Equal Partnership “In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners.” Proclamation, ¶ 7 “The concepts of equal partnership and sacred responsibilities for mothers and father are deeply interwoven; to separate them would likely damage the tapestry of truth they portray.” Text, pg. 63

Equal Partnership and Sacred Responsibilities What meaning do the words “equal” and “partnership” have for you? Why do you think the Brethren the phrase “equal partners” in the Proclamation? How does it make sense to juxtapose “equal partners” with gender-distinct “sacred responsibilities”? Why do you think the First Presidency and The Twelve used the phrase “sacred responsibilities” rather than the word “roles” in the Proclamation when discussing mothers and fathers? It seems that this delineation of responsibilities is neither rigid nor flexible. How would you characterize it? Do you have a metaphor that would help describe it? By defining gender as an eternal part of our identity and differentiating fathers' and mothers‘ family responsibilities, does the Proclamation promote a “traditional,” “conservative,” “backward,” “non-progressive,” “anachronistic,” or even “sexist” view or marriage? Or, is there another way to view this?

Strained Beliefs about Equal Partnership and Sacred Responsibilities Proclamation Implications Inconsistent Ideologies Essential Gender Interdependence Oneness Trust Irrelevant Gender Independence Separateness Mistrust

Equal and United: Research Perspectives Stronger, happier marriages Greater individual well-being and mental health of both spouses Greater couple intimacy More relationship satisfaction

Power Patriarchal Order = Family Order of Government “Those married in the temple in the new and everlasting covenant of marriage become inheritor o all the blessings of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the patriarchs and thereby enter into the patriarchal order. If the participating parties abide in the eternal marriage covenant, they shall reap the full blessings of the patriarchal heirship in eternity, where the patriarchal order will be the order of government and rule.” Mormon Doctrine “If there is anything that concerns me, it I that some men try to run their wife’s life and tell her everything she ought to do. It will not work. There will be no happiness in the lives of the children nor of the parents where the man tries to run everything and control his wife. They are partners. They are companions in this great venture the we call marriage and family life.” President Hinckley

Purpose “Help Meet” = Equal Power to Save Creation “Properly conceived and practiced, marriage is deity in embryo. Like the two strands of a double helix that wind around each other in their connection to form the basis of physical life, when man and woman become one in marriage, their intertwining forms the seed of eternal lives.”Text, pg. 66 Fall Eve’s stewardship provides separation and growth opportunity Atonement Adam’s stewardship provides access to atonement and reconciliation

Possibility Yoked together in reception of blessings Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created. Genesis 5:2 (emphasis added) “I’ve tried to recognize my wife’s individuality, her personality, her desires, her background, her ambitions. Let her fly. Yes, let her fly! Let her develop her own talents. Let her do things her way. Get out of her way, and marvel at what she does.” President Hinckley

Participation Shared Stewardship in the Plan of Salvation “The facts are that [Adam and Eve] stood side by side in the garden. They were expelled from the garden together, and they worked together, side by side.” President Hinckley Ask: “How can I help you in your part of our stewardship?”

Prominence Responsibility distinction  Value distinction The adversary is having a heyday distorting attitudes about gender and roles and about families and individual worth. He is the author of mass confusion about the value, the role, the contribution, and the unique nature of women. Does the Lord respect women? Do women matter to the Lord? The answer is yes--a resounding yes! Elder M. Russell Ballard, Here am I, Send Me Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. 1 Cor. 11: 11