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Consider Yourself as Eve: A Guide to Spiritual Development for Women
"What does it look like for me to fulfill my role as a woman in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to draw on priesthood power as President Nelson has invited us to do, and help my loved ones more fully come unto Christ? This book answers these questions! I have seen women's faces light up as they encounter the beautiful truths in this book that resonate with their feminine spirits in a bold new way, empowering them to step into their millennial roles as daughters, queens, and high priestesses of our Heavenly Mother.” - Jocelyn Pedersen, Teachings of Jesus Christ YouTube channel.
The Proclamation on the Family affirms the eternal truths of gender and marriage between a man and a woman. We readily accept these realities. However we may yet to fully comprehend why these are so vital. Why is gender essential? Why is the pattern of marriage so important?
In this first-of-its-kind guide, “Consider Yourself as Eve” seeks to illuminate these doctrines by considering how we may live the temple’s template of spiritual development, especially as women. Along the way, we discuss many other questions,
What specifically is the temple designed to teach us?What do the symbolic signs, laws, and tokens presented in the temple endowment ceremony represent in our everyday lives?How do we receive transformative grace through the atonement of Jesus Christ?What are the characteristics of feminine vs masculine spirit? What is the stewardess-ship of women complementary to the stewardship of men?How is embodying femininity key to our spiritual development as women?With a heavy emphasis on scripture and illustrative personal experiences of the author, this book expounds deeper doctrines with the hope that all women will be empowered to pursue their own journey of developing in the pattern given by Jesus Christ. In doing so, they can sure to experience a richer understanding of who they are as daughters of God, a Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother.
"Probably the most significant book written on the temple to date. Though its primary audience is women, men will also be greatly benefited by reading it as well. This work breaks new ground by highlighting the importance of our divine gender in the beautiful invitations and patterns of the temple. It is a must read for anyone wishing to deepen their understanding of the Lord’s House of Learning." – Cory B. Jensen, author of Understanding Your Endowment and Completing Your Endowment
About the
Meghan Farner is the host of the Latter-day Disciples Podcast and a lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ. Her favorite thing in the world is deep doctrinal conversations, particular as they relate to becoming spiritually prepared to receive the Lord. Meghan openly advocates the practice of fearlessly seeking truth out of all places the spirit may lead, while being immovably grounded in Jesus Christ. Her background in business, communications, psychology, and human relations, along with her personal studies of scripture + apocrypha, ancient history, and other faith traditions, make her a renaissance woman and an engaging hostess and presenter. Recently, Meghan has felt guided to explore the historicity and theology of the Divine Feminine, including how women can know and experience Heavenly Mother by learning to know themselves. Meghan and her family live in East Idaho.
The Proclamation on the Family affirms the eternal truths of gender and marriage between a man and a woman. We readily accept these realities. However we may yet to fully comprehend why these are so vital. Why is gender essential? Why is the pattern of marriage so important?
In this first-of-its-kind guide, “Consider Yourself as Eve” seeks to illuminate these doctrines by considering how we may live the temple’s template of spiritual development, especially as women. Along the way, we discuss many other questions,
What specifically is the temple designed to teach us?What do the symbolic signs, laws, and tokens presented in the temple endowment ceremony represent in our everyday lives?How do we receive transformative grace through the atonement of Jesus Christ?What are the characteristics of feminine vs masculine spirit? What is the stewardess-ship of women complementary to the stewardship of men?How is embodying femininity key to our spiritual development as women?With a heavy emphasis on scripture and illustrative personal experiences of the author, this book expounds deeper doctrines with the hope that all women will be empowered to pursue their own journey of developing in the pattern given by Jesus Christ. In doing so, they can sure to experience a richer understanding of who they are as daughters of God, a Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother.
"Probably the most significant book written on the temple to date. Though its primary audience is women, men will also be greatly benefited by reading it as well. This work breaks new ground by highlighting the importance of our divine gender in the beautiful invitations and patterns of the temple. It is a must read for anyone wishing to deepen their understanding of the Lord’s House of Learning." – Cory B. Jensen, author of Understanding Your Endowment and Completing Your Endowment
About the
Meghan Farner is the host of the Latter-day Disciples Podcast and a lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ. Her favorite thing in the world is deep doctrinal conversations, particular as they relate to becoming spiritually prepared to receive the Lord. Meghan openly advocates the practice of fearlessly seeking truth out of all places the spirit may lead, while being immovably grounded in Jesus Christ. Her background in business, communications, psychology, and human relations, along with her personal studies of scripture + apocrypha, ancient history, and other faith traditions, make her a renaissance woman and an engaging hostess and presenter. Recently, Meghan has felt guided to explore the historicity and theology of the Divine Feminine, including how women can know and experience Heavenly Mother by learning to know themselves. Meghan and her family live in East Idaho.
