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Soooooooo, I can't believe I'm going to write this, but I only have 8 followers so hopefully I won't offend too many people...but I'm going to write my opinion on women and the Priesthood in the LDS Church. [update: It has been brought to my attention that I only have 7 followers. Thank you.]
For those who are not familiar with LDS doctrine or practice, the Priesthood is God's authority and power to act in His name on Earth. All Church leadership is directed by the Priesthood. Currently, only worthy males hold this power and authority. Although women are extremely present and play a vital role in Church leadership, they always serve under Priesthood leadership.
This is a very difficult practice for most members to understand, especially in modern society. But most members support the practice because they have faith that God directs the Church. However, a growing number of women's groups have been speaking out and challenging the practice. Most recently, a small group of women wore pants to Church in oppostition to the status quo (most women wear dresses or skirts, although the Church doesn't require it) and last October a small group of women asked to be admitted to a meeting specifically held for Priesthood holders only.
Yesterday I read a blog post that sought to explain and defend the Church's position. It is an excellent post and I reccomend reading it and all the comments that follow because it provides a lot of well thought out arguments regarding the subject on both sides of the aisle.
However, I thought that all of the arguments lacked a certain perspective and I added my own two cents...and yes, I'm a whimp and I gave myself the name "An average active LDS Women" - but I've never spoken out like this before! I think this is an appropriate subject for this family history blog because I want my children to understand my position...so without further ado:
This is very beautiful…but honestly, it is just speculation. I agree there are three movements in the church: people who speculate why God does not allow women to exercise the Priesthood, people who are trying to convince leaders of the church that women should exercise the Priesthood, and then those who are doing nothing. Personally, I think everyone in these categories is misguided.
I believe the reason why women don’t hold or exercise the Priesthood is because God set it up like that in 1830. End of story. But 1830 was a long time ago. And there’s no official document explaining why women can’t hold and exercise the Priesthood.
As interesting as all of this discussion is (and it is very interesting, I mean no disrespect), I don’t care what any of you have to say as much as I care to know what God has to say on the subject. And I don’t care what you all think God thinks. I want to know for myself what He thinks. If I can’t hold the Priesthood, I at least want to know why. I’m not a bad person for wanting that. I’m an intelligent, humble child of God. The answer might be: I’m not going to tell you right now…but currently, I don’t even know if the Church has formally brought up the issue with the Lord. I’m almost positive that the Brethren have been praying about it, but I don’t know that for sure, and it’s something I would like to know.
In my opinion, it seems perfectly reasonable for the women of the Church to join together and ask the First Presidency to ask God why women can’t hold the Priesthood.
To those who want the status quo changed, and women who are okay with the status quo remaining as is (which I don’t really believe is the majority of women in the Church. Yes, no one wants to be a bishop, but we’d all do it if the Lord asked us to, and we’d all shout for joy if a revelation was given stating that women could now hold the Priesthood), I suggest we stop speculating about what God would say, and start asking for His direction.
I have faith in the Lord’s living Church. I believe revelation exists today and we can have access to it. Not just personal revelation, but Church-wide revelation as well. Our Church is built on sincere questions from the faithful. That’s how the Priesthood was first established: by a question.
That’s what happened with blacks and the Priesthood. Social pressure didn’t change Church policy. Social pressure pressured the Brethren to formally ask God for an answer and He gave it.
Regarding the Church’s stance on same-gender marriage, the Proclamation on the Family is pretty clear, so good luck on that one to those who disagree. I’m not saying give up, but the Proclamation is enough for me to put that issue at rest.
But women and the Priesthood? We don’t have any formal revelation or document directing this issue or offering an explanation.
Let us appeal to the First Presidency and request an answer from God. And appealing doesn’t mean trying to get into the Conference Center during Priesthood meeting or wearing pants to church. Although these gestures are not wrong in and of themselves, and I probably wouldn’t be so interested in the subject if these gestures had not occurred, I believe that this is the wrong way to go about it. But more importantly, I also believe this is the long way to go about it. And sitting around speculating why things are the way they are without any formal doctrine to back it up is also not very effective.
