Rethinking both sides of the women and the priesthood debate

Written by Meridith at http://meridithwrites.blogspot.com

Rethinking the "Argument" 

I have more or less faithfully followed the online debate on Mormon feminism since Wear Pants to Church Day, but I have avoided voicing my own opinions on the issue because

a) I wasn't sure what my opinions were,
b) I didn't want to be misunderstood by anyone who falls in a different place on the spectrum of opinions than I do, and
c) I'm not sure this debate is really about opinion at all.

 Currently, I feel the desire to raise my questions if not my conclusions (because I'm still working on those).

As I have watched the debate unfold, I have been troubled by the sense on each side that the debate is somehow a black-and-white issue.

Many of those who support the movement view those who don't as caught up in and blinded by the patriarchy. There doesn't seem to be an acknowledgment that an intelligent individual might oppose the movement and still be a clear-minded and thoughtful woman (or man).

On the other hand, many of those who don't support the movement suggest that those who do are power-hungry apostates who are only trying to stir up trouble.

These stereotypes, and even the idea that there are opposing sides on this issue, is unhelpful in a community striving for Zion and unity. Not being God, we are all mistaken in our view of others, and are especially likely to misunderstand those others with whom we disagree.

But we are all children of God. As sincere, believing members of the Church, we are all concerned about living His gospel. I know wonderful, loving, faithful people who believe very different things about women's ordination. As members, we have different questions, but that doesn't put us on different sides of God's love and it shouldn't divert any of us from our ultimate need to build a unified Zion community.

That being said, I'd like to examine some of my thoughts on what might be mistaken thinking on each side of the issue. As I address the topic of women and the priesthood, I hope you'll forgive any of my own mistaken thinking, and that we'll all come out of this current discussion a little kinder and more humble and more open to the truth as it comes from God.

First, To Those Who OPPOSE Ordain Women 

I have seen some men and women argue that God has decreed that only men hold the priesthood and that this will never change. God has frequently only given the priesthood to exclusive groups (the Levites, for example) and then changed His rules about that exclusivity throughout time.

We don't know what God will change. His ways are higher than our ways, so we shouldn't proclaim His will for Him (unless we're the prophet and He tells us to . . . but only one person is in that role). Women in the past, with the approval of the prophet Joseph Smith and many of his successors, have laid their hands on others, anointed them, and healed them. (See Women of the Covenant and The Beginning of Better Days for references to and accounts of such occurrences.)

Whether the women who performed these blessings did so by the power and authority of the priesthood or simply as an exercise of a spiritual gift, I don't know. But the accounts do suggest there is more to women's spiritual power in God's kingdom that we currently understand. It also suggests that wondering why women don't give blessings now is probably a fair spiritual question rather than a tell-tale sign of apostasy.

God wouldn't condemn sincere questions from his daughters or sons. Our church is about asking questions. President Hinckley once said that this Church came from intellectual dissent. Where would we be if Joseph Smith wasn't willing to ask questions?

I'd like to see those who don't sympathize with Ordain Women acknowledge that asking questions is important, even crucial, to real faith, that there are legitimate and important concerns about the LDS Church and women, and that we don't build Zion by vilifying or pushing out those who have questions. In fact, we should remain open and charitable towards what these fellow brothers and sisters can teach us about our faith and how we individually can be better.

Second, To Those Who SUPPORT Ordain Women

As I have read newspaper articles and well-articulated blog posts from those who support Ordain Women, I've seen many thoughtful and worthwhile questions raised about women's roles in the church--questions like these:

-Why don't women speak in priesthood session when men speak in Relief Society meetings?
-Who is Heavenly Mother and what is her role in the work of salvation?
-Why do women no longer give blessings of healing and comfort as they did in the early days of the Church? What does it mean to be a priestess?

I am impressed by the sincerity and thoughtfulness of many of the concerns raised.

 I have, however, been concerned that the Ordain Women movement (as I've read about it) seems to ignore or explain away a few things that I feel are key to the questions they are asking. These are my three biggest concerns.

1. What about the fact that most Mormon women don't support ordination? 

According to the 2010 book, American Grace, only 10% of Mormon women support ordination.

