Week 12 Power Relations

Something that I wondered while reading Richard B. Miller's, "Who is The Boss? Power Relationships in Families" is how is it that as husband and wife we are to be equal partners, yet the husband is considered the head of the household or leader? Miller explains that the purpose of the priesthood is to serve. As a the priesthood leader in the home, husbands are to minister to his family through the power of the priesthood. The role as patriarch of the family gives him a responsibility to serve his family; his wife and children. Often titles such as "head of household" or "leader" seem to be synonymous with power, but this kind of power is linked only with the Savior. While He came to earth to lead, he also ministered and served others in the process. Jesus Christ is our leader, has limitless power and served others in His ministry.

President Hinckley said, " In the marriage companionship there is neither inferiority nor superiority. The woman does not walk ahead of the man; neither does the man walk ahead of the woman. They walk side by side as a son and daughter of God on an eternal journey."  (Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign, May 2002, p. 52):

I have a stronger appreciation for my husband, who is the priesthood holder in our home and for my ability to work with him to help each other and strengthen our family.

One of my mentors in marriage is Marjorie Pay Hinckley. I have always admired her spunk and tell it like it is approach to life. President Hinckley always speaks about her with admiration and respect for her strengths and abilities.

"I’ve tried to recognize my wife’s individuality, her personality, her desires,
her background, her ambitions. Let her fly. Yes, let her fly! Let her develop her own talents. Let her do things her way. Get out of her way, and marvel at what she does…If there is anything that concerns me, it is that some men try to run their wife’s life and tell her everything she ought to do. It will not work. There will not be happiness in the lives of the children nor of the parents where the man tries to run everything and control his wife. They are partners. They are companions in this great venture that we call marriage and family life."  Gordon B. Hinckley

I think this goes for both husband and wife; when we work together we can fly!