- GenresReligionNonfiction
358 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 22, 2024
59 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 30, 2025
A Perspective on Mother
Intriguing and new thought for me in some aspects. Enjoyed this read through the eyes of my mother, wife and four daughters.
Intriguing and new thought for me in some aspects. Enjoyed this read through the eyes of my mother, wife and four daughters.
January 6, 2025
This is a marvelous book that provides the reader an in depth look at the role of Eve, and of all women in their spiritual development and relationship with God. The author identifies the different attributes that identify feminine and masculine spirits.
Nephi’s family required both the masculine brass plates and the feminine Liahona (The Light of Christ) to successfully navigate the journey in the wilderness, becoming in the voyage a type of spiritual development.
The author identifies the Priesthood as the hierarchical or vertical order of things (or the square in temple garments), whereas the Priestesshood is identified as the horizontal order of things, or the compass in our temple garments, representing the feminine. This ties into the Faith Matters 2024 Restore conference talk on “The Crux of the Cross” by Jared Halverson where vertical is obedience and the horizontal is inclusivity.
A woman’s spiritual development includes choosing to become a tower to her husband. The tower provides the concept of being clean and free from the “blood and sins” of a generation is central to understanding the natural women’s standing before God. Indeed, this is one of the more obvious differences between men and women in the endowment ceremony. Men are told that they may become clean from the blood and sins of this generation. Women by contrast, are pronounced clean.
While men are the watchmen, women are the tower. The tower enables the watchmen, for it is firm, immoveable, and steadfast in its role to enlighten and uplift those it bears. A tower facilitates the safety of the whole people, as without the tower the watchman would have a lower viewpoint and the people would be vulnerable to attacks. Although a watchman needs to prove his ability in his role to protect and provide for the community, the tower’s might is in its very presence. It is and that is all it needs be.
Because of transgression, or spiritual imbalance and misalignment of God, the tower has not yet been established in this dispensation. But it will be! The Lord promises He will organize His servants, recommissioning them to avenge the wrong committed against His vineyard (D&C 101:63-64). As women engage in the process of spiritual development, including choosing to become towers to their husbands, the collective tower of priestesshood will be built once again.
It has a chapter on Priestesshood that discusses the 2013 “Ordain Women” movement, feeling it is not helping women align with feminine spirit, which is enabling power, empowering, and behind the scenes. Masculine energy is the visible personality of a movement. It is the structure, where feminine energy is the heart and spirit.
The author further states, that is not to imply that there is no need for improvement when it comes to gender equality in church related affairs. There are numerous ways that Priestesshood should be better included, sought, and valued for contributions only the feminine can bring, and appreciated.
Nephi’s family required both the masculine brass plates and the feminine Liahona (The Light of Christ) to successfully navigate the journey in the wilderness, becoming in the voyage a type of spiritual development.
The author identifies the Priesthood as the hierarchical or vertical order of things (or the square in temple garments), whereas the Priestesshood is identified as the horizontal order of things, or the compass in our temple garments, representing the feminine. This ties into the Faith Matters 2024 Restore conference talk on “The Crux of the Cross” by Jared Halverson where vertical is obedience and the horizontal is inclusivity.
A woman’s spiritual development includes choosing to become a tower to her husband. The tower provides the concept of being clean and free from the “blood and sins” of a generation is central to understanding the natural women’s standing before God. Indeed, this is one of the more obvious differences between men and women in the endowment ceremony. Men are told that they may become clean from the blood and sins of this generation. Women by contrast, are pronounced clean.
While men are the watchmen, women are the tower. The tower enables the watchmen, for it is firm, immoveable, and steadfast in its role to enlighten and uplift those it bears. A tower facilitates the safety of the whole people, as without the tower the watchman would have a lower viewpoint and the people would be vulnerable to attacks. Although a watchman needs to prove his ability in his role to protect and provide for the community, the tower’s might is in its very presence. It is and that is all it needs be.
