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Roy wrote:
In my opinion, trying to defend the current disparity feels like trying to defend the priesthood restriction against blacks before it was repealed. Many members, church leaders, and even individuals sustained as prophets, seers, and revelators came up with reasons for the necessity of the priesthood restriction and we now know that they were the ideas and justifications of men.
Perhaps another less controversial example was the long standing policy of missionaries only being allowed to call home twice per year – on Christmas and Mother’s day. In my mission we were strongly advised to limit these conversations to one hour. There were different reasons given for this policy. The most common reason was that to call home more often would increase homesickness and distractions for missionaries. One day the policy went away. I think today missionaries are encouraged to call home weekly.
It feels a little weird because we, as missionaries, were told that not calling home would achieve a higher purpose. Our sacrifice and suffering had meaning. Now it seems to have been determined that whatever positive effect of the “phone home” policy was outweighed by negative effects.
Watcher wrote:
I personally have a hard time with the idea that G-d or righteous men worthy of the kingdom in these last days and restoration of all things have gone off the rails to keep the priesthood from women.
Yeah, I understand that. In my example with the phone home policy, I do not think it would be accurate to say that church leaders went “off the rails” by continuing the policy for as long as they did. I think that policies get started for various reasons and then “tradition” and a desire to continue/defend the status quo create a strong inertia against change.
I like the idea that the church as it currently exists is just the version of G-d’s church that we are currently willing and able to live. As time moves on the members and the leadership are slowly invited/encouraged by G-d to let go of some of our false traditions and we thus move incrementally closer to perfection.
I am convinced that the Church will look and teach many things quite differently when my children’s generations are the leaders. Either that, or it will have dwindled into irrelevance. I am okay with that, since we teach ongoing revelation and eternal progression.
Also, there are MANY things about the Church today that my parents and grandparents would not recognize. Their generations either would recoil in horror or embrace the changes. Ironically, the most stridently “loyal” probably would be split in their reactions.
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