Some Thoughts on the Ordain Women Movement

In light of the recent news about the disciplinary counsels set for Kate Kelly and John Dehlin, I've been reading a lot about the Priesthood and trying to understand my place as a Mormon women within it.

(1) I feel that the parallel many people are drawing between the 1978 Revelation giving blacks the priesthood is incorrect. Yes, it's true there was inequality among the members of the church, and yes, it's true that the questioning of members led to new revelation correcting the inequality. The women of Ordain Women began by following this same procedure (questioning/agitating) and felt, because of historical precedent, that they would get a similar revelation including women in the priesthood. After Elder Oaks' talk this last General Conference, it became clear that the answer was a doctrinal 'No.'

The difference lies in the two groups asking to be included in priesthood ordination: in my opinion, race is a mortal distinction that shouldn't matter here because it won't matter in Heaven while gender is a fundamental difference not only in the core identity of each of us, but in our paths to Godhood.

In other words, I as a woman here on earth have a female spirit within me as well as a female intelligence while males have male spirits and intelligences (Abraham 3:22). We have different roles here because we will have different roles as exalted beings. Women and men are meant to need each other (Corinthians 11:11) and our different responsibilities here on earth hint at our complementary responsibilities in Heaven (D&C 131:1-3).

(2) I am also frustrated with the limited focus and perhaps also the limited understanding of Kate Kelly and the supporters of the Ordain Women movement. The Priesthood, or the authority to wield the power of God, is so vast; Ordination is just one facet ("Our Great Potential" by Spencer W. Kimball). The intense focus on the ordination of women is preventing us from exploring how the priesthood actually functions in our lives and where we are able to wield it. Women may not administer the Church, but we certainly have access to the Power of God . We should stop asking to be ordained and instead ask for more revelation and clarification on what we truly are capable of with the power we have been given.

Spencer W. Kimball said: "Each of you should be grateful to be a woman! Self-pity is always a sad thing to see and especially when there is no justification for it. To be a righteous woman is a glorious thing in any age. To be a righteous woman during the winding up scenes on this earth, before the second coming of our Savior, is an especially noble calling. The righteous woman’s strength and influence today can be tenfold what it might be in more tranquil times. She has been placed here to help to enrich, to protect, and to guard the home—which is society’s basic and most noble institution. Other institutions in society may falter and even fail, but the righteous woman can help to save the home, which may be the last and only sanctuary some mortals know in the midst of storm and strife."

"Let there be no question in your mind about your value as an individual. The whole intent of the gospel plan is to provide an opportunity for each of you to reach your fullest potential, which is eternal progression and the possibility of godhood." (Privileges and Responsibilities of Sisters).