Let’s go to our bishops and tell them we want some formal guidance on the issue and we want it from the First Presidency. Let’s write Linda Burton and ask. If all the women of the Church ask for this, then I think the First Presidency will respond. They love us. They want to connect us with the Lord. This is their purpose. And yes, there is personal revelation, but this issue is so worldwide, I believe it deserves a worldwide response.
The First Presidency might respond, “We have asked and what we’ve said in Conference is all we’ve got right now.” But at least we’d know. They might also respond stating, “The Lord has heard the appeal of the women of the Church and this is His response…”. And wouldn’t it be wonderful to have that knowledge?
Stop speculating, stop strong-arming Church leaders, stop doing nothing. This worldwide discussion has revealed that a lot of women in the Church are thinking about the issue. Now let’s ask God to join the discussion.
Bravo! I 100%, whole-hardheartedly agree with you! I was writing my own response in a blog and this is basically what it was going to say... thanks for doing it for me! Let's just ASK, and stop speculating!
ReplyDeleteSeriously, why haven't we ever talked about this subject before? I think we should.
ReplyDeleteThat was well put. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Very nicely said, and yes, it really is time.
ReplyDeleteVery well written and I agree 99%. I'd push back a bit on the implication that women trying to attend priesthood session or wearing pants to church (full disclosure, I'm one of the latter and would have been part of the former if I didn't live in another country) are going about it the "wrong way." You mentioned how the social changes and pressure of the civil rights movements are what sparked the brethren to ask the question about black male ordination. Those pressures came from black people literally trying to get into places that were shut to them, or to engage in behaviors that were socially discouraged - I'd say that there are some parallels then to the women involved in these events. People aren't inspired to ask big questions by sitting around twiddling their thumbs and hoping someone somewhere is inspired. Questions are sparked by action.
ReplyDeleteAs someone involved in the organizations, the reason I participate in these actions is to hopefully throw off a spark. To start a conversation, to raise a question, or present a POV that encourages the leaders to do just as you have written: recognize that there is no definitive statement from God on this issue and take it to Him for an answer. Also, there have been letter writing campaigns, meetings with local and area authorities, and faithful dialog about women's ordination for decades now - the reason some women (and I stress not everyone who supports the issue of women's ordination is a part of these events) have chosen to wear trousers, or try to get into meetings is because the people who have tried such activities in the past have been ignored and, unfortunately, punished. It's one thing to call their efforts "the long way to go about it," it's another thing to recognize that faithful, feminist questions concerning female participation in the formal structure and official administrative capacities have been going on for a century now. I can only speak for myself, but I don't think it's beyond the pale to want the conversation to move forward (like you say!) instead of having it continue to stall where it has been for decades. Like you, I think we should be able to talk about it. And I hope the Lord has an answer for us soon, because I truly believe we're ready for it, whatever it is.
Just wanted to add my own two cents. I really appreciate your POV, thanks for sharing it!
In many ways, I actually disagree with what you have said. I do really like your idea to ask for some official document from the 1st Presidency specifically about women and the Priesthood. I don't think it's wrong to want something like that especially when women's rights are so important in our society today.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I also think there are ample answers in the scriptures about women and the Priesthood. Since the world began, men have had the Priesthood and women have not. The Lord didn't just make it that way in 1830, it has always been that way. Yes, the Old Testament talk about priestesses, but they still did not have the responsibilities as the priests that held the Priesthood.
In my opinion, women's roles on the earth are absolutely just as important as men's, but women's roles are different. I don't think we have to be the same as men to be equal to them. I especially believe this after becoming a mother. Through pregnancy and child birth, I have done something and gone to a place mentally and spiritually that no man can ever go. EVER. Do you hear men complaining about that? I think men have a different role on the earth and that includes the Priesthood. Woman' role on the earth is just as equally important, but I don't think it includes holding the Priesthood.
That being said, I'm all about people finding truth. If that means some people need an official document from the 1st Presidency, then I think that's a great way. If it's through personal revelation, then that's great, too. I think it's more important for people to figure out their own opinion than for them to agree with mine. I think as long as a person is seeking truth, they are doing the right thing regardless of whether or not they agree with me.
