Main Page: A Brief History of Women in the LDS Church
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The LDS Church and Women in the Twenty-first Century
April 4, 2004 - In his General Conference talk "Fatherhood, an Eternal Calling", Elder L. Tom Perry says, "Remember, brethren, that in your role as leader in the family, your wife is your companion.... Since the beginning, God has instructed mankind that marriage should unite husband and wife together in unity. Therefore, there is not a president and vice president in a family. We have co-presidents working together eternally for the good of their family. They are united together in word, in deed, and in action as they lead, guide, and direct their family unit. They are on equal footing. They plan and organize the affairs of the family jointly and unanimously as they move forward."
April 3, 2005 - In his General Conference talk "Pornography", Elder Dallin H. Oaks says, "And young women, please understand that if you dress immodestly, you are magnifying this problem by becoming pornography to some of the men who see you."
Mid-November 2007 - A group of LDS women respond to Relief Society general president Julie B. Beck's General Conference talk "Mothers Who Know" with an online document entitled "What Women Know". They write, "Several ideas within the body of President Beck's talk conflict with our inspiration and experience." The document garners hundreds of signatures from women and men.
2010 - The church launches its "I'm a Mormon" ad campaign that showcases vignettes of individual members, including women with careers outside the home. Neylan McBaine recalls, "I remember one of my first days at Boncom [Bonneville Communications] after we had launched some of the early video portraits, our managing director sat us down and read us a letter that had been written by a man to us generally, that said, 'My wife has been on the couch in the depression for the last couple of days because the Church's fancy PR agency is showing a woman who has pursued a career, whereas my wife gave up her education and her pursuit so that she could raise a family the way the prophet told her to. And now, you know, you're telling her that she didn't have to do that, she didn't have to make that sacrifice.' And real anger and real confusion. And, you know, I got that, I got that."
2011 - The church publishes Daughters in My Kingdom: The History and Work of the Relief Society and distributes free copies to Relief Society women. The First Presidency writes in an introduction, "We express our love and admiration for you and recognize that you are beloved daughters of Heavenly Father and dedicated disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. You are part of a great worldwide sisterhood. Guided by your motto, 'Charity never faileth,' you help strengthen families and build up the kingdom of God on the earth."
October-November 2011 - A Pew Research Center poll finds that 58% of American Latter-day Saints (including 59% of men and 56% of women) consider a marriage "more satisfying" when "Husband provides, wife stays home", while 38% (the same for men and women) prefer that "Both have jobs", compared to 30% and 62% of the general population, respectively
April 3, 2005 - In his General Conference talk "Pornography", Elder Dallin H. Oaks says, "And young women, please understand that if you dress immodestly, you are magnifying this problem by becoming pornography to some of the men who see you."
Mid-November 2007 - A group of LDS women respond to Relief Society general president Julie B. Beck's General Conference talk "Mothers Who Know" with an online document entitled "What Women Know". They write, "Several ideas within the body of President Beck's talk conflict with our inspiration and experience." The document garners hundreds of signatures from women and men.
2010 - The church launches its "I'm a Mormon" ad campaign that showcases vignettes of individual members, including women with careers outside the home. Neylan McBaine recalls, "I remember one of my first days at Boncom [Bonneville Communications] after we had launched some of the early video portraits, our managing director sat us down and read us a letter that had been written by a man to us generally, that said, 'My wife has been on the couch in the depression for the last couple of days because the Church's fancy PR agency is showing a woman who has pursued a career, whereas my wife gave up her education and her pursuit so that she could raise a family the way the prophet told her to. And now, you know, you're telling her that she didn't have to do that, she didn't have to make that sacrifice.' And real anger and real confusion. And, you know, I got that, I got that."
2011 - The church publishes Daughters in My Kingdom: The History and Work of the Relief Society and distributes free copies to Relief Society women. The First Presidency writes in an introduction, "We express our love and admiration for you and recognize that you are beloved daughters of Heavenly Father and dedicated disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. You are part of a great worldwide sisterhood. Guided by your motto, 'Charity never faileth,' you help strengthen families and build up the kingdom of God on the earth."
October-November 2011 - A Pew Research Center poll finds that 58% of American Latter-day Saints (including 59% of men and 56% of women) consider a marriage "more satisfying" when "Husband provides, wife stays home", while 38% (the same for men and women) prefer that "Both have jobs", compared to 30% and 62% of the general population, respectively
This same poll finds that 11% of American Latter-day Saints (including 13% of men and 8% of women) believe women should be ordained to the priesthood, while 87% (including 84% of men and 90% of women) are opposed.
