Sunrise Tantalize

This post came out of a response to a post on Mormon Women and Alternative Spiritual Paths by Bored in Vernal that got me thinking. In the post, Bored in Vernal wonders how and if LDS women who find value in alternative spiritual paths are able to reconcile their beliefs with the LDS Church. She compares the experiences of LDS women in the early days of the Church versus the experiences of women today.

I recently took a class on Medieval women writers who often wrote on religious material. Some of these women included Julian of Norwich, Margery Kempe, and Marie de France. Several of these women had alternative spiritual experiences. Some women spoke to God or Jesus Christ. Some saw the forbidden sacrament chalice quiver and rise into the air. Many women had visions. Many engaged in self-starvation and only consumed the sacrament. The theory is that since women were devalued by both the Medieval (Catholic) Church and society, that they had to take alternative paths to access or experience a higher power. There’s also theories about why so many of these experiences involve women’s bodies.

The LDS Church is also patriarchal, though women are valued much more than they were in the Middle Ages. I wonder if women in the LDS Church are also forced to find other ways of experiencing God since they are denied the power that comes with holding the priesthood. (And yes, it is power - even if it is only used for good. Men make up the leadership of our church.) In her post, Bored in Vernal says that many women who are drawn to alternative spiritual paths within the LDS Church often either go underground or leave the church due to differences with church members and leaders. I see this as the patriarchy repressing alternative ways of seeking God that do not honor the patriarchal structure.

It is taught that men and women have different roles in the church. Men should be fathers, providers, and priesthood holders. Women should be mothers and nurturers. Notice that women lack a spiritual role; a way to access God like that of men. If men and women are truly equal in their roles, then women should have their own spiritual role. Perhaps women are creating this role for themselves by exploring alternative spiritual paths - and I think Church leaders should respect, and maybe even encourage that role. (I should note that I have read that women working in temples do have that type of spiritual role, though I haven’t done any research on this myself.)

Personally I believe that women will receive a sanctioned spiritual role within the Church equal to but not the same as the priesthood. It’s only a question of time. This is a personal revelation of mine. Perhaps the women of the church need to embrace their alternative spiritual practices and this will cause the change to occur more quickly. If many women are blessing their sick or stressed children, then maybe this will be an accepted practice. Or maybe women need to find their own spiritual paths - paths that were used during the early days of the Mormon Church.

Alternative spiritual paths can be practicing divination, healing, prophesy, speaking in tongues, experiencing visions, et cetera. I find myself most drawn to healing and this makes sense since my career goal is to be a nurse. I could see myself as using aspects of the LDS faith to promote healing and proactive health practices among members. I can see LDS midwives using their faith to guide women and their families through healthy pregnancies and births. And I believe that many families are looking for this kind of care. Perhaps I’ll have to write a post on integrating healthcare and spiritual beliefs…

Please pray for me and/or send good thoughts my way. I had surgery earlier today and I feel awful. I could use all the help I can get. Oh, and I believe that prayer from people of all faiths work. Thanks!

On the bright side, at least that crazy endocrine gland is out now.

eta: I probably won’t be posting anything for the next few days while I’m on “interesting” pain meds.

Disclaimer: I think this is a really important issue and I think there is not enough information out there for parents and young women. So I’m going to try to put some information here, but I encourage you to do your own research as well. Talk to your health care provider or your child’s. Remember, I’m not a licensed health care provider.

What’s HPV?

HPV is a viral infection formally known as human papilloma virus. There over 100 different strains of HPV and about 40 strains are sexually transmitted. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI). Some strains cause genital warts, others cause cervical cancer, and most seem to not have any effects at all. According to Planned Parenthood, at least 50% of the population contracts HPV at some point during their lifetime.

There’s a good overview of the issues surround HPV and the HPV vaccine on PBS’s NOW website. Click here to watch the show.

What’s the HPV vaccine?

