"Don't confuse the power of the priesthood with the keys and offices of the priesthood. The power is limitless and is shared with those who make and keep covenants. Too much is said and misunderstood about what brothers have and sisters don't. This is Satan's way of confusing men and women so that neither understands what they really have."—Julie Beck
I have wanted to write a post about women and the priesthood
for a year or so. But, every time I sat down to write something—there was
nothing. I’m grateful for this phenomenon because as I’ve read and discussed
and read and listened and discussed and read, I’ve realized the two most
important things I can offer anyone in my sphere of influence concerning this
issue is awareness and understanding. Plus, I’ve realized there really are a
lot of things even the apostles say we just don’t know.
I have had an extremely positive experience in my family and
in my religion in terms of being empowered and equal. I can’t explain my
feeling of equality academically because no, I cannot baptize anyone or seal a
couple in marriage—but it does not mean my experience of equality is not valid.
My experience also does not invalidate the pain of my good friends who feel the opposite.
My experience also does not invalidate the pain of my good friends who feel the opposite.
One reason I disagree with Ordain Women’s demonstration is because there
are a hundred questions between “Why
would I want to change anything?” and “Should
women be ordained to the priesthood?” A hundred questions! I’m not being
hyperbolic. And, they are exciting questions! Ones I don’t think should be
skimmed or skipped over. However, Ordain Women is creating awareness for an issue we should all care more about.
Although these women are only a few thousand out of millions,
they are symbolic of real pain experienced by many women in the church. You know these women. They may be your
sister, your mom, your daughter, your wife, the girl in your Beehive class.
They are asking hard questions and feeling like they can’t talk to anyone. Or,
they are internalizing unfairness they don’t know how to solve. It’s not fair
to dismiss their questions under the rug of “they need to have more faith”.
It’s
important to understand why women are
asking questions because the entire church will benefit from the resulting
empathy and solutions.
And, I do think that if the women and men of the church are
doing all they can to understand and work towards solutions in their own wards,
families and communities—and to care about
the issue and its questions—with gratitude for knowledge and spiritual gifts already given—we will receive more revelation from God about things of incomplete understanding. And, we can better articulate what we already understand.
So, I present a reading list. It represents a variety of different perspectives—all useful in understanding the context of the argument and in developing empathy and love for others (even if you disagree with them).
If you only have time to read one article, read this one:
Neylan McBaine “To do the Business of the Church”Conference Talks—
Sister Julie Beck May 2013 "...Lessons from the history of Relief Society"
Elder Anderson Oct 2013 "Power in the Priesthood"
Elder Ballard April 2013 "This is my work and my Glory"
Elder Christofferson Oct 2013 "The Moral Force of Women
Transcript "Top Mormon Women Leaders Provide Their Insights into Church Leadership"
Other essays and blog posts on the spectrum:
Valerie Hudson “I am a Mormon because I am a Feminist"----
Neylan McMaine "A Moderate Mormon Manifesto"
Tara Boyce "Why I, a Feminist who Wants the Priesthood, Won’t be at the Ordain Women Demonstration"
Kelli "Making me Emotional Today (and a Lot of the Time)
What has been helpful to you? What scriptures or talks have been helpful as you've explained your positive experience to others or worked through questions and/or negative experiences?