explorations

2006 Salt Lake Sunstone Symposium

2006-08-03T01:52:00.000-06:00

Sunstone is almost here. August 9-12. I haven't registered yet but I'm very most likely going to be there.

The program is available at sunstoneonline.com.

Why are there always sessions I really want to attend scheduled against each other?

Update

2006-05-03T21:46:00.000-06:00

Things have been pretty dead around here. I haven't had the motivation to write. I missed the Relief Society's birthday and Earth Day. I'm excited to announce that I will be posting a series at Feminist Mormon Housewives on the book Women and Authority. Come on over and join the discussion.

Happy International Women's Day!

2006-03-08T12:17:00.000-07:00

Besides commemorating the day, I also want to point out two things:

Remember that the Feminist Mormon Housewives bookclub is reading Pedestals and Podiums by Martha Sonntag Bradley. Discussion starts in one week.

You're probably already aware that Women and Authority, the volume edited by Maxine Hanks, is being made available online by Signature Books at http://www.signaturebookslibrary.org/women/introduction.htm.

[6:09 pm edited to add] Caroline posts a list of strong women in film and literature and Artemis asks how IWD should be celebrated.

Susan and Lucy as Witnesses

2005-12-22T23:21:00.001-07:00

I watched The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe on Monday. There's a thread at T&S with a review by Adam Greenwood and others' comments. I agree with a lot of what has been said there. I liked the actors who played the children. I thought there was waaay too much unnecessary suspense, especially the ice floe part. And I hated the Beavers, from how they looked, to how they talked, to how they treated each other. Plus the White Witch really creeped me out. I guess she's supposed to, but I'd always imagined it differently. The film mostly disappointed me in relation to the book. But my younger siblings loved it.

What I want to focus on here is a realization I had. The most touching part of the movie for me was when Susan and Lucy are walking with Aslan to the Stone Table. Because you know what he is going to do. And then when they weep over his body and see his return from death. I had never before made the connection between the Pevensie girls and the women who kept watch at Christ's death, helped prepare his body for burial, and witnessed the resurrection.

Lucy hears Aslan leave the camp and wakes Susan up. The girls follow Aslan. He notices them, asks them if they shouldn't be in bed, but then says he would welcome the company. They see when he is killed.
Matthew 27:55-56: And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children.
Mark 15:40-41: There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome; (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.
Luke 23:27: And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.
John 19:25: Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.

After the sacrifice, Susan and Lucy rush to Aslan's side and cry and stroke his face and body. They also see the mice who gnaw off the ropes that bind him.
Matthew 27:61: And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.
Mark 15:47: And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.
Luke 23:55-56: And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments.
John 19:40: Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.

Susan and Lucy fall asleep. When they wake up, the body of Aslan is gone. Then he appears. He gave himself a willing sacrifice and that transcended the claim the White Witch had on Edmund's life. Aslan sends the girls to notify everyone else.
Matthew 28:1,5-10: IN the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me. (See also Mark 16:1-10, Luke 24:1-10, and John 20:1-2,11-18).
2 Nephi 2:7: Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law.
Hymns #197: [His] sacrifice transcended The mortal law's demand; . . .In our place [he did] suffer; In our place [he did] die.
Isaiah 25:8: He will swallow up death in victory.

Postmodern Mormon? (quiz result)

2005-11-30T18:08:00.000-07:00

You scored as Emergent/Postmodern. You are Emergent/Postmodern in your theology. You feel alienated from older forms of church, you don't think they connect to modern culture very well. No one knows the whole truth about God, and we have much to learn from each other, and so learning takes place in dialogue. Evangelism should take place in relationships rather than through crusades and altar-calls. People are interested in spirituality and want to ask questions, so the church should help them to do this.

Emergent/Postmodern

71%

Classical Liberal

64%

Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan

61%

Modern Liberal

57%

Roman Catholic

50%

Neo orthodox

50%

Charismatic/Pentecostal

50%

Reformed Evangelical

43%

Fundamentalist

32%

What's your theological worldview? (note: this quiz is written for a *Christian* theological worldview)
created with QuizFarm.com

I wore pants to church on Sunday

2005-11-09T00:23:00.000-07:00

Ever since I stumbled across Shannon and Brian's guest post at Times and Seasons, I have been wanting to wear pants (trousers, for any British English speakers) instead of a skirt or dress to church but I've been too afraid. I finally did it. Last Sunday I wore dressy black pants with a blouse. The shocker: no one said anything about it to me, nor did I notice any "looks." And this is in Orem, bastion of conservatism. What gets to me in the post at T&S is the story of the investigator who came to church for the first time in a pants suit but left and never returned when someone told her that a dress would be more appropriate. I'm speechless. For me it was not a negative experience. I think I'll have to wear pants to church again sometime. (But if my mother knew . . .)

