Materials posted on Keepa are offered for their historical value, for understanding who we were and how we came to be who we are. They are not presented as an alternative to or replacement for modern thought and materials. It should go without saying that within a community acknowledging ongoing revelation, no lesson, doctrine, or practice of the past trumps a lesson, doctrine, or practice of the present.

(lollydm, you may have missed the first line of this post, which identifies this as an official MIA lesson discussed by the Young Ladies’ Mutual Improvement Association in 1922. It isn’t a lesson I wrote to be taught anywhere today.)

I am particularly uncomfortable with the idea of “Voluntary Spinsterhood.” That sounds like it is in direct conflict with:

“The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force.” (The Family a Proclamation to the World)

Moses 3: 18
18 And I, the Lord God, said unto mine Only Begotten, that it was not good that the man should be alone; wherefore, I will make an help meet for him.

He asked how many women had planned to work at a career, and had pursued education towards that end. About 20% of the hands went up. He then asked how many had actually had to work outside the home, and 90% of the hands went up.

He then went on to talk about the importance of education for everyone, and said that if you were by circumstances not of your choosing forced into the workplace, you’d be better off with more education, and a chance at a better paying job.

Nothing like a little doctrine tempered by practical experience.

Forgetting temporarily the main topics of the article on marriage and “spinsterhood”, I have to say that I found all of the down-to-earth, practical advice about human relations to be most meaningful. This one is sublime:

The grind of daily cares and annoyances needs the poise and adjustment of continual love and perfect understanding in order to secure the atmosphere of love and joy in the home.

I like what it says about taking an active place in society. Living most of my life in small units in the mission field I’ve seen so many young women waiting for something to happen to them. Young men are encouraged to go on missions and such. I don’t think we see something equivalent for young women. And so a number just mark time. I think it is important for both single men and women to be actively engaged in life. Once I figured that out I found happiness (and then I got married–not saying I’m unhappily married).

I also found the part about adoption interesting. I know in my state voters passed a measure to forbid unmarried people from adopting. I personally had issued with that; some of which are related to the post above. Children have a right to have a loving parent (or two).

Thanks, all, for such a good discussion and some good natured fun. I’m always interested in what [very little] is taught about single adulthood, and like Tatiana I’ve had my heart broken by it a time or two. This lesson struck exactly the right tone for me: it taught to the pattern but acknowledged the reality, and it presents some very practical points for discussion. Today, it seems that when the possibility of singleness is acknowledged for girls the age of those studying this lesson (“get an education in case you have to support yourself”), it isn’t presented as if it were really a possibility that would ever face anybody who was worth anything. This lesson not only takes the possibility seriously, but treats it with respect.

Besides, if I don’t teach something a little edgy in my Gospel Doctrine class, someone might get the idea I should have more church responsibility. This is really great material.