Read A Gift Given A Gift Taken by Linda King Newell. There are several documentations of women holding the Priesthood.
DeleteJoseph Smith, Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff and Joseph F Smith all have quotes regarding Women's rights to give healing blessings.
I don't find this article offensive at all, but I had a few thoughts. Mind you, I am a man, hope it's ok to pipe in. I really agree with Kirsteenie about several points: we know the priesthood was established since the beginning of man, the balance of historical precedent is pretty clear on this point; we know that women and men are fundamentally different but not better than one another; and we do have a lot of other answers in the scriptures and talks already given.
DeleteMy personal thoughts about the priesthood (note these are personal opinions) are that God is helping men to understand our role in establishing eternal families--our roles as fathers, like Adam. Originally, the priesthood was synonymous with the authority of the (righteous) first fathers, allowing them to act and administer in the name of Jesus Christ. Priesthood authority was given so explicitly that Men could understand our duty very clearly, and so that the ordinances could be given to our families. The moment a man becomes unrighteous he doesn't even have the authority, so it's clearly not to be used to rule over people tyrannically in an administrative context. So maybe if you are asking for the "priesthood", or why women do not have it...you are asking why we need fathers?
Thanks for the article. I bet you have more followers than you know. :)
ReplyDeleteI agree if you want to ask- go for it. However, women DO have the priesthood. Who gives the blessings to women for temple initiatories? Certainly they hold the priesthood. Why are active temple going women ignoring that? We just have different callings that is all.
Besides that, what do women want, to give blessings? Do they feel they are missing out? Why? Don't they realize that no one can give themselves blessings? Blessings are intended to give to other people, and a large majority of the way the blessing works is on behalf of the faith of the giver and the receiver. We should be seeking faith, not priesthood. Faith works miracles.
D&C 121 says, "The rights of the priesthood are INSEPARABLY CONNECTED with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness."
So wouldn't our own righteousness call forth the blessings of the priesthood? Do we think if someone lays their hands on our head something would be different, besides having to go to more meetings? I think we too often find ourselves having faith in the priesthood over the miracles that Christ would give us no matter if we hold the priesthood or not. This big push, to me, is a distraction in what is important- our focus on Christ. I full-heartedly believe if I was at home, alone, with my little baby who needed to be healed, my prayer would be heard just the same as a Priesthood Blessing. I should be working on my faith and righteousness though, just as any man, holding the priesthood, should work on his.
I also find it funny if it is the case. Women who want the priesthood to give blessings. I don't think it matters who the blessing should be given by- but Whom grants our petitions. Doesn't the Doctrine and Covenants 121:37 say,
"That they [the Priesthood] may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or TO GRATIFY OUR PRIDE, OUR VAIN AMBITION, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is GRIEVED; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man."
(I hated using all caps to point out what I wanted- but I couldn't use italics) Ironically the women who want the priesthood to be able to be the ones who give it, would automatically loose it.
I am not saying all women who want the Priesthood have vain ambitions, or anything negative. I believe their are many who simply want to know why. My advise for them would be- go to the temple. Just as some women think covering their faces with their veils is negative in any way- Moses had to cover his face after he spoke to God. Can we see how much power we have now? We aren't even the ones saying the prayer- and we have to shield our faces! Priesthood or not- God is giving us a compliment! To everyone else- Let's stop thinking of things as so negative and discriminatory and start seeing it how God does.
Katie, you make a lot of good points, and I appreciate your thoughts. A couple of my own: When my brothers looked forward to being ordained, no one told them they were powerhungry or unrighteous for wanting the priesthood, but it's an accusation that gets thrown out against women pretty regularly. You haven't done so explicitly, but it is implied. Secondly, I agree with you whole heartedly that it shouldn't matter where the faithful entreaties of blessings come from (the example you give of being home alone with your daughter is a powerful one, I've used it myself when explaining this issue). But the truth is, it does matter. One of the major truth claims of the LDS church is the reality of restored priesthood power, and that it is a unique power to perform and bind saving ordinances. I believe with all my heart that your prayer to God to heal your daughter would be heard. However, as things currently stand, you could never (with the sanction of the church), lay your hands on her head to give her a blessing invoking the Melchizedek priesthood. You could never baptize her - you couldn't even stand as a witness as her baptism, or her marriage. You could never set her apart in a calling. You could not officiate in the final salvific ordinances of the temple, that we believe are *required* for exaltation.
