I’ve always hated the contrast between Mothers and Fathers Day especially in the LDS Church.
For Mothers Day, there are talks about the divinity of womanhood. Women are to be honored just because they have a vagina and even more so if there’s been some outgoing traffic in there. LDS wards pass out flowers or candy to all of the women. At the end of Sacrament Meeting they ask all the women to stand and the youth or Elder’s Quorum distributes the goodies…and in wards that I lived in they made certain that even childless women got one. They made it a celebration of womanhood, not just motherhood.
If, and that’s a big “IF”, Fathers Day is mentioned at all, it’s a lesson on how men need to be better fathers, honor their priesthood more, etc… Their penises apparently aren’t sufficient apparatuses for praise all by themselves.
I suspect it’s mostly a guilt induced thing – everyone knows men have all the power in Mormonism so they try to downplay manhood and highlight womanhood so no one will take a good long look at the reality. Women are told how wonderful they are so they won’t notice that they are actually disregarded and have second-rate status in the church. Every other 364 days of the year are a celebration of manhood in Mormonism.
As a man, though, and a pretty good father if I do say so myself, I find the attitude of LDS leadership condescending. Often in priesthood meeting they’ll say something insulting to the young men like “well, you’re certainly not as good-looking as the young women, but hey you’re priesthood holders so there’s your worth.” Or the MTC Mission President who says, “Elders, look at these sisters. They’ll get done in 18 months what will take you 2 years.” I couldn’t stand that as a young boy and if I’m ever present when someone says it around my son I tear him another one…
Nevertheless, Happy Mother’s Day to the good Mom’s out there. I have a feeling you know who you are.
As a mother, I must respectfully disagree with you. As a mother, I came away feeling not good enough. That no matter how much I did I would never measure up to what a good, righteous and divine mother should be. And I know most of my friends feel the same way. It’s that same kind of beaten feeling that you have after a general women’s conference, especially if Julie Beck speaks. You are never. Good. Enough. So today I am enjoying a quiet Mother’s Day at home while the family is at church. My second church-free Mother’s Day and one of the best yet.
I think we actually agree. I was just relating how I perceived it as a young man. I think I can see your point of view that only one kind of woman and only one polished (and not real) image of motherhood is valued. I guess the message is that everyone walks away feeling not good enough.
This blog post is the closest I’m getting to anything Mother’s Day related… I’m no longer married and Mom is deceased. Enjoy yours. Happy Mother’s Day!
In my ward the women were always given a little flower for mother’s day while the men always got brownies or cookies. Sorry folks, but that is lame. My gift was meant to beautify while the mens’ gift was meant to fill their usually already enlarged bellies. I don’t go for it. Maybe I left the church because I didn’t get a brownie…maybe…
I will praise your penis! And while I’m at it, can I just say how freaking glad I am that I have Sundays free now? My mom brought home a bag of candy from church. Message I took away from it: women, here is something to shut your pie hole with, while you listen to how your vagina is a one-purpose body part. More babies!!!! Wait…what about those of us who cant have babies? Well, there is always the after-life! Until then, may it wither up and die! I am not bitter, I swear!
Sundays free and a 10% raise, what’s not to love? Praise penises and praise multi-purpose vaginas!
*Actually mathematically it’s an 11% raise, but nobody knows what you’re talking about when you say that.
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de verdad que tu pagina y comentarios no son de mi agrado y seme hace una falta de respeto para todos los creyentes de cualquier tipo de religion..y que verguenza si te decias ser miembro de una iglesia..
I don’t speak Spanish, but my limited Portuguese tells me you’re not too pleased with my lack of respect for believers of any religion?
Tru dat
I don’t respect a believer of any religion any more than I respect believers in the latest conspiracy theory, flat earth believers, you name it… if there’s no credible evidence and you believe it anyway, no I do not respect that belief.
BUT, I do respect your right to have whatever bat-shit crazy belief you want.