I have no daughters. Therefore any time I see the Young Women of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints stand up and repeat The Young Women’s Theme, I get creeped out. It is all so right out of Pavlov.
I preserve for this editorial the theme in courier type, with my comments in Arial type.
We are daughters of our Heavenly Father, who loves us, and we love him. We will "stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places..." as we strive to live the Young Women Values, which are: [Punctuation goof]
[What sort of political agenda did the creators – whoever they were – of the original values have in mind for the LDS young women in this highly arbitrary selection??] – drs
Faith [The only Young Women’s Value that actually really has value.] – drs
Divine Nature [Divine Nature stands still as one of Mormon Kulchur's great Myths. The phrase "Sharing the Divine Nature" appears exactly one in scripture and gets quoted in Mormon Kulchur out of context. This is the same assumption that proposes if one is born in Auburn Hills, Michigan, one can grow up to be a Chrysler.] – drs
Individual Worth [Highly dubious warm-fuzzy psychobabble at odds with all those actual canonized scriptures that refer to us as “creatures” and “lowly”] – drs
Knowledge [ of what? ] – drs
Choice and Accountability [ RightAscension suspects that the original creators of the Young Women's Theme used this phrase as a euphemistic reference / response to discourage active sexuality without actually discussing active sexuality. The value also propagandizes Young Women into believing they have choices when the Institutional Church provides them few real choices. Stated another way: an LDS woman and LDS girl should not confuse having a man consult you in a decision with the actual act of making a leadership decision yourself.] – drs
Good Works [This value provides the clearest example of the conservative political agenda of the values. Why the plural? It implies service instead of career or employment. If the Aaronic Priesthood ever got a set of values, this value would be Good Work, implying quality of product.] – drs
Integrity [RightAscension also suspects that the original creators of the Values used this one as another euphemistic reference to sexual activity without actually mentioning sexual activity. "Integrity" so-called still remains the most bogus of "values." "Integrity" as a concept depends on external definitions. We or our leaders can define any wicked action as having "integrity" if we define it properly. In the so-called real world, “integrity” means that a person believes another person has "integrity" because (s)he did not do him/her any harm or did what he/she would have done in the same situation.] – drs
We believe as we come to accept and act upon these values, we will be prepared to strengthen home and family, make and keep sacred covenants, receive ordinances of the temple, and enjoy the blessings of exaltation. (See Mosiah 18:9)
Notice that if the Aaronic Priesthood ever got a value, this sequence probably should read this way for them:
"As we accept and act upon these values we will prepare to make homes, lead families, administer and obey sacred covenants, receive and administer temple ordinances, administer priesthood blessings, and administer the blessings of exaltation and enjoy them."
Each of the Young Women’s Values have a color, which tends to indicate that the program's original creators consulted behavoralist psychologist advisers. Perhaps the same psychologist who developed the Primary colors red yellow and blue.
Yesterday afternoon, I skimmed the April edition of the Ensign magazine and discover that the Young Women have added another value. I preserve for my editorial a piece of the article.
“Church Adds to Personal Progress Program”
Preserved from the Ensign Magazine on-line
By Kimberly Bowen Church Magazines
Kimberly Bowen, “Church Adds to Personal Progress Program,” Ensign, Apr. 2009, 78
The Church released information on LDS.org in February with additional instructions on how to incorporate virtue as a value in the Young Women Personal Progress program. The First Presidency announced the addition of the new value in a letter dated November 28, 2008.
An eight-page insert for young women to add to their Personal Progress books contains a scripture, motto, value experience and value project instructions, the color of the value, and more.
The scripture chosen to represent virtue is: “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies” (Proverbs 31:10). The chosen motto is: “I will prepare to enter the temple and remain pure and worthy. My thoughts and actions will be based on high moral standards.” The color that represents virtue is gold. [The color should be white, but someone assigned some other lesser value white years ago] – drs
Four value experiences are outlined that help young women to understand the meaning and importance of chastity and virtue, and the blessings that come from being virtuous. They also help young women, their mothers, and their leaders understand how the quality of virtue enables a young woman to enjoy the constant companionship and guidance of the Holy Ghost and prepares her to worthily enter the temple to make and keep sacred covenants.
The value experiences encourage young women to study the selected doctrines in the scriptures and then write in a journal about the things they learn and the commitments they will make to live a virtuous life. The importance of repentance and the sacrament are also emphasized as a means to be virtuous and pure. The Young Women general presidency said, “These experiences are an important foundation for a young woman’s understanding of the meaning of virtue and its application in her life.”
After the young women complete the four virtue value experiences, they complete a virtue value project. The project is to read the entire Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ and apply its teachings to their lives and circumstances. The project includes the young women recording their thoughts regularly in a journal. Upon completing the reading, the young women write their testimonies on the pages provided in the insert.
“We desire that all young women will make the reading of the Book of Mormon a daily habit,” says a statement by the Young Women general presidency on the Web site. “Her testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ, will be strengthened as she reads. Developing this testimony is vital to a young woman’s ability to face the challenges of life and to prepare for her future.” . . .
In a letter dated March 6, 2009, the Young Women general presidency invited young women who have not completed Personal Progress to add the experiences and project for virtue to the other requirements for earning the Young Womanhood Recognition award and certificate.
On the Young Women Web site, the Young Women general presidency states that through 2009, a young woman may choose to earn her recognition under the old requirements or with the new virtue experiences and project. It is hoped that all will want to complete the new requirements, but leaders are encouraged to make the program work for each young woman.
In the letter, young women who have already earned their Young Womanhood Recognition are invited to complete the requirements for virtue if they choose. Leaders and mothers are also invited to participate.
Download the insert as a printable pdf document by visiting YoungWomen.lds.org and selecting the feature Personal Progress Content for Young Women Value of Virtue. Implementation instructions, frequently asked questions, a revised Personal Progress record sheet, and achievement certificate are also available at the site.
The Church has released information on changes to the Personal Progress program in order to incorporate the value of virtue.
1. Go to youngwomen.lds.org, select implementation instructions under “Personal Progress Content for Young Women Value of Virtue” and see “Frequently Asked Questions.”
RIGHT ASCENSION COMMENTARY
The LDS Priesthood provides men and boys with opportunities for action, service, and leadership.
The Young Women program acts upon young women, makes the young women serve, and leads young women.
There is a difference in what priesthood provides for the boys and what the Young Women's Program does to the girls. It is the essential difference of taking action and being acted upon.
When the original creators of the Young Women's Values decided on “choice and accountability,” they first misrepresented the Young Women's place in the Institutional Church. Since the girls cannot make leadership choices and they cannot lead bi-gender church groupings, the girls really do not have many choices at all in the LDS Church.
As to sexual activity, "choice and accountability" implied that the girls could make choices. Apparently many girls did make choices to be sexual active and did not feel bad.
"Choice and accountability" also implies that LDS parents have a choice to provide an active daughter with an abortion, and some may have actually made such choices without feeling at all bad.
With the addition of the Value of Virtue the leaders provide a clear message to the girls: stop debating, shut up, and be chaste.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment