Priesthood is something I have struggled with in the past. I have given some thoughts of mine in Priesthood Does Not Equate Motherhood, but now some new things are cropping up. The Mormon Feminist (dare I say) movement has been gaining momentum, particularly since two women were chosen to pray in General Conference for the first time. I was definitely a big supporter of that, and honestly, my feelings are summed up pretty well by thedavidpearson in Why does it matter who prayed?
However, as glorious as those new pieces of women's involvement are, they are now accepted, and it's time to move forward. But to what? For many a Mofem, the focus has become ordination to the priesthood.
Imagine you are on a hike, and just up ahead you saw a large rock. As you get closer, you realize that a person is being held down by that rock. You run to the person and begin trying to help in any manner you can, but soon realize that you cannot help without a particular tool with which to move the rock. Now, you must run several miles to go find someone with that tool to help this person. Wouldn't it have been helpful if you had the tool? That's how I imagine the priesthood. It's this tool I could use to help people around me but I am not allowed to use it. And frequently, I have to wait hours for a priesthood holder to be available. By then, the window of opportunity has passed.
Another direction I have heard this taken in is that women want to be in positions of authority in the church. I don't know if that is as true as women want women to be in positions of authority in the church. Since the church is very attuned to innate spiritual differences between men and women in the church, wouldn't that suggest that women have a certain element to add to decision making and policy within the church? I do not want to be a bishop, but if I needed to speak with my bishop about hard times in my life, I should love having a female bishop who can understand in a way a man cannot the feminine aspects of my life and journey.
I don't want the responsibilities of the priesthood. Speaking personally rather than as a female representative, I have a lot on my plate. Not having the priesthood allows me time to seek those who need my help rather than being contracted for a specific type of help; For example: J uses his priesthood most commonly to conduct baptisms and give blessings. There are a lot of chances for him to do both these things, so it adds up to a lot of time and service. However, I don't have those two particular jobs calling my name, so I am free to look for where I am needed; to fill in the gaps so to speak. Rather than give two blessings and conduct one meeting in a week, I might be able to watch someone's kids, make a meal, and run an errand. In a way I feel like Heavenly Father trusts me a whole lot to allow me unstructured time to care for his sheep.
I have read and reread this post, and I have asked myself, what is the point of this post? My point is that rather than accuse those with questions and demean and damn those who need clarification, pray for them. Understand them. Empathize. If you have never been left out due to your race, gender, ethnicity, etc., it may be hard for you to do this. Nevertheless, I know our men, our husbands, our brothers, our sons, and our fathers want good things for us. I know that our fellow sisters want good things for us. And I know we all want light and truth. Rather than chastising one another for a lack of understanding, we should pray for one another's understanding. Pray for peace in the answer that has come, will come, and/or will come in the future.
However, as glorious as those new pieces of women's involvement are, they are now accepted, and it's time to move forward. But to what? For many a Mofem, the focus has become ordination to the priesthood.
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| www.ordainwomen.org |
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| www.cbsnews.com |
There are a lot of traditional LDSaints crying blasphemy as Mofems who dare desire the priesthood speak up. This is inappropriate. It was only after Emma Smith brought to Joseph's attention that tobacco was foul to clean up that he received the Word of Wisdom, so I don't know why it is that far fetched and criminal within the church for women to campaign for revelation pertaining to them. I watched a snippet of President Hinkley's interview on 60 minutes a week or so ago, and when asked about why blacks were only allowed to hold then priesthood since 1978, his response was, "That's behind us." It doesn't take much for me to imagine the same thing said in twenty years about female ordination. "Let's not rehash that; it's behind us."
Another direction I have heard this taken in is that women want to be in positions of authority in the church. I don't know if that is as true as women want women to be in positions of authority in the church. Since the church is very attuned to innate spiritual differences between men and women in the church, wouldn't that suggest that women have a certain element to add to decision making and policy within the church? I do not want to be a bishop, but if I needed to speak with my bishop about hard times in my life, I should love having a female bishop who can understand in a way a man cannot the feminine aspects of my life and journey.
I don't want the responsibilities of the priesthood. Speaking personally rather than as a female representative, I have a lot on my plate. Not having the priesthood allows me time to seek those who need my help rather than being contracted for a specific type of help; For example: J uses his priesthood most commonly to conduct baptisms and give blessings. There are a lot of chances for him to do both these things, so it adds up to a lot of time and service. However, I don't have those two particular jobs calling my name, so I am free to look for where I am needed; to fill in the gaps so to speak. Rather than give two blessings and conduct one meeting in a week, I might be able to watch someone's kids, make a meal, and run an errand. In a way I feel like Heavenly Father trusts me a whole lot to allow me unstructured time to care for his sheep.
