How do Mormons view women?
"In Mormon theology men and women are considered equal partners.
Some misled critics of the LDS church try very hard to convince others that Mormons view women in a negative light. They state that Mormons believe that a woman can't get into Heaven without her husband's permission, or that a husband has some sort of ruling authority over his wife, or that Mormons get married civilly once, but then are 'sealed' to several other wives. These are all false statements.
They will also tell you to check the Journal of Discourses for some of the 'original' teachings of the LDS church. These have never been considered official doctrine of the church though some apostles highly valued them. Nevertheless, the Journal of Discourses did express how the LDS people were ahead of the time for women's rights, and mirror the same teachings as found currently:
'If you abuse your wives, turn them out of doors, and treat them in a harsh and cruel manner, you will be left wifeless and childless; you will have no increase in eternity. You will have bartered this blessing, this privilege, away;'
Abuse of another, whether physical, emotional, or in any other way, is considered one of the most serious grievances of the LDS church and is in direct opposition to the teachings of Christ. LDS members who commit such acts are not in good standing with the Church and are subject to the most serious penalties the Church can impose, including excommunication."
Source: www.EvidencesOfMormon.org/mormon-beliefs/how-do-mormons-view-women.aspx
This source contains other common misrepresentations, additional Journal of Discourses quotes, and references to actual Mormon teachings about how Mormons view women.
Mormons believe that women are equal to men. In marriage and parenting, men and women are considered equal partners.[1]
Some misled critics of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints try very hard to convince others that Mormons view women in a negative light. They state that Mormons believe that a woman can't get into Heaven without her husband's permission, or that a husband has some sort of ruling authority over his wife. These are flat out falsehoods.
Common falsehoods and misrepresentations on how Mormons view women
Here are some of the common misconceptions that are often spread, followed by data from actual Mormon doctrine.
- "A woman cannot get into Heaven unless her husband lets her." This is false. In Mormon doctrine, the highest kingdom of Heaven can be obtained whether single or married.[2][3] Within this kingdom, there are several degrees. The highest degree within this kingdom can only be obtained by those who are married, whether in this life or the next. Latter-day Saints believe that this is what is being described in 1 Corinthians 11:11. They believe that a man cannot reach this degree without his wife, and a woman cannot reach this degree without her husband. It is a partnership.[4]
- "If a husband has the priesthood he has more authority over his wife." This is false. The priesthood gives no man authority to rule over another.[5] The priesthood can only be used to serve.[6]
The priesthood gives the keys to manage and administer the church and its ordinances and to bless others. It does not change a man's authority over another in any way. In the church, this action is called unrighteous dominion. It is one of the most serious actions that a man can commit and is a really quick way to get your self into disciplinary council or excommunicated.
This being said, I must deviate for a moment, because often times misguided critics incorrectly state that the prophet or some other leader has some sort of ruling authority over the members, whether through coercion or by some other means. According to the D&C 121:36-37, any man who tries to exercise the priesthood in such a way will not remain in good standing with God. These leaders teach, and warn what the consequences of your actions may be, but allow you to choose for yourself. Agency is a critical aspect of Mormon theology.[7] Critics will say that a Mormon will get their temple recommend taken away if they don't do what the prophet or bishop says, as if they were threatening to take away a luxury cruise, etc. This is a misrepresentation. A temple recommend requires that you have a testimony of the Mormon faith and has some clearly defined standards to keep.[8]
Obeying every word of the prophet or bishop is not one of them. One must believe and sustain him, but if they deviate from what he says it will not cost them their temple recommend unless they deviate from one of those clearly defined standards. Those who value going to the temple are well aware of the standards and usually have no problem in keeping them, regardless of how well they agree with or like their leaders. Even after that is said, you will see a lot of people who will still try and convince others otherwise. Let it be known that we believe that we will draw closer to God by following the teachings of the prophet, but that we are free to choose for ourselves.[7]
- "A wife has to do whatever her husband says." This is also false. Any man trying to convince his wife of this falls into unrighteous dominion as mentioned above.
