Chapter 28: The Priesthood Controversy--Another Look
Many voices have weighed in on why women in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints should or should not receive the priesthood. Give me a little space to explore the idea that perhaps that may not be the issue.
On April 6, 1830, the Church was organized. To be officially recognized, according to the laws of the state of New York, a religion had to have at least six members, and there were six. As the converts started coming by ones, then by tens, then by hundreds and thousands, most devoted their lives to the Church and endured to the end. Some fell away for various reasons. A few became apostates and enemies of the Church. These few were excommunicated.
Had Joseph Smith organized the Church to aggrandize himself, he likely would have clung to every member by adapting doctrines, principles, and practices to be all-inclusive. It would have been a numbers game—the bigger the Church the better. Disciplinary councils wherein members were tried in a Church court would have been unthinkable.
However, Joseph was inspired to keep the Church untainted from worldly ideas by standing firm for the principles and doctrines of the Church, no matter who stayed or who left. All three witnesses to the Book of Mormon were excommunicated. These men saw the angel Moroni and heard the voice of God. W. W. Phelps a trusted friend to Joseph, editor, and hymn composer was excommunicated, and there were others.
The process whereby membership is limited or lost is not only to secure the integrity of the Church but also to give the person who is disfellowshipped or excommunicated the opportunity to repent, come back, and have all blessing restored. Of the four men listed above, three humbly returned, requesting again to enjoy the privileges of membership.
The case of Dr. Robert D. Foster shows why excommunication is necessary and a common result. His name is in Doctrine and Covenants 124 twice. He helped build the Mansion House, was surgeon general of the Nauvoo Legion, and a University of Nauvoo regent. Yet he chose to apostatize. His actions led him to be complicit in the deaths of Joseph and Hyrum.
The History of the Church includes his confession to Abraham C. Hodge: “Hodge, you are going to the west—I wish I was going among you, but it can't be so. I am the most miserable wretch that the sun shines upon. If I could recall eighteen months of my life I would be willing to sacrifice everything I have upon earth, my wife and child not excepted…. I have not seen one moment's peace since that time. I know that Mormonism is true, and the thought of meeting [Joseph and Hyrum] at the bar of God is more awful to me than anything else” (HC 7:514).
Without excommunication, the Church would cease to be distinct. All the principles and doctrines would be negotiable. Factions would splinter off. There would be no standard of worthiness, no requirements for baptism, priesthood ordination, or temple attendance. Worse still, the role of the prophet (and apostles) would be neutralized. He would be nothing more than a figurehead. Any revelation would be subject to public opinion. His authority would become moot.
But since the priesthood is not man’s to bestow, this will not happen. It is God’s power and authority to dispense and is guarded by an oath and covenant. “All those who receive the priesthood, receive this oath and covenant of [the] Father, which he cannot break, neither can it be moved…. They shall not boast themselves of these things… for they are given unto you for your profit and for salvation” (D&C 84:40,73).
Elder Elder Dale G. Renlund and Sister Ruth Lybbert Renlund wrote a book called The Melchizedek Priesthood. A word they use to describe the priesthood is delicate.
This is the order of the Kingdom of God on earth, and both men and women profit from priesthood authority. And both are equally dependent upon it. Men cannot call themselves to a leadership position, ordain themselves, or give themselves blessings.
The priesthood functions under the virtues and attributes of Jesus Christ—gentleness, meekness, love unfeigned, and pure knowledge. If the priesthood is used to cover sin, gratify pride or ambition, exercise control or compulsion in any degree of unrighteousness, “the heavens withdraw; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man.” (See D&C 121:36-45.)
The potential for these Christ-like characteristics are inborn and develop as men and women choose to obey God’s laws. They are magnified through baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, the sacrament, priesthood callings, and a patriarchal blessing. The culminating blessing comes jointly to a man and a woman, as they kneel at an altar in the temple and are married.
Together as a covenant couple, they can fulfill God’s purpose: “For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39). God’s plan is to send His children to earthly parents—to a male and female. Two males or two females cannot fulfill God’s plan.
When a man and woman come together in marriage, sharing maleness and femaleness, they have potential to become one. Together they can become whole and complete. They create a unit of society that becomes part of God’s work and glory. In humility and with prayer, under the influence of the Holy Ghost, the couple compensates for each other’s weaknesses. The Lord says: “then will I make weak things become strong unto them” (Ether 12:27).
This is His wondrously sacred and self-perpetuating plan. The issue is not about women and the priesthood. It’s not that men have something women don’t. It is about God’s plan for His children. It is about a male and a female coming together in marriage and becoming a family. As prophets declared: “The family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children” (The Family: A Proclamation to the World).