The HPV vaccine is sold by Merck under the tradename of Gardasil (R). You may have seen their “One Less” ads on TV or in a magazine. It’s a 3-shot vaccine. You get the first shot, then you get the second shot 2 months later, and then you get the third shot 4 months after the second shot. So it takes 6 months to get all three shots. The vaccine lasts for at least 5 years, maybe longer. A booster shot may be needed in the future, but they need to do more research to determine that. The HPV vaccine protects against 4 strains of HPV. Two of those strains cause 70% of the cases of cervical cancer, and the other two strains cause 90% of the cases of genital warts. Note that it does NOT prevent all types of cervical cancer or HPV.

The vaccine is recommended for all girls aged 11 and 12 years old. Girls as young as 9 and women as old as 26 are still qualified for the vaccine. It is better if the vaccine is given before sexual contact occurs (thus 11 and 12 is the prime age) for prevention of HPV infection. While the HPV vaccine cannot treat or cure preexisting infections, it can prevent you from being infected by another strain. For example, if Suzie has the type 6 HPV virus, she can still get the vaccine and be prevented against types 9, 16, and 18. So even if you or your daughter has had sex before and are under the age of 27, you should still get the HPV vaccine.

Also, the HPV vaccine cannot prevent existing cases of cervical cancer. Likewise, not all cervical cancer is caused by HPV so you should still get a gynecological exam and a Pap smear done as recommended by your health care provider.

Why get vaccinated if you’re abstinent or in a monogamous marriage?

Consider this, Sara Ylen, a married mother, went grocery shopping in May 2001 and was raped in the crowded grocery store parking lot. Two months later she ends up in the ER in pain and is diagnosed with HPV. Three years later she’s diagnosed with cervical cancer which reaches stage 4, goes into remission, but then the cancer comes back. Would you want this for your daughter? Yourself? Btw, you can find Sara’s Story in a PDF version here. It’s very sad.

Won’t getting the HPV vaccine make my teenage daughter more likely to have sex?

Potentially. But it’s unlikely. If you’re concerned about your daughter having sex then you either need to teach her that she must use protection if she has sex, or you need to teach abstinence. Whatever you are more comfortable with. Personally I prefer safer-sex ed over abstinence only, but she’s your kid. Also, the HPV vaccine only prevents 4 strains. That means that with more than 100 strains out there, your kids still need to be using protection if they have sex.

You could also think about this: Hepatitis B can be transmitted via sexual contact. Most kids today are vaccinated against Hepatitis B at a fairly young age. Do those vaccines make a preteen or teen more likely to have sex? I seriously doubt it. If you get a tetanus shot, are you going to go step on rusty nails?

Isn’t the vaccine expensive? How can I obtain the vaccine for less money?

The vaccine costs about $120 per dose and there are 3 doses. That adds up to $360 total. More and more health insurance companies cover all or part of the vaccine. You can also find some state-sponsored programs that provide the vaccine at a lower price. Try searching your state’s website or asking your health care provider. Merck also has a program that provides the vaccine at low or no cost to those who can’t afford it.

What’s up with this HPV vaccine mandate that is mentioned sometimes?

Some states are looking at requiring that all 11 and 12-year-old girls be vaccinated against HPV. Why? Well, first of all, prevention of the virus as well as cervical cancer is key. Some parents are upset because they see it as the government telling them what to do. Also, since HPV is a sexually transmitted disease, parents worry that the vaccine would encourage their kids to have sex sooner. Benefits of mandating the vaccine are lower rates of HPV infection in both males and females, as well as lower rates of cervical cancer. Another benefit of a mandate has to do with increased funding for the vaccine and health insurance companies would be more likely to cover the cost.

What should I do about the HPV vaccine?

First, do your research. Talk your health care provider. Evaluate the facts and make the decision that’s right for you and your family. My position is that every young woman should have this vaccine, if they are healthy enough to get the vaccine (no immune disorders, etc). But ultimately the decision is up to you.

Resources:

* Planned Parenthood: HPV and genital warts; HPV vaccine Q and A
* Merck’s Gardasil site
* Center for Disease Control on the HPV vaccine
* Vaccines for Children - government sponsored program that supplies free vaccines to children and teens under the age of 19 who are either uninsured, medicaid eligible, American Indian or Alaskan Native.