'Mormon feminists may have been surprised by some subtle changes in vocabulary and approach Saturday night at the general women’s meeting for all LDS females age 8 and older.'
'Dieter F. Uchtdorf addressed the female audience — sitting in the giant Conference Center in downtown Salt Lake City or watching via satellite in LDS chapels across the globe — not just as "sisters" but also as "blessed disciples of Jesus Christ."'
1. a personal follower of Jesus during his life, especially one of the twelve Apostles. synonyms: apostle, follower "the disciples of Jesus" 2. a follower or student of a teacher, leader, or philosopher. "a disciple of Rousseau" synonyms: follower, adherent, believer, admirer, devotee, acolyte, votary; ...
When Uchtdorf referred to women as "blessed disciples of Jesus Christ", he was obviously speaking along the lines of definition #2. So what is the big deal about his statement? What TBM in the church (regardless of gender) would not consider themselves a follower of JC? It sounds like his fluffy statement is being looked at too closely... I'm not sure what specifically folks are excited about. Maybe paying more respect to women than TSCC normally does?
"And, for the first time, the charismatic German leader described the meeting as the opening session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 184th Semiannual General Conference. Until now, General Conference has referred only to the two-day gatherings held during the first weekends of April and October, with the women’s meeting seen as a separate event.
Saturday night’s meeting also featured the first-ever prayer at a session of General Conference by a black woman, offered by South African Dorah Mkhabela, a member of the LDS Young Women’s General Board."
Calling the Women's Meeting the opening session of GC is nothing more than semantics, but it is a carrot.
While I am happy to see the second, it is a "feel good" kind of a "carrot" nonetheless.