The just-completed General Conference promised a historic schedule shift that would highlight the emerging involvement and gender gains of Latter-day Saint women, yet, in the eyes of some, it wound up diminishing female visibility and voices.
Here’s what happened: Instead of the all-male priesthood meeting, a women’s session was held. Alternating the priesthood and women’s sessions at the twice-yearly gatherings was billed as a way to enhance the prominence and prestige of female leaders — and, by extension, female members — in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where only men can be ordained.