For now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall i know even as also I am known.
We discussed this scripture today in Sunday School. It struck a chord with me today. There is so much we don't understand or see in this life.
This actually fits with what I wanted to talk about in this blog post. Gender has been a hot topic in the news lately. I've seen numerous articles about gender reassignment, gender neutral bathrooms, and gender neutral clothes. I don't understand and I know I won't in this life, these issues. It is not my place to judge.
However, I feel it is detrimental to push society in the direction of one gender. We can embrace the differences of others, and help those who struggle with gender identity, while not taking away from those who embrace their gender. As a woman I would not be comfortable sharing a public restroom with men in the next stall. I would not feel safe.
Our gender is and will be part of who we are for
eternity. In the Proclamation to the
World it reads, “Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal,
mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.”
Men and women are born with innate differences. These differences do not mean either is
lesser in the eyes of God. In sacred
responsibilities of men and women are spelled out in the Proclamation. “By divine design, fathers are to preside
over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide
the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the
nurture of their children.” It goes on
to say, “In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to
help one another as equal partners.”
We are
born with gender differences. These are
not mistakes. They are not thrust upon
us by society. We have these differences
so we can work together and achieve what none can achieve alone. God created Eve to be a help meet for
Adam. Moses 3:21-24 reads, 21 And I, the
Lord God, caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam; and he slept, and I took one
of his ribs and closed up the flesh in the stead thereof; 22 And the rib which
I, the Lord God, had taken from man, made I a woman, and brought her unto the
man. 23 And Adam said: This I know now is bone of my bones, and
flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of
man. 21 Therefore shall a man leave his
father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one
flesh. Women was created to be part of
man. Our gender differences are
important to the essence of this union.
Our
gender makes us unique and with these unique differences we can obtain eternal
life and work to bless God’s kingdom.
President Packer said, “A man who holds the priesthood does not have an
advantage over a woman in qualifying for exaltation. The woman, by her very nature, is also
co-creator with God and the primary nurturer of the children. Virtues and attributes upon which perfection
and exaltation depend come naturally to a woman and are refined through
marriage and motherhood…”
