Letter to My Daughters as LDS Women

Girls,

After a wonderful road trip with Lizard, I realized I should be doing more to share with you my perspective on what a unique blessing it is be a Latter-Day Saint woman. I love each of you deeply and want you to live life to its full and have joy in it. Unfortunately, challenges are on the horizon for you. Much fuss has been made and will continue to be made over the role of women in our faith. You may hear that women are treated poorly as second class citizens, with no authority in the Church. Some may criticize the Church of valuing women only for their virtue and ability to bear children. Like breeding stock with no rights, purpose or genuine importance. This is a gross perversion of the doctrines contained within God's plan.

Some women, men and groups advocate for women to be ordained to the priesthood to compensate for these perceived injustices or to justify themselves in leaving the faith or indulging in sin. Perhaps one day you will struggle with this topic or feel like a second class citizen. If so, I'm sorry for your pain. I can appreciate why you might feel that way. But, I'd like to share some things with you that are unique to our faith regarding women and how they surpass all teachings I am aware of in any organized religion on the role, purpose and potential of women.

For me, these truths are an essential part of my testimony that God's plan exalts men and women as they become united in marriage and one with God. All blessings of this union being equal. What follows is my opinion as I understand the doctrine and how it applies to you:

• You, specifically as a female, are created in the image of God. Genesis 1:26-27 Our whole concept of God is unique in that we believe the only way to be like God is for a man and a woman to be sealed together, with the power to create life throughout eternity.  1 Cor 11:11, D&C 131:1-4, D/C 132:19-2, The Family: A Proclamation to the World, O My Father, v.3

• In Genesis, the verse says let us make man in our own image. This commonly is only thought to refer to Christ. But there is no such thing as God the Father without his wife or Heavenly Mother. Was she there and involved? I think so. Life is created in patterns as Genesis describes. I don't think Adam was an animated clay statue with life mystically brought into him. I think the Father and Mother consumed food from the earth they created and then brought forth Adam and Eve through the same basic process we know today.  So yes, you are literally a daughter of your Heavenly Mother.
• Why isn't this emphasized more? I don't know. My guess is that entering into this life is somewhat of a given and getting back to Exaltation is a male priesthood responsibility so the role of the Father and Son are emphasized.

• Women are divinely ordained to stewardship for the creation of life and nurturing it. We teach that when we left our first estate we passed through the veil into mortality to be tested Abr 3:25. This implies passing through the veil is to clothe the spirit with a physical body. Like a woman giving birth to a child. A favorite hymn teaches: veiled the Lord in flesh O God the Eternal Father, v.4. The ordinances of the temple clarify this further. We see that Eve naturally responded to the desire to create life as it was part of her eternal identity and purpose. But due to the fall, the Lord offers Himself a sacrifice for our sins. Through His power, bestowed to sons created in His image, the Priesthood work of Salvation -- to pass through the veil back into Exaltation is possible. 

• Hopefully you can now see how women and men fill necessarily separate, but absolutely essential roles. Both women and men are assisted by Jesus Christ to fill the measure of their creation. His atonement is symbolic of being born again by blood, water and the spirit; like a woman delivering a child. In birthing and raising children, women emulate Jesus Christ and become like Him and their Heavenly Mother. So naturally, men need a way to emulate or follow Him as well. This is done through priesthood service and why receiving the Melchizedek Priesthood is essential for exaltation to participate in the ordinances for the temple. 
• Women will become Queens and Priestesses NT Manual. To me this implies ruling, authority and the power of God (which cannot be without a unified man and woman). The power of God (man/woman) is just manifest in different ways. Daughters emulate their Mother, sons their Father or His Son. 
• Women cannot create life on their own. It requires union with a man. Now that I've discussed the sacred role of women, is it any wonder God (woman/man) wants this to happen between two souls prepared and sealed in the temple, committed to raising children in righteousness? To me, it is a plain a precious truth. A show of God's (man/woman) love for their children. Likewise, could we possibly expect men to carry out the work of salvation as Priesthood holders without participation and support from Women? Absolutely not. I think this is part of the reason why women help officiate in the temple and serve in relief society - in the pattern of Queens and Priestesses.    

• Many throughout the world in Egypt, India, South America and other religions and cultures have some concept of the Sacred Feminine as well as structures and practices that can be traced to the Temple... that were corrupted or changed over time from what God (woman/man) revealed to Adam. This is because Satan's main goal is our misery and to disrupt the work of Exaltation. What better way to do that, than to twist Men's roles as Priesthood holders into tyrants and then diminish and extinguish the knowledge of women's divine potential? Right there he has half the population slighted and abused with the other corrupted by power and greed. 

• Don't settle for the Devil's propaganda.

• Is it really all that much better to be a man in the Church? After all the stuff I just said, it should be clear the answer is no. But what about power and authority to run the church? All men are expected to listen and follow the counsel of their priesthood leaders the same way women are. Many men will never be the one calling the shots as the Bishop, Stake President or General Authority. Does that mean they weren't real men and a disgrace to the Priesthood. No! And IF they do wind up in those positions, they cannot campaign or buy their way in. They are called by inspiration and to serve those they have stewardship for. 

• Culturally, we have improved and will continue to do so. Please note this doesn't mean the doctrine changed, it means the doctrine and the Atonement have changed us as a people. Hopefully with the help of women like you emulating Christ, this will continue. 

• But what if you don't get married or can't have children? Does that mean you are less of a woman since God (woman/man) only supposedly values you for your birthing hips and reproductive capacity? No! Just as there is so much more to being a Priesthood holder than holding the office of Bishop, etc. Some men are called to that; many are not. Some women are called to be mothers of 15 kids and some are barren. But all women can support the creation of life and the nurture of it! If you are married but can't have kids, adoption may be exactly God's plan for you and those children you take into your home. They say it takes a village to raise a child. And a huge part of that is the influence, example and teaching women impart to all, not just their own kids. This is similar to how a man regardless of his Priesthood office should bless the lives of all in his path, the same way Jesus would. 

• What about polygamy? Doesn't that whole system imply favor to men and a horrible abuse to women? This is a very fair question. Some horrible things have been done and are continuing to happen from Satan inspiring men to twist this doctrine to their own gain and it makes me utterly sick. First, don't forget that the God (woman/man) of Abraham, Issac and Jacob or the 12 tribes of Israel in the bible started with a polygamist family. This practice is not new. I've met with ministers of other faiths who have admitted they can find nothing scriptural against it. Next, I suggest you read the following essay from the Church and get away from half-truths and lies about this topic: Essay on Polygamy. Remember that the Glory of God (woman/man) comes from the exaltation of their children. One man with five women can produce more children. But I honestly believe this is very difficult and only needed when the Lord sees fit. Are you going to have to share your husband after this life? I have no idea. Not all men are called to every Priesthood office and a very small percentage of men and women have called to this practice.  It may be the same after this life. Regardless, I don't believe God (woman/man) is in the habit of forcing people to do things. I have confidence it will all work out in the end. 

If you read this far, remember I love you and am proud of you, regardless of whether or not your life fits a certain mold or has all the boxed checked. I'm grateful your mom inspires me to be better and has worked so hard to raise you to be beautiful, funny, creative, and classy. She is a wonderful example of becoming who you should be. I know each of you will do great things as you live up to your divine potential. Love - Dad.