I grew up hearing men, including my father, refer to their
wives as their “better half,” and after I married, I realized why. Women have a special way of seeing or looking at things that men do not. They are more patient and understanding; generally speaking, they have a sensitivity to others that many men seem oblivious to. For centuries, women were mostly, and in some cases totally, ignored by their society. It was as if it were their place to be in the background, unimportant and treated as second-class citizens. Even in this great country of ours, the United States of America, women were not allowed to vote and therefore were, in fact, second-class citizens. College and/or university level education was viewed as primarily for men. Women were expected to be silent when discussing important matters. Men were supposedly wise and born with a greater understanding in respect to weightier matters and the affairs of the world. For example, during the Continental Congress and the writing of the Constitution of this great country, as far as we know, there were no women invited to participate. That doesn’t mean that the men were not sharing what was going on with their wives in the evening and getting some important advice. There is no question that men and women are different, and each were originally given different and major assignments from the Almighty. That was never meant, however, to mean that one was more important than the other.
The things that have been assigned to men and those assigned to women by the Almighty should not be questioned by either men or women. But anything that was not specifically assigned by Him should be open for discussion and very negotiable. Men and women are meant to be partners in life, and one is essentially incomplete without the other, partners in the true sense of the word where they are equal in marriage and equal in the assignments of family responsibilities etc., as a pair of horses should be equally yoked and harnessed to best perform their labors. Usually the harder tasks around the farm, the house, or making a living for the family have been assigned to the physically stronger of the two. That is the male, usually. The housework and raising the children, while the husband worked to make a living, was at one time, primarily the woman’s job. As I have watched my mother and my wife doing their work, I have often mused that I am glad I have mens’ work. However, in more recent years, there are many cases where those roles have been reversed.
I remember watching a show, when I was a youngster, about this family of mostly boys who lived during the early part of the 20th century. The family was portrayed as uneducated and lived mostly outside the law. The mother was the boss and ordered both husband and sons to do her bidding, even that of robbing banks, etc.
There was no question who was the boss. If her husband got out of line, she would physically whop him. It was definitely not a normal relationship for the era.
There are women, even today, who feel like they are second-class citizens and subservient to their husbands and their employers. Others have strong personalities, and knowing their worth, don’t allow anyone to treat them with disrespect. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf said: “Sisters, wherever you are, whatever your circumstances may be, you are not forgotten. No matter how dark your days may seem, no matter how insignificant you may feel, no matter how overshadowed you think you may be, your Heavenly Father has not forgotten you. In fact, He loves you with an infinite love.” I read an interesting statement credited to an Indian Chief of an unknown tribe who said, “The Elders say the men should look at women in a sacred way. The men should never put women down or shame them in any way. When we have problems, we should seek their counsel. We should share with them openly. A woman has intuitive thought. She has access to another system of knowledge that few men develop. She can help us understand. We must treat her in a good way.” Our family has often been blessed by wives’ wisdom and strong character. There is no question that I listen to her as she listens to me, and together we have had a strong and lasting relationship for over sixty years and climbing. There are a few women in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who have been unsatisfied with their assignment as women, the assignment that came from the Almighty, and they would like to have the priesthood.
They believe that the priesthood would give them more power and recognition. They, apparently, do not understand that the priesthood was assigned to men by the Almighty, not by men. The Lord in His wisdom must have felt the work of the priesthood is more suited to men. Many women observing that work tend to agree with the Lord, as they have no interest in having that added to their assignments. I like what Eliza R. Snow said, “ Let us (women) seek for wisdom instead of power, and we will have all the power we have wisdom to exercise.”