Counterpoint notes

2005-11-07T20:16:00.000-07:00

I heard part of Lorie Winder Stromberg's keynote speech at the Counterpoint Conference, and I heard part of Janice Allred's part of the final panel presentation. I didn't take notes, but I'll share a few observations here.

Lorie received the Eve Award. Her thesis at BYU was on the cult of the Virgin Mary in the 12th century. She is a mother of two. She has held various church callings. She thanked the forum and discussed some of the founding mothers. She wondered which Eve's footsteps she followed in - Eve the sinner? Mary the co-redemptress? the schizophrenic LDS Eve? I know I'm forgetting a lot of what she said. She bought a She-Ra, Princess of Power book for her son when she was pregnant with her daughter. He started calling the baby She-Ra. After the baby was born, he told someone he had a little sister and he called her "She-Ra, Princess of Power" but that she wasn't as powerful as they'd hoped she would be. Lorie compared this to LDS women - not as powerful as we'd hope they would be. One of the things she said right before I left is that she saw in the 90s a false dichotomy in the church between "good" feminists (like at Exponent II) and "bad" feminists. She has participated in both groups. Afterwards Lorie told me that most of the latter part of her talk was based on her "Power Hungry" piece. Oh, yes, she also, like in that article, quoted Bruce Hafen as saying "The one category of blessing in which the role of women is not the same as that of men holding the priesthood is that of administering the gospel and governing all things." And wondered how he could say it without irony.

[11/8 edited to add] The title of her presentation, "The Angel and the Bitch: Thoughts on Motherhood and Power," comes partly from "The Angel in the House," a poem that exemplifies Victorian ideals of women, and partly from a book called The Bitch in the House: 26 Women Tell the Truth about Sex, Solitude, Work, Motherhood, and Marriage.

I remember two things from Janice's presentation (well, 1 2/3). She sees the priesthood in three ways: first, as the power of love, the second one I don't remember, and third as the power of unity. And she quoted the Isaiah scripture "AWAKE, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean. Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion."

Here is a summary from the Deseret News of one of the morning sessions.

Counterpoint Conference

2005-11-04T00:19:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, November 5, the Mormon Women's Forum is holding its annual Counterpoint Conference. It will be in the Olpin Student Union building at the UofU from 9:00 am to 5:45 pm. fMhLisa has already posted the schedule and a link to the Signature Books announcement.

Here is the Deseret News announcement. Here is an article in the Salt Lake Tribune and Janice Allred's letter to the editor.

I will be on campus but I will be in class all day and will have to miss the conference. I may try to catch part of the keynote speaker at lunch like I did (or tried to) last year.

On Bannergate

2005-11-01T21:33:00.000-07:00

From Lemony Snicket, The Penultimate Peril, chapter 8 (maybe it's silly but to me it seems applicable):

"'No matter what we do, however,' [Person A] said, 'we can't erase the wrongs we did you, Baudelaires.'

'[Person A]'s right,' [Person B] said. 'We should have been as noble as you are.'

'You're noble enough,' Violet said, and her siblings nodded in agreement, as [Persons A and B] embraced them again. When someone has disappointed you, as [Persons A and B] disappointed the Baudelaires, it is often difficult to decide whether to continue the acquaintance, even if the disappointers have done noble things in the meantime. There are some who say that you should forgive everyone, even the people who have disappointed you immeasurably. There are others who say you should not forgive anyone, and should stomp off in a huff no matter how many times they apologize. Of these two philosophies, the second one is of course much more fun, but it can also grow exhausting to stomp off in a huff every time someone has disappointed you, as everyone disappoints everyone eventually, and one can't stomp off in a huff every minute of the day. When the Baudelaires thought about the harm each [of the two] had done to them, it was as if they had gotten a bruise quite some time ago, one that had mostly faded but that still hurt when they touched it, and when they touched this bruise it made them want to stomp off in a huff. But on that evening--or, more properly, very early Wednesday morning--the siblings did not want to stomp off into the hotel, where so many wicked people were gathered, or into the pond, which was likely to be very cold and clammy at this time of night. They wanted to forgive these two adults, and to embrace them, despite their disappointment.

