August 28-September 3

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In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul works to dispel many of the issues with the Corinthians. He teaches doctrine about Christ, but he also specifically addresses problems from real people. Had Paul been simply writing doctrine down with the knowledge that it would one day end up in the bible, I wonder if he might have favored different topics. But he didn’t. He was writing a letter. One of the topics he spoke about was especially relevant to the Corinthians and has been up for high debate in the Christian world. 

1 Corinthians 11:3-6

3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.

5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.

6 For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.

So here is an apostle of the Lord teaching that man is to rule over woman and that women should cover their heads. Perhaps you disagree with that statement, and I’m not going to pretend to know everything, but let’s examine the context in which it was given. The head covering was meant to stand as a representation; it’s important to note that Paul was writing to the Corinthians. It was custom amongst the Corinthians for women to cover their heads; it symbolized their submission to their husbands. When Paul wrote to the Corinthians about head coverings, he was further entrenching this practice and the symbolic subservience. I believe that Paul believed in the submission of women. Now if you’re worried that this post is meant to roast Paul, please continue reading. 

So what do we believe about head coverings and submission?

A woman

There are a million quotes I could call upon to describe the true role of women in the church and home. Though we do not hold priesthood keys, we are endowed with priesthood power and we have equal responsibilities in our homes. It has been taught that men who disregard their wives because “they have the priesthood” are exercising unrighteous dominion and functioning off false doctrine. We have been taught that fathers are to preside in the home, and this has been a sore spot for many. I know for some women, this is a painful teaching because it makes them feel like God is telling them to be submissive – a teaching which holds inherent implications for the value of women in the Plan of Salvation. I do believe that fathers should preside in the home, but I also believe that God’s definition of “presiding” and the world’s definition of “presiding” are so different that they’re almost opposites. In God’s perfect home, the leaders, the “presiders,” are the first ones to wash the feet, to do the dirty work. If Christ is the ultimate presiding authority, then I would be perfectly fine with my husband presiding like Him.

Let it be known that the doctrine of this church teaches that women are equal, important, and valid. We have just as much right to lead and influence our homes and husbands. 

So why bring up Paul’s teachings at all? It was coming from an apostle of the Lord, so was this an actual commandment in the early church? It was definitely regularly practiced, but was it truly a commandment of the Lord or did this just come from Paul? 

We know that doctrine never changes, and so teachings that women should simply be submissive to their husband’s will did not come from God. As for the head covering, we don’t really know. Maybe it was a commandment in ancient times, much like we have the Word of Wisdom or missionary dress standards in our day. But this still begs the question, why am I choosing to address it? If modern revelation has corrected it, why focus on the issue?

I believe we can learn a lot from exploring this concept, even without all of the perfect answers.

We stand on the shoulders of giants

One of the lessons we can learn from Paul is the fact that he was just a man, and because he was just a man, he was influenced by cultural attitudes, upbringing, etc. He was imperfect, but he was not an evil misogynist. 

We turn on the news, and all we see is tragedy, fighting, and violence. However, if you compare today’s society with ancient societies, you will see immense improvements. Over the course of the history of mankind in this world, a majority of people have grown more intelligent, kind, and equal. There are definitely portions of society that have grown more vile, but the fact that most people in first world countries can’t stomach the idea of watching a public hanging or beheading is proof enough that we’re not completely hopeless as a species. 

And as we sit here, in the comfort of our modern society that no longer burns witches at the stake, we look at some of the choices of historical figures and balk. 

When I observe my own life and how long it has taken me to untangle some of my own small misconceptions, I cannot bring myself to look at Paul and hate him for teaching that women should be subservient to men. Rather, I see a mirror of what I would have been if I had been raised in that society. 

Paul was an imperfect man, trying to do the will of the Lord. If he was a General Authority in our day, I have no doubt that he would have some quote about the equality of men and women in the home. Our history, from ancient Israelite to this current dispensation, has been chock-full of imperfect people.

Those imperfections have been a source of great pain to many people, and I will not minimize that pain. When I assert that Paul wasn’t evil, that doesn’t mean that it hasn’t caused difficulty. Heaven knows I’ve spent enough time wondering whether I matter as much as someone else. The pain caused by some of these mistakes is real.

But I will have compassion for those who are building upon what they were given. 

I know of an abusive father who did cruel and vicious things to his children and had them taken away. I also know that this abusive father was abused and if we had lived thirty years ago, he would have been the child we were trying to save. Though I’m grateful the cycle of abuse was broken, I can’t help but hurt for the man who wasn’t ever given a real chance to have functioning relationships. This may seem wildly different from imperfect people who lead the church, but it’s not. I use the dramatic example to push the point home. When I look at imperfect church leaders who make mistakes (mistakes that might even feel evil to some), I simultaneously look at what they were given. I’m grateful that we know better now, but I don’t judge them from acting off of what they knew. 

If you are struggling with historical aspects of the church, have compassion and thank your Heavenly Father that you were born in a day where we know better now. Do not judge them because they were not born with the same advantages as you. Show compassion because you would have probably acted very similar to how they did.

Because of Christ

There is more than one reason to show compassion.

Show compassion because of Christ. Christ knew how hard it would be to encourage entire societies to move in positive directions. He knew what He would be working against, the power of upbringing and societal norms. He knew the consequences of utilizing imperfect people, but He loved them enough to put them in positions where they could grow. He knew the pain and suffering it would cause. But, my dear friend, you have every reason to believe that you and your pain matter to Him. I know this for two reasons.

1) If you had been born into those same circumstances, He would have loved you enough to utilize you because He wanted you to grow, just as He did with our predecessors. He wouldn’t have cast you aside because you were not given perfect building blocks with which to build your concept of morality. He would have taken you exactly as you are and built upon it. 

2) He knew all of this when He agreed to suffer for it. He knew there was no other way to experience exaltation and so He chose the path of pain for us, not in spite of us. When I look back at the times my parents let me suffer natural consequences so that I could grow, I love them for it. The Savior did this, but He took it a step further. He suffered with you. He suffered the years of quiet longing from those who were kept down. He suffered for those who didn’t create a perfect society but tried to make it better.

We stand on the shoulders of imperfect giants. The doctrine and clarity that we have now came because there has been a chain of generations who took what they had and made it better. We do not judge them because they were the ones who enabled the homes that we grew up in. They built the foundation that we are meant to improve upon. 

I am grateful for Paul and his example of trying to follow the Savior. I am grateful that he didn’t throw in the towel because of his weaknesses and imperfections. I am positive that Paul has all the answers and correct perspectives now, and that means the Savior will stick with me until I get mine straight.

I am grateful for a Savior who does not dismiss me because I wasn’t taught perfectly. I am grateful that He chooses to utilize me, teach me, forgive me, suffer with me, and pay for my sins. I am grateful that He has suffered with those whom I have hurt on purpose or by accident because I couldn’t.