At Last She Said It

In this episode, Cynthia and Susan add a few new thoughts to their conversation from Season 1 about going off the edge of one's map in pursuit of a more personalized spiritual life. In this discussion ALSSI listeners will recognize the seeds of many foundational ideas about the importance of spiritual empowerment for Latter-day Saint women that this podcast has continued to develop and explore in depth.

In Episode 146, Cynthia and Susan revisit The Rule Breaking Woman to discuss what her story can teach Latter-day Saint women about spiritual empowerment. It's a scriptural example of a woman who took a big risk, and received exactly what she was seeking in return. Sometimes getting what we need may require us to make choices that are at odds with what others deem acceptable or appropriate.

Finale Episode 145 is a look back at Susan and Cynthia's sixth season of ALSSI conversations: identifying themes, adding additional thoughts, discussing listener responses, and thinking ahead.

If you had the opportunity, what would you say to young Latter-day Saint girls about things like patriarchy, priesthood, women's roles, the messages they receive at church, and how those messages should be weighted as they approach the big life decisions ahead? What would you say to your own young self? Episode 144 is Part 2 of our conversation about things ALSSI listeners want the Church's kids to know, and/or wish we'd heard ourselves.

"Your job as an adult is to disappoint people." So said Dr. Julie Hanks the first time she was on the ALSSI podcast. In Episode 143, she joins Cynthia and Susan to talk more about actually applying that statement in our lives and relationships. Why might it be hard for Latter-day Saint women to believe our choices don't have to please everyone—or even anyone—else?

One of the questions Cynthia and Susan hear most often comes from mothers who write, "My daughter is asking when it will be her turn to pass the sacrament….what should I say?" They took this question to listeners and in Episode 142, voices from the ALSSI community share answers. It's a broad conversation about women and priesthood featuring a diversity of ideas, experiences, and perspectives.

Can faithful women reject patriarchy? Beth Allison Barr's book, The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth, suggests the answer is yes. Her book is a compelling 'untelling' of the story of patriarchy as divinely appointed truth. In Episode 141, Cynthia and Susan are joined by Dr. Barr for a conversation about historical forces that have shaped women's roles in the world and at church. She offers insights not only into women's roles in the Bible, but specific to the lives of women in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today.

Every church goer has probably heard more lessons about the wise and foolish virgins than they can count. Why do Latter-day Saints love to talk about this parable so much? And why do we seem to be so attached to one interpretation of it? In Episode 140, Susan and Cynthia try to shake up the same old conversation about this story—and the women in it—by asking a few new questions, and imagining new answers.

What would you say if you had the ear of the people in charge of designing garments? Afton Southam Parker came prepared with a 37 slide PowerPoint presentation, based on her own experiences and those of many other women who wear them. The meeting was a masterclass on many of the communication tips she talked about in Episode 138. In bonus Episode 139, she joins Cynthia and Susan to review her presentation, and break it all down!

Bringing attention to issues affecting Latter-day Saint women requires us to be opportunistic about using our voices. Even those in leadership callings don't always find their ideas and opinions are welcome. And when chances to be heard do arise, the power dynamic of our culture and organization may make it hard for a woman to find the courage to express a non-traditional view. In Episode 138, Cynthia and Susan are joined by Afton Southam Parker, a woman who knows how to speak up about things that matter to her. It's a conversation about finding ways to make individual opinions, ideas, and experiences known in a church where sharing them is rarely encouraged.