I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I have been my whole life. Every April and October the Leaders of our church hold what we call General Conference. It is a two day Conference of talks given by The Leaders in our Church. Next Saturday (Oct. 5th) there will be a General Priesthood session. This session is for the Men and Young Men 12 and older of our church to come together and receive instruction and edification pertaining to them.
There is a small group of Women who had requested tickets to the live Session in Salt Lake City, UT. The request was denied. In a letter to the group Spokeswoman Ruth Todd Said “It is the hope of the church that the priesthood session will strengthen the men and young men including fathers and sons, and give them the opportunity to gather and receive instruction related to priesthood duties and responsibilities, much the same way parallel meetings are held for sisters, such as the general Relief Society meeting."
This group plans to approach the Ushers next Saturday at the Priesthood Session and ask for Stand-by tickets.
For me I just don't understand this. I don't know why these Women would want the priesthood. That is not the way our Heavenly Father intended it or that is the way it would be. I hear them saying things like "equality". Equality when did anyone ever say Equality meant being the exact same? The definition of Equality is: the state of being equal, esp. in status, rights, and opportunities. We get to share in the blessings, rights, and opportunities of the priesthood as LDS Women and even those who aren't members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saint's sometimes get to share in these same things!
The Priesthood doesn't work very well without the Women in the church. We work along side our Husbands, Fathers, Son's, and Church Leaders when they are Exercising the Priesthood. We have some pretty big shoes to fill as Mothers (and even if you haven't yet had Children you are still a Mother to someone). We are in charge of the rearing (and the carrying for 9 months) of our children. It is our Job to keep them on the right path and help them to make good decisions, now our Husbands also share in this duty just as we as Women share in the Duty of the Priesthood. We don't have to be Holders of the Priesthood in order to exercise it or join in on the blessings from it.
I have also read the word "respect" being used. To me this is a huge Disrespect to our Leaders. If you Sustain them as Our Prophet and Leaders of the Church then you also agree that the Church is run on inspiration directly from our Father in Heaven. Decision's aren't made due to popularity, or "what the people want". God is the Same today, yesterday and tomorrow. He will never change.
I have read this group believes that Women receiving the Priesthood is just another expansion whose time has come, as it was expanded to the gentiles and in 1978 expanded to all worthy males. I have to disagree with this. I don't see the Priesthood ever being Held by Women, we have too many other important things we are n charge of without adding that to the pile.
I say lets get back the real Reason behind General Conference. To be edified and receive counsel on the things we face in this day and age.
