The Remarkable Women of God: Mormon Women
Mormons believe in full equality between men and women, but they also believe that men and women have different roles because of gender.
Latter-day Saint women celebrate their differences from men, believing that the union of a man and woman is divinely appointed. Sheri L. Dew, a member and former leader of the Relief Society (the 6 million strong Church organization for women) stated, “He made us enough alike to love each other, but enough different that we would need to unite our strengths and stewardships to create a whole. Neither man nor woman is perfect or complete without the other” (“It Is Not Good for Man or Woman to Be Alone,” Ensign, Nov. 2001, 12).
Elder Neal A Maxwell, a prominent Church leader from 1974 up to his death in 2004, added this view concerning husbands and wives:
“When we kneel to pray, we kneel together. When we kneel at the altar of the holy temple [to be married], we kneel together. When we approach the final gate where Jesus Himself is the gatekeeper, we will, if faithful, pass through that gate together” (“The Women of God,” Ensign, May 1978, 10).
While men and women are equal partners in marriage, the Mormon church recognizes that men and women are different, too:
“We cannot eliminate, through any pattern of legislation or regulation, the differences between men and women. There are basic things that a man needs that a woman does not need. There are things that a man feels that a woman never does feel. There are basic things that a woman needs that a man never needs, and there are things that a woman feels that a man never feels nor should he.” (Boyd K. Packer, “The Equal Rights Amendment”, Ensign, March 1977, page 6)
Mormon women are not subservient to Mormon men:
"The place of woman in the Church is to walk beside the man, not in front of him nor behind him. In the Church there is full equality between man and woman. The gospel ... was devised by the Lord for men and women alike. Every person on earth, man or woman, earned the right in the pre-existent life to come here; and must earn the right, by righteous actions, to live hereafter where 'God and Christ dwell.' … The privileges and requirements of the gospel are fundamentally alike for men and women. The Lord loves His daughters as well as He loves His sons. … This makes individuals of man and woman--individuals with the right of free agency, with the power of individual decision, with individual opportunity for everlasting joy, whose own actions throughout the eternities, with the loving aid of the Father, will determine individual achievement. There can be no question in the Church of man's rights versus woman's rights" (Improvement Era, Mar. 1942, p. 161).
Mormon Myths and Reality
Filed under: Mormon Church, Mormon Videos, Mormonism, Videos
The truth about the Mormons (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints). Who are the Mormons? Are Mormons Christian? Are Mormons polygamists? Steve Young and Charlene Wells Hawks host the video.
Some people attack our church. Some professionals religionists make a living at it. This can cause confusion for people who are looking for information and most people really do not know what Mormmons really believe
A person who wants clear water should go to the spring. A person who wants fruit should go to the tree. Those who want to know what Mormons actually believe can visit the lds.org web site, or mormon.org (official websites of the Mormon Church), or other good websites such as MormonWiki, Mormonbeliefs.org, Christ.org).
Why Do People Leave the Mormon Church? Racism, Polygamy?
Filed under: Mormon Church, Mormon Prophets and Apostles, Mormon Videos, Videos
There are many reasons why people leave the Mormon Church. Fortunatelly most people do not, but still we need to be willing to help those who are struggling. The video below is a presentation by John P. Dehlin about reasons because people leave the Mormon Church and how we can help. I found an interesting comment to the video:
Most people are under the false impression that you have to be perfect to be called of God. People accuse Brigham Young of being racist and conclude that? he could not have been a prophet of God because of his weakness. You shall know them by their fruits, not their weaknesses.
This is an interesting and true concept. At the end of our lives we will be judged by what we did and even desired to do, all the good and the evil we did or thought. So, Brigham Young did a lot of sacrifices and good for the Kingdom of God but he was still a son of his time, and he had some wrong ideas about black people. However, it should be important to remember that most Americans were racists to at least some degree at that time. But obviously, there are different degrees of racism. There is a big difference, especially in the 18th century, between someone who would treat black people like animals and someone like Brigham Young who said inappropriate things about them, because of his limited knowledge or bias.
But some may say, ” Was he not a prophet? How could he make such a mistake?” Remember what Joseph Smith said, a prophet is a prophet only when he act as such, not at all times. Moreover, the Mormon Church was against slavery when many other Christian Churches were strongly segregated. Yes, the Mormons did not give the priesthood to the blacks, but other christians Churches for a long time segregated completely blacks from white members. Is not that racism?
As I wrote previously, some people have a wrong idea of what a prophet is (see http://giuseppemartinengo.com/864/was-joseph-smith-a-true-prophet).
This is the video with more interesting ideas about why do people leave the Mormon Church
Mormon Videos: Mormon Ads and Mormon Beliefs
Filed under: Mormon Church, Mormon Videos, Mormonism, Videos
I have been looking for a few good videos about the Mormon Church and these are a few interesting ones.
The first is a Mormon Ad – SciFi, and as usual it is about families
I have also found an unusual one from a Mormon girl who wants to answer questions for sincere truth seekers. She is a little bit sarcastic and suggests haters to go visit a therapist…
Finally, a nice explanation of Mormon beliefs (Mormons are Christians) by Elder Coleman in the Mormon General Conference. Elder Gary J. Coleman talks about his conversion to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He speaks of his understanding of the true nature of the Godhead, access to additional scripture and revelation, and partaking of the blessings of priesthood authority.
Glenn Beck – Mormon Success
Filed under: Famous Mormons, Mormon Videos, Videos
Glenn Beck is not perfect. We know it. We are not either. He is learning, we are too. He made mistakes, we did to.
But he is funny and becoming a Mormon has helped him to improve his life.
This video tells us a little more about Glenn Beck’s life as a Mormon.
A positive attitude: a great (non Mormon) video
Our attitude about problems in life can positively influence others and make a real difference in the world.
This video is great (and it is not a directly Mormon video in spite of the fact that our thirteenth article of faith says that:
…If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.”
So, I adopt this as a Mormon video….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtprsgQWkPs
Mormons Exposed – The Mormon Conspiracy
Some people are afraid of the so-called Mormon conspiracy to take over the government of the United States.
This video explains a little more about this conspiracy using the comments made by a popular Jewish radio talk-show host.
Priesthood for Mormon Men of Every Race
Filed under: Mormon Prophets and Apostles, Mormon Videos, Mormonism
Another great video from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church), finally telling the true story about the priesthood and the black people in the Church.
Too much has been said that was wrong. This is a great video for those who honestly seek for the truth. For those who do not seek the truth… anotehr missed opportunity…
Video Testimonies of Mormon Prophets
Filed under: Mormon Church, Mormon Prophets and Apostles, Mormon Videos, Mormonism
I have found this interesting video with the testimonies of several members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church).
I know that they are indeed prophets and apostles of God. If you are a member of the Church you will enjoy it. If you are not, you should really listen to them!
Inside a Mormon Temple: Curitiba, Brazil
Filed under: Mormon Church, Mormon Temples, Mormon Videos
As I mentioned in a previous blog, Mormon Temples can be visited inside before they are dedicated. This is a good opportunity, since this video show images of the inside of the new Mormon Temple, built in Curitiba, state of Paraná, Brazil.
I used to live in Londrina, the second city in the same state, and I am glad that now members of the Mormon Church will not have to travel to S. Paolo, a long trip from Curitiba.
I currently live in an area where it is easy to go to a temple. I only need to travel 10-15 minutes and I know what a great blessing is to live close to one of these sacred buildings.
If you are not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church), I invite you to talk to the Mormon missionaries and ask them about our temples, where families can be sealed for eternity.
Watch the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w855OEejpZQ
Inside Mormon Temples: part 2.
DearScriptures.com