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I think this is a tough lesson to try to teach as is; not that I necessarily disagree with any particular part of it, but it's just poorly written and poorly organized. My starting-out advice would be that the point that's trying to be taught here is barely any different from the previous lesson. The distinction between "supporting priesthood bearers" and "supporting and honoring priesthood in one's family when one has it," in practice, is going to be such a fine gradation that it seems worthwhile to combine lessons 13 and 14 if at all possible, otherwise it might seem completely redundant. But that's assuming you're in a position to make those decisions; if not, and the same teacher has to teach both of these on different weeks, well... let's see what we can do with what we've got.
First of all, deal with the word "patriarchy." For feminists, it's a bad word. The wikipedia entry on patriarchy is one of the most frequently vandalized entries, and one which the authors find hard to keep neutral in tone. Young women may or may not have an aversion to the word, but also might not know what it means exactly, and so some kind of definition is needed to prevent misunderstanding. Our use of the word is somewhat specialized. Simply: in the gospel plan, families are organized by a patriarchal order, in which fathers are given responsibility for the welfare of their families. An LDS family can be classified "patriarchal" if the couple is sealed in the temple and the husband/father uses the priesthood in righteousness.
First of all, deal with the word "patriarchy." For feminists, it's a bad word. The wikipedia entry on patriarchy is one of the most frequently vandalized entries, and one which the authors find hard to keep neutral in tone. Young women may or may not have an aversion to the word, but also might not know what it means exactly, and so some kind of definition is needed to prevent misunderstanding. Our use of the word is somewhat specialized. Simply: in the gospel plan, families are organized by a patriarchal order, in which fathers are given responsibility for the welfare of their families. An LDS family can be classified "patriarchal" if the couple is sealed in the temple and the husband/father uses the priesthood in righteousness.
I absolutely reject patriarchy, and will never teach any woman that her husband has intrinsic authority over her for any reason, even if that authority is as loving, gentle and persuasive as possible.
To make the lesson a little easier to swallow, I might just take off the "patriarchal" part and do something about joint leadership and equal partnership in the home.
In recent years, the church has talked a lot more about "equal partnership" but they still can't let go of this whole notion of "men preside." If one person presides, they are not equal. It is impossible to have equality within hierarchy.
I've been thinking about this lesson for months, and am still really undecided about what to do.
To make the lesson a little easier to swallow, I might just take off the "patriarchal" part and do something about joint leadership and equal partnership in the home.
In recent years, the church has talked a lot more about "equal partnership" but they still can't let go of this whole notion of "men preside." If one person presides, they are not equal. It is impossible to have equality within hierarchy.
I've been thinking about this lesson for months, and am still really undecided about what to do.
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