J. Beck's CES Fireside - cougarguard.com — unofficial BYU Cougars / LDS sports, football, basketball forum and message board

Levin · 03-05-2008, 04:40 AM

As my first post here on Cougargaurd, I thought I'd do a little transcribing of Sister Beck's CES talk from this past Sunday; it's the least I can do for the amount of entertainment/enlightenment y'all have given me as I've lurked.

What follows is a transcription from a portion of Sis. Beck's talk where I think she digs in, calls in the flanks, and doubles up:

"Latter-day prophets have repeatedly counseled you to get all the education possible for you. We live in an increasingly technical and sophisticated world. Education will help help you build the Lord's Kingdom and provide for your future family. Because education is so important to the rising generation, the Perpetual Education Fund was established, and now benefits more than thirty thousand members worldwide The Church has also invested many resources in institutes of religion all over the world, and in church schools and universities. I hope you are following the prophetic counsel to receive all the education and training that is possible for you. It's true, that you will be better able to serve in the Church and build the Lord's Kindgom if you have good employment. Mothers and fathers will be better parents as they are educated and know how to solve family problems and manage their homes in wise ways. Some of you women are deciding now whether you should marry and have a family or choose a career. That's because you are bright, qualified, and you have opportunities your grandmothers never dreamed of. The possibilities for earning credentials and making a mark for yourselves on the world stage have never been greater. But I hope you are making your decisions with the blessings of Abraham in mind. Latter-day Saint women should understand that no matter how many other people they enlist to help them with their home and children, they cannot delegate their role as the primary nurturer and teacher of their families. Righteous motherhood will always stretch every reserve one has to meet the needs of their families. As a daughter of God who has made covenants with Him, each of you carries the vital and indispensible famale half of the responsibility for fulfilling the Lord's plan. Every man and woman has the agency to prepare humbly and prayerfully, and choose how to approach your career opportunities. Every choice has a consequence. You cannot do everything and have everything. You must choose with eternal priorities in mind. I would hope that you will understand that there are no glamorous careers. Every form of employment has its own unique challenges. Many choices availabe in the world today compete with eternal goals and responsibilities. Many choices could persuade you to delay or limit the number of children you provide to your family. Many choices can rob you of critical time and energy necessary to adequately care for your spouse and children and your responsibilities in the Lord's kingdom. These decisions are between you and the Lord. He knows the desires of your heart in your unique situation."

The rest of the talk was about how service, sharing the gospel, and attending the temple can help you get married.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

SeattleUte · 03-05-2008, 04:45 AM

Wait, Levin. Come back. Where's the part about fluttering birds? Can you post that?

Levin · 03-05-2008, 05:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeattleUte

Wait, Levin. Come back. Where's the part about fluttering birds? Can you post that?

Sure; sorry I left that part out. She said this:

"A little, pretty bird
took flight into the garden
where there was plenty of fruit.
If I were a pretty, little bird
I wouldn't wait around,
I'd do just the same.

Malicous lime-twigs
lurked around the place;
the poor bird could not get away,
If I were a pretty, little bird,
I would be more careful,
I wouldn't do the same.

The bird reached a beautiful hand,
where she came to no harm,
the lucky thing.
If I were a pretty, little bird,
I wouldn't wait around,
I'd do just the same."

A little opaque; not sure if her audience got it, but it works, I guess.

She even had this visual:

birds a flutter.jpg

UtahDan · 03-05-2008, 05:10 AM

A very good friend of ours (my wife and me) who has had an exemplary career in the service of her country has remarked to me more than once she fields a large number of comments from other ladies in the ward which are calculated to let her know they are rooting for her to fail. She isn't bothered by it and is about the least sensitive person I know. She just finds it odd.

Not saying sis Beck is doing that, but there does seem to be a fair amount of back biting from some of the full time mom crowd toward the career sisters who have kids. Maybe the word is envy. I don't know.

Are there a lot of career women making similar comments to the stay at home moms that every choice they make has a cost and that they ought to take the eternal view? I suspect no.

I think it is an individual decision.

ERCougar · 03-05-2008, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UtahDan

A very good friend of ours (my wife and me) who has had an exemplary career in the service of her country has remarked to me more than once she fields a large number of comments from other ladies in the ward which are calculated to let her know they are rooting for her to fail. She isn't bothered by it and is about the least sensitive person I know. She just finds it odd.

Not saying sis Beck is doing that, but there does seem to be a fair amount of back biting from some of the full time mom crowd toward the career sisters who have kids. Maybe the word is envy. I don't know.

Are there a lot of career women making similar comments to the stay at home moms that every choice they make has a cost and that they ought to take the eternal view? I suspect no.

I think it is an individual decision.

I think the word absolutely is "envy". In every case that I've seen this kind of backbiting going on.

Maybe that's why I'm not offended by this talk. Anyone who uses it as ammo for judging is really just envious, and I can see that for what it is. Ugly.

MikeWaters · 03-05-2008, 03:01 PM

UtahDan, I don't know any LDS women that have careers outside of the usual traditional areas: teachers, nurses, etc.

So I can't comment on the way that they are treated.

Archaea · 03-05-2008, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

UtahDan, I don't know any LDS women that have careers outside of the usual traditional areas: teachers, nurses, etc.

So I can't comment on the way that they are treated.

