Let Women Pray.

Have I mentioned that in the past few months I became a MoFemme Activist? Cuz I did. And it was exhausting amazing.

Check out a few articles I was quoted in, USA Today, the Associated Press, the Herald Journal, and several others.

And also, a podcast I was on here.

 But more importantly, here is the facebook page that we created, with all of the actual information with what we were about, and what we asked
earnestly for.

I regret only posting this now, after the event is over. I waited partly because the event has taken a lot of my free time away from me. The other part I waited to post this is because I was afraid. I know that all of you, my amazing friends accept me as a Mormon feminist, but I know how much change scares people, and I didn't want any of you to see me differently. I shouldn't have ever felt scared about sharing something so near and dear to me, and for that, I really apologize - apologize to myself. Because if there is one thing that I have learned through this, it's that I need to be more honest with who I am, who I have always been.

And so finally, here is the letter I wrote. It's personal. It gives a lot of insight into who I am, and how I came to be the person I am. I'm grateful for all of it because I sincerely like who I'm becoming.

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February 22^nd, 2013
Dearest Linda K. Burton, Elaine S. Dalton, Rosemary M. Wixom, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Elder David F. Evans, and Elder Anthony D. Perkins,

I’m writing to you as Amber Whiteley, one of the main organizers for the organization “Let Women Pray”, who has spent countless hours and sleepless nights working on this, something that I care so passionately about.

But, I’m not just writing to you as the organizer of this event; I’m writing to you as a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I started investigating when I was 14 when I prayed to God, and said “God, I don’t know if you exist, but if you do, will you tell me what church is your church?” A few weeks later the missionaries knocked on my door. I was so impressed with missionaries who supported and encouraged my tough questions, who taught me the plan of salvation, and who even remained my life-long friends, forever having changed my life.

I’m not just an organizer and a convert. I’m writing to you as a wife to an amazing husband. He has been my greatest support in life. He has also put in countless hours supporting me in so many things, including “Let Women Pray”. He has lived through the discrimination I faced at BYU when others openly condemned me for wanting to continue to pursue my education even after having been married. He mourned with me when my relief society president told me that she worried for my children and the type of mother and wife I was going to be. Throughout all that, he has assured me of my value and worth as a woman, and he has pushed me to reach all of my dreams.

I’m not just an organizer, a convert, and a wife. I’m a mother to an amazing daughter, who just turned one this week. I have really done this for her. She has changed me into the woman I wanted to be. When giving birth to Madison, I had some complications that risked my life. The doctors told me to take a minute to be with my husband and daughter to say our goodbyes. I felt an overwhelming sense of peace that day, and truly felt Heavenly Father’s presence in my life.
I vowed to stop taking life for granted, and really become the woman I knew I could be, the woman I know Heavenly Father wants me to be. 

I’m an activist, a convert, a wife, a mother, and a faithful member. I hope you know that the intent behind this movement was one of peace, and real concern. As a convert, I have always had a zeal for asking hard questions, and today I am writing to ask, why is it that women do not pray in general conference meetings? As a wife, I strongly believe that my equal partnership with my husband is one of our greatest strengths in our marriage. As a mother, I do not want my daughter to grow up ever thinking that her prayers are less important. This is a topic that pains me. I know that I have just as strong a relationship with my Heavenly Father as any man does, but I know that seeing a woman praying on behalf of millions gathered together for General Conference would be so powerful.

I’m an organizer, a wife, a mother, and a faithful member with an honest, heart-felt plea.

With love and great admiration,

Amber Whiteley,
Saint Louis, MO

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