Ask Questions
If you would like to send us a question, feel free to send us an email at ‘mormonwoman’ AT ‘gmail’ DOT ‘com.’
This is a new feature. Come back soon for more content!
Why don’t women hold the priesthood?
This is a question that is often asked about Mormonism and about Mormon womanhood. One of the keys of being able to understand the answer to this question is to understand first the doctrinal truth that men and women are equal in God’s eyes. The scriptures state that “God is no respecter of persons” (Acts 10:34) and that “all are alike unto God” (2 Nephi 26:33).
President Spencer W. Kimball, twelfth president of the Church, said: “We had full equality as [God’s] spirit children. We have equality as recipients of God’s perfected love for each of us” (Ensign, Nov. 1979, p. 102). That perfected love can be experienced in its fullness through the saving ordinances of the gospel, which both women and men have the opportunity to receive. And the crowning ordinance of the gospel can only be received by a man and women together.
In the plan of God, however, equality does not mean sameness in roles and responsibilities as it often does in cultural vernacular. Carolyn J. Rasmus, a professor at Brigham Young University and a convert to the Church, said this:
Although men and women are equal in the sight of the Lord, their eternal roles and assignments differ. Men’s primary duties are associated with fatherhood and the priesthood; women have responsibilities relating to motherhood and sisterhood. By virtue of these assignments, men are directly responsible for Church governance and thus have organizational and administrative duties. Women, on the other hand, have specific responsibility to create and nurture.
Because men hold the priesthood and are therefore often more visible in the operations of the Church, some people assume men are more important and more competent than women. But Elder John A. Widtsoe of the Quorum of the Twelve made it clear that the priesthood is not a reward for competency or excellence:
“Women of a congregation … may be wiser, far greater in mental powers, even greater in actual power of leadership than the men who preside over them. That signifies nothing. The Priesthood is not bestowed on the basis of mental power but is given to good men and they exercise it by right of divine gift, called upon by the leaders of the Church. Woman has her gift of equal magnitude” (Priesthood and Church Government, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1954, p. 90).
On another occasion he said, “No man who understands the gospel believes that he is greater than his wife, or more beloved of the Lord, because he holds the priesthood” (Evidences and Reconciliations, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1960, p. 308).
God has designed the roles of men and women, both in the Church and in family life, to be complementary. He needs men and women to work together — to bring their roles, responsibilities, talents, and abilities together for His eternal purposes. The goal is not to have men and women be independent, but interdependent. This principle was explained beautifully by Sister Sheri Dew, when she was one of the leaders of the Relief Society for the Church:
Our Father knew exactly what He was doing when He created us. He made us [as men and women] enough alike to love each other, but enough different that we would need to unite our strengths and stewardships to create a whole. Neither man nor woman is perfect or complete without the other. Thus, no marriage or family, no ward or stake is likely to reach its full potential until husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, men and women work together in unity of purpose, respecting and relying upon each other’s strengths.
Thus, while women don’t hold priesthood offices, they have a critical role in the plan of God, in both family life and in the Church.
For more information on this topic, you can search our library on the following topics: priesthood, womanhood, motherhood, sisterhood.
———
Why are ordinances necessary?
“Ordinances and Covenants” Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Liahona, Nov. 2001, 16–23; or Ensign, Aug. 2001, 20–26
Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Liahona, Nov. 2001, 16–23; or Ensign, Aug. 2001, 20–26
Sacred ordinances and covenants provide an endowment of divine power in our lives.
“Receive the Temple Blessings” Richard G. Scott, Liahona, July 1999, 29–31; or Ensign, May 1999, 25–27
Decide now to receive the ordinances of the temple at the appropriate time. Don’t let anything overcome that resolve.
“The Aaronic Priesthood and the Sacrament”Dallin H. Oaks, Liahona, Jan. 1999, 43–46; or Ensign, Nov. 1998, 37–40
All of [the] vital steps pertaining to the remission of sins are performed through the saving ordinance of baptism and the renewing ordinance of the sacrament.
“Covenants and Ordinances”Jorge A. Rojas, Ensign, Nov. 1991, 44–45
After you accept covenants and receive ordinances, you must live up to the covenants you made.
“Life Is Eternal”Ensign, Sept. 1989, 59
Through gospel ordinances . . . we demonstrate our love for the Lord, make solemn covenants to do his will, and receive the Lord’s power to help us keep those covenants.
“Ordinances and Covenants”Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Liahona, Nov. 2001, 16–23; or Ensign, Aug. 2001, 20–26
Sacred ordinances and covenants provide an endowment of divine power in our lives.
“Receive the Temple Blessings”Richard G. Scott, Liahona, July 1999, 29–31; or Ensign, May 1999, 25–27
Decide now to receive the ordinances of the temple at the appropriate time. Don’t let anything overcome that resolve.
“The Aaronic Priesthood and the Sacrament”Dallin H. Oaks, Liahona, Jan. 1999, 43–46; or Ensign, Nov. 1998, 37–40
All of [the] vital steps pertaining to the remission of sins are performed through the saving ordinance of baptism and the renewing ordinance of the sacrament.
“Covenants and Ordinances”Jorge A. Rojas, Ensign, Nov. 1991, 44–45
After you accept covenants and receive ordinances, you must live up to the covenants you made.
“Life Is Eternal”Ensign, Sept. 1989, 59
Through gospel ordinances . . . we demonstrate our love for the Lord, make solemn covenants to do his will, and receive the Lord’s power to help us keep those covenants.