January 2012 - Elder Boyd K. Packer says in a leadership training broadcast, "I have been very careful, and am very careful, to treat my wife with that respect and reverence that is due her in performing that thing that is of most worth for a woman in this life to live the gospel, to be the wife and the mother of the children of a worthy holder of the priesthood."
February 12, 2012 - As many as ten temples in the United States prohibit or discourage menstruating girls from performing baptisms for the dead over dubious hygienic concerns. (Initial speculation that this has something to do with Old Testament notions of "ritual uncleanliness" turns out to be unfounded.) On the Feminist Mormon Housewives blog, Elizabeth Hammond organizes the Temple Issue Project and asks people to call their local temples and record whether they have this policy. She writes, "The spirit of this call to action is one of cheerful Mormon helpfulness to ensure that the temple experiences of young women, new female converts, or any woman who wishes to participate in the sacred ordinances - especially baptism for the dead - are smooth and positive. Otherwise, the extant possible embarrassment of being unpredictably excluded from ordinances because it’s 'that time of the month' may continue to publicly embarrass and unnecessarily shame many a worthy woman[.]"
March 5, 2012 - Church spokesman Scott Trotter says, "Performing baptisms in church temples is a sacred ordinance open to all members who are at least 12 years of age and who meet the standards of the church. The decision of whether or not to participate in baptisms during a menstrual cycle is personal and left up to the individual."
October 6, 2012 - In General Conference, President Thomas S. Monson lowers the minimum age of missionary service for women from 21 to 19.
December 16, 2012 - All Enlisted, a group founded by Sandra Durkin Ford and Stephanie Lauritzen, hosts its first "Wear Pants to Church Day". Sister Ford notes in an interview, "With this action, we are challenging a gendered custom so as to become visible as Mormon feminists to each other and our wards." The group's mission statement says, "We do not seek to eradicate the differences between women and men, but we do want the LDS Church to acknowledge the similarities. We believe that much of the cultural, structural, and even doctrinal inequality that persists in the LDS Church today stems from the church’s reliance on - and enforcement of - rigid gender roles that bear no relationship to reality."
January 2013 - The feminist group All Enlisted launches a change.org petition and letter-writing campaign to "Let Women Pray in General Conference".
January 15, 2013 - In a BYU devotional, Young Women general president Elaine S. Dalton says, "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."
January 22, 2013 - In a BYU-Idaho devotional, Elder Tad R. Callister says, "The dress of a woman has a powerful impact upon the minds and passions of men. If it is too low or too high or too tight it may prompt improper thoughts, even in the mind of a young man who is striving to be pure.... Women particularly can leave a lot to the imagination and in the process contribute to their own self-respect and to the moral purity of men. In the end, most women get the type of man they dress for." This speech will be reprinted in the March 2014 Ensign.
March 17, 2013 - On the 171st anniversary of the founding of the Relief Society, Kate Kelly and others found the group Ordain Women to "agitate faithfully" for women's ordination to priesthood offices.
April 3, 2013 - The church announces, "The role of sister training leader has been created as more female missionaries serve in missions around the world. Sister training leaders will be responsible for the training and welfare of female missionaries assigned to them and will be members of and participate in, the new mission leadership council."
April 5, 2013 - The World Report publishes a conversation on women's issues with Relief Society general president Linda K. Burton, Young Women general president Elaine S. Dalton, and Primary general president Rosemary M. Wixom.
February 12, 2012 - As many as ten temples in the United States prohibit or discourage menstruating girls from performing baptisms for the dead over dubious hygienic concerns. (Initial speculation that this has something to do with Old Testament notions of "ritual uncleanliness" turns out to be unfounded.) On the Feminist Mormon Housewives blog, Elizabeth Hammond organizes the Temple Issue Project and asks people to call their local temples and record whether they have this policy. She writes, "The spirit of this call to action is one of cheerful Mormon helpfulness to ensure that the temple experiences of young women, new female converts, or any woman who wishes to participate in the sacred ordinances - especially baptism for the dead - are smooth and positive. Otherwise, the extant possible embarrassment of being unpredictably excluded from ordinances because it’s 'that time of the month' may continue to publicly embarrass and unnecessarily shame many a worthy woman[.]"