'I don't mean to break up all this embracing,' [Person C] said, 'but we have work to do, volunteers.'"

I echo: we have work to do.

[N.B. I'm not saying that I personally am disappointed, but some definitely have been. I also don't mean to imply that I've been more "noble" than anyone else. Earlier in the book, Person C tells the Baudelaires when they doubt how noble they really are that they are "noble enough" and "that's all we can ask for in this world." I hope that we the bloggernacle can all embrace and then accomplish good things.]

[In the interest of full disclosure: I did not know about BoH, although I should have guessed because I was tipped off about a secret project before I left for Romania this summer. I just never put two and two together. I read/skimmed BoH but never commented and just thought it was kind of weird. I posted two comments on Rusty's investigative posts, one pointing out that the fully-formed blogroll was suspicious and one pointing a finger at Kaimi (sorry, Kaimi!) and suspecting Steve of knowing. I think the whole thing is pretty funny overall, and the demasking was the most fun, but I was sad when some people, including people I really like, like annegb and NFlanders, were hurt and angry. I also worry about lurkers or new readers who may have been hurt in the fallout. I'm relieved that SeptimusH's posts about the sisters are all made-up, which is something I was hoping all along. Before all was disclosed I briefly had a link in my sidebar under "I also blog at" that went to Aaron B. Cox's profile as a little joke for my own benefit. I didn't think anyone would notice and I was just amusing myself, but at least one person did notice and email me. I think that's all. So, back to work.]

On Eve, part XI

2005-10-17T21:41:00.000-06:00

From: Broderick, Carlfred. The uses of adversity. In The best of Women’s Conference: Selected talks from 25 years of BYU Women’s Conferences. Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft, 2000, pp. 50-66.

"That was the idea of coming to earth—that it was unjust, that there would be pain and grief and sorrow. As Eve so eloquently said, it is better that we should suffer. . . . I am persuaded that she had rare insight . . . into the necessity of pain" (51).

From: Snedecor, Barbara Elliott. On being female: A voice of contentment. Dialogue 25(3), Fall 1992, 155-163.

"I see Eve as the victor in the garden, the one who with great tenderness and foresightedness partook of the fruit that humankind 'might be.' . . . Eve sensed that the power of life and of faith comes in our right to choose. . . . Eve actively chose to implement [the Father's plan]" (157).

(See also parts one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, and ten.)

Will there be marrying in heaven?

2005-10-11T21:29:00.000-06:00

Last week a friend was asking me about this issue. She wanted to know what we thought about people who died unmarried and how it works that they will get a chance to marry. This verse in Matt. 22:30 came up: "For in the resurrection, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven."

Talmage in Jesus the Christ, chapter 31, explains:

In the resurrection there will be no marrying nor giving in marriage; for all questions of marital status must be settled before that time, under the authority of the Holy Priesthood, which holds the power to seal in marriage for both time and eternity.

There is also this from D&C 132:16: "Therefore, when they are out of the world they neither marry nor are given in marriage; but are appointed angels in heaven, which angels are ministering servants."

But then we have statements like this one in General Conference:

If you are single and haven't identified a solid prospect for celestial marriage, live for it. Pray for it. Expect it in the timetable of the Lord. Do not compromise your standards in any way that would rule out that blessing on this or the other side of the veil. The Lord knows the intent of your heart. His prophets have stated that you will have that blessing as you consistently live to qualify for it. We do not know whether it will be on this or the other side of the veil. But live for it. Pray for it (Scott, Receive the Temple Blessings, Ensign, May 1999).

And the True to the Faith entry on "Marriage" says under the heading "Counsel for Those Who Do Not Marry":

Some members of the Church remain single through no fault of their own, even though they want to marry. If you find yourself in this situation, be assured that "all things work together for good to them that love God" (Romans 8:28). As you remain worthy, you will someday, in this life or the next, be given all the blessings of an eternal family relationship. The Lord has made this promise repeatedly through His latter-day prophets.

