Timing Is Everything
The same day I decided to start this blog, I happened to be checking out LDS.org, and noticed (It wasn't hard; it takes up the top half of the page) that the church has launched a new series of leadership training modules called "Strengthening the Family and the Church through the Priesthood."
And this was my thought: Interesting choice.
Of course, being a feminist who is somewhat active in the recent flurry of LDS feminist activity, (It's true, I wore pants. I still do sometimes.) I assumed, perhaps wrongly, that this might be reactionary. A response from them, if you will. That is my assumption, and I fully accept that it is probably not true. However, given the recent surge of MoFem airtime on the news and whatnot, I still found now to be an interesting time to focus on broadcasting the message of the "only-held-by-males" priesthood.
Here are my thoughts on this choice:
I sincerely believe that a decent portion of feminists, myself included, and everyone else in the church could be greatly comforted and improved by studying the priesthood. What it is, where it comes from, what it is used for etc. For instance, many members of the church think of the priesthood as the power of the men of the church. We say and hear said things such as, "We'd like to thank the priesthood for taking down the chairs in the cultural hall," all the time. So the prevailing cultural attitude seems to be Priesthood = Mormon men. This is, of course, quite entirely untrue. The Priesthood is the power of God, used by those whom God has designated to do His will and perform His work. I don't think most members of the church believe that our chairs are set up and taken down by the power of God. Furthermore, when the Priesthood is exercised righteously, the "exerciser" is being taught, humbled, and blessed just as much as whomever's head his hands are on. I mean, isn't that the whole point of a Priesthood blessing? Not that your dad or brother or husband has some awesome advice he wants to share with you and needs to hold your head while he gives it, but rather that the words which he is speaking are NOT HIS OWN, but coming from God, perhaps to teach him as much as you. Everyone is uplifted because it comes from God, not men.
Priesthood authority is not the same as Priesthood power. Authority gives you the right to call bishops, preside over stakes, control "keys," but priesthood power comes from righteous living and this power is part of the life of every worthy member. The Priesthood is the power of God and guess what we believe about God? God isn't just a man, although we refer to Him as He. God is an exalted married woman and man and therefore Godhood (or priesthood) has a female half. Surely, if Priesthood is the power by which we were created, it is also the power which allows us to create and nurture offspring. Is not this Godly power as well, or priesthood? In The Beginning of Better Days: Divine Instruction for Women from the Prophet Joseph Smith, Sherri Dew says, "It is clear from the scriptures that women have claim upon all blessings that emanate from priesthood keys, priesthood authority, and priesthood power." If we are all joint heirs with Christ, surely we all stand equally endowed with power. The exercise and application of those powers may be different, but they are all Godly powers (priesthood). And the spiritual gifts of women go far beyond the incredible gift to give life. They include the power to heal, to instruct, to testify, to love, nurture and serve. These powers were never proscribed to only bless a woman's children and they are powers of salvation.
Which brings me to my final point. I fully accept that the leaders of the church seem to feel that we could all improve by learning more about the priesthood and its roles and responsibilities, but my desire is that we would give equal air time to the godly roles of women, their great spiritual gifts, their incredible power, the authority, yes, authority, which they hold now. I'm not lobbying for any further powers than what we currently have, but if we could all improve by learning about the male roles of priesthood, surely we could all improve as well by learning about the role of women within the priesthood. For instance, learning about why only those who are sealed can progress to eventually become like our Father in Heaven and going more in depth than just the fact that they need offspring. Or we could all learn more about the necessity of the spiritual leadership of wives and mothers in the home and their natural instincts for good. And perhaps if we gave a greater focus to that half of the Godly powers which we have been asked to exercise, women would feel more appreciated, valued, understood, heard. All things that would improve the culture of the church.
And this was my thought: Interesting choice.
Of course, being a feminist who is somewhat active in the recent flurry of LDS feminist activity, (It's true, I wore pants. I still do sometimes.) I assumed, perhaps wrongly, that this might be reactionary. A response from them, if you will. That is my assumption, and I fully accept that it is probably not true. However, given the recent surge of MoFem airtime on the news and whatnot, I still found now to be an interesting time to focus on broadcasting the message of the "only-held-by-males" priesthood.
Here are my thoughts on this choice:
I sincerely believe that a decent portion of feminists, myself included, and everyone else in the church could be greatly comforted and improved by studying the priesthood. What it is, where it comes from, what it is used for etc. For instance, many members of the church think of the priesthood as the power of the men of the church. We say and hear said things such as, "We'd like to thank the priesthood for taking down the chairs in the cultural hall," all the time. So the prevailing cultural attitude seems to be Priesthood = Mormon men. This is, of course, quite entirely untrue. The Priesthood is the power of God, used by those whom God has designated to do His will and perform His work. I don't think most members of the church believe that our chairs are set up and taken down by the power of God. Furthermore, when the Priesthood is exercised righteously, the "exerciser" is being taught, humbled, and blessed just as much as whomever's head his hands are on. I mean, isn't that the whole point of a Priesthood blessing? Not that your dad or brother or husband has some awesome advice he wants to share with you and needs to hold your head while he gives it, but rather that the words which he is speaking are NOT HIS OWN, but coming from God, perhaps to teach him as much as you. Everyone is uplifted because it comes from God, not men.
Priesthood authority is not the same as Priesthood power. Authority gives you the right to call bishops, preside over stakes, control "keys," but priesthood power comes from righteous living and this power is part of the life of every worthy member. The Priesthood is the power of God and guess what we believe about God? God isn't just a man, although we refer to Him as He. God is an exalted married woman and man and therefore Godhood (or priesthood) has a female half. Surely, if Priesthood is the power by which we were created, it is also the power which allows us to create and nurture offspring. Is not this Godly power as well, or priesthood? In The Beginning of Better Days: Divine Instruction for Women from the Prophet Joseph Smith, Sherri Dew says, "It is clear from the scriptures that women have claim upon all blessings that emanate from priesthood keys, priesthood authority, and priesthood power." If we are all joint heirs with Christ, surely we all stand equally endowed with power. The exercise and application of those powers may be different, but they are all Godly powers (priesthood). And the spiritual gifts of women go far beyond the incredible gift to give life. They include the power to heal, to instruct, to testify, to love, nurture and serve. These powers were never proscribed to only bless a woman's children and they are powers of salvation.
Which brings me to my final point. I fully accept that the leaders of the church seem to feel that we could all improve by learning more about the priesthood and its roles and responsibilities, but my desire is that we would give equal air time to the godly roles of women, their great spiritual gifts, their incredible power, the authority, yes, authority, which they hold now. I'm not lobbying for any further powers than what we currently have, but if we could all improve by learning about the male roles of priesthood, surely we could all improve as well by learning about the role of women within the priesthood. For instance, learning about why only those who are sealed can progress to eventually become like our Father in Heaven and going more in depth than just the fact that they need offspring. Or we could all learn more about the necessity of the spiritual leadership of wives and mothers in the home and their natural instincts for good. And perhaps if we gave a greater focus to that half of the Godly powers which we have been asked to exercise, women would feel more appreciated, valued, understood, heard. All things that would improve the culture of the church.
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