Thoughts from a Mormon feminist...
I know this isn't coming right in the heat of the feminism storm
that caught the attention of so many this past summer, but I feel like it's
still an important issue to address. First I must say, I am not shy about my
views or opinions. When asked about women's right's issues in today's world I
confidently stand my ground. Women deserve equal pay, they deserve a voice,
they deserve opportunities to grow and live and love. Feminism is designed to
create equality. I am not below men, nor am I above them.
I have been asked several times to share
my opinion on the Ordain Women movement. To me, it's an interesting topic
because I've been asking that very question my whole life. Why can't I hold the
Priesthood? What is so wrong with my desire to serve the Lord through the
Priesthood? I can remember passionately arguing with my mother when I was
twelve years old; I just did not understand why women couldn't do the same
things that men could in our church. I was merely seeking for answers. I didn't
want to cause a big stir about it, I just wanted to know why.
Unfortunately (I thought), my seemingly
simple questions were always answered with intensely defensive statements of
the structure of the church and the Lord's plan for us on earth. To me it felt
like any time I brought up the idea of women in the Priesthood, people thought
I was turning apostate and trying to overthrow the prophet. I've learned that I
am not very good at expressing my thoughts through speech, and I think that my
questions often don't portray what I am actually thinking. I want to know
"why don't I hold the Priesthood?" I ask "can I serve my
God through the Priesthood?" NOT "why am I being slated in this
church?" and "how come the men get to do more than me?"
I understand that these are hard questions
to answer because, honestly, we just don't know. But I strongly believe that
humans learn through asking questions. So, please do not take my questions as
demands of equality and justice in the Mormon church. Though my whole life I
have sought out the answers to my questions I have never once doubted the
validity of this church because I did not hold the Priesthood. I have felt the
"peace, power and protection through [my] faith in the Lord." I know
that my redeemer lives and am grateful to the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints because it is through the influence of this church that I
have learned to love and be loved.
Tonight I watched the General Woman's
Broadcast that is aired by my church twice a year. In this meeting I was
reminded of the love the Savior has for all of His children. I also gained a
testimony of the power that God has given His daughter's on this earth. He
loves us and willingly pours blessings on His children. I believe that when the Lord
looks at me, He sees His child that He loves and wants so much for her to
fulfill a destiny that He knows she can achieve. His plan for me is
different from anyone else's: from my brother, from my sister, from anyone,
because it was designed specifically for me. He knows my strengths and knows
how to make my weaknesses into strengths. I don't have weakness because I am a
woman, but rather, I have them because I am human. And I can find solace in the
fact that "Heavenly Father is not waiting to love [me] until [I] have
overcome [my] weaknesses and bad habits. He loves [me] today." He loves me
because I am His child.
Tonight I was inspired by those who spoke
in the broadcast. I felt a resounding truth that the Lord sent those people to
speak to me because He loves me and He wants me to know that. I know that my
question about holding the Priesthood may never be fully answered on this
earth, but I was given further insight into the Lord's plan for me as President
Uchtdorf spoke. I remembered that I used to thank God in my prayers for sending
me to this earth at this time so that I could live on the earth with the
Priesthood and with the knowledge of the gospel. I realized that I am already
incredibly blessed to have the ability to receive the blessings of the
Priesthood whenever I need them. I realized that although I may not hold the
Priesthood, I have within me the power to work with and through the Priesthood
everyday as I obediently follow the Lord's will for me and serve His children.
No, I cannot offer a Priesthood blessing
to you, but I can change the lives of people around me because I have a burning
knowledge within me that the Lord lives. And that is the truth, I really do
believe that. It is amazing that He has given all of us the opportunity to be
with Him. The Priesthood is "God's power on earth," and I certainly
know that I have within me the ability to do God's work and God's will. This is
because I am willing to let the Lord work through me, not because I do or do
not hold the Priesthood. Because I am a feminist I find that there is a desire
within me to share the knowledge that "we all have work to do" and
also that God loves every one of His children. To the men and women reading
this I say the same to both of you: the Lord has a great work for you and me,
and I am going to do it. I invite others to work beside me as we share the
sweet knowledge of the gospel with His children around the world.
I am not afraid to say I am a feminist
because to me that means I am a hard worker. I work for the Lord and am not ashamed
of His gospel and the plan He has for me.
