This book from the Church Historian’s Press addresses the dilemma that we face as we try to understand the role of women in Church history. It allows women speak for themselves, and they trample stereotypes and popular assumptions of who Mormon women are. Their words and their lives are inspiring to me.
I have learned something from each woman in this volume, but these are a few favorite discourses:
The School of Experience by Mattie Horne Tingey, May 19, 1893 (World’s Congress of Representative Women address about motherhood, including doctrine of a Heavenly Mother)
The Religious Crisis of Today by Elsie Talmage Brandley, June 9, 1934 (Dealing with doubts; encouraging questions in the youth; being willing to grow)
My Yoke is Easy and My Burden is Light by Alice C. Smith, Oct 1, 1969 (The most beautiful message about visiting teaching I have ever read.)
Latter-Day Saint Women in Today’s Changing World by Belle S. Spafford, February 11, 1975 (I loved this because I was amazed at her understanding of women’s issues and Church history. She teaches that the Prophet Joseph turned the key for emancipation of all women.)
A Latter-day Saint Theology of Suffering by Francine R Bennion, March 28, 1986 (How we understand the sources and purpose of suffering in this life matters.)