March 5, 2012 - Church spokesman Scott Trotter says, "Performing baptisms in church temples is a sacred ordinance open to all members who are at least 12 years of age and who meet the standards of the church. The decision of whether or not to participate in baptisms during a menstrual cycle is personal and left up to the individual."
October 6, 2012 - In General Conference, President Thomas S. Monson lowers the minimum age of missionary service for women from 21 to 19.
December 16, 2012 - All Enlisted, a group founded by Sandra Durkin Ford and Stephanie Lauritzen, hosts its first "Wear Pants to Church Day". Sister Ford notes in an interview, "With this action, we are challenging a gendered custom so as to become visible as Mormon feminists to each other and our wards." The group's mission statement says, "We do not seek to eradicate the differences between women and men, but we do want the LDS Church to acknowledge the similarities. We believe that much of the cultural, structural, and even doctrinal inequality that persists in the LDS Church today stems from the church’s reliance on - and enforcement of - rigid gender roles that bear no relationship to reality."
January 2013 - The feminist group All Enlisted launches a change.org petition and letter-writing campaign to "Let Women Pray in General Conference".
January 15, 2013 - In a BYU devotional, Young Women general president Elaine S. Dalton says, "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."
January 22, 2013 - In a BYU-Idaho devotional, Elder Tad R. Callister says, "The dress of a woman has a powerful impact upon the minds and passions of men. If it is too low or too high or too tight it may prompt improper thoughts, even in the mind of a young man who is striving to be pure.... Women particularly can leave a lot to the imagination and in the process contribute to their own self-respect and to the moral purity of men. In the end, most women get the type of man they dress for." This speech will be reprinted in the March 2014 Ensign.
March 17, 2013 - On the 171st anniversary of the founding of the Relief Society, Kate Kelly and others found the group Ordain Women to "agitate faithfully" for women's ordination to priesthood offices.
April 3, 2013 - The church announces, "The role of sister training leader has been created as more female missionaries serve in missions around the world. Sister training leaders will be responsible for the training and welfare of female missionaries assigned to them and will be members of and participate in, the new mission leadership council."
April 5, 2013 - The World Report publishes a conversation on women's issues with Relief Society general president Linda K. Burton, Young Women general president Elaine S. Dalton, and Primary general president Rosemary M. Wixom.
April 6, 2013 - At the close of the Saturday morning session, Primary general presidency first counselor Jean A. Stevens becomes the first woman to pray in General Conference.
August 20, 2013 - In a BYU devotional, Elder M. Russell Ballard says, "For more than 20 years I have been teaching the importance of councils, including the vital participation of sister leaders. I acknowledge that some men, including some priesthood leaders, have not yet seen the light and still do not include our sister leaders in full partnership in ward and stake councils. I also acknowledge that some men oppress women and in some rare circumstances are guilty of abusing women. This is abhorrent in the eyes of God. I feel certain that men who demean women in any way will answer to God for their actions. And any priesthood leader who does not involve his sister leaders with full respect and inclusion is not honoring and magnifying the keys he has been given. His power and influence will be diminished until he learns the ways of the Lord."
September 19, 2013 - Kate Kelly announces that members of Ordain Women hope to attend the priesthood session of General Conference in the Conference Center. They have requested tickets and will wait in the standby line if those requests are denied.
October 5, 2013 - For the first time, the priesthood session is broadcast on the church's website as all other General Conference sessions have been for years. Having been denied tickets by spokeswoman Ruth Todd, members of Ordain Women wait in the standby line and are turned away at the door one by one.
April 5, 2014 - For this and subsequent General Conferences, the female auxiliary presidencies (Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary) are relocated to sit in the middle of the First Quorum of the Seventy in the Conference Center, a far more visible position directly behind the pulpit.
Members of Ordain Women are once again denied access to the priesthood session in the Conference Center, and stage a peaceful demonstration on Temple Square. In a priesthood session talk on "The Keys and Authority of the Priesthood", Elder Dallin H. Oaks says, "The First Presidency and the Council of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve, who preside over the Church, are empowered to make many decisions affecting Church policies and procedures—matters such as the location of Church buildings and the ages for missionary service. But even though these presiding authorities hold and exercise all of the keys delegated to men in this dispensation, they are not free to alter the divinely decreed pattern that only men will hold offices in the priesthood....
