“The Sisterhood That So Lovingly Saw Me Through”
I don’t really know where to even begin to express the role that Exponent II and its amazing members have played in my life. I’m sure many others will talk about the impactful topics and historical significance of the organization in the larger Mormon scheme, but I’d like to express how Exponent II supported me. I was vaguely aware of the publication prior to moving to the Boston area in 1982, but after having attended an Exponent Day Dinner and hearing Lavina Fielding Anderson speak, I was hooked. Over the next 30 years, this amazing group of women were my friends, confidants, mentors and coworkers. We raised our families together while shepherding what we felt was an honest, intelligent representation of what Mormon women were dealing with and thinking about. It was often exhausting work, with very few hands actively engaged. Over time, I served as managing editor, president, treasurer, secretary, and on the readers committee and proofreading team. Sometimes fewer issues were produced in a year, but we hung in there and happily still had an organization to hand over the caretaking to a younger, vigorous, capable generation of women.
We raised our families together while shepherding what we felt was an honest, intelligent representation of what Mormon women were dealing with and thinking . . .
Probably my most profound memories are of those late-night discussions after the business had been dispensed with. The topics were as varied as the participants, but the loving, tender care and earnest intent was palpable. I lived almost an hour outside of the city and used to hate tearing myself away from those evenings. They were literally a lifeline for me, and I am so grateful to the sisterhood that so lovingly saw me through some very tough times. I believe that our publication did that very thing for innumerable readers who looked to those pages for guidance, information, or a new perspective to help them along their journey as well. Congratulations on 50 years of support and representation for women.
Barbara is retired and living in northern California. She was active in the management and production of Exponent II from 1982–2012.
Petaluma, California
Categories: Shout Outs
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