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cbayer

(146,218 posts) Tue Oct 9, 2012, 07:11 PM Oct 2012

Surprise Mormon announcement could open doors for more women missionaries

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/09/surprise-mormon-announcement-could-open-doors-for-more-women-missionaries/

Now allowed to serve missions at 19, more young LDS Church women will likely take part.

October 9th, 2012
03:09 PM ET
Surprise Mormon announcement could open doors for more women missionaries
By Jessica Ravitz, CNN

Big news broke in the Mormon world this weekend, when the president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced a lowered minimum age requirement for missionary service, most notably for women.

Women can now go out in the field to serve their church at 19, instead of 21. Though this may not seem monumental to outsiders, some Mormons say it's a game-changing moment that may rewrite women's futures and even influence broader dynamics within the LDS Church community.

“The narrative of young women has been that marriage trumps everything else as your most important spiritual pursuit,” explained Joanna Brooks, scholar, blogger and author of “The Book of Mormon Girl: Stories from an American Faith.” This shift “signals a reorganizing of expectations for women’s lives. … It changes the storyline.”

By 21, many Mormon women are either too deep in their search for a husband, if not already married, or too entrenched in their education or career path to step away for a Mormon mission, Brooks said. With the lowered age requirement, they have more choice. They, too, can go out in the world, study their faith intensely, follow spiritual callings and grow as individuals before they marry. And, Brooks said, they can be viewed more as equals when they return and start dating.

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Surprise Mormon announcement could open doors for more women missionaries (Original Post) cbayer Oct 2012 OP

don't get the whole "missionary" thing riverwalker Oct 2012 #1

I don't get the "deep in the search for a husband" thing...like they're scouring the MADem Oct 2012 #4

When you have to spend ETERNITY with someone, you may want to be very, very cbayer Oct 2012 #5

That's an argument against the religion! MADem Oct 2012 #6

As I understand it, you get to live on your own planet, but only the men get a planet - cbayer Oct 2012 #7

Men are from Mars... MADem Oct 2012 #8

A Mormon mission's purpose is not to convert the unconverted - if that happens, kestrel91316 Oct 2012 #2

And hopefully, after they've settled down and married and raised many childen, and die... trotsky Oct 2012 #3

riverwalker

(8,694 posts)

1. don't get the whole "missionary" thing

Reply to cbayer (Original post)

Tue Oct 9, 2012, 07:26 PM

Oct 2012

If they are sincere about helping humanity, why not join the Peace Corps, Mercy Corps, RedCross. UNICEF, etc. Seems so arrogant to think people need your religion shoved down their throats so you can earn imagined heavenly brownie points.

MADem

(135,425 posts)

4. I don't get the "deep in the search for a husband" thing...like they're scouring the

Reply to riverwalker (Reply #1)

Wed Oct 10, 2012, 03:28 AM

Oct 2012

bargain racks at Filene's basement (that dates me, I fear), or out hunting and trapping an elusive species!

Your job, young ladies, should you decide to accept it, is to go deep in the search for a husband, and not cease your labors until you've found one, cut him out of the herd, and run him to exhaustion, so that you can drag him home to your lair!

It's like the whole marriage process is a bit of a CHORE, not something that is a mutual agreement. You HAVE to do it, so get crackin'--find that spouse NOW, before you're too ... OLD!!

cbayer

(146,218 posts)

5. When you have to spend ETERNITY with someone, you may want to be very, very

Reply to MADem (Reply #4)

Wed Oct 10, 2012, 10:59 AM

Oct 2012

careful in your search.

Eternity - that's a very, very long time, lol.

MADem

(135,425 posts)

6. That's an argument against the religion!

Reply to cbayer (Reply #5)

Wed Oct 10, 2012, 11:08 AM

Oct 2012

Good grief! ETERNITY...! Agggh--everyone needs a break!

cbayer

(146,218 posts)

7. As I understand it, you get to live on your own planet, but only the men get a planet -

Reply to MADem (Reply #6)

Wed Oct 10, 2012, 11:10 AM

Oct 2012

so it's important to find one that's going to get one big enough to give you some breathing room.

MADem

(135,425 posts)

8. Men are from Mars...

Reply to cbayer (Reply #7)

Wed Oct 10, 2012, 11:15 AM

Oct 2012

Women have to live on Mars even if they don't like it...?

kestrel91316

(51,666 posts)

2. A Mormon mission's purpose is not to convert the unconverted - if that happens,

Reply to cbayer (Original post)

Tue Oct 9, 2012, 08:27 PM

Oct 2012

they won't refuse, of course. But its primary purpose is cult indoctrination via severe deprivation and restriction of communication with outsiders.

You can translate this announcement as: Women who don't get indoctrinated by age 20 are falling away from the church. We need to brainwash them BEFORE they go to college or get a job or get married.

trotsky

(49,533 posts)

3. And hopefully, after they've settled down and married and raised many childen, and die...

Reply to cbayer (Original post)

Tue Oct 9, 2012, 09:27 PM

Oct 2012

their husbands, in the Mormon afterlife, will choose to raise them from the dead too, and help rule a planet somewhere else.

So yeah, this will help them be viewed as equals. Or not.

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