Equal Partnership

Equally Yoked

By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners.1

Equality doesn't mean same, but of equal value and worth.  We come to earth with individual talents and inherent gifts to our gender. As Adam and Eve were "help meets", they were commanded to walk side by side and help each other as equals in their divine roles.

I have so often been amazing at the things my husband can do.  Steve learns quickly and excels at school and work.  Life is an adventure for him; he loves to play and explore. All these skills add to his ability as a father. But as a mother I am able to discern our children's needs quickly. I have a deep testimony of the gospel and make daily events into teachable moments. I love them deeply and make our home a refuge from the world.  As parents we each have different strengths to offer our boys that are equally needed to make them the men our Father in Heaven needs them to be. We are equally yoked in roles as mother and father but bring very different strengths.

Elder Dallin H Oaks declared, “Some Christians condemn Eve for her act, concluding that she and her daughters are somehow flawed by it. Not the Latter-day Saints! Informed by revelation, we celebrate Eve’s act and honor her wisdom and courage in the great episode called the Fall”. The Lord commanded Adam and Eve to multiply and replenish the earth, and to know good from evil. These commandments could not have been fulfilled without the wisdom of Eve to know that it was not possible to achieve without partaking of the fruit.

Elder Bruce C. Hafen stated, “Genesis 3:16 states that Adam is to “rule over” Eve, but this doesn’t make Adam a dictator…Over in “rule over” uses the Hebrew bet…The concept of interdependent, equal partners is well-grounded in the doctrine of the restored gospel. Eve was Adam’s “help meet” (Genesis 2:18). The original Hebrew for meet means that Eve was adequate for or equal to, Adam. She wasn’t his servant or his subordinate.”3

Modern day Apostles and Prophets have taught us that we are to work together as an equal companionship, to move forward on equal footing.  Husband and Wife are equally yoked together.

 

1  The Family: A Proclamation to the World, paragraph 7

2   Hawkins, J.H., Dollahite, D.C., Draper, T.H., Successful Marriages and Families: Proclamation Principles and Research Perspective, Chapter 4, p.39

3  Hawkins, J.H., Dollahite, D.C., Draper, T.H., Successful Marriages and Families: Proclamation Principles and Research Perspective, Chapter 4, p.40