So how does it work that people can marry after death, but there is no marriage in the resurrection? The only way I can fit those two together in my mind is to suppose that it will all happen during the Millennium. Gospel Principles, chapter 44, lists this under the heading "What Will Be Done during the Millennium?"

There will be two great works for members of the Church during the Millennium: temple work and missionary work. Temple work involves the ordinances that are necessary for exaltation. These include baptism, the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, and the temple ordinances—the endowment, temple marriage, and the sealing together of family units.

Many people have died without receiving these ordinances. People on the earth must perform these ordinances for them. This work is now being done in the temples of the Lord. There is too much work to finish before the Millennium begins, so it will be completed during that time. Resurrected beings will help us correct the mistakes we have made in doing research concerning our dead ancestors. They will also help us find the information we need to complete our records.

So the Millennium will be a time for setting things in order. Here is one more quote to that effect:

We know that many worthy and wonderful Latter-day Saints currently lack the ideal opportunities and essential requirements for their progress. Singleness, childlessness, death, and divorce frustrate ideals and postpone the fulfillment of promised blessings. In addition, some women who desire to be full-time mothers and homemakers have been literally compelled to enter the full-time workforce. But these frustrations are only temporary. The Lord has promised that in the eternities no blessing will be denied his sons and daughters who keep the commandments, are true to their covenants, and desire what is right.

Many of the most important deprivations of mortality will be set right in the Millennium, which is the time for fulfilling all that is incomplete in the great plan of happiness for all of our Father's worthy children. We know that will be true of temple ordinances. I believe it will also be true of family relationships and experiences (Oaks, The Great Plan of Happiness, Ensign, Nov. 1993).

BCC's latest poll also touches on the issue of marriage after death. There are still some unanswered questions: How will people find each other and decide to marry after death? (I had to laugh at Steve's question at BCC about whether there can be hell - singles wards - in heaven. Or the spirit world.) How will those on earth know to do the ordinances for those in the spirit world? Will there be polygamy? But I guess the important thing is that it's all in God's hands and he wants us to be happy.

A Royal Priesthood

2005-10-10T18:01:00.000-06:00

Yesterday the stake patriarch spoke in sacrament meeting in our ward. It was overall a good and interesting talk (one of those kind of rambling ones, without notes, interspersed with stories from his childhood many, many years ago and other funny tidbits). But there was one thing he said that I thought over and over because it bothered me a little. He said something like, "Brothers, you are a royal priesthood. And sisters, you have royal mothers." I don't really want to get into a discussion of the priesthood/motherhood dichotomy in this post. What I was puzzling over (and I haven't started looking for commentary or anything yet) is whether that phrase "a royal priesthood" in context in 1 Pet. 2:9 means all Saints collectively (see also the chapter heading) or if it only denotes (male) priesthood holders. The other phrases in that verse, "a chosen generation," "an holy nation," "a peculiar people," and "[those] called out of darkness into his marvellous light," can certainly apply to all. And so I guess I've always thought the entire verse applied to all of us, and to me individually, because even though I do not hold the priesthood I can, by my faith, choose to be a part of the "royal priesthood" in the same sense of belonging to the generation of believers. Am I off-base? Any other thoughts? Have you come across any readings of that phrase that might lend insight?

On Eve, part X

2005-10-07T00:46:00.000-06:00

Some of you may remember that early in this blog I posted semi-regularly for a time some quotations I had collected about Eve. (See parts one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, and nine.) Well, even though I kind of let that die out for a while, I still have some quotations and I'm sure I can find a lot more. So I'm going to start again.

From: McConkie, Bruce R. "Our sisters from the beginning." Ensign, January 1979, 61-68.

"I rate Eve also as one of the greatest women among all of those who have or will come to earth. She, as the mother of all living, set the pattern for all future mothers with reference to bringing up their children in light and truth. She received all the blessings of the gospel, enjoyed the gifts of the Spirit, and sought to prepare her posterity for like blessings. With reference to her, I shall simply call your attention to the occasions when 'Adam and Eve, his wife, called upon the name of the Lord, and they' — the two of them — 'heard the voice of the Lord' (Moses 5:4); when Adam first offered sacrifices; when an angelic ministrant stood by; and when Adam, the first man, stood up and prophesied of all things that would befall his posterity. The scripture says: 'And Eve, his wife, heard all these things and was glad, saying' — and now comes a perfect one-sentence summary of the whole plan of salvation, one of the greatest short sermons ever preached: Eve says, 'Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient' (Moses 5:11).

