Women never say the prayers in General Conference?

[Solon]

I thik the clerk was only partially correct. Nothing in the handbook, AFAIK, says anyhting about policy with respect to eh the gender of the prayer voice in meetings. But the HB DOES grant to the presiding authority (bishop or SP) the right and duty to be reposnsible fopr all aspects of the meeting. THus, in any given Stake a SP could issue this policy (although I htink that a bishop could still do otherwise and be OK per the HB)

Sure. The clerk also thought that it was weird - he told me that he was just following instructions from the SP.

[creekster]

It doesn't seem that this is followed very often:

WHich, the H&W avoidance? That si becasue (I am guessing) the prayer calls are from a list of eligibles and the calls are made by the exec secty and if oyu are that poor schmuck (and I used to be) do you want to make one phone call or two?

[TripletDaddy]

It doesn't seem that this is followed very often:

I am much more concerned with the won-ton violation (yum) of the following plain edict:

Prayers in Church Meetings

Prayers should be brief and simple and should be spoken as directed by the Spirit.

If appropriate, bishops may want to caution those who pray not to sermonize or pray at great length.

[Rosebud]

It is good to have you back RB...interesting it seems to coincide with the first snowfall. I hope you stick around for awhile.

Have I no more secrets?!

[SteelBlue]

So does someone have access to an official Handbook? Where did this come from?

In 1978 church (SWK) put out a bulletin stating there was no scriptural basis to the women not praying in sacrament meeting policy and that they could now pray away. Sometime after that a word of mouth unwritten order of things type of policy emerged from a supposed meeting with ETB and the 12. Even though it has never been and is not now policy that women should not open or close or whatever version of the policy you've heard there are still some that are certain it's true. Basically a combination of an older actual policy and a newer rumor. As is clear in this thread the policy that never was lives on in some stakes.

[Moliere]

We all have access to the Church Handbook of Instructions:

Policy seems fine, execution is lacking. The world is still rotating.

[SuperGabers]

I thik the clerk was only partially correct. Nothing in the handbook, AFAIK, says anyhting about policy with respect to eh the gender of the prayer voice in meetings. But the HB DOES grant to the presiding authority (bishop or SP) the right and duty to be reposnsible fopr all aspects of the meeting. THus, in any given Stake a SP could issue this policy (although I htink that a bishop could still do otherwise and be OK per the HB)

Here's the thing that puts the "F" in WTF with me: Why would any SP feel they needed to issue such a policy? That is so offensive to me...

Disclaimer: I am 30 weeks prego and going through some prego related health issues. Therefore, I am a bit more sensitive and grumpier than normal. Usually I am pretty good at not letting things bug me... Hey. I married him, right? So if my posts seem pissy, it is because they are.

[SoCalCoug]

So, I did a word cloud for Indy's posts in this thread to see what's foremost on his mind here. This is what resulted:



Because I can't figure out how to post it here full-size, here's the link:

Indy's Word Cloud

[Katy Lied]

In our ward, they never ask a husband-and-wife team to say the prayers. And unless it is an introduction to a new family, they never ask both the husband and wife to speak on the same Sunday.

I asked about this once, and was told that this rule of thumb was to minimize the danger of both spouses forgetting their assignment, and having no speakers (or prayers). I guess the ward had been burned a few times.

[SoCalCoug]

In our ward, they never ask a husband-and-wife team to say the prayers. And unless it is an introduction to a new family, they never ask both the husband and wife to speak on the same Sunday.

I asked about this once, and was told that this rule of thumb was to minimize the danger of both spouses forgetting their assignment, and having no speakers (or prayers). I guess the ward had been burned a few times.

Our ward has the same policy, but it was explained to me that they don't want to make it uncomfortable for non-married people to be called on to say the prayer.

[CardiacCoug]

In our ward, they never ask a husband-and-wife team to say the prayers. And unless it is an introduction to a new family, they never ask both the husband and wife to speak on the same Sunday.

The last few wards I have been in have been excellent about doing this, too.

I think it's an uncharacteristically progressive, thoughtful, and inclusive policy to ask individual members to give talks and prayers rather than asking husband-wife teams to do the talks and prayers. Single people in the ward don't feel like they are being left out or being treated differently that way.

As far as women not being allowed to pray in general conference, I like what LA Ute said -- it is certainly a tradition with no basis.

Clearly this policy combines with other policies to send the message that in our Church the voices and opinions of women are not as important as the voices and opinions of men.

[creekster]

The last few wards I have been in have been excellent about doing this, too.

I think it's an uncharacteristically progressive, thoughtful, and inclusive policy to ask individual members to give talks and prayers rather than asking husband-wife teams to do the talks and prayers. Single people in the ward don't feel like they are being left out or being treated differently that way.

Our ward mixes it up. Sometimes we ask single poeple to speak with other single people. Other times we ask single people to speak wiht married peopel. It is just a melange.

[CardiacCoug]

Our ward mixes it up. Sometimes we ask single poeple to speak with other single people. Other times we ask single people to speak wiht married peopel. It is just a melange.

That sounds OK, too. Sometimes it's nice to hear a family or couple speak at the same time -- especially when they are moving in or out of the Ward.

[mUUser]

So many non-doctrinal traditions, so little time.

Along those lines -- in my 30 something years in the church, I've never seen a man in the Primary Presidency.

[CardiacCoug]

Along those lines -- in my 30 something years in the church, I've never seen a man in the Primary Presidency.

Or a woman in the Sunday School Presidency -- I'm pretty sure you don't need the Priesthood for that.