I recently read an essay by Tresa Edmunds entitled “The Next Generation of Mormon Feminism” which was published on Patheos.com as part of a collection of essays on the topic of the future of Mormonism. Sister Edmunds feels that we are at the “brink of a Mormon feminist renaissance,” facilitated by Internet technology which allows like-minded LDS women, and not just academics, to support and protect each other, and to coordinate and evangelize in ways previously unavailable.
She describes young women who are choosing to leave the church rather than “shrink themselves down and become less” to fit into the role prescribed by the Church for women because the “vision we give them of their future is not a future they want.” To confront this issue, she and others have created “Women Advocating for Voice and Equality” (WAVE). Their objective is to change the church.
I empathize a lot with these women. I have watched over the last 6 years, mostly from the sidelines, as these Internet communities of Mormon feminists have grown. They often have heartbreaking stories of abuse and pain, often caused by men who wickedly point to church doctrines in order to justify their unrighteousness.
But this new wave of Mormon Feminism will fail.
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The Prophets of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have repeatedly emphasized the importance of Motherhood to both the stability and happiness of our earthly society as well as its central importance in the eternal plan for our salvation.
This month, Elder Henry B. Eyring reminds us again of the importance of motherhood in his message from the First Presidency of the Church :
In our own time we have been warned with counsel on where to find safety from sin and from sorrow. One of the keys to recognizing those warnings is that they are repeated. For instance, more than once in general conferences, you have heard our prophet say that he would quote a preceding prophet and would therefore be a second witness and sometimes even a third. Each of us old enough to listen heard President Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985) give counsel on the importance of a mother in the home and then heard President Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994) quote him, and we have heard President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008) quote them both.
Following this counsel from the prophets represents a great sacrifice for many women and men. My own mother made that sacrifice, despite her disinclination toward those things often associated with motherhood, and endured the scorn of her own feminist generation for choosing to stay at home and be a mother. She has since testified that it was the right decision and she has been blessed for her humility.
There is a heartbreaking article by Rebecca Walker , who is the daughter of famed feminist icon and author of “The Color Purple” Alice Walker, where she discusses the damage caused by her mother’s fanatical feminism. She says:
My mother’s feminist principles coloured every aspect of my life. As a little girl, I wasn’t even allowed to play with dolls or stuffed toys in case they brought out a maternal instinct. It was drummed into me that being a mother, raising children and running a home were a form of slavery. Having a career, travelling the world and being independent were what really mattered according to her.
…
Feminism has betrayed an entire generation of women into childlessness. It is devastating. But far from taking responsibility for any of this, the leaders of the women’s movement close ranks against anyone who dares to question them – as I have learned to my cost. I don’t want to hurt my mother, but I cannot stay silent. I believe feminism is an experiment, and all experiments need to be assessed on their results. Then, when you see huge mistakes have been paid, you need to make alterations.
Read the whole article:
How my mother’s fanatical views tore us apart
by Rebecca Walker
(Thanks to Speak Up For Truth for the link)
