Women and the Priesthood

I have heard several stories and even read articles about how there are LDS women who feel unequal without holding Priesthood. This makes me so sad. It makes me sad that women feel cheated when Heavenly Father has already given us such divine roles, responsibilities, and stewardships. We are equal. Yes, there are several definitions of the word "equal", some mean exactly the same in every way, but that's not what men and women are supposed to be. Just like 2+2=4, 1+3=4. Two different equations with different components, but they are exactly equal in their sum. We are different for a reason. We are physically, emotionally, and spiritually different for a reason. Equal means evenly proportioned or balanced and that's exactly how God made us. Men and women complement each other. Here is a quote from President Spencer W. Kimball that explains it perfectly.

“Men and women are complementary. I have mentioned only a few of the special blessings God gives his daughters in helping them to become like him. His sons have their own special opportunities. And in his wisdom and mercy, our Father made men and women dependent on each other for the full flowering of their potential. Because their natures are somewhat different, they can complement each other; because they are in many ways alike, they can understand each other. Let neither envy the other for their differences; let both discern what is superficial and what is beautifully basic in those differences, and act accordingly. And may the brotherhood of the priesthood and the sisterhood of the Relief Society be a blessing in the lives of all the members of this great Church, as we help each other along the path to perfection.”

Heavenly Father loves all of us. I know that. He would never, ever cheapen the mortal experience of any of His children. He knows what we each need to do, experience, and learn to return to Him. He knows the desires of our hearts, but He also knows what is best for us. Everything is according to His time and His way. That being said, it is His Priesthood. It does not belong to the current prophet, nor the Quorum of the Twelve, nor some committee whose minds can be changed by petitioning to receive the Priesthood. God owns it and will do as He wills with it. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord." - Isaiah 55:8

I know that God loves us all as His children because He has told me. I have knelt and prayed to know His will and He has made it known to me through the power of the Holy Ghost. I know that if you seek answers that He will give them.

I would also like to refer you to these talks on womanhood:
Womanhood: The Highest Place of Honor by James E. Faust
Women of the Church by Gordon B. Hinckley
Woman--Of Infinite Worth by Russell M. Nelson
Equality through Diversity by M. Russell Ballard

--Camille

"To Love another person is to see the face of God"

"To love another person is to see the face of God". This is one  of the closing lines in one of my all time favorite musicals "Les Miserables", I heard this closing line dozens of times this summer as I was in the show, I played a very memorable "Woman number 3". It was not until the last week and I realized that the show was almost over that I really started to let some of the messages sink in, this line, this closing line that had been saved for the end of such an epic show caused me to wonder. What were they thinking? Victor Hugo, Claude Michel Schonberg, Herbert Kretzmer, why did they save this for the closing moments. In a story about redemption, the balance between justice and mercy, fighting for what you believe in, survival, hope, despair, why was this simple line so moving? Of all the emotions that we can feel as human beings the closest we ever come to feeling celestial emotion is love. When we love without thought for ourselves, when we love with our whole hearts and without any expectation of gain, we are the closest that we can be on this earth to the celestial beings that our Father in Heaven would have us be. So, why would we "see" God when we love others? We have been told that we need to receive his image in our countenances', but when we look at others in love that is when we see his image in them. We can see the worth of the soul, we become more willing to sacrifice for that person, more willing to build them up and help them see what we see in them. We see God in them. We are allowed this brief opportunity to see what eternity is like. Wrapped in a compelling story and amazing showtunes is an eternal truth that our Heavenly Father loves us, that we are all allowed the chance to better ourselves with hope of redemption because of our Savior. No matter how we view ourselves when those who love us look at us they see the face of God, that is powerful, that should change our perception of ourselves. My take home message from this epic summer of musical bliss was to learn to look for my Father in Heaven in others, He is there, I just need to love others to see Him.

-Kristin