Mary and Martha by Minerva Teichert
Why
keep women out of the priesthood session, anyway?
I
see the positive benefits of having groups of like genders that meet regularly
together. But we do that each week at church, where it is more important for
that brotherhood and sisterhood connection feeling. In a vast meeting hall, the
presence of some women shouldn’t be an issue. Men already attend the women and
children’s general session. They speak at it. I think it would benefit the men
to have women speak to them at the priesthood session.
Even
if women were ever ordained, they could still work it out to have women and
men’s separate groups on a ward level that are separate and meet separately for
that fellowship with their own genders which can be valuable: The Relief Society
meeting and the equivalent for the men. Men should be encouraged to do as much
charity as women, after all: the many scriptures regarding charity are not
directed particularly towards women.
I don’t think women need to say they are seeking
the priesthood to ask for admittance to the priesthood session. They are now
broadcasting it live (which I think was a response to the ordain women movement
asking admittance, and it is one nice thing). All can watch it and could always
read it after in the Ensign. Some of the most meaningful talks for me in the
last session were in the priesthood session—from Uchtdorf for one. Even parts
they aim directly for men or priesthood holders can be good for all to hear and
ponder. So if women want to go to the session and listen in person, I see
nothing wrong with that. I don’t think
Christ would either. If people really thought about Christ, and everything we
know about him, and his teachings, and our personal relationships with him, if
he were standing at the doors to the conference center, and the women (and men)
came up to him and asked to enter, do we really think he would have turned them
away? I don’t think so. I think he would have said, “Come in and be filled.
Listen to the words of the prophets. Sit at their feet.”
(here is part 1 of 3)
(here is part 3 of 3)
(here is part 1 of 3)
(here is part 3 of 3)
Lesli, I like the image of Christ standing at the door saying, "Come in and be filled."
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, I do see value in men having a place to meet together as men too, even at a church-wide broadcast. Maybe the answer would be to let just a few women in to the priesthood meeting, the way just a few men go to the women's meeting. (Our stake presidency and a few other men were there, high councilors, etc.) I would still want the men to be able to go to a meeting that it is 98% male, but a few women attending and occasionally speaking would be a positive thing.