- "The church only allows the priesthood to be held by male members." This is true; however, it is usually misunderstood or misrepresented. As described above, the priesthood has the keys to administer in the church, and to bless others. Critics will claim that this makes us prejudiced against women because women do not hold the priesthood. According to Mormon doctrine, the keys to the priesthood are always given to the head of the group and then that group acts as one to use the authority of those keys.[9]
You see this in the First Presidency (which consists of three men, where the President of the church has the keys), the Bishopric (three men, where the Bishop has the keys), and it should also be seen in the family (husband and wife, where the husband has the keys). The husband and wife both receive the same blessings of the priesthood within their home. This is not because men are better than women in any way, but because the Lord's house is a house of order, and the most important unit in the church is the family itself. In the church, women serve in every level, from the local ward's Sunday School President, to the worldwide organization's Relief Society Presidency.
- "Mormons get married civilly once, and then get sealed to multiple wives outside of civil marriage." This is false. Regardless of gender, Latter-day Saints can only be sealed/married to one other living person of the opposite gender.[10]
Abuse in the Mormon Church
I broach such a serious subject because I have seen it appear in communications when talking about women in the LDS church. Usually it is from those who have incorrectly associated the LDS Church with another religious group that broke away from the LDS Church long ago.
Any form of abuse in the LDS Church is not tolerated. It is considered one of the most serious of offenses possible. Any form of abuse or mistreatment of another, whether sexual, physical or emotional, is contrary to the teachings of Christ.
If a member is found to be committing any form of abuse they are subject to the most serious penalties the Church can impose. They cannot be in good standing with the Church, cannot carry a temple recommend, are removed from their callings where they serve, and are excommunicated. The process is the same for any member from the President of the Church on down. The LDS Church requires criminal abuse to be reported to legal authorities unless the area the church resides in has laws which restrict disclosure of such information given in a private religious confession. Church officials are instructed to follow state law regarding reporting of abuse to public authorities.
While the LDS Church believes that people can be forgiven if they are truly repentant, any member who has abused another can never serve in a position that would place someone at risk. Membership records do not contain any information on a person's personal transgressions with only this one exception. Any transgression that would place another at risk is recorded and will follow that member anywhere in the LDS Church for the rest of their lives. A Bishop cannot call a new member to serve in his ward until this membership record is received and he has talked to the Bishop of the previous ward to determine any other transgressions that would keep a person from serving in the church. If a member is found to have one of these notices attached to their record they are not allowed to serve in any related calling.
The collapsible section below quotes excerpts from the LDS Church's official statement on child abuse, and includes additional information. The same applies to abuse of any person.
| Excerpts from the LDS Churchs official statement on child abuse | Show |
"Simply put, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to child abusers. When abuse is suspected, the Church directs its members to first contact the legal authorities and then their local bishop for counseling and support. The Church cooperates fully with law enforcement in investigating incidents of child abuse and bringing perpetrators to justice.
[...]
"What other position could the Church possibly take? The issue goes to the heart of Church doctrine. Little children are innocent and precious in the eyes of God. Jesus Christ experienced some of His most tender moments with children and reserved His strongest language for those who abuse them. "Whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea" (Mathew 18:6).
[...]
"The Church has a lay clergy. Leaders of congregations in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are called bishops. Bishops are selected from the local membership to serve as volunteers for about five years. Most have lived in the community for a long time and consider the members of their congregation to be personal friends and neighbors. And most bishops have children of their own, often young ones, who attend church and participate in its activities. Bishops are therefore already heavily invested in the safety and well-being of their Church community. When a child abuser threatens the safety of their congregation, bishops have no incentive, financial or otherwise, to do other than protect their Church family as they would their own.
[...]
"Helping the victim is of first concern. It is the very nature of Christians to reach out with compassion and love to those who are struggling with the agonies of abuse. It is integral to our ministry. Within the Church, victims can find spiritual guidance that eventually leads to healing through faith in Jesus Christ. Abuse victims are also offered professional counseling so they can benefit from the best of secular expertise, regardless of their ability to pay.
[...]
"[A] Help Line was established in 1995 to provide bishops with immediate access to professional counselors to guide them in protecting abuse victims. Bishops are good people, but it is impossible for them to understand all the complexities of child abuse, including the different legal requirements of different states. [...]
"For instance, if a teenager makes her bishop aware of abuse, his first call is to the Help Line for resources to assist the victim and prevent further abuse. If the incident is criminal in nature, the bishop also receives instructions on how to report it to legal authorities. We know of no other church that provides professional assistance for ministers to aid abuse victims 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
[...]