If you are part of this 10% who support ordination, it'd be easy to suggest that the women who don't haven't thought things through, have been brainwashed by culture and the patriarchy, are afraid to express their true feelings about the issue, etc. These explanations might be true of some of these women, but that can't explain all 90% of them. For example, these explanations do not represent my own experience as a Mormon woman who doesn't particularly support or oppose ordination.

The FAQ on the Ordain Women website includes the question, "Do most Mormon women want the time commitment and responsibility of ordination?" but leaves off the (in my view) more relevant question, "Do most Mormon women want ordination?" The answer, currently, is no.

An organized group that is pushing for ordination should deal more thoroughly and carefully with the reasons why they aren't supported by most Mormon women.

 2. What if God doesn't want women ordained to the priesthood? 

What if the brethren do pray about this question and what if God says no? Would that be accepted by the movement? I hope I am wrong about this, but the website gives me the sense that female ordination as soon as possible is the only acceptable eventual end to this movement.

If the movement is requesting revelation, it should also be willing to accept that God might provide an answer different from what it might want Him to provide. When we ask God for revelation, we shouldn't insist on receiving the answer we've already decided is right and best.

 3. What about Relief Society?

 Ultimately, it saddens me to see almost no mention of the Relief Society organization on the Ordain Women website. Where does this organization, which Joseph Smith taught was inspired by God, fit into the goals of Ordain Women?

Although I don't share it, I can have sympathy for the frustration of women who feel that they are being cut off from the blessings and opportunities to serve that accompany holding priesthood keys and administrative and ritual duties. I don't want to discount anyone's hurt feelings or personal questions, but I would like to see women's current spiritual power acknowledged, encouraged, and sustained.

The website barely acknowledges that women hold significant leadership roles in the Relief Society, Young Women's and Primary Organizations. In fact, it seems it only mentions these organizations to point out that women's roles in them are narrow in comparison with male roles in the Church and to further point out that these organizations operate under the presiding authority of the priesthood (and therefore their leadership constitutes no real authority at all for women?).

In light of the cultural norms of His time, Christ spent a surprising amount of His ministry in the presence of women and children. As women, should we begrudge or feel demeaned by the fact that where we are currently placed in the church is in a position where some of our most prominent responsibilities are ministering to the women and children--the populations that history has oppressed and ignored? the populations that Christ sought out?

Although I don't know the reasons behind the church organization, I sometimes wonder if one reason God has assigned much of the administrative and clerical work to men is to allow women to focus on this ministry to women and children. Some might say I'm deluded for raising the question or that this reinforces inequality, but I still wonder: why is a calling ministering to people instead of doing administrative work seen as less powerful or important? Or, perhaps the most relevant question, don't we all need each other to play different roles and support each other? Isn't it part of the Christian scheme that we are different and given different roles?
 For the body is not one member, but many.
If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand,
I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
And if the ear shall say,
Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body;
is it therefore not of the body?
 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing?
If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
 But now hath God set the members
every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
(1 Corinthians 12:14-18)

 Rather than a pacifying bone thrown our way, the Relief Society is a powerful spiritual organization in its own right with individual goals and purposes that, when studied, can be life-changing and empowering. Why isn't the power of Relief Society and of a worldwide women's-only spiritual organization a more prominent part of the current discussion about women's roles in the LDS Church?

Conclusion  

Although I don't feel a need to agitate for the priesthood, I respect the feelings of those who do--most especially because those who do are daughters and sons of God, just like I am. I'd like to see those who oppose the movement listen with more charity and goodwill. In turn, I would like to see the movement be more open to (and not condescending towards) the faith of thousands, even millions, of Mormon women who find purpose and empowerment in their current roles in the Church.

I don't want to discount anyone's spiritual discontent or questions or strivings for answers. As this post shows, I'm working through my own questions. We all have different journeys, and each of us has the responsibility to listen and act upon our own spiritual promptings.

 But I do want to affirm that I find my role as a Mormon woman empowering and inspiring. The doctrines of the Church form the basis and wellspring of my own perception of my worth as a woman, in and out of the Church. I am a daughter of a Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother, and that knowledge has given me extreme comfort in the most difficult moments of my life. I gained that knowledge through my membership in and study of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and whatever revelations come or don't come, I'll hold on to that. ADSENSE HERE