My Views on Womanhood
I know absolutely that daughters and sons of God are equally loved of Heavenly Parents. They are equally heirs to eternal life. They are equal beneficiaries of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Their eternal roles are both essential to God’s plan and in that sense are equally needed. However, while their roles are both essential, the roles themselves are not of equal value.
Admittedly, since the rolls are both essential, any discussion about relative value or worth seems irrelevant, however, to understand the roles and what prophets have proclaimed about them requires and exercise in analytics. Ethicists love this stuff.
The Desert Island: Suppose that my wife and I are stranded on a small desert island with 8 children in the path of an oncoming, devastating typhoon that once it strikes will kill everyone left on the island. A rescue helicopter has been dispatched but when it arrives the pilot realizes that he will be able to carry away all the children but only 1 parent.
Dilemma: Which parent should go with the children?
In my view it should be my wife. While I know that her love for me is great, and she would argue for me to be the one to go, I believe that her knowledge of the gospel and deep reverence for an understanding of her role, would convince her that her going would be the best choice. Of course, no ethical dilemma is perfect in its construction or resolution. However, what if in the past whenever a ship started sinking, the priority of women and children first was actually an ethical resolution to a real dilemma, and a recognition of value, as opposed to the function of ego or sexism?
Also, while it is true that choices can generally be judged to be good and bad, under the concept of good, better, best, it is very unlikely that any two good choices would be exactly equal. Even if one of them is only a billioneth of a percentage better, it is still better. I believe that when the prophets refer to a woman's role as the "highest and holiest," that is exactly what they meant.
Many years ago, the First Presidency issued a statement that has had a profound and lasting influence upon me.
“Motherhood,” they wrote, “is near to divinity. It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind. It places her who honors its holy calling and service next to the angels.” Russel M. Nelson April 1999
In that same statement referenced by Elder Nelson, the 1st presidency went on to state:
“The true spirit of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gives to woman the highest place of honor in human life” (James R. Clark comp., Messages of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1965–75, 6:5).
President Hinckley also referred to that same declaration;
More than 50 years ago in the midst of World War II, the First Presidency issued a message, read in the October 1942 general conference, containing a prayer to God to "Stay the hands of the Destroyer." In the message, the First Presidency spoke of parents and said of mothers: "Motherhood is near to divinity. It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind. It places her who honors its holy calling and service next to the angels." (Messages of the First Presidency 6:178.)
Here are some other relevant statements:
Now God bless our wonderful mothers. We pray for you. We sustain you. We honor you as you bear, nourish, train, teach, and love for eternity. I promise you the blessings of heaven and "all that [the] Father hath" (see D&C 84:38) as you magnify the noblest calling of all--a mother in Zion. President Ezra T Benson
This ability and willingness properly to rear children, the gift to love, and eagerness, yes, longing to express it in soul development, make motherhood the noblest office or calling in the world. President David O McKay
Also, it is significant that Charity, which Paul taught was the greatest of all, is deemed by scripture as a feminine virtue."...doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; I Corinthians 13:5 OR
And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Moroni 7:45
Now I am aware that my view may be deemed as paternalistic, anachronistic, etc. by by some because their ego and concepts of self-worth are inextricably tied into the culture of envy, and thus they are offended by any notions of priority based in gender.
But, I believe that prophets words were not just semantics or verbosity. No, they were accurate descriptions of roles. God and my wife are the only ones who truly know how deeply I reverence, respect and rejoice in the roles of womanhood.