Then the record says that 'Adam and Eve blessed the name of God' — now note, not just the man, but the man and the woman — 'and they' — the two of them — 'made all things known unto their sons and their daughters. … And Adam and Eve, his wife, ceased not to call upon God' (Moses 5:12,16).

Thus, in the beginning, the perfect pattern is set for perfecting the family. The man and the woman are together in worship; they are together in teaching their children; they are together in establishing the family unit that hopefully will endure in the eternities ahead, thus giving eternal life to all those who earn it" (article at lds.org).

Ensign article on the church in Poland

2005-10-06T15:18:00.000-06:00

This month's Ensign has an article about members of the church in Poland: "In Poland: A Single Purpose."

Pedestals & Podiums

2005-09-15T00:01:00.000-06:00

I wish that Signature Books' forthcoming publication, Pedestals and Podiums: Utah Women, Religious Authority, and Equal Rights by Martha Sonntag Bradley, had been available when I was taking a class at BYU on U.S. Women's History. The Equal Rights Amendment in the late 1970s was of particular interest to me. In this book, Bradley examines the furor over the ERA among Mormons. She uses written documents, individual experiences, and personal recollections. She makes no secret of her own bias, starting out with her own introduction to feminism because of her participation in the 1977 International Women's Year conference in Utah, but she respects people taking another position and keeps her tone professional, striving for balance. Bradley points out in the introduction that "it is important to acknowledge the great range of responses among Mormon women" and that "good, faithful, intelligent women fell into both categories [pro and con]." The book ends with the idea that "those on both sides thought they were doing what was right for the world and were engaged in what would really matter in the long run" and a suggestion that we have to decide for ourselves.

The issues surrounding the ERA were (and even continue to be) volatile and divisive. It's an impossible request, I think, to expect definitive answers, but what Pedestals and Podiums does is provide a thorough history of the events surrounding the IWY conferences (in Utah and at the national convention in Houston), the stance of the LDS Church on the ERA, LDS campaigning against the ERA in key states, the formation of Mormons for ERA, and the ultimate failure of the ERA. The subtitle indicates that the focus is on Utah women, but national events also play into the story. The book also briefly covers LDS women's history, including suffrage, and a history of the Equal Rights Amendment from 1923.

The book is well-written and engaging. I found it fascinating. I did have some strong emotions about some of the reported events, but overall I came to a greater understanding of what happened. Pedestals and Podiums is due out in October.

Jane Manning James documentary

2005-09-14T00:01:00.000-06:00

Has any one seen or heard about the new documentary about Jane Manning James? Here is a Deseret News article about it and here is the product page at Deseret Book.

Joseph Smith and Four Noble Truths

2005-08-09T00:52:00.000-06:00

Yesterday in Relief Society we had a fascinating lesson. First the teacher covered three individuals' search for truth: Mahavir, Siddhartha, and Mohammed.

I had never heard of Mahavir or Jainism. He taught that through self-denial one could perfect oneself until liberation from the wheel of life, called moksha. Such freedom is the ultimate objective of Jains.

Siddhartha, who became Buddha, taught these four noble truths (or pillars):

Life is painful
Pain comes from suffering
Denial is a way to overcome suffering
The Eightfold Path

Mohammed, who was commanded to "recite" and who submitted to the will of God, taught that people must believe in the following: one God, angels, prophets, scriptures, predestination, and judgement.

After this introduction, she talked about another seeker of truth: Joseph Smith. Our lesson was based on the First Vision. The teacher framed the lesson in a way that provides an answer to Steve Evans' question from a while back. According to her, here are four truths from the First Vision:

Joseph Smith's Four Noble Truths (from the First Vision)

There is a source of good and a source of evil (v. 16-17)
Salvation is individual and it comes from God (v. 7,17,19)
Work is necessary (v. 8-12)
Sacrifice is required (v. 13-14)

I appreciated this lesson. I enjoyed hearing about the other seekers of truth and I thought it was an interesting way to frame the discussion. The teacher obviously put a lot of thought into her preparation. I don't know that I would have come to the same conclusions. Nevertheless it was a lesson that caught my attention and that helped me to look at the account of the First Vision in a new light.

