Should Women Have The Priesthood? My Sister Seems To Think So, Is There A Possibility Behind It, And Why Would Women Want It?

[emarkp]

Any guys want to be in charge of Compassionate Service?

I don't recall any guys asking for it.

[wenglund]

Indeed Wade you are much holier than I am so who am I to question your disdain. For you I guess the thinking has been done.

Now you are projecting. I care about you and I am just trying to wake you up. For your own sake, have a little more trust in your leaders. They aren't bumbling idiots. And, if you can't manage to trust them, then trust God.

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

[Freedom]

So when we ask a question about some odd teaching that we want to run away from that some leader once taught we here that prophets are fallible and make mistakes. But when we ask something like why can't woman or ( at one point Blacks) hold the priesthood we here what you said above.

Can't have it both ways. If a Prophet was wrong about Adam God then the current ones can be wrong about women and the priesthood.

there is a huge, let me stress, HUGE difference between a church leader having an opinion, and a church having a practice while governed by Jesus Christ. You are assuming that, because a practice is in opposition to your particular point of view, that it is wrong. I do not believe Brigham Young was wrong about Adam God. His teachings are unclear and at times apparently contradictory. He was, at times, not very effective at expressing his ideas. I can disagree with the interpretation of a practice dictated by God, and the practice itself. I see no need to speculate as to why women do not hold the priesthood any more than I have a need to speculate why Jesus Christ failed to call any women to the same authority during his ministry.

[Freedom]

Indeed Wade you are much holier than I am so who am I to question your disdain. For you I guess the thinking has been done.

There is a bit of irony in your criticism

[Teancum]

There is a bit of irony in your criticism

Yes I should avoid being snarky even if I perceive others are such. My apologies to Wade.

[Calm]

As a man who holds the priesthood I have always found the trite argument that men need the priestohood because they are slackers and would not serve without it as an obligation. It is offensive to both the priesthood and men.

It is unfortunate that this theme of "men need the priesthood" (for whatever reason) has become part of the cultural dynamic surrounding the priesthood.

If men actually needed the priesthood to be successful at being men or decent and good men, then the world around us would be a whole lot worse and God would be an uncaring parent to allow so many men to go through life without that opportunity. Do we really think that all those men out there are somehow less than real men for not having the Priesthood? Do we believe that the nonLevite men thought of themselves as less than real men or even just less than the Levites? Do we want to believe that the black men who didn't have the priesthood were somehow seen as less than men by God himself when they didn't possess the Priesthood? Unfortunately there is evidence that some among the faithful saw them that way, but I think the essential question is how does God see us.

Men do not need the priesthood to be good men, they need it to preside and perform priesthood ordinances. There is a huge difference.

My husband would be just as wonderful of a parent and faithful member if he didn't hold the priesthood. The Priesthood doesn't change one whit who he is. What the priesthood does is give him additional ways to serve as well as to personally grow in righteousness and knowledge. I am grateful that he has that opportunity. At this point, I don't feel I need it, but at sometime in the future, I believe the Lord will bless me with if not the priesthood, then something that will provide me with the same level of ability to seek out that special knowledge and righteousness that Abraham also sought.

Edited March 23, 2013 by calmoriah

[CASteinman]

The Priesthood doesn't change one whit who he is.

That seems to not be in accordance with what the Brethren would desire.

[bluebell]

It is unfortunate that this theme of "men need the priesthood" (for whatever reason) has become part of the cultural dynamic surrounding the priesthood.

If men actually needed the priesthood to be successful at being men or decent and good men, then the world around us would be a whole lot worse and God would be an uncaring parent to allow so many men to go through life without that opportunity. Do we really think that all those men out there are somehow less than real men for not having the Priesthood? Do we believe that the nonLevite men thought of themselves as less than real men or even just less than the Levites? Do we want to believe that the black men who didn't have the priesthood were somehow seen as less than men by God himself when they didn't possess the Priesthood? Unfortunately there is evidence that some among the faithful saw them that way, but I think the essential question is how does God see us.

Men do not need the priesthood to be good men, they need it to preside and perform priesthood ordinances. There is a huge difference.

My husband would be just as wonderful of a parent and faithful member if he didn't hold the priesthood. The Priesthood doesn't change one whit who he is. What the priesthood does is give him additional ways to serve as well as to personally grow in righteousness and knowledge. I am grateful that he has that opportunity. At this point, I don't feel I need it, but at sometime in the future, I believe the Lord will bless me with if not the priesthood, then something that will provide me with the same level of ability to seek out that special knowledge and righteousness that Abraham also sought.

I definitely think that God wants exercising the priesthood to make a man better. On the most recent leadership training video (strengthening family through the priesthood) elder Eyring states that one of the purposes for men to hold the priesthood is to grow in the gospel.

I don't think that God asks us to do things He could do Himself except when He wants us to grow and learn through the experience.

I agree though that a man's worth should not be tied to the priesthood. Neither should the term "the priesthood" be synonymous with speaking about the men at church.