Hello everyone. This post will be more on the serious and hopefully informative side. There's been a lot of talk lately about women and the priesthood. Lots of women apparently feel that they are being discriminated against or denied blessings because they can't "hold" the priesthood. I'd like to address this and help everyone maybe gain a more broad yet defined perspective.
First, the idea that men hold the priesthood and are in charge is ridiculous. Men are ordained to the priesthood and called to offices in the priesthood to help the church run smoothly, but women hold just as important if not more important positions in the church. While there may not be a female President of the Church in the near future, that doesn't mean women don't help run the church and can't receive important revelation. In the Old and New Testaments there were women prophets. There can be today. But there will always only be one Prophet. People assume the word always has the same meaning. Truman G. Madsen says some are fore-tellers and some are forth-tellers. There can be prophets and Prophets.
The prophets (little P) can be anyone who testifies of Jesus Christ as the Savior of mankind. That can be man, woman, or child. To have a testimony of the church and Him, you are entitled to revelation for yourself and possibly others. You are entitled to blessings, entitled to bless others through your actions, and able to make decisions with the help of the spirit. All without being ordained to an office of the priesthood and having it bestowed upon you. Prophets (big P) are responsible for receiving revelation for the church as a whole. For helping the world know the will of God and any changes that need to be made. That will only be one, sometimes a few like in the Old Testament, person ordained to that office to hold those keys. It's more orderly. I will also add nobody in their right mind would want, desire, or yearn after that office. Nobody.
As far as "holding" the priesthood, women already have every right to is as men do, men are just the ones chosen to officiate in that capacity. Thomas S. Monson and Gordon B. Hinckley have both said that a man cannot fully use the priesthood without a worthy spouse. Wives, daughters, mothers, and grandmothers have every right to utilize the priesthood through their husbands, sons, grandsons, and brothers by encouraging them to use it, to fill their responsibilities, to be a better person, to help others always. Sisters of the church have every right to receive revelation that a blessing is needed or that counsel from a priesthood leader is needed. They have the ability to know what to do. Elder Oaks in the last conference said that the priesthood cannot be whole without husband and wife working together.
In all of this, one of the things these women feel is they're excluded from the Priesthood Session of conference. First of all, what's wrong with instruction for just one body of people, especially if it's made available later in the Ensign, Liahona, and church website for everyone to read and view? Second, if you understood the role of the priesthood in God's church, you wouldn't want to be in that meeting. While it is inspiring and uplifting and very helpful, most of the instruction is reprimand for not being better men, instruction on how to be better, and things to look out for. Third, a few weeks before conference there is an entire day or two JUST FOR WOMEN where they receive wonderful instruction, guidance, and encouragement. To say women are discriminated against if you participate in all of the events just for women is hypocritical.
My last thought is about the actual priesthood itself. In other churches, the priesthood isn't an authority or power from God, it's a body of men put in place. In the church, the priesthood is far more than that. If you say it's discriminatory that women can't hold the priesthood, you don't understand what's required of those that do hold it. Read D&C 84 to understand the oath that is taken and covenant made when accepting the priesthood. Read D&C 20 and 107. The priesthood is a privilege, not a right, but with that privilege comes tremendous amounts of responsibility. If women want to be Bishops, Stake Presidents, or General Authorities, they don't really know what those offices do. Relief Society President, Young Women's President, and Primary President have enough sacrifice on their own, why would you want to open yourself up to more?
In all of this, remember that it is part of God's plan that men and women work together to bless the lives of others with the priesthood. Look at the what you already have and be grateful for it and become perfect in it before desiring more. One of the laws of God, base laws I remind you, is to not covet. That includes wanting ANYTHING you don't have out of carnal desire, especially if it's only because someone else has it.
I know lots of people won't agree with it, but it's like Jeffery R. Holland said, "Our discipleship isn't like a fast food restaurant where you can 'have it your way.'" God has laws and rules for a reason. Why don't we focus on those for now and when we're ready, he'll give us more.
