My thoughts on OW

I love General Conference.

I feel so uplifted as I listen to our leaders' words, and I find ways that I can improve. I feel closer to the Spirit, and therefore closer to the Savior. This April will be my first conference as a mother, and that gets me really excited, as I will have a different perspective on the talks. I love being a mother. I love being a wife. And I love being a woman.

However, as Conference approaches, there has been a women's activist group that has been getting louder and louder. If you haven't heard of them, they are called Ordain Women, or OW and I'll quickly bring you up to speed with what has been going on with them. Their goal: convince church leaders to ordain women to the Priesthood. They feel that until women are also ordained, then there will always be gender inequality within the Church. This group began by requested tickets for the Priesthood session last October's conference. They have since held lots of meetings and they plan to request tickets again for this April's Priesthood session, as well as hold what they consider to be a peaceful demonstration at Temple Square.

In the October conference, this talk by the apostle Elder Neil A. Anderson was given. But I guess it wasn't enough, because OW is rallying again.

So just a couple of days ago, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints responded with this letter. 

The group was disappointed and still plan to come to the Priesthood session to ask for tickets, quoting the scripture "Ask and ye shall receive; knock and it shall be opened unto you" (found in 3 Ne 27 and Matthew 7) Some expressed disappointment that someone other than one of the brethren (one of the Apostles of members of the Presidency) wrote the letter.

Here's what I have to say about all this, and I will try to be polite, as my feelings run quite deep on this issue.

I believe that God does want "Equality" in some sense. He has given His children equal access to the Atonement. Whether they hold the Priesthood or not, all have equal access to the blessings of the Priesthood. But the world has been convincing many for a very long time that equality = sameness. This is not the case.  Remember this inspired document? It states, "Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose." If gender did not matter, then I guess gender equality should mean that equality means we have to be the same in every way. 

But God did not intend for us to be the same. 

When OW began, it seemed that their intention was to just "ask." They have indeed asked. And to be quite honest, I have no issues with people asking questions. It's how the Church began. It's how we have the Word of Wisdom. And the Church has answered. But it wasn't the answer OW wanted. And so they plan to keep asking and knocking until the figuratively break down the door and get in. 

I would like to remind everyone of the story of Martin Harris and the lost pages. Brother Harris asked the prophet (on behalf of his wife) to have the translated 116 pages for a time as proof of the glorious work they were doing. The prophet asked God. God responded with a clear "NO." Sister Harris was pretty miffed. And so they asked again. Again, NO. They asked again. And God essentially said, "Have it your way but you'll regret it." And the manuscript was stolen and altered by wicked men and now we regrettably have lost an inspired work. Sometimes when we ask God something, the answer is "not now." And sometimes it is simply "No." As disappointed as we are, and even if we don't understand why, we must conform to God's will if we are to receive His choicest blessings. That's just the way it is. What good parent would give in to their child's every pleading? OW, you have been given your answer. Learn from Martin Harris.

Some are also disappointed that someone "higher up" didn't respond to their pleas, which I find a little interesting because I thought that they would have been pleased that a female was the writer of the letter. But here's another lesson from history: remember Naaman in 2 Kings? Here's a recap if you have forgotten. Naaman was a leader in ancient times cursed with  the dreaded disease of leprosy. But his maidservant told him of a prophet who could potentially heal him. So Naaman went to the prophet to ask for help. He was vastly disappointed when the prophet's servant came out to deliver the message rather than the prophet himself. He stormed away, blinded by his own self-importance. Thankfully, Naaman's own servant had him reconsider, and he followed the prophet's advice that was delivered through the servant and he was healed. Just because the message wasn't delivered by the prophet himself doesn't mean it didn't come from him. 

The Church has responded to OW by clearly stating that the Priesthood is a doctrinal issue. It is something that God decided. This way of order is also very clear in the Endowment video, and I invite you to go to the temple and watch it. Some may not agree with it, but we must remember God's statement: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55: 8-9)

To treat the Church as if it is some political entity that can be changed by petitions, protests and democracy is highly inappropriate. If you really believe that the Church is God's kingdom restored again to the earth, run by a prophet of God rather than a prophet of man, you will understand that doctrine cannot be changed, even as society does.

ON THE FLIP SIDE, some people have responded with hateful comments towards the supporters of OW. I do not feel that this is appropriate either. I will echo President Uchtdorf's words in his last conference talk: "Come and add your talents, gifts, and energies to ours. We will all become better as a result." Obviously these women have leadership skills. The Church could always benefit from great leaders who uplift and encourage those around them. I sincerely hope that none of these women leave the church simply because they got an answer they don't agree with.

Some also essentially say, "Men need something because women are already so close to the Spirit!" But I feel like that is a completely unnecessary put-down for men. I know lots of men that are much closer to the Spirit than some women, and some men who would, sadly, make better mothers than some women.

Some women also respond with, "I don't want the Priesthood! I don't want all that responsibility! I have too much as it is!" I won't say I don't want the Priesthood because of the additional responsibilities, because being responsible is a wonderful thing.

 But I don't want to be ordained to have the Priesthood for one simple reason: God decided it should be this way, and I never want to be found demanding of Him that which is contrary to His will. That's it.

I will repeat again, I love being a woman. But I have never felt that I have been treated unfairly due to church doctrine. Sure, it is run by imperfect individuals who make mistakes. That's all God has to work with (echo Elder Holland), but I will repeat Elder Uchtdorf and say that "His doctrine is pure." God's standards do not change, even as the world does. Could you imagine if it did? How could it be a true church if the doctrine was always changing to conform with the world's? Thank heavens it doesn't.

I caution others to stop "kicking against the pricks." Do not herald excommunicated women as heroes as some have done because they fought for women's "rights" back in the day. Women, you do not need to be ordained to the Priesthood. If you feel like the Church treats men better, read this talk by apostle Elder D. Todd Christofferson. Women have a wonderful and equal place in the church with men, albeit a different one. It is how God designed it, not man. Sometimes we have questions that won't be answered in this life. Sometimes we will get answers that we don't like. That is part of life.

I'm not sure how to close this, and I don't want to ramble any more than I have. So I will only say that I invite all of us to join in a spirit of love and harmony and sisterhood and human-hood, even if we do not always agree.