Mormon women have no need to lobby for rights, according to Elaine Dalton, general president of the LDS Church’s Young Women’s organization.
In a recent speech Dalton argues that good, virtuous, Mormon women "see no need to lobby for rights." In that speech, given during the January 15th Devotional Address, Dalton said the following:
"Young women, you will be the ones who will provide the example of virtuous womanhood and motherhood. You will continue to be virtuous, lovely, praiseworthy and of good report. You will also be the ones to provide an example of family life in a time when families are under attack, being redefined and disintegrating. You will understand your roles and your responsibilities and thus will see no need to lobby for rights."
Some LDS observers are unclear whether Dalton was referring to women’s rights in general, such as equal pay for equal work, or whether she was reacting to recent campaigns in which Mormon women wore pants to church and members urged LDS leaders to let women offer prayers during the faith’s semiannual General Conferences.
Both the women Wear Pants to Church Day and the Let Women Pray letter writing campaign has created controversy in the conservative church. Last December some brave Mormon women wore pants to church, despite death threats coming from those opposed to the seemingly harmless wardrobe decision. Dec. 16, was “Wear Pants to Church Day,” for women belonging to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The event was intended as a show of solidarity for women’s rights within the Mormon church.
Currently many Mormon women are engaged in a letter writing campaign trying to persuade church leaders to let women lead the opening and closing prayer at the church's general conference, scheduled for April 6-7 in Salt Lake City.
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