First, the idea that men hold the priesthood and are in charge is ridiculous. Men are ordained to the priesthood and called to offices in the priesthood to help the church run smoothly, but women hold just as important if not more important positions in the church. While there may not be a female President of the Church in the near future, that doesn't mean women don't help run the church and can't receive important revelation. In the Old and New Testaments there were women prophets. There can be today. But there will always only be one Prophet. People assume the word always has the same meaning. Truman G. Madsen says some are fore-tellers and some are forth-tellers. There can be prophets and Prophets.
The prophets (little P) can be anyone who testifies of Jesus Christ as the Savior of mankind. That can be man, woman, or child. To have a testimony of the church and Him, you are entitled to revelation for yourself and possibly others. You are entitled to blessings, entitled to bless others through your actions, and able to make decisions with the help of the spirit. All without being ordained to an office of the priesthood and having it bestowed upon you. Prophets (big P) are responsible for receiving revelation for the church as a whole. For helping the world know the will of God and any changes that need to be made. That will only be one, sometimes a few like in the Old Testament, person ordained to that office to hold those keys. It's more orderly. I will also add nobody in their right mind would want, desire, or yearn after that office. Nobody.
As far as "holding" the priesthood, women already have every right to is as men do, men are just the ones chosen to officiate in that capacity. Thomas S. Monson and Gordon B. Hinckley have both said that a man cannot fully use the priesthood without a worthy spouse. Wives, daughters, mothers, and grandmothers have every right to utilize the priesthood through their husbands, sons, grandsons, and brothers by encouraging them to use it, to fill their responsibilities, to be a better person, to help others always. Sisters of the church have every right to receive revelation that a blessing is needed or that counsel from a priesthood leader is needed. They have the ability to know what to do. Elder Oaks in the last conference said that the priesthood cannot be whole without husband and wife working together.
In all of this, one of the things these women feel is they're excluded from the Priesthood Session of conference. First of all, what's wrong with instruction for just one body of people, especially if it's made available later in the Ensign, Liahona, and church website for everyone to read and view? Second, if you understood the role of the priesthood in God's church, you wouldn't want to be in that meeting. While it is inspiring and uplifting and very helpful, most of the instruction is reprimand for not being better men, instruction on how to be better, and things to look out for. Third, a few weeks before conference there is an entire day or two JUST FOR WOMEN where they receive wonderful instruction, guidance, and encouragement. To say women are discriminated against if you participate in all of the events just for women is hypocritical.
My last thought is about the actual priesthood itself. In other churches, the priesthood isn't an authority or power from God, it's a body of men put in place. In the church, the priesthood is far more than that. If you say it's discriminatory that women can't hold the priesthood, you don't understand what's required of those that do hold it. Read D&C 84 to understand the oath that is taken and covenant made when accepting the priesthood. Read D&C 20 and 107. The priesthood is a privilege, not a right, but with that privilege comes tremendous amounts of responsibility. If women want to be Bishops, Stake Presidents, or General Authorities, they don't really know what those offices do. Relief Society President, Young Women's President, and Primary President have enough sacrifice on their own, why would you want to open yourself up to more?
In all of this, remember that it is part of God's plan that men and women work together to bless the lives of others with the priesthood. Look at the what you already have and be grateful for it and become perfect in it before desiring more. One of the laws of God, base laws I remind you, is to not covet. That includes wanting ANYTHING you don't have out of carnal desire, especially if it's only because someone else has it.
I know lots of people won't agree with it, but it's like Jeffery R. Holland said, "Our discipleship isn't like a fast food restaurant where you can 'have it your way.'" God has laws and rules for a reason. Why don't we focus on those for now and when we're ready, he'll give us more.
Comments
http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=2133
And here is a link to the summary of that talk:
http://www.lds.org/church/news/elder-ballard-speaks-about-the-role-of-women-at-education-week?lang=eng