I am not sure that women hold the priesthood, per se, but rather are given authority by the priesthood to administer ordinances in the temple. This is a distinct and meaningful difference in my opinion.
Since I am unfamiliar with the history and claims of healing and annointing by women in the early church, I will assume that if this was a common practice, it was most likely discontinued because of the confusion and/or misuse caused by not understanding the difference between actually holding the priesthood keys and being granted authority by the priesthood to perform blessings.
Do my thoughts even make sense to you, Ben? Now I feel like I need to bone up on this history because I have never heard of this before!!
If you clicked on the link for the abstract of this article, you will note the authors did not disclose their affiliations. I am not sure what this means exactly, but in my opinion individuals who are in pursuit of true intellectual honesty, discussion, and learning are not ashamed to share their backgrounds with others.
Camilla, I think we are thinking about the same thing differently. If you tell me that women are given authority to administer in the preisthood ordinances of the Temple, and wear the raiment of the priesthood, then I can conclude that they exercise the priesthood. When I think about the temple ordinances and the station of the exalted, it doesn't make sense to me that women would not hold priesthood.
Yep, I think you are right, we are using different verbage to describe the same idea. I loved reading your response: I felt like I was reading a math proof! (given this and given that concludes therefore. . . . . .)
Might I also add your conclusion is very forward-thinking? I had to chuckle to myself trying to picture your comments coming out during gospel doctrine lessons. I just try to picture some of the old men in my ward trying to fight you on this idea!!
Here are my thoughts on the priesthood. I've actually thought a lot about this topic and have some strong opinions. I would love your response and ideas.
In modern society the 'holding' of an office or the bestowal of a title is viewed as an honor given to the most worthy or those considered superior to others. Some people in the church try to justify the reason men hold priesthood keys (while women do not)is becaue men can't bear children. I've also heard they need the priesthood to be closer to the Holy Ghost because men are less sensitive than women.
As well meaning and kind as these comments are meant to be, I find this notion ridiculous!! I believe these explanations are ways of pandering to the worldly view that holding priesthood keys makes a person better. These people feel like they must find a way to make women better than men so they can be on equal footing in the sight of God once a man has been granted priesthood authority. These ideas diminish in my mind the office of Priesthood. I don't believe an ordination in the Priesthood is meant to be a badge or a title-rather a power to act in God's name. The holding of the keys does not elevate the status of the recipient in any way more than the ability to bear children or a natural ability to be sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Ghost.
Heavenly Father doesn't view the priesthood keys as a badge of honor or a title. If he did, priesthood holders (men) would be more worthy, righteous, or favored than non-priesthood holders. We know this is not the case-- exaltation is not dependent on the act of being granted priesthood keys, but rather, our ability to make and keep covenants, and take part in the repentance process.
God doesn't bestow the priesthood to men because he thinks they aren't as naturally sensitive. He gives them the priesthood because of the inherent qualtiites a male possesses that will help him magnify the keys and offices of that calling. This doesn't mean he doesn't love women equally or think they are just as cool.
I love conversing on this topic with you, Ben. As you know, my husband is not a philosopher-- great though he is, deep thinking and analysis is not his thing. I find it refreshing to have a conversation about these things with someone who actually enjoys the process of analysis and conclusion as much as I do.
Camilla, Thanks for the comments. I don't think my views are as forward-thinking as they are old-school. They are more in line with the kind of vibe that Joseph Smith and Brigham Young had going on, I believe.
I do not think that I would bring this up in Sunday School however, not because of those that would vehemently disagree, but because defending this thinking involves discussion of very sacred ideas. But I enjoy discussing it with you in the anonymity of our family blog!
I think you are absolutely right with your Priesthood thoughts. I have also heard some of those things like men don't get to bear children, or are not as sensitive to the spirit so God gave them priesthood; I don't think anyone can take ideas like this seriously! I also think you are right about holding Priesthood not being an honor or title.
The biggest question about women and the priesthood that I have, is not if they have it and exercise it (which I believe they do, even if not called to offices within the priesthood), but how exactly do they get it? Women don't receive it through the laying on of hands. I think the answer must be in the temple, and more specifically, when they are married and sealed to their husband. When I think about the symbolism, words, and actions of this ordinance it makes sense to me. Just my thoughts.
