Women and the Priesthood: Important Doctrinal Points to Consider

A quick note on women and the priesthood. Remember that there are three orders of the Priesthood: Aaronic, Melchizedek, and Patriarchal (see DC 131). Women do receive priesthood offices in the Patriarchal order of the Priesthood (which is the highest order of the Priesthood): Queen and Priestess [ see Stephen L. Richards, Conference Report, October 1952; Discourse by George Q. Canon on August 12, 1883; Stephen L. Richards Conference Report, October 1951; Finally, anyone who is endowed, go and actually listen to the ceremony!]

 Women fighting for priesthood office seem ignorant of LDS theology, because they DO receive priesthood office- anybody who sits in a temple ceremony should see that. So in review, do women teach and preach as much as men do? Yes, go to an LDS chapel on a Sunday and observe. Do women lead organizations? Yes. In fact, not only do they lead the Relief Society (which is the oldest and largest women's organization in the world), Young Women's, and Primary, but they also manage LDS missions and LDS temples with their husbands. Furthermore, one should note that the wives of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve sit on the stand at General Conference, and they minister with them as time permits  all over the world. Continuing on, do women administer ordinances? Yes in the most sacred spaces of LDS theology: The Temple and The Home. Do women receive Priesthood office? Yes see the first paragraph of this post. 

So what exactly is the problem here? Add on top of that the fact that our Church was probably THE first church to include women to this degree (back in the 1830s to 1840s). Combine that with the fact that we were the first Church to say that gays go to heaven [see DC 76, and my blog post called "Many Mansions of Heaven"], and you wonder why feminists and those of the gay community are not flocking to the fonts? Joseph Smith and the LDS Church (as it is TODAY with our wonderful Prophet, President Monson) have been some of the best champions of women's empowerment. 

Furthermore, take notice of LDS marriage ceremonies. In most marriage ceremonies, the father walks the bride down the aisle, and hands her over to the groom with with his consent that the groom marry her- as if she is some sort of property. This is NOT the case in a LDS marriage ceremony. The woman comes to the altar on her own, gives HERSELF, and says that she does so of her OWN free will and choice- In fact, we are the only ones that MAKE SURE that she does so of her own free will and choice. What's more, the groom gives himself to her as well. Which marriage ceremony gives women more autonomy, identity, and independence?

Finally, let's not forget we are the only ones which say that God is BOTH a Heavenly Father and a Heavenly Mother, and that Heavenly Mother is equal to Heavenly Father. Everybody else usually conceptualizes God as just a male (which is surprising given that God as Male and Female is on the first page of the bible). Ladies, which conceptualization of God would you rather worship?

In short,  I would encourage more pondering of LDS theology instead of knee jerk reactions. I know this is quick, but I think these points needed to be put into the conversation given that nobody is mentioning them. I am currently working on a treatise to explain more on this topic, but I felt these basic points needed to be put out there. 

Thanks.