This may not answer your question the way it answered mine (and there are still a couple of small areas that I don't know if they will be answered in this lifetime), but I had the exact same questions as you. I wrote my understandings and what I have been taught and have been able to piece together here: http://thatpeculiarperson.blogspot.com/2014/06/priesthood.html
ReplyDeleteWhat is not written there is something one of the Young Women in my ward brought up that is something we don't talk about much because it isn't necessarily official doctrine. But she brought it up anyway, and boy did it ring the Spirit in each of us that Sunday. She stated that the Priesthood is the power of God. Man was created in God's image. We don't talk about Heavenly Mother, but a large portion of members have a testimony of her anyway. God's power is the priesthood. Since God is a man, it makes sense that men would receive that power. This young woman (a high school kid! She blows me away every day with what she comes up with!) said she wouldn't doubt that Heavenly Mother has holy powers as well that we have been endowed with. Or will be endowed with. For holy and respective reasons, we do not discuss much about Heavenly Mother, and thus we do not discuss what divine holy natures we receive since we are her children, too. But she stated that she knows she is like her Heavenly Mother, and some day, we will be overwhelmed with how much power we had here on earth because of our likeness to her and Heavenly Father. Gives a whole 'nother meaning to the YW value Divine Nature!
"I think God knows something we don't." I have no doubt our entire divine nature is known only to our Heavenly Parents, and that we can only see a fraction of our true selves and true value in this life. As I watch YW in my ward grow and gain their testimonies, I know there has to be something more, and to reach it will take a lifetime.
Also after having been able to receive my own endowment and return to the temple to learn more, I have come to know just how important I am, as a woman, to Heavenly Father. AND just how equal I am to the men. I have no doubt you'll love it, since you obviously have such an open mind and heart! The respect for women in the temple is humbling and if the temple is a taste of heaven, then boy are we in for the best eternity. :)
Moomcicle...I very much enjoyed your thoughts on this matter...and the thoughts of your friend. It's interesting how our world drowns out the voice of reason that is found in the gospel of Jesus Christ. This fight for "equality" is turning into a fight for the rights of some and not others. If it were really about "equality", you would hear more about human rights and not just certain humans rights. Anyhoo, I wanted to share a little bit of what I know to be true on this subject of priesthood.
ReplyDeleteLike Laura said, men and women are created in the image of our Heavenly Father. Our Heavenly Mother, while not spoken of often has an essential role to play in the creation of each of us and Their eternal plan of salvation. Our spirits are and were created by their eternal union. Thereby, we learn that the roles men and women play both in this life and the life hereafter are different...equally important, but different.
By definition, the priesthood is the authority delegated from God to man to act on his behalf and in his name here on the Earth. While this definition is fairly well known, the definition of "Womanhood" is not. Most of us would agree that women are completely different then men. We are that way by design. Womanhood is an eternal role, as is priesthood. It allows us to nuture, comfort and bless the lives of all of Gods Spirit Children, as does the priesthood. We do not go about these responsibilities in the same manner that a man would...(duh - obviously we are vital to the success of this whole endeavor;-))
Womanhood also allows us the solomn responsibility of providing vessels for Heavenly Father's Spirit Children to pass into mortality. While the initial creation of those vessels requires unification of both roles, it is up to us to ensure their safe passage into this life. It also gives us the rights, privilages and revelation that are necessary to operate in the offices needed to build a stronger foundation for those spirits. We have been endowed with this power from the foundation of the world. Men are given the priesthood through a natural and predetermined progression once they are here. They could not fulfill the sacred obligtions required of them without us, nor could we without them.
Recognizing these 2 roles for thier unique purposes and obligations, their rights and undeniable differences, allows us to function more adequately in the role we have been given. The creative responsibilities, rights and privilages we have been given as women are essential and imparative. Gods plan depends on us, the men in our lives, and the atoneing sacrifice of our savior. No one role can be fulfilled without the other two.
Our Heavenly Father and Mother know thier roles. While the details of her role are protected and safeguarded by her eternal companion, as women we can come to know through study and prayer what that role is, and how we should duplicate it here.
This life is the training ground for the life we will lead hereafter. Now is the time for us to study, search, ponder and pray on those things that we have questions about...as we put the pieces together, we will be more prepared for the eternity ahead.
It takes courage and faith to ask difficult questions like this one. I am proud of you for having the courage to ask questions that others are afraid to answer. Love you!