Radio broadcast about Eliza R. Snow

2005-07-22T11:25:00.000-06:00

A KBYU-FM broadcast on Sunday, July 24 at 5:00 MDT will highlight the life of Eliza R. Snow. Jill Mulvay Derr, historian, Michael Hicks, musician, and Sharon Swenson, host, will discuss the "pioneer, poet, and oracle." In addition, Jean Jenkins, teacher and actor, will read some of Snow's poetry. A stream will be available at kbyufm.org/streaming. More info here and here.

Mary Magdalene

2005-07-21T19:12:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow is the feast day of Mary Magdalene in the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions. I thought I would put up some links. (As always, use your own judgement when you read these. I don't agree with everything, but I think it's interesting to see other perspectives. I only include this, because otherwise a link might look like a whole-hearted endorsement.)

http://magdalene.org/ - This site is down today but should be back up tomorrow. If I remember correctly, it was mostly about Mary Magdalene being the companion of Jesus. Its tagline is "Celebrating the mysteries of the Woman Who Knew The All."

Women In Ancient Christianity: The New Discoveries - "Scholar Karen King examines the evidence concerning women's important place in early Christianity. She draws a surprising new portrait of Mary Magdalene and outlines the story of previously unknown early Christian women." Including the idea of Mary Magdalene as the "apostle to the apostles."

The Gospel According to Mary Magdalene - A Gnostic text

St. Mary Magdalene "The Penitent" - Information from Catholic Online Saints

Guide to the Scriptures: Mary Magdalene - from lds.org

John 20 - the resurrection of the Lord, including his appearance to Mary Magdalene

Season of Sophia - more SLC events

2005-07-21T18:59:00.000-06:00

This is from an email I received

Second Annual SEASON OF SOPHIA: Summer Cycle of the Feminine
As the summer reaches its height, the calendar passes through a season of holy days devoted to the sacred feminine, it's an ideal time to consider feminine themes in religion and culture, or explore the source of empowerment--within. Join us for lectures, discussion, vespers and film. The common thread in all events is the light of the human spirit.
The Season of Sophia is sponsored by Moonstone Foundation.
See times and locations, below for July events. (August events TBA.)

HOLY DAY of MARY MAGDALENE (July 22)

Friday, July 22 Vespers for the Holy Day of Mary Magdalen
7:00 p.m. Vespers, Holy Cross Chapel
Salt Lake Regional Medical Center, 1050 E. South Temple, SLC

Wednesday, July 27
Workshop "Mary Magdalene: Bride in Exile"
2 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. with Margaret Starbird
$25 Sheraton City Center Hotel, 150 W. 500 South, Salt Lake City
In this private workshop, internationally-known author Margaret Starbird will discuss the scriptural Bride, Sacred Feminine, and Sacred Union--once at the very heart of the Christian faith. She will share ideas from her forthcoming book "Mary Magdalene: Bride in Exile." Workshop cost is only $25.
Register at the Sunstone information table or pre-register, ph. (801)355-5926.

Booksigning with Margaret Starbird
6-8 p.m. Sheraton City Center Hotel 150 W. 500 South
Meet author Margaret Starbird, buy a book and have it autographed.

Thursday, July 28
"Excavating the Sacred Feminine"
11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Panel discussion
$6 Sheraton City Center Hotel 150 W. 500 South, Salt Lake City
Panelists will discuss how their work excavates the feminine from obscurity in
religious contexts where it is embedded.
Margaret Starbird--author, "The Goddess in the Gospels"; MA, Comp. Lit; divinity studies
Maxine Hanks--author/editor, "Women and Authority," lecturer women's studies, Gnostic clergy
Jeni Grossman--author, "Beneath the Surface," MA theolology; guide for archaeological dig in Turkey
Suzann Werner--writer, women's empowerment and feminine spirituality
Hosted by Sunstone Foundation (www.sunstoneonline.com) and Moonstone

Segullah

2005-07-13T11:50:00.000-06:00

This is old news, but I just realized I hadn't even added Segullah to my sidebar yet. Segullah, which means "peculiar treasure" in Hebrew, is a new online journal with the goal of "provok[ing] thought and promot[ing] greater understanding and faith among Latter-day Saint women." You can read the first issue here (Volume 1.1, Spring 2005). (Site design by Johnna, who also designed Conversation.)

