Higher Education for Women...

“What we are learning around the world is that if women are healthy and educated, their families will flourish. If women are free from violence, their families will flourish. If women have a chance to work and earn as full and equal partners in society, their families will flourish. And when families flourish, communities and nations do as well.”
--Secretary of State and former First Lady Hilary Clinton

Before I had a family no one ever questioned my love for learning.  When I was a child I used to sit in my closet writing plays and casting my animals.  Later in high school I was that annoying kid who traveled all over the place competing in the arts, speech and I even went the INTEL International Science and Engineering Fair twice in High School.  I was always my academic advisors worst nightmare my first time in college because my degree was in Theater and Dance but I was always doing random classes that I was interested in like economics and nutrition.  I'm happiest when I am learning.  

It surprises me as an adult because I have a young family that I get so much flack for my love of learning now.  The assumption is that if I'm too busy learning and studying it somehow diminishes my other roles in life.  What critics don't understand is that it makes me a better mother.  I am happier, wiser, and hopefully I am giving my children the same gift in their desire to pursue their own education.

After all it was my father who spent hours in his study every week learning vocabulary and language that made me love language.  My mother knows 4 languages: Spanish (her native language), English, French, and German.  Both have taken classes and continued learning actively.  When my mom went back to work when I was young everyone criticized her.  In fact when both my parents went to college even, everyone criticized them in the 1950's and 1960's.  Both are first generation college.

I want my children to know that learning is freedom!  Especially my daughter!!!  

Tonight I found these quotes randomly when looking for my graduation party invitations (Yes I'm cheesy like that but I never got to have a college graduation party so why not??) I found this blog: http://empoweringldswomen.blogspot.com/p/women-education.html and it had some official quotes from my churches leadership.  I don't normally share things from my faith but I guess I often meet people who are surprised LDS women are encouraged to educate themselves and the most crumb I get from people about seeking education are those who are LDS so I wanted to share the following quotes from leaders of the faith:

"One of the questions that I get frequently is, “Is it okay if I work outside of my home or I don’t work outside of my home?” You have to know that as an international, global, Relief Society president, that question isn’t always appropriate in all of the world’s countries. There are many, many places where if our women don’t work, they don’t eat. So of course they have to work. The question of whether or not to work is the wrong question. The question is, “Am I aligned with the Lord’s vision of me and what He needs me to become, and the roles and responsibilities He gave me in heaven that are not negotiable? Am I aligned with that, or am I trying to escape my duties?” Those are the kinds of things we need to understand. Our Heavenly Father loves His daughters, and because He loves us and the reward at the end is so glorious, we do not get a pass from the responsibilities we were given. We cannot give them away. They are our sacred duties and we fulfill them under covenant."

--Sister Julie B. Beck, Relief Society General President at Women's Conference 2011

On the future of women in the LDS church:

"Women will cease to leave their monuments in the bounteous feasts to be daily destroyed, in sewn goods to be worn out by lively families, or in icing sugar on ornamental cakes. They will follow the admonition given to Emma Smith, and their time will be given to writing and to learning much. They will be given a golden pencil at birth to record their thoughts and experiences. . . In short, a new world will be opened to us and everything will be possible."

--Claudia Lauper Bushman (Black and Woodger, 2011)

I would hope that Latter-day Saints would be at the forefront in creating an environment in the workplace that is more receptive and accommodating to both women and men in their responsibilities as parents.

--Elder Quentin L. Cook, "LDS Women Are Incredible" April General Conference 2011

Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said, "A few of the basic attributes needed to become a lifelong learner are courage, faithful desire, humility, patience, curiosity, and a willingness to communicate and share the knowledge that we gain…. Lifelong learning is essential to the vitality of the human mind, body, and soul. It enhances self-worth and self-actuation. Lifelong learning is invigorating mentally and is a great defense against aging, depression, and self-doubt" ("The Journey of Lifelong Learning," in Brigham Young University 2008-2009 Speeches [2009], 2, 8-9).

Joseph Smith said, "A man filled with the love of God, is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race."

I am offended by the sophistry that the only lot of the Latter-day Saint woman is to be barefoot and pregnant. It’s a clever phrase, but it’s false.

--President Gordon B. Hinckley

If I had a choice of educating my daughters or my sons because of opportunity constraints, I would choose to educate my daughters.

-- President Brigham Young

Don't you see that our sphere is increasing? Our sphere of action will continually widen, and no woman in Zion need[s] to mourn because her sphere is too narrow.

--Eliza R. Snow, Daughters in My Kingdom, p. 58

The whole gamut of human endeavor is now open to women. There is not anything that you cannot do if you will set your mind to it. I am grateful that women today are afforded the same opportunity to study for science, for the professions, and for every other facet of human knowledge. You are as entitled as are men to the Spirit of Christ, which enlightens every man and woman who comes into the world. . . You can include in the dream of the woman you would like to be a picture of one qualified to serve society and make a significant contribution to the world of which she will be a part.

--President Gordon B. Hinckley

Let your first business be to perform your duties at home. But, inasmuch as you are wise stewards, you will find time for social duties, because these are incumbent upon us as daughters and mothers in Zion. By seeking to perform every duty you will find that your capacity will increase, and you will be astonished at what you can accomplish.

--Eliza R. Snow, Daughters in My Kingdom, p. 59

In the June 11, 2007 employee meeting with Elder Richard G. Scott, an employee who works in advising asked how to advise women who believe they cannot justify the cost of completing their education when they plan to stay home with their children. Elder Scott seemed a little surprised by the question but responded instantly: “Please, open their eyes,” he said. “A mother has got to be brilliantly educated in today’s world. One of the greatest gifts that can be given to today’s children is a mother in the home who is well-educated.”

