FAIR conference: 'Gender equality is the brick of Zion,' speaker says

FAIR is a scholarly effort within the Mormon Church, a church which has gotten a lot of attention in the Proposition 8 proceedings. So it is with great interest that I follow up on a report of true marriage equality being discussed within its doctrines by a feminist. Read on for quotes from the report, and my take...

Hudson-Cassler, a professor of political science at Brigham Young University, started her remarks by saying she didn't join the Mormon church because she was a feminist, but she remains in the church because she is a feminist.

"I am continually amazed at the revolutionary doctrine of the LDS Church concerning women," said Hudson-Cassler, a convert of 30 years. "Now if we live up to the privileges and the knowledge that doctrine gives us, that is another story. But the doctrine itself is incredibly healing. I am so glad I found my way and that God led me to this church."

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The plan is made even more beautiful, she said, by the companionship and love that exists in a family.

"That is the bedrock of the gospel. Take that away and the rest is just tinkling symbols," Hudson-Cassler said. "Gender equality is the brick of Zion. Gender equality is how our heavenly parents live."

After her presentation, the author and her husband were surrounded by people who wanted to visit or get a book signed. Some women expressed emotional gratitude for Hudson-Cassler's remarks. She was just glad to share.

"It's a feeling unlike any other because it makes me feel that I had made promises before this life to be there for them (women) at a certain temporal point when hearing these things would make a difference," she said. "It's an incredible feeling to be the right person at the right time with the right information to help someone."

My point in bringing this up is simple: How could a religion continue to preach about marriage equality if that term is subverted to mean gender segregation integrated as equal to this gender integration? And if a religion can no longer teach that important humanitarian concern, then who can? It is lost in the public square, from our schools, from our political expression, and from our children's understanding.