Because of transgression, or spiritual imbalance and misalignment of God, the tower has not yet been established in this dispensation. But it will be! The Lord promises He will organize His servants, recommissioning them to avenge the wrong committed against His vineyard (D&C 101:63-64). As women engage in the process of spiritual development, including choosing to become towers to their husbands, the collective tower of priestesshood will be built once again.
It has a chapter on Priestesshood that discusses the 2013 “Ordain Women” movement, feeling it is not helping women align with feminine spirit, which is enabling power, empowering, and behind the scenes. Masculine energy is the visible personality of a movement. It is the structure, where feminine energy is the heart and spirit.
The author further states, that is not to imply that there is no need for improvement when it comes to gender equality in church related affairs. There are numerous ways that Priestesshood should be better included, sought, and valued for contributions only the feminine can bring, and appreciated.
July 4, 2025
I'm not quite sure I'm ready to subscribe to all of Sister Farner's ideas as Truth, but I have really enjoyed and learned quite a lot from them. Many of the things she writes hold very true to me and how I have seen myself spiritually develop through life. There were many insights that spoke peace to me and I have appreciated so much having this book.
I think, perhaps, the language and terminology of the author might throw people off sometimes. We, as Latter-Day Saints, aren't in the habit of using words like Priestess-hood, or using the term "ordination" in the ways she does. There were points in the book where I could tell her word choice was to help us make parallels and see things in a different light, but other times the word choice felt a little off to me, whether because it was a new concept or I just didn't believe that was the right word for it.
Many times I felt the Spirit speak to me while reading this book.
One of my favorite concepts developed in the book is that women take spiritual things and embody them into the physical, while men take physical things and enable them to be made spiritual again. I also was thrilled with the discussion of Eve as the Mother of All Living, and what that has to do with the spiritual inheritance of all women. There are still things about Eve that are hinted at in the temple and in scripture that nobody has, to my knowledge, ever addressed, so I am still waiting for further insights into that.
I think, perhaps, the language and terminology of the author might throw people off sometimes. We, as Latter-Day Saints, aren't in the habit of using words like Priestess-hood, or using the term "ordination" in the ways she does. There were points in the book where I could tell her word choice was to help us make parallels and see things in a different light, but other times the word choice felt a little off to me, whether because it was a new concept or I just didn't believe that was the right word for it.
Many times I felt the Spirit speak to me while reading this book.
One of my favorite concepts developed in the book is that women take spiritual things and embody them into the physical, while men take physical things and enable them to be made spiritual again. I also was thrilled with the discussion of Eve as the Mother of All Living, and what that has to do with the spiritual inheritance of all women. There are still things about Eve that are hinted at in the temple and in scripture that nobody has, to my knowledge, ever addressed, so I am still waiting for further insights into that.
January 5, 2026
This book started strong and then unraveled. After the first few chapters, it began blending New Age and self-help concepts with Church teachings in a way that was obvious and deeply problematic. Having read extensively on New Age beliefs before joining the Church, the influence was unmistakable.
While the author does not claim to present official Church doctrine, the book reads like a doctrinal salad in terms of scripture, Church teachings, and New Age ideas mixed together without clarity or discipline.
The writing becomes dull midway through, with ideas introduced and then abandoned. Key claims, such as the assertion that proxy work for ancestors “restores the family line” are stated without explanation, reasoning, or doctrinal grounding.
Overall, the book is poorly argued, increasingly tedious, and ultimately frustrating. What began with promise ends in confusion and disappointment.
While the author does not claim to present official Church doctrine, the book reads like a doctrinal salad in terms of scripture, Church teachings, and New Age ideas mixed together without clarity or discipline.
The writing becomes dull midway through, with ideas introduced and then abandoned. Key claims, such as the assertion that proxy work for ancestors “restores the family line” are stated without explanation, reasoning, or doctrinal grounding.
Overall, the book is poorly argued, increasingly tedious, and ultimately frustrating. What began with promise ends in confusion and disappointment.
February 9, 2025
While I don't think it's perfect, the author is really onto something and it is a valuable read. It has given me many things to ponder and consider.
