D&C 25, Women and the Church

I have often heard the sentiment that women in our church are oppressed. Someone once asked me why a woman would ever want to join the Mormon church. I then learned that she had been under the impression that polygamy was still practiced, but this is not the only time I've heard this expressed in some form or another. However, Women in our church have always had many rights that were denied most women in their time. This equality between women and men is apparent in D&C 25. This is the first section in the Doctrine and Covenants that is given to a woman. This section is given to Emma Smith in July of 1830. This equality between women and men is evident even from the first verse. The Lord calls Emma "my daughter", and then says,"all those who receive my gospel are sons and daughters in my kingdom." Verse 2 speaks of Emma receiving an "inheritance in zion", and suggests having it independently from her husband. In verse 6, Emma is seen as a replacement for Oliver, doing a man's work by being Joseph's scribe. Verse 7 says: "And thou shalt be ordained under his hand to expound scriptures, and to exhort the church, according as it shall be given thee by my Spirit." This is very radical for the time because Emma, a woman, was told she had authority to interpret the scriptures and preach, not only to the women, but the men also. In verse 5, God told Emma to support her husband, and in verse 9 the Lord mirrors this by telling Emma that Joseph to support Emma. This also shows the equality between Joseph and his wife. In verse 11, the Lord commands Emma to compile a selection of hymns. Many would argue that it would make more sense for W.W. Phelps to create the first hymn book, since he wrote many of the hymns in our hymnbook. However, the Lord asked Emma, a woman, to fulfill this task.

This section also sets a precedent for a very musically-focused church. The state of Utah has more pianos per house than any other state. There is also no place that has as high of a percentage of people taking piano lessons. LDS homes place high emphasis on music. I think that this is at least in part because the Lord thought this was important enough to give a revelation on it. Verse 12 says: "For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads." From this verse we learn that the hymns are prayers when sang by the righteous. Emma was given authority to decide which prayers would be sung by the saints. This is an immense responsablility, and it was given to a woman, not the prophet Joseph, not the composer W.W. Phelps, not the previous minister Sydney Rigdon.

This chapter set the precedent for equality between women and men that began in Joseph's time and which we continue to enjoy today.