Interesting article on names for young and adult women

[Anonymous]

This article caught me eye and made some good points about the titles and collective nouns we give women in the church — beehives, mia MAIDS, laurels.

http://www.sltrib.com/news/4253520-155/kirby-whats-in-a-name-for

What collective nouns and titles would you give young women and women leaders in the church? Do the ones we use now resonate with you?

[Anonymous]

I personally would bow out of any naming and let the women decide. The men picked the names last time, it is the women’s turn now.

[Anonymous]

There is nothing I can add that will help anyone STAYLDS.

I deleted my comments as I prepared to post them.

Just know that I have strong opinions on this topic.

[Anonymous]

What’s infuriating to me is that the names are so obviously in need of a refresh, and the fact that we utterly refuse to refer to female presidents as Pres. Lastname like we do with the men, it’s as if church leaders just want to shove the women’s heads down in the dirt lest we get any upstart ideas. It really does feel very demoralizing.

[Anonymous]

Hmmm, the article doesn’t mention the ‘Mysweetwife’ title…

[Anonymous]

hawkgrrrl wrote:

What’s infuriating to me is that the names are so obviously in need of a refresh, and the fact that we utterly refuse to refer to female presidents as Pres. Lastname like we do with the men, it’s as if church leaders just want to shove the women’s heads down in the dirt lest we get any upstart ideas. It really does feel very demoralizing.

Elder Ballard talked to the CES conference last year about knowing the essays like the “back of your hand.” That moves the ball forward. But, honestly, the more I read Patrick Mason’s Rabbi Heschel quote, the more I think we should commit it to memory:

Quote:

It is customary to blame secular science and anti-religious philosophy for the eclipse of religion in modern society. It would be more honest to blame religion for its own defeats. Religion declined not because it was refuted, but because it became irrelevant, dull, oppressive, insipid. When faith is completely replaced by creed, worship by discipline, love by habit; when the crisis of today is ignored because of the splendor of the past; when faith becomes an heirloom rather than a living foundation; when religion speaks only in the name of authority rather than with the voice of compassion—its message becomes meaningless.

When are no moves, or moves so slight they are imperceptible and inadequate for the day, to show compassion, interest, respect to the women of the church via the temple and our scripture, it is demoralizing. And I think it’s happening because they perceive a problem to be fixed and dealt with, rather than actual women to listen to and value. Ask us! But we’re never there to be asked.

Maybe the solution isn’t to call women “President Lastname,” but to call us all, top to bottom, just Brother and Sister. I don’t have the foggiest, but please be humble enough to ask for input. Maybe the Restoration happened when it did so that a religion could finally do what no other has done, balance divine and earthly communication. Maybe the church is meant to be “crowdsourcing” to a certain extent.

[Anonymous]

I tend to call everyone, including Bishops and Stake Presidents, by their first name when I am talking with them personally (even in email), and I try hard to call female organization presidents and counselors “President Lastname” – since we do that with the First Presidency.

I like Brother / Sister Firstname as the ideal (like Brother Joseph and Brother Brigham, ironically), but I will continue to use President as a title for women leaders until we stop doing so for male leaders. The exception for this is when someone says they would rather be addressed by their first name. I try to respect others’ wishes.

As for the Young Women, I have no clue, except perhaps Deacon, Teacher, and Priest. That is a mine field I refuse to enter.

[Anonymous]

All my answers aren’t serious, it’s a shame because it’s a serious subject. Here’s a list of the tamest answers that are ricocheting around inside my head:

Deacons/beehives – CTR 12

Teachers/mia maids – CTR 14

Priests/laurels – CTR 16

EQ: CTR 18

HPG: CTR 50

Apostle: CTR 80+

The Relief Society stays at CTR 18 no matter how old a sister gets. :angel:

Under this new model the Primary President holds all the keys.

[Anonymous]

I have always addressed the Primary, RS, and YW presidents as “President last name” when I was “talking business”, but always first name when just talking about items not related to their calling. I was shocked at how shocked most of them were when I did this and I had to explain why. I didn’t think it was a big deal, but I guess it wasn’t common based on their response.

But I like that Ray mentioned that we address counselors “president” in SP’s and the first presidency. I need to start doing that.

And I will adjust one of Nibbler’s suggestions:

Apostle: CTRRH 80+ (Choose The Right Retirement Home).

[Author]

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