4 comments:
I am not sure that women hold the priesthood, per se, but rather are given authority by the priesthood to administer ordinances in the temple. This is a distinct and meaningful difference in my opinion.
Since I am unfamiliar with the history and claims of healing and annointing by women in the early church, I will assume that if this was a common practice, it was most likely discontinued because of the confusion and/or misuse caused by not understanding the difference between actually holding the priesthood keys and being granted authority by the priesthood to perform blessings.
Do my thoughts even make sense to you, Ben? Now I feel like I need to bone up on this history because I have never heard of this before!!
If you clicked on the link for the abstract of this article, you will note the authors did not disclose their affiliations. I am not sure what this means exactly, but in my opinion individuals who are in pursuit of true intellectual honesty, discussion, and learning are not ashamed to share their backgrounds with others.
Camilla,
I think we are thinking about the same thing differently. If you tell me that women are given authority to administer in the preisthood ordinances of the Temple, and wear the raiment of the priesthood, then I can conclude that they exercise the priesthood. When I think about the temple ordinances and the station of the exalted, it doesn't make sense to me that women would not hold priesthood.
Yep, I think you are right, we are using different verbage to describe the same idea. I loved reading your response: I felt like I was reading a math proof! (given this and given that concludes therefore. . . . . .)
Might I also add your conclusion is very forward-thinking? I had to chuckle to myself trying to picture your comments coming out during gospel doctrine lessons. I just try to picture some of the old men in my ward trying to fight you on this idea!!
Here are my thoughts on the priesthood. I've actually thought a lot about this topic and have some strong opinions. I would love your response and ideas.
In modern society the 'holding' of an office or the bestowal of a title is viewed as an honor given to the most worthy or those considered superior to others. Some people in the church try to justify the reason men hold priesthood keys (while women do not)is becaue men can't bear children. I've also heard they need the priesthood to be closer to the Holy Ghost because men are less sensitive than women.
As well meaning and kind as these comments are meant to be, I find this notion ridiculous!! I believe these explanations are ways of pandering to the worldly view that holding priesthood keys makes a person better. These people feel like they must find a way to make women better than men so they can be on equal footing in the sight of God once a man has been granted priesthood authority. These ideas diminish in my mind the office of Priesthood. I don't believe an ordination in the Priesthood is meant to be a badge or a title-rather a power to act in God's name. The holding of the keys does not elevate the status of the recipient in any way more than the ability to bear children or a natural ability to be sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Ghost.
Heavenly Father doesn't view the priesthood keys as a badge of honor or a title. If he did, priesthood holders (men) would be more worthy, righteous, or favored than non-priesthood holders. We know this is not the case-- exaltation is not dependent on the act of being granted priesthood keys, but rather, our ability to make and keep covenants, and take part in the repentance process.
God doesn't bestow the priesthood to men because he thinks they aren't as naturally sensitive. He gives them the priesthood because of the inherent qualtiites a male possesses that will help him magnify the keys and offices of that calling. This doesn't mean he doesn't love women equally or think they are just as cool.
I love conversing on this topic with you, Ben. As you know, my husband is not a philosopher-- great though he is, deep thinking and analysis is not his thing. I find it refreshing to have a conversation about these things with someone who actually enjoys the process of analysis and conclusion as much as I do.
Thoughts?
Camilla,
Thanks for the comments. I don't think my views are as forward-thinking as they are old-school. They are more in line with the kind of vibe that Joseph Smith and Brigham Young had going on, I believe.
I do not think that I would bring this up in Sunday School however, not because of those that would vehemently disagree, but because defending this thinking involves discussion of very sacred ideas. But I enjoy discussing it with you in the anonymity of our family blog!
I think you are absolutely right with your Priesthood thoughts. I have also heard some of those things like men don't get to bear children, or are not as sensitive to the spirit so God gave them priesthood; I don't think anyone can take ideas like this seriously! I also think you are right about holding Priesthood not being an honor or title.
The biggest question about women and the priesthood that I have, is not if they have it and exercise it (which I believe they do, even if not called to offices within the priesthood), but how exactly do they get it? Women don't receive it through the laying on of hands. I think the answer must be in the temple, and more specifically, when they are married and sealed to their husband. When I think about the symbolism, words, and actions of this ordinance it makes sense to me. Just my thoughts.
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