Upcoming events (sorry, Utah-centric)

2005-07-13T01:38:00.000-06:00

The 2005 Salt Lake Sunstone Symposium is coming up at the end of the month, as other bloggers have noted. Last year was the first time I attended a Sunstone conference, and I enjoyed it. I unfortunately have to go to Denver July 29-31, but I am considering attending some of the sessions on the 28th. I went through the program and marked some of the sessions that look interesting, particularly to a person interested in feminism.

On Wednesday there are workshops, including ones with Phyllis Barber and Margaret Starbird.

Barber, award-winning author of How I Got Cultured and other books, will present Creative Ways to Write a Life.

Starbird's workshop is Mary Magdalene: Bride in Exile. She also came last year. Maxine Hanks indicated that this year's workshop will cover some of the same material as last year but it will be a different workshop. I enjoyed last year's but I don't think I'll pay to attend the workshop. Starbird is the author of The Woman with the Alabastar Jar and The Goddess in the Gospels, which were source materials for The Da Vinci Code.

If I do go on Thursday, I will probably go to these sessions:

Excavating the Sacred Feminine - Panel: Margaret Starbird, Maxine Hanks, Jeni Grossman, Suzann Werner (sponsored by Moonstone)

Why Can't a Woman Be More Like a Man?: Sheri L. Dew and the Subversion of Gender - Hugo Olaiz, respondent Margaret Toscano

Joseph Smith, Women, and the Feminine - Panel: Margaret Toscano, Lavina Fielding Anderson, Linda King Newell moderator: Janice Allred (sponsored by the Mormon Women's Forum)
(I do think this will be interesting, even if some call it apostate.)

Here are some of the Friday sessions:

The Apostle Paul, the Submission of Women, the Husband as Household "Head," and Slavery - Carrie Miles, respondent Mary Ellen Robertson

Telling Stories, Taking Sides, Breaking Bones, or Saving Lives?: Personal Disclosure, Conflict, and Faith in Martha Beck's Leaving the Saints - Panel: Doe Daughtrey, Laura Bush, John Dewey Remy, Phyllis Barber, Holly Welker, David G. Pace

Plural Marriage Yesterday and Today - Lowell "Ben" Bennion and Paul Murphy

Advancing Feminist Sensibilities Among Mormon Men - Panel: Michael J. Stevens, Paul Swenson, John Dewey Remy, J. Frederick "Toby" Pingree, others TBA

Pillars of My Faith - H. Parker Blount, Margaret Blair Young, Darius Gray
(I really enjoyed this session last year, and I loved the hymn singing, and I'm sorry to miss it this year.)

And last of all, Saturday:

Pain, Sorrow, Suffering, Failure, Despair and Occasional Moments of Transcendence: The Wisdom and Insights of Karen Armstrong - Holly Welker, respondent H. Parker Blount

Ella Peacock: Painting the Manti Temple - Kathryn Abajian

Ellis Shipp and Her Journals - Reader's Theatre: Janice Allred, Gloria Murdock, Revabeth Russell, Verabel Cluff

A Woman's Work: A Timely Fund for Women in Need - Pauli Driver Smith
(This woman is an acquaintance of mine. This is an admirable undertaking.)

Watching Through the Window: Depicting the Tarring and Feathering from Emma's Perspective - Heather McClellan, respondent TBA

Students can attend the conference for free (except for the Wednesday workshops and the Saturday night banquet, which require separate, paid registration). See the Sunstone website for more details.

ALSO: tomorrow night (Thursday July 14) there is a meeting with Martha Sonntag Bradley, who will discuss her new book Pedestals and Podiums: Women, Mormonism, and Equal Rights. (I'm reading an advance copy of the book and will post a review here.) The meeting will be held at the First Unitarian Church, 569 South 1300 East and the public is invited to attend. For more information, call (801)273-7144. hat tip: Mindy

Hello, hello

2005-06-15T18:48:00.000-06:00

Well, I'm back now and is it ever good to be back. I had a great time and I loved the opportunity to travel and do something different. It's always nice to come home again too. I didn't have phone withdrawals (why do I pay to have a cell phone again?) but I did miss email and the blogosphere (the 'nacle in particular). The few times I got onto a (usually slow-connection) computer in a cafe, I only quickly checked email and/or figured out accommodations/travel info/etc.

