Did early Mormons advocate sexual equality?

Answer 1

Believe it or not, early Mormons were considered quite progressive and were often accused of being 'too liberal' on many fronts! Here are some examples of women's standing in early Mormonism:

-Many early Mormon women, including Joseph Smith's mother, were considered 'prophetesses' and were very highly respected leaders in the Mormon community.

-Mormon women were able to preach and hold leadership roles in the Church that were not available in most other Christian churches at the time. Mormon women were never barred from any of the highest sacraments of the church and were present at nearly every important event in the church's history.

-Women in mostly Mormon Utah were the first to be able to vote - in fact, they always had the right to vote in local and state elections! There was no suffragette movement there.

-Women's rights as far as property ownership and divorce in early Utah were equal to the men.

-Brigham Young encouraged women who did not have young children at home to be employed, and discouraged men from applying for jobs that women could do.

-Brigham also advocated more practical clothing styles for women - including pants! But the women of the time were shocked by the idea and very few took to wearing them.

-The first hospital in Utah was operated and staffed entirely by trained female doctors who had been sent to medical school on the East Coast at the Church's expense.

-Mormon women were also empowered by the organization of the Relief Society, which gave them many opportunities for service and leadership that were just not generally found in those days.

-Finally, while many today view the practice of polygamy as being oppressive for women, some who were actually involved found it quite liberating. It allowed them to be more independent of their husband and have a job while a sister-wife cared for the home. Also, since the wives outnumbered the husband, they often swayed the family dynamic in their favor.