Perhaps nothing has a greater impact on a woman’s experience in our church organization than the fact that she does not and can not hold the Priesthood. Do Latter-day Saint women need ordination? Do they want it? While the answers to these questions may not be clear, what is clear is that many women feel little space to discuss their true feelings about the nebulous messaging we receive around power and authority, and our inability to hold and access Priesthood directly. In the Season 4 opener, Cynthia and Susan take a deep breath and wrestle the question of women’s ordination.
Notes:
The All Male Draft, by Ian Thomson
The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation, by Russell M. Nelson, 10/2021
The Keys and Authority of the Priesthood, Dallin H. Oaks, 4/2014
There is Always a Struggle: An Interview With Chieko N. Okazaki, by Greg Prince, 11/2005
The Rise of the Liberal Latter-day Saints, Washington Post, 9/27/2021
It’s Good for Girls to Have Clergywomen, Study Shows, by Jana Riess
HereAmI
Using the word ‘rights’ really struck me. One of the things I had to spend years unpacking/undoing within myself was this erroneous belief that as a girl/woman I had no ‘rights’. It was deeply fundamental to my understanding of myself and caused me a world of hurt with boys in my teens/20s. At both logical and emotional levels, I didn’t think I could say No to what boys wanted from me. Or when I did so No, I was doing something wrong. Me having a boundary against what a boy/man wanted was a sin in my mind. All of which was modeled and reinforced at church every Sunday, Wednesday, etc. For me, that was just how the world worked, and I had to learn to let go of those glasses and get clearer ones.
My own daughters have been raised very differently. Sadly, they each started rejecting the church about 12 when the boys all become part of the functioning of the ward and they get to learn how to cross-stitch. Maybe that’s coincidental, but it really does seem that rather than just accepting the message that girls/women have no rights and are subjects to power rather than holders of power (like I did), they reject the entirety of the church’s message.
Ken Cox
I love everything about this podcast. Thank you for saying this at last. This is a huge topic. I learned a lot and had many thoughts while listening. I just want to mention one that kept coming back to me. I would like to hear more about the doctrinal basis for seeking ordination. I think there is often a feeling of shame related to seeking ordination, as if wanting ordination is a greedy, power seeking desire. However, I believe it’s a commandment to desire ordination. We are commanded to seek or even covet the best gifts (D&C 46:8, 1 Corinthians 12:31). Abraham sought earnestly for ordination (Abraham 1:2-4) and it wasn’t because he was “power seeking.” It was because he desired 1) to be a greater follower of righteousness, 2) to possess greater knowledge, 3) for the benefit of his posterity, 4) to have peace, 5) to receive instruction, and 6) to keep the commandments. All of God’s children should desire ordination. It’s a natural step in our growth towards our Heavenly Parents. It’s horrible that 1/2 of God’s children are not only barred but made to feel shame for pointing out the problem and desiring ordination. God speed the day when this obstacle is removed.
Winona Davies
I have not listened to your podcast before, but this topic caught my attention. I admit, I was somewhat bewildered by your admission that the way the Priesthood is discussed feels “patronizing” to you. As a 63 year old Latterday Saint woman, I have focused my efforts to understand Priesthood power, keys, and ordination on the scriptures, as well as what leadership has said. It seemed to me, just based on what I know from the scriptures, from personal revelation, and personal experience, that this discussion was focused on the earthly appearances of “power” and “leadership” aspect of what the Priesthood is all about.
I have long since learned never to aspire to callings or responsibilities in the church–I rarely know whether I am the right person to provide the best service in any given calling. I think this holds completely true of being bishops, stake presidents, and any other Priesthood calling! I have learned that trusting the Savior means that I also trust that this is His church–He knows what is best for His church, for His daughters (who he sees with an incredible tenderness and care). It’s His church, not mine. How grateful I am for that powerful, deep assurance and witness.
As a woman, as a mother, I know by the Spirit and the scriptures, that I have authority to act in God’s name for my children, and I have, as guided by that revelation, given Mother’s blessings, including healing blessings and for one child who passed away in childhood, I gave a blessing of release after a bishop refused to do so. I have discussed this with my church leaders, who always told me that I had acted in complete appropriateness of my calling/authority as a mother.
I wish that women in the church really spent time studying the scriptures and receiving personal witness of the realities of the power we have been given in relation to our temple covenants and other things. We fail to live up to the power we already have–what then would we do with more?
Debbie
Ok. Amen and amen.
Cynthia, personal story of asking to bless the sacrament really resonated with me. I sat many a home church Sunday wanting to serve my husband in this ordinance. But never stepped forward. Even the asking is difficult ?
But determined now to step into the discomfort and just go for it.
As you said Cynthia, what possibly could happen: Maybe the impossible will become possible.