Only one female speaker at General Conference this weekend

[_Jersey Girl]

Onlooker reporting in.

What it looks like from the outside is that 1) He's a creepy stalker and/or 2) He's intentionally derailing the thread off topic and shifting focus to the OP.

Or both.

[_Xenophon]

Speaking of staying on topic, thank you for posting part 3 on your blog. I believe up thread you were saying that it was sometimes difficult to find the motivation. Just know that it is highly appreciated when you do share your work.

[_MsJack]

Speaking of staying on topic, thank you for posting part 3 on your blog. I believe up thread you were saying that it was sometimes difficult to find the motivation. Just know that it is highly appreciated when you do share your work.

Thanks :-) Here is the part 3 Xenophon is talking about:

Jesus Christ, Wisdom of God

It's not written with an LDS audience in mind though. If anyone wants to see what I've written about the divine feminine and Mormon theology, e-mail me and I will send you a copy of my thesis, As God is, Woman May Become?: Women and the Mormon Doctrine of Exaltation.

by the way, almost done with my article on 1 Cor. 14:34-35 as well. I would say it's up by Wednesday at the latest.

[_Jersey Girl]

by the way, almost done with my article on 1 Cor. 14:34-35 as well. I would say it's up by Wednesday at the latest.

Thank you, lady! So much appreciated!

[_Philo Sofee]

Can I ask an honest question? Why?

Poor planning, youthful arrogance, FOO issues, and an inability to come to terms with how badly my marriage was hindering me.

I was 18 when I started the classics major and thought, at the time, I would go the MA-PhD route and teach. I believed all of the 80s / 90s Kool-Aid about how you can do anything you put your mind to, believe in the power of your dreams, play some "Dreams" by Van Halen in the background, blah blah blah. I started the master's track at TEDS still believing I would do that.

Midway through my master's, I got cold feet. At this point I was watching friends pursue the MA-PhD track, and most of them were struggling to find steady work. They were absolutely brilliant---not those idiots whose ability to have earned a PhD is astonishing---yet they were still traveling all over the country, pursuing adjunct work and having to switch jobs every 1-2 years. I realized that, even if I finished a PhD, I couldn't uproot my daughter every 1-2 years like that. Not with her disability.

I then decided to do an MDiv after my MA and pursue chaplaincy (which had better career prospects). That's part of the reason my MA took so long; I was taking classes to apply towards an MDiv at North Park. But we decided to try for baby #2 as I was (I thought) wrapping up my degree at TEDS. Our daughter was 6 and I felt like, if I waited for everything in my life to be perfect, the time was never going to be right. Unfortunately, my husband started his (emotional?) affair with his Mormon co-worker a few months after I got pregnant, then effectively abandoned us. I managed to wrap up my TEDS classes for good, but put the completion of the thesis on hold so I could return to work and take care of my daughter and unborn child. I almost certainly would have finished the MA in 2013 had my husband been financially and emotionally supportive during my pregnancy.

I don't consider my BA and MA to be "useless" though; I'm qualified for a number of promotions with my current employer simply because I have those, regardless of what they're in. I start a promotion later this month. I actually haven't given up on the dream of doing an MDiv and chaplaincy, but will be waiting until my children are older. What I tell the young people is to get some variety in their bachelor's degree. If you do a BA in liberal arts, do your minor in business, etc.

I have been dating my current BF for a little over a year now; where I go from here (and when) really depends on whether it works out with him.

I've never blamed "the Patriarchy" (a phrase that I have never used in my life!) for me having a liberal arts BA. Women in patriarchal religions are sometimes counseled to get a bachelor's degree "just in case" something happens to their spouse, but otherwise become stay-at-home moms. What I have tried to point out is that you will have a really, really hard time returning to any career path after many years out of it, so this advice is junk.

I don't give a damn what Rino thinks, you are an inspiration to me.......

[_Paloma]

I don't give a damn what Rino thinks, you are an inspiration to me.......

And to me!

You have a lot of fans as you know, Ms. Jack, of all different backgrounds and persuasions.

I'm one of those non-LDS Christians in your corner.

As a woman, as a Christian and even as someone who values Calmoriah (though I don't know her and only know her posts over the years, which to me display what I believe is a beautiful soul) ... I really like and have benefited from your intellect and your readiness to share your passion and insights with others.

Your life's story to me is hugely inspirational, as Philo says above.

You show so much initiative and courage and honesty and adaptability and compassion ... and intellectual brilliance, along with a compelling journalistic style.

In my Christian view, you have been very gifted by God. And I love that you see His faithful, loving redemption running through the events of your life.

As someone in the shadows who is also a feminist, committed follower of Christ and redeemed fellow struggler on life's journey... you go, girl! You totally rock!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[_MsJack]

I don't give a damn what Rino thinks, you are an inspiration to me.......

And to me!

You have a lot of fans as you know, Ms. Jack, of all different backgrounds and persuasions.

I'm one of those non-LDS Christians in your corner.

As a woman, as a Christian and even as someone who values Calmoriah (though I don't know her and only know her posts over the years, which to me display what I believe is a beautiful soul) ... I really like and have benefited from your intellect and your readiness to share your passion and insights with others.

Your life's story to me is hugely inspirational, as Philo says above.

You show so much initiative and courage and honesty and adaptability and compassion ... and intellectual brilliance, along with a compelling journalistic style.

In my Christian view, you have been very gifted by God. And I love that you see His faithful, loving redemption running through the events of your life.

As someone in the shadows who is also a feminist, committed follower of Christ and redeemed fellow struggler on life's journey... you go, girl! You totally rock!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the kind words, both of you. Your opinions mean something to me.

Paloma, didn't you say you were by the Dells? My BF and I took the kids there in December. I thought of you and thought of poking you on here to see if the offer to meet up was still on the table, but alas, I didn't.

I'll let you know if we head up there again.

by the way, here is my article on 1 Cor. 14:34-35:

Silence in the Assembly

[_Philo Sofee]

Very interesting article Ms Jack. Obviously you have put a lot of thought and intelligence into analyzing the various ways of interpreting this fascinating issue. Thank you for doing this. It makes me want to start blogging again..... I'd just bore people however.......

[_Paloma]

Thanks for the kind words, both of you. Your opinions mean something to me.

Paloma, didn't you say you were by the Dells? My BF and I took the kids there in December. I thought of you and thought of poking you on here to see if the offer to meet up was still on the table, but alas, I didn't.

I'll let you know if we head up there again.

by the way, here is my article on 1 Cor. 14:34-35:

Silence in the Assembly

Terrific article! Thanks!!

Please do look me up if you're ever north of the U.S./ Canada border ... specifically in the area of Toronto Ontario.

Would love to meet you!!

Warm Easter greetings to you and to the important people in your life.