BYU Women’s Conference Draws Thousands

The information and ideas came about as fast as the audience could absorb them. Information about Child-rearing and finances, ideas about the many lives a woman lives—all were part of the “Blueprints for Living” women’s conference at BYU.

Between six and seven thousand women and some men attended the conference—a multifold increase over attendance at the four previous years of the conference. The women came from throughout the western United States—with BYU students comprising only some 15 percent of the attendance.

The conference sessions were spread over four days—January 29 through February 2. General Church auxiliary leaders, Latter-day Saint educators and professionals, married women, mothers, and single women were among the speakers.

Sister Barbara B. Smith, general president of the Relief Society, gave the keynote address January 31. She commended the conference for its theme, “Blueprints for Living,” taken from President Spencer W. Kimball’s two women’s fireside addresses, given in 1978 and 1979.

She compared building a life with building a home. She mentioned four similarities:

“(1) Selecting our lot in life. (2) Building life’s foundation. (3) Constructing a framework for all we do. (4)Finishing the structure by becoming what we want someday to be.”

Regarding the interior finishing of one’s “house,” she said: “Will you be honest? Will you be chaste? Will you be kind? Will you have integrity?

“You and I alone determine the interior finish of our souls. The choices we make individually are the ones that ultimately set in place the furnishings.

“One of the great teachings of the restored gospel is that each person has the right and the responsibility to determine the direction of his or her life. So it is with each of you. So it is with me.”

Elaine Cannon, general president of the Young Women, encouraged women to share the gospel in unity, despite their differences.

“I plead for us to love each other more now and not be angry or judgmental with differences.

“The things that matter most must not be sacrificed for those that matter least. It seems to me that it is time, then, for the women of the Church to behave with a sense of belongingness instead of a sense of separateness.

“In a climate where some barter their Church membership for political expediency or for a moment’s pleasure in sin, or where Church-related blessings are forfeited because someone does not fully understand yet, it is well for us to review these things again unless we, too, fall. Understanding brings more appropriate behavior. We’ll be more valiant. We’ll give more willingly and serve more compassionately and effectively. We’ll love better.”

She explained women’s responsibilities to help others as they take upon them the name of Jesus Christ. “When we covenant with the Lord to take upon us his name, we also take upon us the burden of helping mankind in our special womanly way. Oh, sisters, can’t we do better to bring us all together in our hearts and purpose even though our activities and personal opinions vary somewhat? Can we not go forth from this conference determined to help each other draw closer to Christ—as well as endure the daily grind?”

Naomi B. Shumway, general president of the Primary, challenged her listeners: “If we must become as little children to inherit the kingdom of heaven, what qualities must we have?” She cited several. The first is humility. “All spiritual progress is conditioned on humility.” Faith is a second quality, and she told the story of four-year-old Stanley, the victim of repeated and savage asthma attacks. One night when his father was rocking him, Stanley looked at his father and asked, “How do you expect me to get better when you haven’t even blessed me?” Reminded of his powers and responsibilities, the father promptly complied, and Stanley “hasn’t had an attack since.”

Children also are teachable. Sister Shumway quoted one study indicating that 50 percent of the total development of a child’s thinking patterns is completed by age four; an additional 20 percent is fixed by age eight. Children are also honest—“sometimes embarrassingly so”—and are loving, “open, trusting, and quick to forgive.”

Another session was an address, entitled “Patriarchy and Matriarchy,” by Dr. Hugh W. Nibley, professor of history and religion at BYU.

He cited the examples of Adam and Eve and Abraham and Sarah as scriptural models for man-woman relationships. Adam and Eve had, “if you will, a system of checks and balances in which each party is as distinct and independent in its sphere as are the departments of government under the Constitution—and just as dependent on each other.”

The matriarchies and patriarchies established in the apostasies after the time of Adam and Eve have both lent themselves to abuses, Dr. Nibley explained. As each has sought supremacy they have become “mortal enemies.”

Brother Nibley explained the misuses of power that a matriarchy may involve. “Though the matriarchy makes for softness and decay, beneath the gentle or beguiling or glittering exterior is … fierce toughness, cunning, and ambition.”