"We are not accustomed to speaking of women having the authority of the priesthood in their Church callings, but what other authority can it be? When a woman - young or old - is set apart to preach the gospel as a full-time missionary, she is given priesthood authority to perform a priesthood function. The same is true when a woman is set apart to function as an officer or teacher in a Church organization under the direction of one who holds the keys of the priesthood. Whoever functions in an office or calling received from one who holds priesthood keys exercises priesthood authority in performing her or his assigned duties....
"The Lord has directed that only men will be ordained to offices in the priesthood. But, as various Church leaders have emphasized, men are not 'the priesthood.' Men hold the priesthood, with a sacred duty to use it for the blessing of all of the children of God."
April 2014 - The annually updated General Authorities chart (which previously included only men) is expanded to also include General Officers, including the Relief Society general presidency, the Young Women general presidency, the Primary general presidency, the Sunday School general presidency, and the Young Men general presidency.
May 8, 2014 - Relief Society general presidency First Counselor Carole M. Stephens writes, "As disciples of Jesus Christ, every covenant daughter of God has the responsibility to understand, live, and defend the divine roles of women, which include that of wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend, and to establish, nurture, defend, and strengthen families and homes."
June 23, 2014 - Kate Kelly, founder of Ordain Women, is excommunicated for apostasy. She tells her supporters, "Don't leave. Stay, and make things better."
October 4, 2014 - Instead of going to the Conference Center, members of Ordain Women are encouraged to try to attend priesthood session broadcasts at their local stake centers. Church spokeswoman Jessica Moody says, "The church encourages men and boys to attend the priesthood session and girls and women to attend the general women's meeting. All are invited to the general sessions of conference."
November 14, 2014 - A policy change allows divorced women and mothers of young children to have or retain jobs as seminary and institute teachers. A memo notes, "This change makes it possible for families to decide what best meets their needs as it relates to mothers working while raising children. This policy is consistent with other church departments."
August 18, 2015 - A woman is appointed to each of three formerly all-male leadership councils - Relief Society general president Linda K. Burton to the Priesthood and Family Executive Council, Young Women general president Bonnie L. Oscarson to the Missionary Executive Council, and Primary general president Rosemary M. Wixom to the Temple and Family History Executive Council.
December 14, 2017 - The First Presidency writes that beginning January 1, "young women (ages 12-18) with a limited-use temple recommend may assist with baptistry assignments currently performed by sister temple ordinance workers and volunteers" such as scheduling and handing out towels.
October 6, 2018 - President Russell M. Nelson institutes a practice of having all three male First Presidency members speak in the women's session of General Conference instead of just one. He tells the women, "We need you! We need your strength, your conversion, your conviction, your ability to lead, your wisdom, and your voices. We simply cannot gather Israel without you!"
December 20, 2018 - Updated missionary dress and grooming guidelines allow sister missionaries to wear slacks during most weekly activities, though they "should continue to wear dresses or skirts when attending the temple and during Sunday worship services, leadership and zone conferences, baptismal services, and missionary training center devotionals".
January 2, 2019 - The initiatory is changed so that women are anointed to be queens and priestesses "in the new and everlasting covenant" instead of "unto your husband". The endowment ceremony is changed so that women no longer covenant to "hearken to the counsel of your husband as he hearkens to the counsel of the Father", and no longer veil their faces during the prayer circle. The video now speaks of "Adam and Eve" instead of "Adam" throughout while Adam refers to "we" instead of "I". The husband-wife sealing is changed so that the woman "receives" her husband just as he "receives" her, but the husband now covenants to "preside with gentleness, meekness, and love unfeigned".
August 20, 2013 - In a BYU devotional, Elder M. Russell Ballard says, "For more than 20 years I have been teaching the importance of councils, including the vital participation of sister leaders. I acknowledge that some men, including some priesthood leaders, have not yet seen the light and still do not include our sister leaders in full partnership in ward and stake councils. I also acknowledge that some men oppress women and in some rare circumstances are guilty of abusing women. This is abhorrent in the eyes of God. I feel certain that men who demean women in any way will answer to God for their actions. And any priesthood leader who does not involve his sister leaders with full respect and inclusion is not honoring and magnifying the keys he has been given. His power and influence will be diminished until he learns the ways of the Lord."
September 19, 2013 - Kate Kelly announces that members of Ordain Women hope to attend the priesthood session of General Conference in the Conference Center. They have requested tickets and will wait in the standby line if those requests are denied.
October 5, 2013 - For the first time, the priesthood session is broadcast on the church's website as all other General Conference sessions have been for years. Having been denied tickets by spokeswoman Ruth Todd, members of Ordain Women wait in the standby line and are turned away at the door one by one.
April 5, 2014 - For this and subsequent General Conferences, the female auxiliary presidencies (Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary) are relocated to sit in the middle of the First Quorum of the Seventy in the Conference Center, a far more visible position directly behind the pulpit.
Members of Ordain Women are once again denied access to the priesthood session in the Conference Center, and stage a peaceful demonstration on Temple Square. In a priesthood session talk on "The Keys and Authority of the Priesthood", Elder Dallin H. Oaks says, "The First Presidency and the Council of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve, who preside over the Church, are empowered to make many decisions affecting Church policies and procedures—matters such as the location of Church buildings and the ages for missionary service. But even though these presiding authorities hold and exercise all of the keys delegated to men in this dispensation, they are not free to alter the divinely decreed pattern that only men will hold offices in the priesthood....
"We are not accustomed to speaking of women having the authority of the priesthood in their Church callings, but what other authority can it be? When a woman - young or old - is set apart to preach the gospel as a full-time missionary, she is given priesthood authority to perform a priesthood function. The same is true when a woman is set apart to function as an officer or teacher in a Church organization under the direction of one who holds the keys of the priesthood. Whoever functions in an office or calling received from one who holds priesthood keys exercises priesthood authority in performing her or his assigned duties....
"The Lord has directed that only men will be ordained to offices in the priesthood. But, as various Church leaders have emphasized, men are not 'the priesthood.' Men hold the priesthood, with a sacred duty to use it for the blessing of all of the children of God."
April 2014 - The annually updated General Authorities chart (which previously included only men) is expanded to also include General Officers, including the Relief Society general presidency, the Young Women general presidency, the Primary general presidency, the Sunday School general presidency, and the Young Men general presidency.
May 8, 2014 - Relief Society general presidency First Counselor Carole M. Stephens writes, "As disciples of Jesus Christ, every covenant daughter of God has the responsibility to understand, live, and defend the divine roles of women, which include that of wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend, and to establish, nurture, defend, and strengthen families and homes."
June 23, 2014 - Kate Kelly, founder of Ordain Women, is excommunicated for apostasy. She tells her supporters, "Don't leave. Stay, and make things better."
October 4, 2014 - Instead of going to the Conference Center, members of Ordain Women are encouraged to try to attend priesthood session broadcasts at their local stake centers. Church spokeswoman Jessica Moody says, "The church encourages men and boys to attend the priesthood session and girls and women to attend the general women's meeting. All are invited to the general sessions of conference."
November 14, 2014 - A policy change allows divorced women and mothers of young children to have or retain jobs as seminary and institute teachers. A memo notes, "This change makes it possible for families to decide what best meets their needs as it relates to mothers working while raising children. This policy is consistent with other church departments."
August 18, 2015 - A woman is appointed to each of three formerly all-male leadership councils - Relief Society general president Linda K. Burton to the Priesthood and Family Executive Council, Young Women general president Bonnie L. Oscarson to the Missionary Executive Council, and Primary general president Rosemary M. Wixom to the Temple and Family History Executive Council.
December 14, 2017 - The First Presidency writes that beginning January 1, "young women (ages 12-18) with a limited-use temple recommend may assist with baptistry assignments currently performed by sister temple ordinance workers and volunteers" such as scheduling and handing out towels.
October 6, 2018 - President Russell M. Nelson institutes a practice of having all three male First Presidency members speak in the women's session of General Conference instead of just one. He tells the women, "We need you! We need your strength, your conversion, your conviction, your ability to lead, your wisdom, and your voices. We simply cannot gather Israel without you!"
December 20, 2018 - Updated missionary dress and grooming guidelines allow sister missionaries to wear slacks during most weekly activities, though they "should continue to wear dresses or skirts when attending the temple and during Sunday worship services, leadership and zone conferences, baptismal services, and missionary training center devotionals".
