Women never say the prayers in General Conference?

[TripletDaddy]

I thought that I remembered women praying in GC, but rather that participating in the pointless back and forth that you all are engaged in, I went out and got some cold, hard facts.

The Ensign (preferred pronunciation: N’sign, not N’sun), looks like it started listing the prayers in 2002. They skipped the September 2007 sessions, but aside from that, I looked at every session and did not see any women in the general sessions. While this obviously doesn't prove anything, it does represent over 100 prayers, so I think it is good evidence.

I was initially excited because in the April 2009 Priesthood session, Shirley Christensen said the benediction. Unfortunately, it turns out Shirley is a man. He also prayed in the Sunday Morning session in April, 2005, so evidently someone likes his prayers.

Also of interest, in the 2 or so years before being called to the Q of the 12, Elders Cook, Christofferson, and Andersen ALL said a prayer in a session of conference. Liberal Mormons will be happy to note that Marlin Jensen said the invocation Sunday Morning in October. So I think that there is a good chance that we will have another Democrat Apostle in the near future. Or possibly an Apostle named Shirley.

Hope this helps.

Thanks. The early returns are not looking good, folks.

Now the obvious question....why are women not giving prayers in GC?

PS time permitting, I would also like to know why there is a man named "Shirley?"

Also, the Ensign removed the pronunciation parenthetical several years ago, but in this decade, iirc. My guess is that a native Utahn GA (used to saying "N-Sun") had it removed rather than conform to the mores of proper diction.

[creekster]

PS time permitting, I would also like to know why there is a man named "Shirley?"

I knew a boy named shirley years ago. He was not LDS and not from or in Utah. He was stronger thanmost of us, however, so no one gave him crap about it, although we wanted to.

[Flystripper]

Same. Although if not true, it is an interesting bit of LDS trivia.

I think the impassioned responses stem from embarrassment, truthfully. If women do not pray at GC, there doesn't seem to be a good reason.

grapevine would know

[TheBYUGuy]

There are prayers in General Conference? I thought they stopped doing those a couple years ago, coincidentally at the same time I got a DVR.

[TripletDaddy]

There are prayers in General Conference? I thought they stopped doing those a couple years ago, coincidentally at the same time I got a DVR.

I am positive that there are prayers during General Conferences.

Otherwise, how else could I explain the existence of yummy sandwiches and snacks on my plate during General Conference? (this also proves the existence of rest hymns and female speakers at general conference, btw)

[Flystripper]

PS time permitting, I would also like to know why there is a man named "Shirley?"

same reason a father would name his son Sue?

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[Katy Lied]

I dont think women have ever prayed in the General Sessions of General Conference. At least not in the modern church. They always pray (to the exclusion of any men) in the Young Women and the Relief Society sessions. Which are integral parts of GC just as the general sessions are.

I think DDD has a little more patience with posters-with-an-obvious-agenda than Indy does. Indy's irritability trigger is a little quicker than DDDs, which makes it very arresting reading when DDD does go off on someone. Last time he did that twas with Rosebud, IIRC.

I have sort of the same reaction with those who use CUF to pick pick pick at the church. For example, if someone throws up 10 threads finding fault with some part of the Church, 2 times I will be intriqued, 2 times I will think it is funny, 4 times I will skip over it, 1 time I will roll my eyes, and 1 time I will become irritated and think "Please please please do yourself a favor and just quit the church already. You'll be much happier and much less tortured by these inconsistencies that no one else cares about. "

I think the latter irritable response says more about me than the poster. I should follow DDD's example and turn away a critique with a soft or logical answer, or examine the charge fairly.

PS: A woman said the invocation at the BYU-Utah game. That's a pretty dang important occasion to me.

[TripletDaddy]

A woman said the invocation at the BYU-Utah game. That's a pretty dang important occasion to me.

We need more women saying prayers at BYU games!

[Art Vandelay]

I have sort of the same reaction with those who use CUF to pick pick pick at the church. For example, if someone throws up 10 threads finding fault with some part of the Church, 2 times I will be intriqued, 2 times I will think it is funny, 4 times I will skip over it, 1 time I will roll my eyes, and 1 time I will become irritated and think "Please please please do yourself a favor and just quit the church already. You'll be much happier and much less tortured by these inconsistencies that no one else cares about. "
.

I always wondered why you never responded to any of my posts in the foyer.

[Fiyero]

Every conference when the token woman's talk begins, that's when I use the bathroom and make a sandwich. If they were to start praying too, jeez I don't know how I'd react. Bow my head and listen? Giggle? Inherently begin craving baked goods? I think it would throw off the whole reverence factor.

[LA Ute]

I think the impassioned responses stem from embarrassment, truthfully.

Why home in on the poster instead of on his argument? It adds nothing to the discussion and only serves to irritate the person making the argument.

(Note: I have no dog in this thread.)

[JohnnyLingo]

The woman who gave the closing prayer for the RS session of the last GC went on and on and on for about five minutes.

Seriously, it was a talk disguised as a prayer.

That is probably why they aren't allowed to pray in the other sessions.

[JohnnyLingo]

Why home in on the poster instead of on his argument? It adds nothing to the discussion and only serves to irritate the person making the argument.

I do this and creek jumps down my throat.

The class distinctions on CUF continue.

[Fiyero]

"Dear Heavenly Father, (pause) when we heard Elder Burton's talk on food storage, (pause) (weepily) we were so overcome with joy..."

[creekster]

I do this and creek jumps down my throat.

The class distinctions on CUF continue.

I am sorry you are thus abused. I will try to improve my throat jumping choices.