Every year, my children use the LDS Church’s General Conference Notebook during the General Conference Broadcast. While they generally focus on Bingo Boards, looking to earn a bingo and get a candy reward, they still receive this packet in primary.
I appreciate the packet and the encouragement to look to our religious leaders for counsel. I like the idea of searching for the current speaker, identifying their role in the leadership of the church, and then taking notes on compelling points in the talks.
The packet is a useful tool, but lacks one important addition in my opinion: the inclusion of female leaders. I don’t view this as a snub to female leaders, but instead view it as a cultural focus on Priesthood holders, who all happen to be male.
I want my children, however, to see the importance of female representation in the leadership of the church. It’s important to me that my daughter sees representatives of God that look like her and I want all of my children to understand the value of listening to and following the counsel of women of faith.
I created the following pages of leaders of the Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary General presidencies, mimicking the look of the General Conference Notebook. I plan to take these pages and incorporate them throughout the packet, so that female leaders feel like a part of the packet, rather than a later edition. It’s a small step, but one I’m excited to incorporate into our tradition.
If you would like to print these pages for your own use, simply click on them. Each is a jpg file and they are black and white for easy printing and to match the look of the current Notebook. Here is a PDF color version as well.
I am not LDS but the lack of recognition on women leaders in our demonition bothers me as well. Kudos for you for taking the bull by the horns and creating this document for your fellow members.