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Aaronic Priesthood Manual 1

Respect for Womanhood

"Lesson 28: Respect for Womanhood," Aaronic Priesthood Manual 1, 99

OBJECTIVE

Each young man will have greater respect for women.

PREPARATION

SUGGESTED LESSON DEVELOPMENT

Introduction

Story

Read or tell the following story in your own words:

"Hey, Moose!" Jim shouted, laughing. Cathy just turned and walked away. Jim didn't notice the pain in Cathy's eyes as she fought back tears. He was just having a little harmless fun. A few weeks earlier he had heard Cathy's little brother, David, jokingly call her "Moose," his nickname for her. David liked to tease Cathy about the time a moose had scared her on a family vacation. Jim had heard the nickname but not the story.

Soon Jim called Cathy "Moose" every time he saw her. His friends, picking up on the joke, began thinking of ways they could compare her with a moose. In Sunday School, the young men in the class would taunt Cathy with the name when the teacher wasn't watching. Although Cathy was once an active participant in the class, she began sitting quietly in the back, avoiding contact with anyone else in the class. Within a few months, Cathy stopped coming to Church activities. She told her parents that she would never go back to a place where she felt so unwelcome.

We Should Respect All Women

Discussion

Explain that a young man who holds God's priesthood should respect and honor all women.

Adviser presentation

Explain that one of the most uplifting and rewarding experiences a young man can enjoy is having complete harmony with his mother and sisters. It is refreshing to see a brother and sister who are genuinely concerned and love each other. Emphasize that the most important relationship a man has is with his wife. A young man who has learned to respect and appreciate his sisters and other young women is preparing himself for an even more rewarding experience with his wife. Young men should always be considerate of their mothers and sisters-helping, sharing, cooperating, and seeking opportunities to show love and appreciation for them.

Emphasize that young men should show great courtesy and respect for all women.

Point out that young men should always treat girls as they would like their mothers and sisters to be treated and that a young man who holds God's priesthood should respect and honor girls of any age.

Situations and discussion

Relate the following situations. Ask the young men to discuss what priesthood holders should do in each case to show respect and appreciation for women. Have the young men give possible conclusions to each situation.

Place a different young man in each of the following situations.

We Can Learn from the Example of Christlike Men

Discussion

After the young men respond, point out that one of the best ways is to follow the example of great men.

Story

Tell the following story about President Spencer W. Kimball, a disciple of Christ who showed respect for women:

"[There is] a story about a woman who was in O'Hare Airport in Chicago during a big snowstorm. Planes had been confused in their schedules and thousands of people were stranded. Her money had run out, she had a two-year-old child, and the child was hungry and dirty. The woman was two or three months pregnant and had been told not to hold this child because it might have an adverse effect on her physically. So the child was on the floor of the airport. The woman was in one line after another trying to buy a ticket to a Michigan point. People were criticizing her because she would reach forward with her foot to push the child up in the line as the line moved along, because she couldn't pick the child up.

"She was in anguish when a man approached her with a kindly smile on his face. He said, 'Young lady, it appears to me that you need help.' He took the dirty, little two-year-old child in his arms and loved it, patted it on the back, gave it a stick of chewing gum. Then he went to the people in the line and he told them about the woman-how she had to get a flight out to Michigan. They agreed, under the influence of his spirit, to let her go ahead of them. He took her to the flight and got her started on her way. As she boarded the plane, the woman thought to herself, 'What a wonderful man, and I don't even know his name.' But a few days later, in a newspaper, [she recognized the man when] she saw a picture of President Spencer W. Kimball.

"Now that's a simple story, but how many would do it? Jesus would do it, and a representative of Jesus on earth did do it" (Norman Vincent Peale, "Remarks at President Kimball's Eighty-fifth Birthday Dinner, 28 March 1980," Ensign, May 1980, p. 109).

Scripture stories

Use one or more of the following scripture stories to illustrate the profound effect women have had on the Lord's work throughout history:

Conclusion

Discussion

Tell one or two examples of how you learned respect for womanhood from your family.

Encourage members of the class to share examples of how they have learned respect for womanhood from their own families.

Handout and challenge

Give each young man a pencil and the small handout you prepared (see "Preparation"). Have them write on the back of the handout two or three specific things they might do to show greater respect for women. Have them set a goal to accomplish this during the coming week. Encourage the class members to place their goals where they will be reminded of their responsibility often.

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