I have read and reread this post, and I have asked myself, what is the point of this post? My point is that rather than accuse those with questions and demean and damn those who need clarification, pray for them. Understand them. Empathize. If you have never been left out due to your race, gender, ethnicity, etc., it may be hard for you to do this. Nevertheless, I know our men, our husbands, our brothers, our sons, and our fathers want good things for us. I know that our fellow sisters want good things for us. And I know we all want light and truth. Rather than chastising one another for a lack of understanding, we should pray for one another's understanding. Pray for peace in the answer that has come, will come, and/or will come in the future.
7 comments:
Great post Blythe! I have never thought that I would like to have the Priesthood. But I like you story with the analogy about wanting a tool to be able to help. I feel that the Lord tries to make the Priesthood accessible to all and I don't personally feel limited in not having it, but I can see where some women would feel that way. I guess I believe that in those instances where I feel a need to help someone where a blessing is needed, I trust in the power of prayer. Regardless of whether or not we have the authority to act for God, we always have the powers of heaven behind us when we are acting in righteousness trying to bless the lives of others. While I think it would be more efficient at times for the presidencies of women(RS and Primary) to hold the Priesthood during their callings to bless those they have stewardship over, I think that men hold the priesthood is important to the organization of the church. It clarifies and keeps things in order. I firmly believe that it would be chaotic if both men and women held the priesthood. I appreciate the order of all things.
Marcene, I think you hit the nail on the head with "it clarifies things." I have come to really appreciate that there is generally no guess work in who is suppose to be doing what. Thanks for commenting!
I like the tool analogy, too.
As far as understanding those who want female ordination--I can empathize in that 15 years ago, I had similar thoughts. I think the motives for wanting the priesthood are as varied as people are. Some people have noble motives, some people are just power hungry.
My prayer is that this issue (or any social issue) will be seen for what it is--an issue. Interesting? Yes. Worth remarking upon? It depends on HOW...
When any issue is something that is studied and explored with an open heart and honest intent, that fosters a stronger testimony and invites the Spirit, it's a good thing.
When an issue becomes a bone to pick, and grows into a stumbling block that spawns bitterness, resentment, or apostasy, it is a tool of the adversary, and becomes, by definition, a bad thing.
A thought I have had (non-canonical, just very personal) is this:
I believe very strongly that there has been a gross inequality between men and women throughout most of history. I think this is due to the fact that those characteristics that make women who and what we are are more internal, inherent, and inseparable from us (i.e.--we can be trusted with our unstructured time to know what is needed).
Those characteristics that make men who and what they are are more external and have to be more structured (if you want an inappropriate metaphor, think man-parts versus women parts, internal (w) versus external (m), visible (m) versus hidden(w), easy to remove(m) versus harder to remove(w)).
Along this line of thinking, men without the priesthood are emasculated. They are not complete men. It makes them less than women, creating a gross inequality that has resulted in women being oppressed (men needing to overcompensate for their littleness by acting too big/domineering).
Men, even good priesthood holders, are not perfect. However, I believe that the presence of the priesthood on the earth and born by men does more to restore equality to the genders than anything else on this earth can.
This is why that Cassler article resounded so much with me. She had the same thought....
One more thought on the Word of Wisdom comparison:
Emma asked, Joseph asked, and God answered. It was straightforward and timely.
The question of female ordination has been a question continually asked since the beginning of the church. Women have apostatized over this question since the beginning of the church. It's not new. Church leaders are aware of those concerned with this question, and I have no doubt that over the course of church history, countless prayers have gone up regarding these women and this concern.
That doesn't mean women shouldn't ask about it. I do think that it's important that we should be asking the right authority (God) in the right way (prayer)and waiting for His answer, which He will give to every individual heart in His time. I have heard people pray that God will either "change the law or change my heart." God loves every member and cares about every member's qualm and will grant this prayer to everyone who prays with honest intent. The prophets don't lead the church; God leads the church through the prophets. Therefore, God is the one to be petitioning. I think God is more understanding than everyone, including the General Authorities and ESPECIALLY including the internet.
I hope that didn't sound preachy. Just more rambling thoughts.
I remember reading the Cassler article and thinking that about half of what she said made sense. I'll have to go back and re-read because I agreed with her assertion that it was her feminism that made her love the church. It is my feminism that makes me love the doctrine.
For the sake of simplicity and good feelings, I am only discussing those with good intent (read: no power hunger). I completely agree with being able to study and pray about something with an open heart and honest intent, but that can only go so far with something like without 1st Presidency involvement. That's they way that sort of revelation works. We must petition the Lord, but we also need the General Presidency to ask.
Thanks for the thoughts! I will re-read the Cassler article and email you.
There are some cases/situations in which women have called upon the priesthood with no men present. So, if someone was stuck under a rock, God would allow us to use the tool of the priesthood to save them, right?
6-year-old-me:"Mom, I wanna be a bishop when I grow up."
Mom:"You can't dear, you're a girl."
Me: "But when I grow up!!"
Mom: "Then you'll be a lady."
Grown up me: "Yeah... a trans gender f-to-m stuck in Provo..."
Blah.
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