On the other hand, said Brother Nibley, “the gospel sets absolute limitations beyond which patriarchal authority may not be exercised—the least hint of unkindness acts as a circuit-breaker. ‘Amen to the priesthood or authority of that man’ (D&C 121:37). Without that sacred restraint, patriarchal supremacy has ever tended to become abusive.”

Abraham and Sarah restored the state of Adam and Eve—“she as well as he, for in the perfect balance they maintained he is as dependent on her as she on him.” Their love bound them together though the world tried to force them apart. “When both sides of the equation are reduced, the remainder on both sides is only a great love.”

Other participants in the conference panels and lectures ranged from professors to attorneys, from a television producer to homemakers. Some were married, some widowed, some divorced, some mothers. All were received enthusiastically by those attending the conference.

A continual theme throughout the conference was the definition of men’s and women’s roles—particularly in marriage. The relationship of priesthood and sisterhood was discussed often.

Women were given ideas for dealing creatively with the duties and difficulties of their lives. Sessions dealt with education, finances, journal writing, literature, development, missionary work, motherhood, scripture study—in short, many topics relating to Latter-day Saint women’s lifestyles.

The conference session topics were based on principles, not on issues. Current issues were discussed, therefore, in the context of overriding principles. Some panelists discussed how to balance priorities and time so that women could be involved in civic issues and stay current in careers—even while they are raising a family.

In a session on human potential, women listed their roles and responsibilities and discussed how they could best meet them by following the Spirit of the Lord. With comaraderie and enthusiasm, women attending the conference participated in discussion groups on developing lifetime plans, or “blueprints for living.”

Despite the diversity of topics, the theme of defining a woman’s role in the home, the Church, and society kept recurring as different speakers presented different perspectives of a woman’s life.

Grethe Ballif Peterson of the Young Women General Board developed her theme from President Kimball’s fireside address discussing women’s responsibilities of “motherhood and sisterhood” and men’s responsibilities of “fatherhood and the priesthood.” That linking of sisterhood and priesthood made “a relationship that I haven’t heard before,” said Sister Peterson.

Sisterhood “is more than a support group, more than compassionate service and visiting teaching. It is a bond that connects women with women and with the Savior across generations; it is a bond among consecrated women who are close to things of the Spirit. Sisterhood is an association of women from Eve to the present who have taken the name of Christ; they have the personal power of sure knowledge. Sisterhood connects all women through Christ and brings women together in unconditional love and trust. The Spirit permeates those relationships.”

She cited scriptural examples of Ruth and Naomi (who were “loyal to each other and to the God of Israel”), the women who were Christ’s disciples, and sisters who sacrificed for each other during the nineteenth century. She warned that “even though we all strive for the same things, our expressions are different” and that such diversity is one of the “additional blessings of sisterhood.”

Ida Smith, director of the Women’s Research Institute at BYU, explained that the Savior is the role model for both men and women.

“Nowhere is it written he came to save men (or women) only; nowhere is it written that men and women should each be allowed only half of his traits!

“The ‘world’ has divided up character/personality traits and has labeled some of them ‘masculine’ and some of them ‘feminine.’ Latter-day Saints of all people in the world should know better than to be deceived by this. Nowhere does the Lord say that tenderness, kindness, charity, faithfulness, patience, gentleness, compassion are ‘female’ traits and should be utilized by women only.

“And nowhere does he say courage, strength, determination, leadership … should be the exclusive prerogatives of men.”

She explained that both sexes suffer from “sexual categorization.” “A heavy burden is placed on a man when he realizes that many of the traits that will make him Christlike have been labeled by the world: feminine. And that by taking upon himself those characteristics he will run the risk of having his masculinity seriously questioned by his peers.

“We should all have both strength and sensitivity, courage and compassion, tenacity and tenderness. …

“If the true male role is, indeed, to be obedient and sacrificial, how can a man achieve his highest potential with only macho traits? And if the woman is to reach her highest potential in her creative and nurturing role, how can she achieve it by being helpless and dependent?”

President Kimball’s words to women at the two women’s fireside talks were quoted often—and not only because they were printed in the program. Panelists and speakers turned often to his counsel, particularly his admonitions that women become educated, scripturally literate, and develop their talents.

And many attending the conference left with increased motivation and ability to do just those things.