"Members of the Church found guilty of child abuse are also subject to the laws of God. President Hinckley has said: "Our hearts reach out to the offender, but we cannot tolerate the sin of which he may be guilty. Where there has been offense, there is a penalty." Convicted child abusers are excommunicated, the highest possible discipline our faith can impose. Excommunicated members cannot take part in Church meetings or hold responsibilities of any kind within the congregation.
"Can child abusers who have paid the legal price for their crimes and gone through a rigorous repentance process with local Church leaders become members of the Church again? Yes. As Christians, we believe in forgiveness. But can they ever again, in their lifetime, serve in any capacity that would put them in direct contact with children? Absolutely not. Forgiveness does not remove the consequences of sin. Protection of the family is a first principle of the Church.
[...]
"Bishops in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are taught that they have two primary responsibilities when they learn about a case of child abuse. First, they must protect the victim. Second, they must hold the perpetrator accountable for his actions. Even in states where the confidentiality of the confessional prevents clergy from reporting, bishops do all they can to prevent further abuse. Every effort is made to persuade the abuser to take responsibility for his actions, including going to the legal authorities.
"While even one case is too many, relatively few are filed against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — far below what one would expect based on its more than six million U.S. members. One of the reasons for this is the Church's aggressive effort to address the problem over the past 20 years."
Additional information:
The LDS Church's official statement on child abuse
A Conversation on Spouse Abuse
The history of how Mormons view women
Some critics will also tell you to check the Journal of Discourses, even though they have never been considered official doctrine of the church. Some apostles of that time did express their desire to have them included as standard works, however, the journals contained a wide variety of items including funeral services, prayer services, sermons considered both inspired and uninspired and other such odds and ends. While they have been considered valuable, they have never been considered as official doctrine of the LDS church. In addition, the journals were not checked for doctrinal accuracy before publication.[11]
Nevertheless, the Journal of Discourses did express how the LDS people were ahead of the time for women's rights and included these same teachings:
"The man who abuses, or tries to bring dishonor to the female sex is a fool. They would affect a revolution for good in any community a great deal quicker than men can accomplish it."
[12]
"Do you call upon the name of Jesus Christ, and say, 'Father, I ask thee for the gift of thy Spirit to conquer this rising passion;' or do you give way to it, and scold at your wives, or at your children in bitter and vindictive language? I say, shame on that man who will give way to his passions, and use the name of God or of Christ to curse his ox or his horse, or any creature which God has made; it is a disgrace to him."
[13]
"If you abuse your wives, turn them out of doors, and treat them in a harsh and cruel manner, you will be left wifeless and childless; you will have no increase in eternity. You will have bartered this blessing, this privilege, away;"
[14]
"Should the day ever come when the cries of the daughters of Zion pass their husbands unheeded and reach the God of Abraham, it will be a sorrowful day for the elders of Israel. And further let me say, I know of no Mormon husband whose wife's body or soul is subject to him except in love, as he, in like manner, is bound to be subject to Christ and His laws."
[15]
References
| 1 - |
| Women are equal to men | Show |
Related Bible verses:
As found in current teachings of the LDS church:
"She was my dear companion for more than two-thirds of a century, my equal before the Lord, really my superior. And now in my old age, she has again become the girl of my dreams.
"[...]
"And so Eve became God's final creation, the grand summation of all of the marvelous work that had gone before.
"Notwithstanding this preeminence given the creation of woman, she has so frequently through the ages been relegated to a secondary position. She has been put down. She has been denigrated. She has been enslaved. She has been abused. And yet some few of the greatest characters of scripture have been women of integrity, accomplishment, and faith."
"There are those who suggest that males are favored of the Lord because they are ordained to hold the priesthood. Anyone who believes this does not understand the great plan of happiness. The premortal and mortal natures of men and women were specified by God Himself, and it is simply not within His character to diminish the roles and responsibilities of any of His children."
"In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners."
As defined by the members of the LDS Church:
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| 2 - |
| Latter-day Saints believe in multiple kingdoms in Heaven | Show |
Related Bible verses:
Related verses in the Doctrine and Covenants (part of the Mormon canon of scripture):
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| 3 - |
| Single men and women can obtain the Celestial Kingdom | Show |
Related verses in the Doctrine and Covenants (part of the Mormon canon of scripture):
As found in current teachings of the LDS church:
"I also recognize that not all women in the Church will have an opportunity for marriage and motherhood in mortality. But if those of you in this situation are worthy and endure faithfully, you can be assured of all blessings from a kind and loving Heavenly Father—and I emphasize all blessings.