While I understand why the author uses the word "balance" all throughout, it was more helpful to me (from my framework of understanding) to think of the word oneness instead. I also think somethings are misplaced in her break down of the temple ordinances, but I will need time to reconfigure it in my head. I admittedly skipped over the archetypes - I'm not super interested in it, and besides D&C 25 gives us 3; daughter of God, elect lady and Queen. For now that's sufficient for my needs. I did pick back up at prophetess. (I really need to read some of the apocryphal texts). I love the 7 boughs of ascension. What a good place to start as we prayerfully consider what worldliness we need to set aside in our sanctifying journey.
While I understand why the author uses the word "balance" all throughout, it was more helpful to me (from my framework of understanding) to think of the word oneness instead. I also think somethings are misplaced in her break down of the temple ordinances, but I will need time to reconfigure it in my head. I admittedly skipped over the archetypes - I'm not super interested in it, and besides D&C 25 gives us 3; daughter of God, elect lady and Queen. For now that's sufficient for my needs. I did pick back up at prophetess. (I really need to read some of the apocryphal texts). I love the 7 boughs of ascension. What a good place to start as we prayerfully consider what worldliness we need to set aside in our sanctifying journey.
September 12, 2025
There are few books that have made me continuously think and process and chew on as much as this one has. It really shifted my world view and my spiritual sight on things I thought I knew so well. Not all of her statements or interpretations resonated and I specifically struggled in the interpretations of women’s roles vs men’s roles. Many of her insights, however, especially about masculine and feminine energy/divinity, helped me see the world differently. Whether it’s politics, religious organizations, families, or individuals, that energy needs balance and both are vital to wholeness. The feminine divinity and empowerment from this book is something I will carry with me. I will definitely give this another listen.
April 7, 2025
Farmer shares her insights to the symbolism she has found in the temple.
Why I started this book: My sister recommended and we've all been reading it.
Why I finished it: The best part of this book is Farmer modeling how to find your personal meaning in the ceremonies of the temple. The worst thing was her meanings. There were multiple times that as she explained, I had a gut level "nope." As a historian and an ex-pat, I have a wider view of some ideas, that Farmer tried to narrow even farther. But I loved her explaination of the wheat and the tares parable and will be pondering that further. Plus, I loved the conversations afterwards with my siblings.
Why I started this book: My sister recommended and we've all been reading it.
Why I finished it: The best part of this book is Farmer modeling how to find your personal meaning in the ceremonies of the temple. The worst thing was her meanings. There were multiple times that as she explained, I had a gut level "nope." As a historian and an ex-pat, I have a wider view of some ideas, that Farmer tried to narrow even farther. But I loved her explaination of the wheat and the tares parable and will be pondering that further. Plus, I loved the conversations afterwards with my siblings.
July 1, 2025
El Espíritu te guía en la lectura de este libro para discernir puntos muy interesantes y centrales en la comprensión de quienes somos realmente, tanto hombres como mujeres, en relación a nuestros Padres Celestiales. Los arquetipos femeninos fueron muy interesantes de leer, y todo lo relacionado al equilibrio entre lo femenino y masculino resuena conmigo. Me encantó ver la relación entre las ordenanzas del templo y la vida diaria. La autora demuestra un gran dominio de los temas que propone y se nota su investigación y aprendizaje tanto por el estudio como por la fe.
April 12, 2025
I listened to the audiobook read by the author. Meghan Farner has shared her fascinating journey of faith and discovery. There is so much to ponder upon as I continue my own faith journey. I have now purchased the book to facilitate deeper study and notes.
November 3, 2025
I'm going to re-shelf this for now, I only got about halfway. Some interesting ideas, though sometimes hard to really follow her language. Not getting enough out of it and following it enough right now to continue.
December 19, 2024
The best book I've read this year.
Amazing insight about lived ordinances and alignment between feminine and masculine.
Amazing insight about lived ordinances and alignment between feminine and masculine.
January 14, 2025
I’m sure I will return to this book often. It has given me a lot to rejoice in and a lot to ponder on. I love this journey of being a woman.
March 14, 2025
So much to chew on with this book. Without a doubt divinely guided into my suggestions list for next read. I will definitely be reading again!
July 2, 2025
I found it to be very enlightening. For anyone looking for more depth in their understanding of who they are as a woman and their identity in a spiritual being, this book is for you!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews