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(Image Source: The Salt Lake Tribune)
BY COLLIN RUANE
For the first time in the church’s 183-year history, a woman led a prayer at
LDS, or Latter Day Saints, General Conference in Salt Lake City Saturday. The benediction
was less than two minutes in length — but it was a groundbreaking occasion. Sources
report no women have led a prayer since the mid-19th century.
The Salt Lake Tribune notes the prayer from Sister Jean A. Stevens caught a lot of attention.
A writer points out: “Many believers ... found it hard to keep their eyes closed during the
momentous prayer.”
ANCHOR: “Now women, they have regularly been asked to speak at the conference in past
years, but there is no record of women leading the opening or closing prayers.” (Via KSTU)
Rumors of this event began to surface back in mid-March. KUTV spoke to a feminist from
Brigham Young University who was preparing to watch the conference closer than ever before.
HANNAH WHEELWRIGHT: “I will definitely be tuning in to every single session. No sleeping
in this year.”
CHRISTINE MCCARTHY: “She’s one of hundreds of Mormons who have been sending
letters...asking for women to play a bigger role.”
According to a writer for the St. George Daily Spectrum, “...the church does not have a
rule or policy that prevents women from offering prayers during General Conference, it simply
had never happened before today.”
A writer for Examiner says this could mean Stevens’ prayer will be the first of many.
“Since it's a first time for Mormons that a woman leads and opening and closing
prayer at a high-profile LDS event, speculation is that the number of applications from women
will surge.”
The historic prayer comes on the anniversary of the LDS Church’s establishment back in
1830.