"I assure you that if you have to wait even until the next life to be blessed with a choice companion, God will surely compensate you. Time is numbered only to man. God has your eternal perspective in mind."
"Even unmarried, we may reach the celestial kingdom, but we will be ministering angels only.
"[...]
"And in the meantime, we promise you that insofar as eternity is concerned, no soul will be deprived of rich and high and eternal blessings for anything which that person could not help, that the Lord never fails in his promises, and that every righteous person will receive eventually all to which the person is entitled and which he or she has not forfeited through any fault of his or her own."
|
| 4 - |
| Both husband and wife require each other to obtain the highest degree within the Celestial Kingdom of Heaven (not one giving permission to the other) | Show |
Related Bible verses:
Related verses in the Doctrine and Covenants (part of the Mormon canon of scripture):
As found in current teachings of the LDS church:
"There is no other arrangement that meets the divine purposes of the Almighty. Man and woman are His creations. Their duality is His design. Their complementary relationships and functions are fundamental to His purposes. One is incomplete without the other."
"As daughters of God, their potential is divine. Without them, eternal life would be impossible.
"[...]
"[Quoting D&C 131:1-3:] 'In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees; And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage]; And if he does not, he cannot obtain it.'
"The highest ordinances in the house of the Lord are received by husband and wife together and equally—or not at all!"
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| 5 - |
| The priesthood gives no man authority over another | Show |
Related Bible verses:
Related verses in the Book of Mormon:
Related verses in the Doctrine and Covenants (part of the Mormon canon of scripture):
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| 6 - |
| The priesthood is used to serve | Show |
Related Bible verses:
Related verses in the Doctrine and Covenants (part of the Mormon canon of scripture):
As found in current teachings of the LDS church:
"God has given us the priesthood, and that priesthood cannot be exercised, 'only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned; by kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile'"
|
| 7 - |
| Prophet can give commandments but must allow people to have their agency | Show |
Related Bible verses:
Related verses in the Book of Mormon:
Related verses in the Doctrine and Covenants (part of the Mormon canon of scripture):
Related verses in the Pearl of Great Price (part of the Mormon canon of scripture):
As found in current teachings of the LDS church:
"We do not believe in a deterministic God—that is, one who determines in advance the eventual fate of His children. Rather, we believe in a God who has perfect foreknowledge of the choices His children will make. He may use this foreknowledge to guide us or even to warn us, but He does not use it to preempt our agency. He allows us to become what we truly desire to become."
As found on the LDS website lds.org:
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| 8 - |
| One needs a testimony of the LDS church and be living to certain standards to receive a temple recommend | Show |
Related Bible verses:
Related verses in the Book of Mormon:
Related verses in the Doctrine and Covenants (part of the Mormon canon of scripture):
As found in current teachings of the LDS church:
"Because a temple is sacred, the Lord asks that it be protected from desecration. Anyone may enter who is willing to prepare well for that privilege.
"[...]
"How do you prepare for a temple recommend? You may consult with your bishopric, as well as your parents, family, stake presidency, teacher, or quorum adviser. The requirements are simple. Succinctly stated, an individual is required to keep the commandments of Him whose house it is. He has set the standards. We enter the temple as His guests."
As found in the temple preperation classes:
"Members seeking a temple recommend should have testimonies of Heavenly Father, of the Lord Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Ghost. They should sustain the Lord's prophet, the other General Authorities, and their local Church leaders. They should not sympathize with or be affiliated with groups or individuals who have apostatized from the Church or whose teachings or practices are contrary to the gospel.
"Those seeking recommends should be faithfully attending sacrament meetings, priesthood meetings, and other Church meetings. They should be conscientiously carrying out their callings given through priesthood authority. They should be striving to keep all of the Lord's commandments, including paying a full tithe, being honest in word and deed, and abstaining from the use of tea, coffee, alcohol, tobacco, and other harmful and habit-forming substances.
"They should be living pure and virtuous lives and should be obeying the Lord's law of chastity, which prohibits sexual relations with anyone other than the spouse to whom they are lawfully wedded. They should be in harmony with gospel principles in both spiritual and physical relationships with other members of their families. They must not be involved in any spiritual, physical, mental, or emotional abuse of others.
