Is the leadership of this church truly representative of the worldwide church membership?

Deseret News -

"Joining President Eyring was Elder Quentin L. Cook—a native Utahn, who was also sustained by church members as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He fills the vacancy in the quorum left by President Eyring."

I'm sorry, but I just can't get excited about another old white guy sitting up on the stand. Where is the African, the Asian, the Indian, dare I ask - the female? Why are the leaders of this church not more representative of the actual member populations?

I voiced this opinion on a friends blog and the responses were interesting. Instead of replying to me, another reader scuttled off to his blog to post this.

"This response was made because of a female member of the church who said she is tired of "old white men" giving talks at conference. Instead, she would like to see more equality that represented the population of the church. In other words, she said she wanted to see SIX female apostles. Now if that isn't a recipe for excommunication, I don't know what is.

I love women. I love my wife, my daughter, my mother, sisters, etc..I respect them, cherish them, bow down to them, they go through something that I would never want to go through, etc..
What I absolutely hate about women are the feminist women. Women who claim there needs equality among everything for everything. Feminism is also described as an ideology focusing on equality of the sexes. I'm all for being equal on most things, but there are certain places where women have no business and others where men have no business.

I remember one day at OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY, I was walking with Spencer Gee, (good ol Spencer...) to the library and I noticed that there was a woman walking behind us. When we got to the door, I opened the door (you remember how heavy those doors are?!) to allow the woman to go in first because that is what guys do. (Guess what? I open the door for women AND guys to go in first if they are close enough behind me. It's called respect.) Anyway, this woman insisted on opening the other door and said something to the effect that she can do things herself. I was so mad at her. I was simply trying to perform a good gesture and she shot me down.

I remember a few years ago at the PGA event (the Masters), the chair of the National Organiation for Women, made a big stink because there is a golf club in Augusta, Georgia where only MEN can be members. If she was so worried about women wanting to golf at an elitist golf club, then she should go start her own golf club for women only.

If the LORD wanted women apostles, he would call them. If you want women apostles, then go join the RLDS church, or Community of Christ. The LORD will call whom he will call. I resent anyone suggesting that if the leaders of the church would truly represent the population, then they would have women leaders. Oh wait, they do, the Relief Society General Presidency, the Young Women GP, in every stake, ward, branch...
Like I said before, I adore women. I love my wife, and she frequently puts me in my place, but I can't stand feminist. I'm all for equality, but there is a time a place for it."

My response:

What I absolutely hate about people is their insistence on judging an entire group or organization based on the acts of one or two people who identify themselves as such. Oh, wait - now I'm doing it! lol

But seriously - you are completely entitled to your opinion.

To clarify, I didn't say that I am "tired of "old white men" giving talks at conference." I said that I am frustrated that the 1st presidency and quorum don't adequately represent the ethnic membership of the church.

I don't feel that you can compare being an apostle to being in the Relief Society presidency. There was no RS in Christ's time. It is a modern institution.

Now, if I say that I am frustrated by the lack of racial representation in the 1st Presidency and Quorum, it doesn't mean that I no longer believe the gospel is true. Don't throw the baby out with the bath water. I do believe that the Lord calls who he will call. Why must there be something terribly wrong with wishing that one whom he calls would be a woman and those of different ethnicities and expressing my frustration that he does not?

It is obvious that this post was directed at me (that's ok) yet you don't know if I identify myself as a feminist or not. By the way I do.

It is quite arrogant to say - if the woman wants what the men have, she should get off her ass and go get it! Well, in this society, women are not afforded the means nor opportunity to always do that. We are still paid less than men and socially hampered as to career and life options. But this isn't about poor oppressed women, so let's not go there.

Finally, (and if you have read this far - bless you!) saying that you are "all for equality, but there is a time and a place for it" is like asking your friend for the bigger HALF of the cookie. There is no bigger half. Either it is equal or it is not.