I was fired once from my calling as a Relief Society teacher. It stung. But I got over it. Unfortunately, Relief Society was not a “safe space” to mention how women are not excluded from the blessings of the priesthood in the temple. It was a lesson on priesthood and I said that women should not feel left out, because in the temple women are equal — women give ordinances of the initiatory.
I was told by the RS President that teachers must teach only from the manual or Ensign. What about inspired thoughts that come to you as you teach? Keep quiet.
I bring this up because I recently read where Ally Isom, a spokesperson for the LDS church said that we can express our “opinions in good faith” in our Relief Society meetings, Sunday Schools, and Gospel Doctrine classes. (Ally Isom was referencing the way Kate Kelly should have addressed her enquiries about women being ordained to the priesthood.)(transcript of interview)
The spokesperson for the church, Ally Isom was being interviewed on RadioWest:
Interviewer, Doug Fabrizio: How and where may a member express doubts or opinions in good faith? It seems like what you were saying before is ‘do it wherever you want, but use the right tone, use the right questions… What if you believe, as some women do, that it’s time for the church to give women the priesthood? Where do you express that?
Ally: There are many avenues to express that and discuss that.
Doug: Where? In public?
Ally: No one is questioning your ability to discuss it in a congregation, in a Sunday School class, or in a Relief Society class.
Doug: In a congregation a woman can stand up and say that?
Ally: She can certainly have the conversation.
Doug: So it’s ok for a woman in a Relief Society meeting to stand up and say… you know within the proper context of the lesson or whatever it might be
Ally: Yeah, respectfully…
Doug …respectfully…
Ally: of course.
Doug: “Hey sisters! Let’s talk about the possibility that it’s time now for church leaders, like they did with the priesthood and blacks, to change that? I mean, there were lessons from history where women reportedly gave blessings and we did have this power and it sort of went away from us. Let’s talk about that.” The church is cool with that?
Ally: The conversation is welcome. We’ve had a similar conversation in my Relief Society in Kaysville, Utah. We had a similar conversation about gay marriage in our Relief Society. My daughter in Palo Alto just had a very interesting conversation this very last Sunday. We have those conversations. It is a safe place.
I have to politely disagree. I have learned to stay quiet in class. Unless I can talk about the simple kindergarten stories of the lesson plan and go no further, I stay quiet. And it’s been this way for years.
Thirty years ago I was a young mother teaching Gospel Doctrine. In my first lesson, four men on the back row (one was the Sunday School President) began to heckle me when I shared a quote from Bruce R. McConkie about becoming one with Christ. A young return missionary got up and claimed I was teaching false doctrine and he was going to the stake president to report me. Another young man got up and said, “that’s enough, you guys have been rude long enough.” However, the stake president (and the bishop) showed up the next week in class. In this case, I was not fired. (or released as we call it) I went on to teach for four years. But it had been a very intimidating experience.
It’s not a safe harbor at all. (Can I even share that opinion, when Isom speaks for the First Presidency?)
I blog and write about my thoughts and ideas. But I don’t speak for the church and I definitely do not want to influence anyone to see it the same way I do. I don’t want to be excommunicated because I’m writing about my thoughts and experiences. I’m not making brochures or holding meetings (like Ordain Women). I would not press the First Presidency to make changes.
I won’t share everything on my blog. But I know there are other faithful souls seeking greater light and knowledge, and I have learned a lot from them on the Internet. John Pontius was a blogger who brought me great insight about personal revelation.
I recently heard Avraham Gileadi talking about Isaiah, and how controversial that book can be in the church. And it’s better not to head-butt with members. Keep it to yourself. I agree with that.
I have told my husband, “don’t share your ideas in class — it creates conflict and contention” — and aren’t we supposed to avoid that?
This post isn’t about my view of women and the priesthood or even excommunication (which just happened for Kate Kelly). I’ve already written that I do not agree with Kelly and the Ordain Women movement. I have a different understanding of the priesthood. I don’t like feminist agendas. I believe that I can have power in the priesthood and receive the baptism of fire, hear the voice of the Lord through the Holy Ghost, and eventually converse with the Lord through the veil, without being ordained. I believe it is a personal journey and not brought about by a “movement.”
And none of this can be shared in any classroom situation. Nor should it be. There are many topics that cannot be brought up. It’s a nice idea, but I’ve found that it creates conflict. The members of all these classes are not ready for certain teachings, doctrines, or ideas. It’s just not appropriate to reveal spiritually perceived truths in a group where everyone is at a different level of progression. Some are content to parrot back the same answers they learned in Primary. Others are seeking for greater light.
Plus, we need to get along at church.
I’ve turned to blogs and books and prayer — if you seek you can find. But, even on blogs I’m afraid to share too much. I’ve always known that the Adam-God theory is off limits — that it constitutes apostasy. Yet, Joseph Smith did not want a Mormon creed.
I tend to follow the counsel of Hugh Nibley –better to keep quiet in class, don’t broadcast your views that may differ with church policy. Just support your leaders. (Of course, Nibley veiled a lot of his opinions in humor, fast-talking, and Isaiah-like parallels.)
We’re all somewhere on the path to the tree of life. I try to be kind and accepting of our brothers and sisters in the gospel and those outside our point-of-view. With greater trials and the coming chaos, we will find ourselves in the refiner’s fire and hopefully, become part of Zion — of one heart and one mind.
The Church published a statement addressing what constitutes apostasy on June 28, 2014