"They must be willing to confess their sins and forsake them. Serious sins, such as moral transgressions, abuse of family members, affiliation with apostate groups or practices, or serious violations of the laws of the land, must be confessed to the bishop or branch president well in advance of a temple-recommend interview. If a person's conscience, which is the Light of Christ given to all people, raises a question in the person's mind about whether something should be discussed with the bishop or branch president, it should probably be discussed."
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| 9 - |
| The keys of the priesthood are held by the head of the group | Show |
As seen in the hierarchy of the church found in the Doctrine and Covenants:
There are, in the church, two priesthoods, namely, the Melchizedek and Aaronic, including the Levitical Priesthood.
All other authorities or offices in the church are appendages to this priesthood.
But there are two divisions or grand heads—one is the Melchizedek Priesthood, and the other is the Aaronic or Levitical Priesthood.
The Melchizedek Priesthood holds the right of presidency, and has power and authority over all the offices in the church in all ages of the world, to administer in spiritual things.
The Presidency of the High Priesthood, after the order of Melchizedek, have a right to officiate in all the offices in the church.
The second priesthood is called the Priesthood of Aaron, because it was conferred upon Aaron and his seed, throughout all their generations.
The bishopric is the presidency of this priesthood, and holds the keys or authority of the same.
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| 10 - |
| Latter-day Saints are only married/sealed to only one living person | Show |
Related verses in the Book of Mormon:
Related verses in the Doctrine and Covenants (part of the Mormon canon of scripture):
As found in current teachings of the LDS church:
"If any of our members are found to be practicing plural marriage, they are excommunicated, the most serious penalty the Church can impose. Not only are those so involved in direct violation of the civil law, they are in violation of the law of this Church. An article of our faith is binding upon us. It states, 'We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law' (A of F 1:12). One cannot obey the law and disobey the law at the same time.
"[...] Even in countries where civil or religious law allows polygamy, the Church teaches that marriage must be monogamous and does not accept into its membership those practicing plural marriage."
As found on the LDS website lds.org:
As defined by the members of the LDS Church:
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| 11 - |
| About the Journal of Discourses | Show |
The following is a direct quote from the LDS Church:
Gospel Topics: Journal of Discourses
"The Journal of Discourses is not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is a compilation of sermons and other materials from the early years of the Church, which were transcribed and then published. It included some doctrinal instruction but also practical teaching, some of which is speculative in nature and some of which is only of historical interest.
Additional Information
"The content of the Journal of Discourses was transcribed, sometimes inaccurately, and published between 1854 and 1886 in England. The compilation contains some statements of doctrine as well as other materials of interest to Latter-day Saints who lived far from the center of the Church, including speeches given for a variety of occasions, funeral addresses, reports from returning missionaries, prayers, and the proceedings of a trial. The Journal of Discourses was produced under the guidance of those who transcribed the materials, including George D. Watt, David W. Evans, and George W. Gibbs.
"Skilled in the use of shorthand, George D. Watt had transcribed many conferences and sermons for the Deseret News. He received little pay for his work. Since the Deseret News was not generally available outside of the United States, Watt proposed to Brigham Young the idea of publishing these materials on a subscription basis. Such a plan would make the materials available to more Saints and allow Watt to earn a living with his work. President Brigham Young supported the plan, and a letter from the First Presidency was included in the first volume encouraging Church members to cooperate in the "purchase and sale" of the journal.
"Questions have been raised about the accuracy of some transcriptions. Modern technology and processes were not available for verifying the accuracy of transcriptions, and some significant mistakes have been documented. The Journal of Discourses includes interesting and insightful teachings by early Church leaders; however, by itself it is not an authoritative source of Church doctrine."
The original volumes of the Journal of Discourses can be found here
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| 12 - |  | Brigham Young (Reported by G.D. Watt), Journal of Discourses (pdf), Vol. 12, pg 194 (left column), April 6, 1868, accessed 06/04/2012 |
| 13 - | | Brigham Young (Reported by G.D. Watt), Journal of Discourses (pdf), Vol. 1, pg 241 (left column), July 24, 1853, accessed 06/03/2012 |
| 14 - | | Brigham Young (Reported by G.D. Watt), Journal of Discourses (pdf), Vol. 1, pg 119 (right column), Feb. 27, 1853, accessed 06/04/2012 |
| 15 - | | Moses Thatcher (Reported by F.E. Barker), Journal of Discourses (pdf), Vol. 26, pg 314 (right column), Aug. 28, 1885, accessed 06/04/2012 |