Our first action-based project at WAVE is creating a book of quotes about themes of gender equality and the LDS church that can be easily accessed and utilized in church settings as a flip book or as an iPhone app. It is meant to be used as a resource for the empowerment of women and the inclusion of their voices. To bring the digital version to life, we are collaborating with an experienced ios app developer who shares our vision for accessibility and inclusivity.

We love and appreciate our leaders who speak about gender equality and we want to promulgate these ideas throughout our local wards and stakes. Our hope is that by using readily accepted sources about this topic we can reach more traditionally minded members and promote our mission to educate and encourage gender equality within the church.

We feel deeply that women’s voices need to be featured and highlighted. When we hear women quoted as leaders with valuable insights, we value ourselves more.  When we hear these women held up as spiritual leaders, we envision what we ourselves are spiritually capable of. When we see these women acknowledged and appreciated for their insights, we know that we do indeed have important and valued roles to play in the Church.

This is a work in progress, so please send us some of your favorite quotes from men and women about gender equality, female and male roles, divine roles, Heavenly Parents, parenthood, etc. OR your favorite quotes by women on any gospel topic. Please also provide the quotes citation, including: name, date, and source.

Some examples of what we are looking for:
1) Quotes from early Mormon women leaders (Emmeline B. Wells, etc.)

2) Quotes from later Mormon women leaders, both Church leaders like Chieko Okazaki and leaders in other fields, like Laurel Thatcher Ulrich)

3) Quotes from church leaders pre-Restoration (Joan of Arc and Hildegard von Bingen)

4)  Quotes from Mormon male leaders that are empowering (Talmadge about how women have not been given their due, etc.)

5) Quotes from the scriptures that are focused on women’s equality

We will let you know when the final printable version is available. Please send your submissions to: wordsofwisdom@ldswave.org

Sincerely,

Words of Wisdom Committee

An example of content and formatting:

“The whole gamut of human endeavor is now open to women. There is not anything that you cannot do if you will set your mind to it. I am grateful that women today are afforded the same opportunity to study for science, for the professions, and for every other facet of human knowledge. You are as entitled as are men to the Spirit of Christ, which enlightens every man and woman who comes into the world (see D&C 84:46).

You can include in the dream of the woman you would like to be a picture of one qualified to serve society and make a significant contribution to the world of which she will be a part. Set your priorities in terms of marriage and family, but also pursue educational programs which will lead to satisfying work and productive employment in case you do not marry, or to a sense of security and fulfillment in the event you do marry. Education will increase your appreciation and refine your talent” (President Gordon B. Hinckley, 2007, “Words of the Prophet: Seek Learning”, New Era, September).