DeleteAgain, I love your example of mother love, I believe it's powerful and true. But let me give you another example, one that made a profound impression on me. Imagine a sacrament meeting. If every single female person was removed from the room, the meeting could go on. The sacrament could be blessed and passed, new members confirmed, blessings given, etc. Now imagine that same meeting and instead remove all the males. Talks could be given, yes, wisdom could be shared, and testimonies strengthened. But the sacrament, the very *cause of the meeting,* could not be taken because with our currently level of understanding, the level of faithfulness of all the sisters in that room still does not equal sanctioned, ordained, proper authority.
In the church, the priesthood is irrevocably tied to authority and not just over spiritual matters. Across the board it is priesthood holders, and therefore men, who handle the money, make final decisions, head every level of leadership, create teaching materials, sit on disciplinary councils, the list goes on. Unfortunately this trickles down and can (and does) have some negative effects in our culture which I have seen manifest in a number of ways - working for BYU, working for law enforcement, experiencing myself, or seeing through the experience of others. Since priesthood is tied to authority at every level, and women cannot hold it (at least do not under current levels of understanding), women are at least a step removed from it and subject to it at all times. Always.
Faith is power, without doubt or question. Women of faith are powerful beings in their own right, I believe that down to my very soul. But if one of our major claims is an access to the divine authority of God that is specifically required to act - not just to bless and heal, but to administer, serve in specific and necessary ways, to hold the very gateways to exaltation...and more than half of the population doesn't have direct ability access it in their own right...I think it's understandable that at least some of them would like to know why. For me, it's not "negative and discriminatory" (since I don't believe God is either of those things). It's perplexing and uncomfortable, precisely because I don't believe God is either of those things. I want to understand if it's 1) necessary for things to be this way and 2) why.
Thank you everyone for your comments! This is a great discussion
ReplyDeletehttps://www.lds.org/manual/marriage-and-family-relations-participants-study-guide/part-a-strengthening-marriages/lesson-1-the-family-is-central-to-the-creators-plan?lang=eng
ReplyDeleteThe Roles of Men and Women
Except Adam and Eve by nature be different from one another, they could not multiply and fill the earth.28 The complementing differences are the very key to the plan of happiness.
Some roles are best suited to the masculine nature and others to the feminine nature. Both the scriptures and the patterns of nature place man as the protector, the provider.29
Those responsibilities of the priesthood which have to do with the administration of the Church of necessity function outside the home. By divine decree, they have been entrusted to men. It has been that way since the beginning, for the Lord revealed that “the order of this priesthood was confirmed to be handed down from father to son. … This order was instituted in the days of Adam.”30
A man who holds the priesthood does not have an advantage over a woman in qualifying for exaltation. The woman, by her very nature, is also co-creator with God and the primary nurturer of the children. Virtues and attributes upon which perfection and exaltation depend come naturally to a woman and are refined through marriage and motherhood.
The priesthood is conferred only upon worthy men in order to conform to our Father’s plan of happiness. With the laws of nature and the revealed word of God working in harmony, it simply works best that way.
The priesthood carries with it awesome responsibility. “No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned; by kindness, and pure knowledge.”31
Should a man “exercise control or dominion or compulsion … in any degree of unrighteousness,”32 he violates “the oath and covenant which belongeth to the priesthood.”33 Then “the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved.”34 Unless he repents, he will lose his blessings.
While the different roles of man and woman are set forth in exalted celestial declarations, they are best demonstrated in the most practical, ordinary, down-to-earth experiences of family life.
Well said, Lillybet!
ReplyDelete