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Subject: Re: General Conference Author: Chiska [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] Date Posted: 15:32:26 10/09/07 Tue In reply to: Elisa 's message, "Re: General Conference" on 13:30:46 10/09/07 Tue I just glanced through Sister Beck's talk (I can't "hear" anything on the computer so I'll have to wait for the conference one). I missed the first one completely and the conference one due to the decible level of children in the room. I've read a couple of blogs and comments people have made as well. I have two thoughts one is to do with homemaking. I started a book some time ago called "Made from Scratch". It is a book written by a femminist who purports that we should be mature enough in the sexual revolution to now look back on the skills that women who ran homes had with reverence. To respect them, to honor them for the true abilities and talents that were (and are in this day) developed and used in those activities. I think that is what her talk does. How many places do we hear that taking care of the mundane things of life are lofty and wonderful even important things? Not many. I know that wasn't the whole of her talk, but that's a lot of the objections that I heard. The other thought that I have kind of has to do with the education, don't put off marriage and family for it conundrum. I think that each of us knows within ourselves when we are going against our personal revelation and putting something off. I didn't get married until I was 34. Lots of people had different opinions as to why that was. I personally believe that it was the right time for me. One of my best friends got married at 19. I believe that was the best time for her. Incidentally she is an LPN. I think too that that particular instruction is meant (and I'm generalizing here so forgive me) a target for two different kinds of people...one the girls who think some RM is going to come along and make all their dreams come true and all they need to do is look pretty and cook well and the girls who think that if only they educate themselves and ignore everything else all of their dreams will come true. The fact of the matter is that neither one of those senarios is true. I feel this particularly strongly because as a young woman I thought the RM idea (or actually just a good guy) was the answer to everything. Then in my late teens and early 20's it was the education/career thing that was the answer. I was never good at pursuing either one, but I believed them both with all my heart. Reality in my mind is that we all have lives to live and revelation to follow that applies ONLY to us. I can't tell you the number of times my husband was told that he was just being too picky. Too picky? For eternity? I don't think so. There are those who would put off what they know they ought to be doing (of themselves) for frivoulous things. That's what I think that counsel is for. Are you wandering around lost and dating as though it were your only purpose in life? Not pursuing and developing your gifts and talents? Then get on it. That's what I think that means. Are you pursuing education and career, both worthy goals in their own right to the exclusion of developing human realtionships? Then quit it. That's what I think the other means. I heard of a guy who had spent so much time focused on the success of his career that he was 50 before he stopped and thought about having a family. He wanted one desperately, but was having a hard time finding a girl that he could have a family with. I don't know his circumstances and so I shouldn't judge him--he may be like my sweetheart for all I know, but how sad to miss that opportunity. One last thought that may have NOTHING to do with conference at all, but it's been in my head lately. Some time ago I gave a lesson on finding joy in motherhood and nobility in womanhood. I found a recording that had been made to take to some sisters that couldn't get to church and listened to it. At that time I was struggling with the concept that women are innately blessed with compassion and kindness and nurturing. The traits that we associate with motherhood. In my experience some women are, but not all. So as I pondered it I began to think about callings and the priesthood and those kinds of things. This is what I came up with: I think that women are given a "mantle" just as priesthood leaders are given with their church callings and quite frankly as fathers and husbands as well. It is for us to work with our Heavenly Father's help to fill that mantle of responsibility. For some it is natural and easy for others a struggle, but it is a responsibility none-the-less. Anyway, enough from me. I need to go wake my little guy. Oh one more thought from my mission. I was at a stake conference and a man got up--I don't know for sure what his responsibility was, but he got up and very tearfully challenged the men in the room to help their wives to develop their talents. His wife had just learned to paint and it was very painful to him that he had not made a space for her earlier in their lives to pursue her talents. I guess I think there are all kinds and ways of pursuing education. I also think of my 65 year old mother who just finished getting her special education certificate so she could become a teacher after being an aide (she taught for one year just after school before she got married) Her university professors are trying to make it so that some of her work will count towards a master's degree. She could have just retired from her aide job in a few years, but education is important to her and some other things too--like summers off. :) Anyway, I really better go. Thanks for reading this rather long ramble. Thanks too for bringing it up as a topic and sharing all of your opinions! [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]