I definitely don't want to be caught up in the debates or arguments that are currently being blasted back and forth across the internet about women and the priesthood. Honestly, I feel like there's a tennis match going on. One second I see someone post something pro-"ordain-women" and the next I see someone post something against ordaining women. Back and forth... back and forth it goes.
The really harmful thing about this difference of opinion is the disrespect that it is causing between the two sides. It is causing contention in the name of "debate" and causing people to write things in arguments to each other on the internet that they frankly would not say to each other's face. I've seen family members write some really awful, relationship-destroying things to each other; all in the name of freedom of speech, while denying people who disagree with them the same privilege.
I'm not after contention. I hate the 'slanging matches' on each side. I've read a lot. There are articles like this one where I think "Yep, agree, well stated.... goodness you've just started to pick one person out for criticism and have thus destroyed your whole argument! Why?!"
All in all I find a lot of these articles (no matter whether they are written from my view-point or another) damaging. They concentrate on a point of contention and ignore the positive messages already received.
So, with no further explanation or opinion from myself, here are some of the most uplifting, intriguing, wonderful messages I have found on the subject. I make no apology for the fact that these quotes are from mainly men. It makes me happy to know that men understand these things. These are quotes from prophets and apostles that answer my questions, soothe my soul and allow me to "Be Still and know that [He is] God."
1) We are blessed with authority and power - and have responsibilities
"We are not accustomed to speaking of women having the authority of the priesthood in their Church callings, but what other authority can it be? When a woman-young or old-is set apart to preach the gospel as a full-time missionary, she is given priesthood authority to perform a priesthood function. The same is true when a woman is set apart to function as an officer or teach in a Church organization under the direction of one who holds the keys of the priesthood. Whoever functions in an office or calling received from one who holds priesthood keys exercises priesthood authority in performing her or his assigned duties. Whoever exercises priesthood authority should forget about their rights and concentrate on their responsibilities."
2) Eve was a leader in her family - and for all mankind
"Consider Eve, the mother of all living. Elder
Russell M. Nelson said this of Eve: “We and all mankind are forever
blessed because of Eve’s great courage and wisdom. By partaking of the fruit
first, she did what needed to be done. Adam was wise enough to do likewise.” Every daughter of Eve has the potential to bring the same
blessing to her family that Eve brought to hers. She was so important in the
establishment of families that we have this report of her creation: “And the
Gods said: Let us make an help meet for the man, for it is not good that the
man should be alone, therefore we will form an help meet for him.”
We don’t know all the help Eve was to Adam and to their
family. But we do know of one great gift that she gave, which each of you can
also give: she helped her family see the path home when the way ahead seemed
hard. “And Eve, his wife, heard all these things and was glad, saying: Were it
not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have
known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which
God giveth unto all the obedient.”
You have her example to follow."
3) Equality in marriage is heavenly
"In our old age my beloved companion said to me quietly
one evening, “You have always given me wings to fly, and I have loved you for
it.” "
4) Completeness requires woman & man
"Our Father knew exactly what He was doing when He created
us. He made us enough alike to love each other, but enough different that we
would need to unite our strengths and stewardships to create a whole. Neither
man nor woman is perfect or complete without the other. Thus, no marriage or
family, no ward or stake is likely to reach its full potential until husbands
and wives, mothers and fathers, men and women work together in unity of
purpose, respecting and relying upon each other’s strengths."
5) We are Disciples
"We are devoted disciples who reach out and help each other
along the way. Our sisterhood reaches across the generations to those faithful
sisters who have walked before. Together, as sisters and in unity with living
prophets, seers, and revelators with restored priesthood keys, we can walk as
one, as disciples, as servants with willing hearts and hands to hasten the work
of salvation. As we do so, we will become like the Savior."
6) The Priesthood only has power if used with Love
"We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and
disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as
they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion.
Hence many are called, but few are
chosen.
No power or influence
can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion,
by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned; By kindness, and pure knowledge,
which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and
without guile— Reproving betimes with sharpness,
when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards
an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee
to be his enemy; That he may know that thy
faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death.
Let thy bowels also
be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish
thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of
God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from
heaven."
7) We have a Divine Nature
"Femininity is not just lipstick, stylish hairdos
and trendy clothes. It is the divine adornment of humanity. It finds expression
in your qualities of your capacity to love, your spirituality, delicacy,
radiance, sensitivity, creativity, charm, graciousness, gentleness, dignity and
quiet strength. It is manifest differently in each girl or woman, but each
of you possesses it. Femininity is part of your inner beauty."
James E. Faust
8) Our Happily Ever After is unlimited!
"On the first page of your Young Women Personal
Progress book, you will find these words: “You are a beloved daughter of
Heavenly Father, prepared to come to the earth at this particular time for a
sacred and glorious purpose.” Sisters, those words are true! They are not made up in a
fairy tale! Isn’t it remarkable to know that our eternal Heavenly Father knows
you, hears you, watches over you, and loves you with an infinite love? In fact,
His love for you is so great that He has granted you this earthly life as a
precious gift of “once upon a time,” complete with your own true story of
adventure, trial, and opportunities for greatness, nobility, courage, and love.
And, most glorious of all, He offers you a gift beyond price and comprehension.
Heavenly Father offers to you the greatest gift of all—eternal life—and the
opportunity and infinite blessing of your own “happily ever after.”"
9) We are daughters of our Heavenly Father
"We are daughters of our Heavenly Father, who loves
us, and we love Him. We will "stand as witnesses of God at all times
and in all things, and in all places” (Mosiah 18:9)
as we strive to live the Young Women values, which are:
- Faith
- Divine Nature
- Individual Worth
- Knowledge
- Choice and Accountability
- Good Works
- Integrity
- and Virtue
We believe as we come to accept and act upon these
values, We will be prepared to strengthen home and family, make and
keep sacred covenants, receive the ordinances of the temple, and enjoy the
blessings of exaltation."
10) Heavenly Father loves us.
"Give me a young woman who loves home and family, who reads
and ponders the scriptures daily, who has a burning testimony of the Book of Mormon.
Give me a young woman who faithfully attends her church meetings, who is a
seminary graduate, who has earned her Young Womanhood Recognition Award and
wears it with pride! Give me a young woman who is virtuous and who has
maintained her personal purity, who will not settle for less than a temple
marriage, and I will give you a young woman who will perform miracles for the
Lord now and throughout eternity."
I don't know the answers and meanings of everything, or even very much. But I really do know that Heavenly Father loves me as His daughter and that I am of value and that He intends to shine me up into a polished diamond just as much as He intends to work with my husband - and all the great men and women in this world.
Just for something extra - I love music and this song always makes me think and reflect. Whatever difficulties we face, Heavenly Father hears our prayers and can help us lift up our heads.
This also makes me smile:
