Gender Roles and Equality
“To achieve this spiritual transformation and to fulfill God’s ultimate purposes in this life and in the next, women and men are dependent on each other and must become one to fulfill their divine potential. One gender does not have greater eternal possibility than the other.”1
Defined
Help meets: To be help equals.
Interdependent: A reciprocal relation between interdependent entities2
Father Role
Fathers are to preside in and provide for their families.
“As the patriarch in your home, you have a serious responsibility to assume leadership in working with your children. You must help create a home where the Spirit of the Lord can abide…Your homes should be havens of peace and hoy for your family.”3
Mother Role
Mothers are to nurture their Children. To lead then to keep their second estate is the work of motherhood. 1
“A mother’s love awakens in young children a memory of the life, love, and goodness they experienced in the premortal existence from their heavenly parents. This awakening to goodness and hope prepares the new soul to recognize the moral law later in life because these things will be familiar and beloved. A mother’s love prepares the children in such a way that these new souls will have ‘the work of the law written in their hearts’ (Rom. 2:15).1
Joint and Equal Role
Shared purpose, mutual support, joint overall responsibility, and collaboration.1
- Equal and United in POWER
- Equal and United in PURPOSE
- Equal and United in POSSIBILITY
- Equal and United in PARTICIPATION
- Equal and United in PROMINENCE
“Developing trust in one’s spouse goes far beyond believing he or she will fulfill specific duties. Rather, it involves identifying, sharing, and appreciating each others gifts and stewardship's and deciding together how best to implement or fulfill each set of gifts at specific points in times throughout life. Trusting one’s spouse is an essential part of righteous marriage. To place complete trust in each other stretches our faith and tests our spiritual courage, which is, perhaps, another reason why marriage is ordained of God.” 1
1 Dollahite, D. (2000). Strengthening Our Families: An in-depth look at the proclamation of the family. Salt Lake City, UT.
2 wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
3 Bensen, E.T. (1985). What I hope you will teach your children about the temple. Ensign.