In an address to the young women:

Resolve now, while you are young, that you will get all of the education you can. We live in a highly competitive age, and it will only grow worse. Education is the key that will unlock the door of opportunity. You may plan on marriage, and hope for it, but you are not certain that it will come. And even though you marry, education will be of great benefit to you. Don’t just drift along, letting the days come and go without improvement in your lives. The Lord will bless you as you make the effort. Your lives will be enriched and your outlook broadened as your minds are opened to new vistas and knowledge.

--President Gordon B. Hinckley, “Let Virtue Garnish Thy Thoughts Unceasingly,” General Young Women Meeting March 24, 2007.

Knowing, then, that marriage and family come first, what should we think about education and careers? Remember—the issue is not marriage or education; the issue is marriage and education. . . It has been said that before becoming somebody’s wife, before becoming somebody’s mother, become somebody.

--Sister Marie Hafen

We should all be careful not to be judgmental or assume that sisters are less valiant if the decision is made to work outside the home. We rarely understand or fully appreciate people’s circumstances. Husbands and wives should prayerfully counsel together, understanding they are accountable to God for their decisions.

--Elder Quentin L. Cook, "LDS Women Are Incredible" April General Conference 2011

There is a serious need for the charity that gives attention to those who are unnoticed, hope to those who are discouraged, aid to those who are afflicted. True charity is love in action. The need for charity is everywhere. Needed is the charity which refuses to find satisfaction in hearing or in repeating the reports of misfortunes that come to others, unless by so doing, the unfortunate one may be benefited.

--President Thomas S. Monson, Daughters in My Kingdom, p. 100

A woman with a mother heart has a testimony of the restored gospel, and she teaches the principles of the gospel without equivocation. She is keeping sacred covenants made in holy temples. Her talents and skills are shared unselfishly. She gains as much education as her circumstances will allow, improving her mind and spirit with the desire to teach what she learns to the generations who follow her.

--Sister Beck

We feel that women throughout the world needed to be able to read, and there were many who could not. Can you imagine-- if they didn't know how to read, how could they teach their children, how could they improve their circumstances, how could they study the gospel? So we thought that there could be nothing more beneficial than to promote a literacy effort.... But also our purpose was to encourage lifelong learning for every sister.

--Sister Elaine L. Jack, Daughters in My Kingdom, p. 96

President Young proves himself [the] most genuine, impartial and practical “Woman’s Rights man” upon the American continent, as he has ever done; his counsels, instructions and advice to women being always directed toward their progress and advancement in usefulness and the possession of valuable knowledge.

--Louisa Greene Richards, first editor of the Woman’s Exponent

President Hinckley never made a distinction between men and women in establishing PEF (Perpetual Education Fund) as the educational program for young adults in less-advantaged countries. Now that he is gone we can learn several important things about President Monson’s feelings.

• Education is just as vital for women as for men in the Church.

• Education for women is not just a safeguard in case of divorce, death of a spouse, or lack of opportunity to marry, but is also important for fulfilling life’s purposes and the goals of improving our minds and skills (emphasis added).

--Elder John K. Carmack

Education can help women fulfill their life’s roles, including rearing children, at the highest level of which they are capable. Women also gain fulfillment and satisfaction from improving their minds and skills. Education helps women achieve excellence in Church and community service.

--Elder John K. Carmack

We have sisters here who, if they had the privilege of studying, would make just as good mathematicians or accountants as any man; and we think they ought to have the privilege to study these branches of knowledge that they may develop the powers with which they are endowed. We believe that women are useful, not only to sweep houses, wash dishes, make beds, and raise babies, but that they should stand behind the counter, study law or physic[s], or become good book keepers and be able to do the business in any counting house, and all this to enlarge their sphere of usefulness for the benefit of society at large. In following these things they but answer the design of their creation.

--President Brigham Young

There must be respect for the interests of one another. There must be opportunities and encouragement for the development and expression of individual talent. Any man who denies his wife the time and the encouragement to develop her talents, denies himself and his children a blessing which could grace their homes and bless their posterity.

--President Gordon B. Hinckley

I have heard that many Latter-day Saint men do not understand why Latter-day Saint women attend college; that the vast majority of women say they go to college to gain a serious education; but that when asked why they think women attend college, many men list social rather than educational reasons. Perhaps some women hesitate to tell men their real motivations for fear of being criticized. Of greater concern is the possibility that if male students and faculty don’t take women seriously as college students, they may unintentionally discourage women from pursuing their educational goals seriously. Anyone who uses Church teachings as an excuse for thinking women should not wholeheartedly seek an education does not understand what the Church teaches.

--Sister Marie Hafen

Obtain all [the education] you can. Fulfill your ambitions and goals one way or another, now or later. Improve and increase your talents. Use your education and training for yourselves, your families, and your communities.

--Elder John K. Carmack (stated in an address to female BYU students)

For women, the important ingredients for happiness are to forge an identity, serve the Lord, get an education, develop your talents, serve your family, and if possible to have a family of your own. However, you cannot do all these things well at the same time. You cannot be a 100-percent wife, a 100-percent mother, a 100-percent Church worker, a 100-percent career person, and a 100-percent public-service person at the same time. How can all of these roles be coordinated? I suggest that you can have it sequentially. Sequentially is a big word meaning to do things one at a time at different times. I hope you acquire all of the knowledge you can. Become as skillful as you can, but not exclusively in new careers at the expense of the primary ones, or you may find that you have missed one of the great opportunities of your lives.

--President James E. Faust

“It is so important that you young men and you young women get all of the education that you can. The Lord has said very plainly that His people are to gain knowledge of countries and kingdoms and of things of the world through the process of education, even by study and by faith.”

--Gordon B. Hinckley, “Inspirational Thoughts,” Ensign, June 1999, 4.