(c) Marilynne Todd Linford, 2018
On April 6, 1830, the Church was organized. To be officially recognized, according to the laws of the state of New York, a religion had to have at least six members, and there were six. As the converts started coming by ones, then by tens, then by hundreds and thousands, most devoted their lives to the Church and endured to the end. Some fell away for various reasons. A few became apostates and enemies of the Church. These few were excommunicated.
Had Joseph Smith organized the Church to aggrandize himself, he likely would have clung to every member by adapting doctrines, principles, and practices to be all-inclusive. It would have been a numbers game—the bigger the Church the better. Disciplinary councils wherein members were tried in a Church court would have been unthinkable.
However, Joseph was inspired to keep the Church untainted from worldly ideas by standing firm for the principles and doctrines of the Church, no matter who stayed or who left. All three witnesses to the Book of Mormon were excommunicated. These men saw the angel Moroni and heard the voice of God. W. W. Phelps a trusted friend to Joseph, editor, and hymn composer was excommunicated, and there were others.
The process whereby membership is limited or lost is not only to secure the integrity of the Church but also to give the person who is disfellowshipped or excommunicated the opportunity to repent, come back, and have all blessing restored. Of the four men listed above, three humbly returned, requesting again to enjoy the privileges of membership.
The case of Dr. Robert D. Foster shows why excommunication is necessary and a common result. His name is in Doctrine and Covenants 124 twice. He helped build the Mansion House, was surgeon general of the Nauvoo Legion, and a University of Nauvoo regent. Yet he chose to apostatize. His actions led him to be complicit in the deaths of Joseph and Hyrum.
The History of the Church includes his confession to Abraham C. Hodge: “Hodge, you are going to the west—I wish I was going among you, but it can't be so. I am the most miserable wretch that the sun shines upon. If I could recall eighteen months of my life I would be willing to sacrifice everything I have upon earth, my wife and child not excepted…. I have not seen one moment's peace since that time. I know that Mormonism is true, and the thought of meeting [Joseph and Hyrum] at the bar of God is more awful to me than anything else” (HC 7:514).
Without excommunication, the Church would cease to be distinct. All the principles and doctrines would be negotiable. Factions would splinter off. There would be no standard of worthiness, no requirements for baptism, priesthood ordination, or temple attendance. Worse still, the role of the prophet (and apostles) would be neutralized. He would be nothing more than a figurehead. Any revelation would be subject to public opinion. His authority would become moot.
But since the priesthood is not man’s to bestow, this will not happen. It is God’s power and authority to dispense and is guarded by an oath and covenant. “All those who receive the priesthood, receive this oath and covenant of [the] Father, which he cannot break, neither can it be moved…. They shall not boast themselves of these things… for they are given unto you for your profit and for salvation” (D&C 84:40,73).
Elder Elder Dale G. Renlund and Sister Ruth Lybbert Renlund wrote a book called The Melchizedek Priesthood. A word they use to describe the priesthood is delicate.
This is the order of the Kingdom of God on earth, and both men and women profit from priesthood authority. And both are equally dependent upon it. Men cannot call themselves to a leadership position, ordain themselves, or give themselves blessings.
The priesthood functions under the virtues and attributes of Jesus Christ—gentleness, meekness, love unfeigned, and pure knowledge. If the priesthood is used to cover sin, gratify pride or ambition, exercise control or compulsion in any degree of unrighteousness, “the heavens withdraw; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man.” (See D&C 121:36-45.)
The potential for these Christ-like characteristics are inborn and develop as men and women choose to obey God’s laws. They are magnified through baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, the sacrament, priesthood callings, and a patriarchal blessing. The culminating blessing comes jointly to a man and a woman, as they kneel at an altar in the temple and are married.
Together as a covenant couple, they can fulfill God’s purpose: “For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39). God’s plan is to send His children to earthly parents—to a male and female. Two males or two females cannot fulfill God’s plan.
When a man and woman come together in marriage, sharing maleness and femaleness, they have potential to become one. Together they can become whole and complete. They create a unit of society that becomes part of God’s work and glory. In humility and with prayer, under the influence of the Holy Ghost, the couple compensates for each other’s weaknesses. The Lord says: “then will I make weak things become strong unto them” (Ether 12:27).
This is His wondrously sacred and self-perpetuating plan. The issue is not about women and the priesthood. It’s not that men have something women don’t. It is about God’s plan for His children. It is about a male and a female coming together in marriage and becoming a family. As prophets declared: “The family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children” (The Family: A Proclamation to the World).
(c) Marilynne Todd Linford, 2018
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