My late grandmother used to make Buche de Noel every year. I haven’t had one in close to 20 years.

]]> Comment on Scenes from a Marriage: Buche de Noel by EmilyCC http://the-exponent.com/2009/01/07/scenes-from-a-marriage-buche-de-noel/#comment-10971 EmilyCC Thu, 08 Jan 2009 01:52:26 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/2009/01/07/scenes-from-a-marriage-buche-de-noel/#comment-10971 Ah, jane--you even remembered to put on your meringue mushrooms (I found mine in a baggy Christmas morning). Ah, jane–you even remembered to put on your meringue mushrooms (I found mine in a baggy Christmas morning).

]]> Comment on Scenes from a Marriage: Buche de Noel by janeannechovy http://the-exponent.com/2009/01/07/scenes-from-a-marriage-buche-de-noel/#comment-10969 janeannechovy Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:11:55 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/2009/01/07/scenes-from-a-marriage-buche-de-noel/#comment-10969 I made a buche, too! You can see a picture of the finished product (but none of the cake in process, since I was totally working without a net and wasn't sure it would turn out) on my blog. As for Christmas memories, all I can say is that at least no one was barfing this year. :) I made a buche, too! You can see a picture of the finished product (but none of the cake in process, since I was totally working without a net and wasn’t sure it would turn out) on my blog.

As for Christmas memories, all I can say is that at least no one was barfing this year. :)

]]> Comment on The Woman Without a Shadow by jks http://the-exponent.com/2009/01/05/the-woman-without-a-shadow/#comment-10955 jks Wed, 07 Jan 2009 05:02:30 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/?p=1554#comment-10955 I think I would have been devastated if I hadn't been able to conceive, but I also think that I would have been able to work through that and ultimately be happy. I have average fertility and four kids. Although I've never been "baby hungry" and I want to be a mother, and it is my chosen path in life. I haven't felt less of a woman when choosing not to get pregnant, or when trying to get pregnant and not getting pregnant (for a while). I think society should encourage people to have children. It is quite disturbing that the birthrate is declining. We are influenced by TV and our friends and society. Parenthood is tough and noble. It is a tough decision to make. 50% of live births are accidental pregnancies. I think I would have been devastated if I hadn’t been able to conceive, but I also think that I would have been able to work through that and ultimately be happy.
I have average fertility and four kids. Although I’ve never been “baby hungry” and I want to be a mother, and it is my chosen path in life.
I haven’t felt less of a woman when choosing not to get pregnant, or when trying to get pregnant and not getting pregnant (for a while).
I think society should encourage people to have children. It is quite disturbing that the birthrate is declining. We are influenced by TV and our friends and society. Parenthood is tough and noble. It is a tough decision to make.
50% of live births are accidental pregnancies.

]]> Comment on The Woman Without a Shadow by Elle http://the-exponent.com/2009/01/05/the-woman-without-a-shadow/#comment-10951 Elle Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:00:02 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/?p=1554#comment-10951 I can see where you are coming from. My husband and I tried for so long to have a child and I started to believe that there was something wrong with me, that I was was less than a woman and that without a child I was worthless and useless as a woman. Today I have a beautiful 6 year old son and still to some, this isn't enough to show my womanhood or that I am a woman. Society is still placing it's opinion of me as I only have 1 child, and not 3 or 4 or 5. Being LDS we are taught to have as many children as we can within means. I would love more kids and still hope that one day I will have one or 2 more, but not because of what society thinks within my LDS world, but because I enjoy being a mother. I am an educated woman and I am good at my job as a Business Manager and that's what I want people to see. I am also good as a mother, but that doesn't make me who I am. I worked hard to get to where I am now before I had a child. I love him dearly an dam so greatful that I was given the opportunity to become a mother, but I am not a whole woman because I have a child and used my uterus. I am a woman because of everything I am and do. I can see where you are coming from. My husband and I tried for so long to have a child and I started to believe that there was something wrong with me, that I was
was less than a woman and that without a child I was worthless and useless as a woman.

Today I have a beautiful 6 year old son and still to some, this isn’t enough to show my womanhood or that I am a woman. Society is still placing it’s opinion of me as I only have 1 child, and not 3 or 4 or 5. Being LDS we are taught to have as many children as we can within means. I would love more kids and still hope that one day I will have one or 2 more, but not because of what society thinks within my LDS world, but because I enjoy being a mother. I am an educated woman and I am good at my job as a Business Manager and that’s what I want people to see. I am also good as a mother, but that doesn’t make me who I am. I worked hard to get to where I am now before I had a child.

I love him dearly an dam so greatful that I was given the opportunity to become a mother, but I am not a whole woman because I have a child and used my uterus. I am a woman because of everything I am and do.

]]> Comment on Only 55 Days Until Christmas: Simple Gift Suggestions for Friends Who are Not LDS by Kiri Close http://the-exponent.com/2007/11/02/only-55-days-until-christmas-simple-gift-suggestions-for-friends-who-are-not-lds/#comment-10945 Kiri Close Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:13:50 +0000 http://theexponent.wordpress.com/2007/11/02/only-55-days-until-christmas-simple-gift-suggestions-for-friends-who-are-not-lds/#comment-10945 Hmmm...been thinking about more gifts to give: -a stack of 5-10 cute or regular envelopes with stamps already on them. -small bouquets of beautiful flowers. -lotions & potions -used & washed cool scarves and/or mittens in a gift bag. -blankets okay! okay! i'll stop.... Hmmm…been thinking about more gifts to give:

-a stack of 5-10 cute or regular envelopes with stamps already on them.

-small bouquets of beautiful flowers.

-lotions & potions

-used & washed cool scarves and/or mittens in a gift bag.

-blankets

okay! okay! i’ll stop….

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