A "Mormon's" View on Women

My purpose in writing this is to give information to those who may not know much about The Church Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The information and views given are solely from one mormon, and is not given as an official statement for the church. Also, while I will try to stay as close to facts as possible, I would like to say that I am human, and thus, do make mistakes.

Many people have different ideas about us mormons and what we think about women, or what "place" we put them in. I hope to clarify a bit with this article. First, let me say that in our religion, we teach that men and women are equal, and are equally important to our Heavenly Father (God). One is not more important than the other, and both are"necessary" in essence. Now, that's not to say that we don't have different responsibilities. Women have been given the responsibility to bear children, to guide and raise them, and to support her husband in his roles. Men have been given the responsibility to lead in their household, to provide for his family, to lead in church callings (our name for jobs (non-paying) in the church), and to support his wife in her roles. Never, is it ever taught that the men's responsibilities are more important than the responsibilities that the women have.

Since we are equals we must share in our duties and roles, and is the reason that we teach that marriage is so important. While we do teach that we are equal, we also teach that as men we must hold our women to a higher level than us. We are taught the we always treat women and children with a very high respect. That is why it may seem that we are a bit "old fashioned," such as holding a door open for a lady, giving a seat up on a busy bus or in a building, letting them in front of us in line in the store (this one may be a bit extreme, don't expect it to happen a lot, but you get the idea). In today's world some people, even women, take this as thinking that we are better than them, but in reality, it's just the opposite!

Now, I know some of you may be reading this and saying to yourself " this can't be right, I know this mormon guy and he's nothing like this," or, "he's a total jerk towards women." In which case I must add, please don't judge the millions by the acts of a few. I know, I even know some mormon guys like that, and let me be the first to say, they are not acting as they should,but before I seem "holier than thou" let me say that no one is perfect, not even me and we each have our own faults and problems. Also, shall we be so quick to judge other religions by what a few people have done? No. To do so is wrong.

I know some of you may be saying "When is he going to get to polygamy?" Well, I'm not really going to get into that with this article. Sorry, but there is just way too much to get into with that subject. I will say a few things about the topic though. First, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints does not practice polygamy today. Any news or rumors about a polygamist mormon group is misleading. If they are "mormon" they are a sect that has broken off from the main church and are not in any way supported by us! Often some of these polygamist groups marry within family or have their girls marry at a VERY young age. This is highly illegal and a disgusting act that we do not tolerate. However, did our church ever teach polygamy in the past? Yes. Is this a correct teaching, and a commandment given from God? Yes. Are we ready to have this commandment at this point in time? Not even close!! This "law" requires a higher level of spirituality and thinking and so one must trully be prepared to be ready to live it. As we know, many people are quick to pervert (literally speaking in this sense) the ways of the Lord, and so they cannot live this law. It is not given so that the mormon men can have many wives and have sex with many women. That is the worldly way of thinking. Do I think I would be ready to live this law? No way.

Anyways, I may get more into that topic in a later article, but I think that is sufficient for now. I think I have explained the churches view on women very well, without taking too much space. I will now attempt to give my own personal opnion of them. I love women (in a good way)! I will gladly hold a door open for a lady (any age) on any day. I know that in today's world many women my age (early twenties) aren't looking to be with the "nice guys." Does that stop me? Nope, not a chance. I am much quicker to help out a female than I am to help out a guy, and many times I will go to great lengths to do it. I believe that some women have even figured this even and have used it "sucker" me into doing stuff for them (nothing illegal). Why am I like this? Because I was taught this way I guess. I like being like this, and it usually helps to keep me on the good side of the ladies. I especially feel protective of small children, and even more so of little girls. Luckily it hasn't happened yet, but I fear the day I ever see someone trying to mess with or kidnap or hitting a little kid, because I guarantee that , be it them or me, someone will be taking a trip to the hospital. I don't feel as strongly (but certainly very close) that way with women since, they are more capable of defending themselves, but I still feel it is a man's responsibility to care for the women and to never hit them or do anything like that to disrespect them. And that is one Mormon's POV.