January 2, 2019 - The initiatory is changed so that women are anointed to be queens and priestesses "in the new and everlasting covenant" instead of "unto your husband". The endowment ceremony is changed so that women no longer covenant to "hearken to the counsel of your husband as he hearkens to the counsel of the Father", and no longer veil their faces during the prayer circle. The video now speaks of "Adam and Eve" instead of "Adam" throughout while Adam refers to "we" instead of "I". The husband-wife sealing is changed so that the woman "receives" her husband just as he "receives" her, but the husband now covenants to "preside with gentleness, meekness, and love unfeigned".
January 17, 2019 - The Church News begins announcing the call of "new mission presidents and companions [wives]" instead of just the mission presidents, though the wives had already been included in pictures and bios alongside their husbands.
January 24, 2019 - The First Presidency states in a letter, "Veiling an endowed woman's face prior to burial is optional. This may be done if the sister expressed such a desire while she was living. In cases where the wishes of the deceased sister on this matter are not known, her family should be consulted."
March 1, 2019 - One of a few policy changes allows mothers with dependent children to serve as temple ordinance workers. The First Presidency notes, "Members should review their circumstances and avoid placing undue burdens on themselves or their families as they consider these service opportunities."
October 2, 2019 - A policy change allows baptized women and children to serve as witnesses at baptisms, and endowed women to serve as witnesses at temple sealings.
October 5, 2019 - The Young Women program is restructured and given a new Theme, which among other things replaces the opening "We are daughters of our Heavenly Father" with "I am a beloved daughter of Heavenly Parents".
October 6, 2019 - Most of the temple recommend questions are revised. The question "Are you honest in your dealings with your fellow men?" is now "Do you strive to be honest in all that you do?"
December 3, 2019 - In response to renewed calls for passage of the Equal Rights Amendment, church spokesman Doug Andersen tells the Salt Lake Tribune, "The church’s position on this issue has been consistent for more than 40 years."
January 24, 2019 - The First Presidency states in a letter, "Veiling an endowed woman's face prior to burial is optional. This may be done if the sister expressed such a desire while she was living. In cases where the wishes of the deceased sister on this matter are not known, her family should be consulted."
March 1, 2019 - One of a few policy changes allows mothers with dependent children to serve as temple ordinance workers. The First Presidency notes, "Members should review their circumstances and avoid placing undue burdens on themselves or their families as they consider these service opportunities."
October 2, 2019 - A policy change allows baptized women and children to serve as witnesses at baptisms, and endowed women to serve as witnesses at temple sealings.
October 5, 2019 - The Young Women program is restructured and given a new Theme, which among other things replaces the opening "We are daughters of our Heavenly Father" with "I am a beloved daughter of Heavenly Parents".
October 6, 2019 - Most of the temple recommend questions are revised. The question "Are you honest in your dealings with your fellow men?" is now "Do you strive to be honest in all that you do?"
December 3, 2019 - In response to renewed calls for passage of the Equal Rights Amendment, church spokesman Doug Andersen tells the Salt Lake Tribune, "The church’s position on this issue has been consistent for more than 40 years."
January 2020 - The church implements its new Children and Youth program for members aged 8-18 and cuts its 109-year-old relationship with the Boy Scouts of America. In the process it also ends the longstanding budget disparity between the Young Men and Young Women programs.
February 2021 - The chapter on "Mothers' Employment Outside the Home", a compilation of quotes from prophets and apostles telling mothers not to seek employment outside the home except in a few extenuating circumstances, is quietly removed from the digital Eternal Marriage Student Manual.
March 11, 2021 - The First Presidency creates the new position of international area organization adviser outside the United States and Canada, to be filled by women representing the Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary alongside area authority Seventies.
June 7, 2021 - The First Presidency announces that the priesthood session and women's session of General Conference will both be discontinued. (On July 27, the Saturday evening sessions are reinstated as general sessions open to all.)
February 2021 - The chapter on "Mothers' Employment Outside the Home", a compilation of quotes from prophets and apostles telling mothers not to seek employment outside the home except in a few extenuating circumstances, is quietly removed from the digital Eternal Marriage Student Manual.
March 11, 2021 - The First Presidency creates the new position of international area organization adviser outside the United States and Canada, to be filled by women representing the Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary alongside area authority Seventies.
June 7, 2021 - The First Presidency announces that the priesthood session and women's session of General Conference will both be discontinued. (On July 27, the Saturday evening sessions are reinstated as general sessions open to all.)