We have lds phyisicans, entertainers, business women, entrepreneurs, and professors, but ignore reality. Of course, we live in a progressive society and you live in Texas.

MikeWaters · 03-05-2008, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archaea

We have lds phyisicans, entertainers, business women, entrepreneurs, and professors, but ignore reality. Of course, we live in a progressive society and you live in Texas.

I'm just saying that I've never known any of these women.

There is one sister in College Station that is a professor. But I didn't know her very well.

The idea that masses of Mormon women are getting graduate education and pursuing careers at the expense of family is ridiculous, based on my experience.

Archaea · 03-05-2008, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

I'm just saying that I've never known any of these women.

There is one sister in College Station that is a professor. But I didn't know her very well.

The idea that masses of Mormon women are getting graduate education and pursuing careers at the expense of family is ridiculous, based on my experience.

Mormons are not much worse or better than most. Now Jewish women apparently get it en masse, but we're mid pack if I recall the Pew study results correctly.

Mormon women should seek these things and eventually will, as the culture changes.

jay santos · 03-05-2008, 03:06 PM

In my ward, we have female professor, lawyer, psychologist, business exec thinking off the top of my head. There is a minor small stay at home mom vs professional woman undercurrent, but that only pops up on occasion when the topic comes up. These women are highly respected and just as likely to serve in a visible calling than other women.

03-05-2008, 04:40 AM	#1
Levin Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,484	J. Beck's CES Fireside As my first post here on Cougargaurd, I thought I'd do a little transcribing of Sister Beck's CES talk from this past Sunday; it's the least I can do for the amount of entertainment/enlightenment y'all have given me as I've lurked. What follows is a transcription from a portion of Sis. Beck's talk where I think she digs in, calls in the flanks, and doubles up: "Latter-day prophets have repeatedly counseled you to get all the education possible for you. We live in an increasingly technical and sophisticated world. Education will help help you build the Lord's Kingdom and provide for your future family. Because education is so important to the rising generation, the Perpetual Education Fund was established, and now benefits more than thirty thousand members worldwide The Church has also invested many resources in institutes of religion all over the world, and in church schools and universities. I hope you are following the prophetic counsel to receive all the education and training that is possible for you. It's true, that you will be better able to serve in the Church and build the Lord's Kindgom if you have good employment. Mothers and fathers will be better parents as they are educated and know how to solve family problems and manage their homes in wise ways. Some of you women are deciding now whether you should marry and have a family or choose a career. That's because you are bright, qualified, and you have opportunities your grandmothers never dreamed of. The possibilities for earning credentials and making a mark for yourselves on the world stage have never been greater. But I hope you are making your decisions with the blessings of Abraham in mind. Latter-day Saint women should understand that no matter how many other people they enlist to help them with their home and children, they cannot delegate their role as the primary nurturer and teacher of their families. Righteous motherhood will always stretch every reserve one has to meet the needs of their families. As a daughter of God who has made covenants with Him, each of you carries the vital and indispensible famale half of the responsibility for fulfilling the Lord's plan. Every man and woman has the agency to prepare humbly and prayerfully, and choose how to approach your career opportunities. Every choice has a consequence. You cannot do everything and have everything. You must choose with eternal priorities in mind. I would hope that you will understand that there are no glamorous careers. Every form of employment has its own unique challenges. Many choices availabe in the world today compete with eternal goals and responsibilities. Many choices could persuade you to delay or limit the number of children you provide to your family. Many choices can rob you of critical time and energy necessary to adequately care for your spouse and children and your responsibilities in the Lord's kingdom. These decisions are between you and the Lord. He knows the desires of your heart in your unique situation." The rest of the talk was about how service, sharing the gospel, and attending the temple can help you get married. Discuss amongst yourselves. Last edited by Levin; 03-05-2008 at 07:33 AM.

03-05-2008, 04:45 AM	#2
SeattleUte fairlds.org Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 10,665	Wait, Levin. Come back. Where's the part about fluttering birds? Can you post that? __________________ Interrupt all you like. We're involved in a complicated story here, and not everything is quite what it seems to be. —Paul Auster

03-05-2008, 05:10 AM	#4
UtahDan Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: The Bluth Home Posts: 3,877	A very good friend of ours (my wife and me) who has had an exemplary career in the service of her country has remarked to me more than once she fields a large number of comments from other ladies in the ward which are calculated to let her know they are rooting for her to fail. She isn't bothered by it and is about the least sensitive person I know. She just finds it odd. Not saying sis Beck is doing that, but there does seem to be a fair amount of back biting from some of the full time mom crowd toward the career sisters who have kids. Maybe the word is envy. I don't know. Are there a lot of career women making similar comments to the stay at home moms that every choice they make has a cost and that they ought to take the eternal view? I suspect no. I think it is an individual decision. __________________ The Bible tells us how to go to heaven, not how the heavens go. -Galileo

03-05-2008, 03:01 PM	#6
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,365	UtahDan, I don't know any LDS women that have careers outside of the usual traditional areas: teachers, nurses, etc. So I can't comment on the way that they are treated.

03-05-2008, 03:06 PM	#10
jay santos Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,177	In my ward, we have female professor, lawyer, psychologist, business exec thinking off the top of my head. There is a minor small stay at home mom vs professional woman undercurrent, but that only pops up on occasion when the topic comes up. These women are highly respected and just as likely to serve in a visible calling than other women.