Boys and girls are different.
(am I allowed to say that?)
Boys have more muscular bodies that enable them to do heavy lifting and protect their family.
In the Bible, it states that God made Male and Female children.
In "The Family: A Proclamation to the World", it states:
"Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose."
To me, this means that I have been a female from the beginning of my existence. The spirit inside my body is a feminine spirit. God placed that spirit in a body which would grow and develop into a woman. I have been given tendencies to nurture and to care for others.
My children are growing up in a world where many would neutralize gender. The world wants to make the fact that a person is male or female immaterial.
I want my sons and daughters and eventually my grandsons and granddaughters to know that their gender is sacred and comes with special roles unique to them. Again from 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. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners."
In our faith, men hold the priesthood and preside over their families and church congregations. Does this make me jealous? Absolutely not. Priesthood holders have a huge responsibility. They hold the power of God, to act in His name. Everything that is done by the power of the priesthood is an act of service. The priesthood is not something that is meant to vaunt men above women. It is actually a power which requires humility in order to exercise. Here are some warnings to priesthood holders contained in Doctrine and Covenants (modern day scripture), Section 121:
34 Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?
35 Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson—
36 That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.
37 That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man.
38 Behold, ere he is aware, he is left unto himself, to kick against the pricks, to persecute the saints, and to fight against God.
39 We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion.
41 No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;
42 By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile—
(In other words, the Lord expects a lot of the men he allows to hold His priesthood)
In another section of scripture, the Lord instructs Emma Smith in her role as a wife:
2 A revelation I give unto you concerning my will; and if thou art faithful and walk in the paths of virtue before me, I will preserve thy life, and thou shalt receive an inheritance in Zion.
5 And the office of thy calling shall be for a comfort unto ... thy husband, in his afflictions, with consoling words, in the spirit of meekness.
7 And thou shalt be ordained under his hand to expound scriptures, and to exhort the church, according as it shall be given thee by my Spirit.
8 For he shall lay his hands upon thee, and thou shalt receive the Holy Ghost, and thy time shall be given to writing, and to learning much.
10 And verily I say unto thee that thou shalt lay aside the things of this world, and seek for the things of a better.
11 And it shall be given thee, also, to make a selection of sacred hymns, as it shall be given thee, which is pleasing unto me, to be had in my church.
12 For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads.
15 Keep my commandments continually, and a crown of righteousness thou shalt receive. And except thou do this, where I am you cannot come.
This section contains counsel that applies to all women. I highlighted my favorite passages, which have given me direction and guidance at various times in my life.
I love the fact that Heavenly Father placed men and women on the earth to teach and complement each other. Though there are several things on this earth that both men and women are capable of doing, there are some things that my husband cannot do, and there are some things I cannot do! I need him, and he needs me!
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