I'll do a longer post at Conversation on my travels. Here's a quick run-down:

Romania - beautiful countryside, in a village of about 400, very traditional area, nice warm weather, time for relaxing in addition to the research, fabulous meals

Iceland - gorgeous country, very peaceful and laid-back lifestyle, probably my favorite place to visit this trip, cooler weather, awesome geysers (including the Original; yes, Amira, I'll tell more)

Poland - it was fun to go back (but things always change), felt like a whirlwind (5 cities in 9 days), not fun to hassle luggage on trains, loved attending church & seeing people I knew

London - not enough time there, spent more time traveling to & from airports than sightseeing or relaxing, impressions that it is overcrowded and waaay to expensive, but I'd like to give it another try sometime

La revedere, Cheerio, Bless, Do widzenia

2005-05-12T05:13:00.000-06:00

In a word: goodbye. Not for good. I'm leaving for a month. I'm going to Romania with a group from my library school for two weeks and then traveling around for two weeks. On the itinery: London, England; Rejkyavik, Iceland (most likely); and nine days in Poland. Some of my family will meet me when I'm done in Romania.

In Romania we will be interviewing people (with the help of translators) and doing a study on information transfer. We are going to a village in the Maramures area, Hoteni (near Baia Mare).

I do not expect to post again until after I return on June 14.

Notes from BYU devotional with Elder Bednar

2005-05-10T11:50:00.000-06:00

1987 Elder Ashton conference talk - spiritual gifts

such as the gift of asking, listening, hearing, being able to weep, avoiding contention, being agreeable, avoiding vain repetition, seeking that which is righteous, looking to God for guidance, being a disciple, bearing mighty testimony, receiving the Holy Ghost

this morning, another gift
capacity of being quick to observe

Mormon - Mormon 1:1-5

root word "observe" - three times in these verses - even in youth, only ten years of age, "quick to observe"

your future success and happiness will in large measure be determined by this capacity

two primary uses of "observe" in scripture

to look or to see or to notice as in Isaiah 42:20
to obey or to keep as in D&C 54:6

so it means to promptly look or notice and obey

prophet Mormon impressive example of this gift in action

lessons

a stake patriarch in failing health, stake pres. went to check in on him one Sunday afternoon, patriarch dressed in suit and tie. pres. suggested it wasn't necessary. patriarch gently reproved, "Don't you know that this is the only way I have left to show the Lord how much I love him?"
reverence for the Sabbath day in demeanor and dress

Sis. Bednar - capacity to discern and respond to needs, gift to see and to act promptly

Elder Haight stood to pray despite great effort in the presence of the 1st Pres.

young man and young woman, close to considering engagement, but she didn't remove extra pairs of earrings after Pres. Hinckley's counsel, he did not ask her to marry him
(recognizes may be controversial example, invites us to ponder what it means to be "quick to observe)

1 Nephi 11-14 interaction between Nephi and Spirit of the Lord Nephi desire to see what his father saw H.G. help understand
13 times directs Nephi to "look" as fundamental part of learning process
invites us to ponder these chapters

quick to observe - simple gift, blesses us, extends to others

strive to be worthy of gift

why so vital for us in the world in which we live?

linked to spiritual gift of discernment, which is a light of direction

being quick to observe is prequisitve for, preparation for gift of discernment

look and obey

(missed some of the stuff on discernment, including a couple of quotes by George Q. Cannon (?) and Franklin D. Richards (?))

in summation, the gift of discernment does four things

it helps us detect hidden error and evil in others
it helps us detect hidden error and evil in us
it helps us find and bring forth the good that may be concealed in others
it helps us find and bring forth the good that may be concealed in us

1 Nephi 8:23

discernment is a light of protection and direction in a world that grows increasingly dark
clear sense of spiritual direction
distinguish relevant from irrelevant, important from unimportant, necessary from that which is merely nice

see with spiritual eyes, feel with the heart
hear with spiritual ears

Alma to his son Helaman, Look to God and live

May you desire to become quick to observe and discerning