A Moderate Feminist Mormon Woman whom God loves- that's me!

Conference was full of straight and to the point issues/doctrinal discussions. I have been stewing over one of my opinions about what occurred and what was said during conference weekend. While I loved and appreciated the refresher of spiritual nourishment that this conference provided me personally, it also made my heart heavy, super heavy, especially for my feminist sisters in the gospel.

I feel they were painted as lacking in: faith, moral authority, nurturing ability, kindness, meekness, a desire to mother, an ability to recognize male and female differences, etc.

As soon as Christofferson spoke about radical feminists, people immediately forgot the tender, important- oh so important!- words of Uchtdorf that "there is room for" everyone and diversity among members is essential to understanding and enjoying the many benefits of the gospel and church in our lives. I am so thankful that I personally have a witness of this knowledge and do not choose to shove people into a prescribed square box.

May we love a little more and judge far less. That is my hope for the women of my faith. We do not have to feel divided and forced to pick sides. We are only commanded to love and "bare one another's burdens that they may be light". How better can we bare those burdens than by understanding them?

For those who are unfamiliar with the term feminist- because it is rather broad and only one far left facet of it was mentioned yesterday to describe all, there are degrees of a feminist, especially a Mormon feminist woman. This article helps define many degrees and I encourage you to read it, if nothing more than to help you understand the Mormon feminists in your life which you love which may or may not include me.

I know that there is "room for me" in the gospel of Jesus Christ, I also know that I am a feminist who has faith, sacrifices, and chooses to stay at home with my babies. I know without a shadow of a doubt that God loves me for so many reasons, not the least of these is because I declare to be a feminist. I know He supports me in raising my voice for the equality, fair treatment, and freedom of choice of women outside and within His church because it is also His cause. He loves us as He loves His sons. There is no division in His love for us. He is no "respecter of persons". Humans in their infallible nature, are the only respecter's of persons despite commandments not to be.

I am happy to report that I love all of you- women in particular- who do not align with any degree of the feminist movement particularly within the LDS faith whether yesterday, today or ever. I marvel at your abilities and try to understand your hardships. But I will suggest that your absence of feminist feelings does not negate the importance of honestly delving into, and discussing the voice of women's issues which many righteous women stood in line for the chance to be heard of, or have prayed privately about in their quiet places.

In the words of an outstanding researcher/writer of LDS women's history and stories, Neylan Mcbaine, "What I have felt has been missing in the past year’s dialogue [about the recent LDS Feminist Movement] is a discussion about how we can preserve some of the most beloved elements of our infrastructure and gender doctrine, while still taking an honest look at those elements that lack parity. In other words, how can we make sure that Mormon women continue to enjoy spaces in which to develop their voices – such as Relief Society, motherhood, and the worldwide sisterhood those offer – while eradicating the disparities in how and where those voices are heard amidst the larger church? "

There is room for this discussion because there is room for feminists in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

There is no need for ridicule and mockery over people's righteous and heart felt desires. No need at all. Especially not to make yourself out to be right, good and holy. I am certain by how I felt, that God himself must also be saddened with the actions of many faithful Latter-Day-Saints this past weekend in regards to subsets of people in our faith, including the feminist mormon women He loves.