I have a terrible habit where I love to read controversial articles and then read the accompanying comment boards. The most recent child of this obsession has been Ordain Women.
I've visited their website, read their mission statement, stalked them on instagram (#ordainwomen), read multiple news articles about them from the last year, and read way, way too many comment boards supplied by a huge variety of people on both sides of the argument.
To call this frustrating is an understatement. It seems simple to me - if you, as an "active member" of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (which they profess to be), you either sustain Thomas S. Monson as the prophet of the church, entitled with his counselors to receive revelation from God for the entire church, or you don't.
There is no gray area.
End of story. Right?
Wrong. These women are determined to get the priesthood. They are determined to change the mind's of these brethren in the name of "equality."
Okay, fine, they want equality. I can understand that. I want equality, too. Everyone should be equal. So let's see what the brethren have to say about women's roles in the church.
“The Lord has directed that only men will be ordained to offices in the priesthood. But, as various Church leaders have emphasized, men are not ‘the priesthood.’ Men hold the priesthood, with a sacred duty to use it for the blessing of all of the children of God. In the eyes of God, whether in the Church or in the family, women and men are equal, with different responsibilities.”
-Elder Dallin H. Oaks, member of the quorum of the twelve apostles
And let's not forget the Proclamation to the World on the subject that has been around for several years now and explicitly states men and women's roles according to God.
That being said, let's go back to their mission statement. here it is, directly from their website:
"We are LDS women who, without hesitation, sustain the Lord's prophet, the Family Proclamation as doctrine and our divine role as covenant women for Christ."
(Okay, let's just point out that Elder Oaks declaring this during the priesthood session - which, ironically, these sisters missed, because they were standing in line outside the tabernacle trying to get tickets, despite the church asking them not to do this in a letter the previous month. They could have watched it in their homes, on their laptops, or listened to a radio broadcast. But instead, they were taking pictures of themselves standing in a 200+ person line outside in the rain.)
So which is it, ladies? Do you support and sustain these brethren, or do you not? If you believe they speak for God, then act like it. If you don't believe it...well, I can tell you this. The church will not - and never has - changed doctrine based on the protests and well-meaning members. So stop trying to force God to change His own doctrine, and His own gospel.
You already have the answer. As one of my favorite quotes says, "Don't let Satan put a question mark where God has already put a period."
Along those lines,
"Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith"
-President Utchdorf
I am an active member of this church. I love this gospel. It has literally saved me in every way. It is, by far, the greatest gift I have, and ever will, receive. I have my own testimony of this work, of its truth, and of the divinity of my Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. I know that President Thomas S. Monson leads and directs this church according to God's will and under His direction.
So guess what? If the Lord's servants say I'm equal to men, then I'm equal. If they say I am not supposed to hold the priesthood, I'm not. Not because I'm inferior, but because that's just not my responsibility.
I have never felt inferior in this gospel. Sometimes a member may say something offensive, or unkind, but they are not the gospel. While the members are not perfect, God is. And this church is His - not ours.
I know these men speak for God, and that He loves me as His daughter. I have been so blessed to have such wonderful priesthood holders in my life, and I am incredibly grateful for these men of God. I know, with all my heart, this church is true. And for me, that is enough.
