While my husband was off at Priesthood Session this evening, I attended the Ordain Women Launch Event, which another attendee charmingly dubbed “Priestesshood Session.” The crowd was sparse when I arrived yet entering was difficult because of the large number of TV cameras to dodge. I am excited to think that someday there will be archived footage of the back of my sweater blocking a camera or two as I zigzagged through the room to attend this historic event. By the end of the speech, however, the room had filled up–with a surprisingly close ratio of male and female attendees.
The first speaker was Exponent II veteran Lorie Winder. She explained many basic principles about the need for women’s ordination. Some of these principles are covered in the Q and A section of the All Are Alike Unto God website. She encouraged the group to envision the eternal potential of women. Will women be co-actors with God in the eternities? Do we really believe Heavenly Mother has been perfected as a silent wife who plumps pillows while Heavenly Father governs the universe? She responded to accusations that women who want the priesthood are power-hungry by pointing out that Jesus taught us how to use power not to coerce but to empower others.
Margaret Toscano discussed the evidence of priesthood authority among women of the New Testament such as Mary Magdalene, Junia and Phoebe. Joseph Smith’s declaration that he would make the Relief Society “a kingdom of priests as in Enoch’s day— as in Paul’s day” suggests that he shared the view that the ancient women of these times held the priesthood. She closed by testifying that she feels the spirit of God the Mother in the Ordain Women movement.
Mary Ellen Robertson described the church at the time of the restoration. Men and women exercised spiritual gifts equally then, unlike now, when only men with priesthood office are encouraged to perform healings and blessings. In this earlier time period, women also enjoyed greater autonomy than modern women. You can read more about this time period in the Nauvoo and Priesthood chapters of the Exponent’s recent Daughters in My Kingdom series.
When Hannah Wheelright was introduced as a “a current BYU student” audible gasps of surprise and comments about her bravery came from throughout the audience. She described her feminist awakening, pointed out that women lack the opportunities to prepare for their destinies as queens and priestesses in the eternities, and concluded by telling the group that she knew she was equal to men and that she hopes to persuade church leaders to treat her as such.
Debra Jensen does “not envy or begrudge” men, but does not want her daughters excluded from priesthood opportunities. She has held on to the memory of the Hinckley interview in which he suggested that women could be ordained someday, but that they aren’t agitating for it, “like a life jacket.” When she saw the Ordain Women website, she said to herself, “Those are my people.”
Kate Kelly described how her mission experience had helped her realize the need for women’s ordination. She told the group that she had decided that the issue of ordination “really mattered” enough to justify “risking everything” to advocate. She told us that a priesthood blessing has helped her find comfort during this stressful week. “This is not just a social cause for me,” she told the group. “I believe in the priesthood.” She described herself as an active member of the church who would use the priesthood to serve others if she had the opportunity to be ordained. Kelly explained how she had envisioned the Ordain Women website and then contacted anyone she knew of who had ever written anything in support of ordination to see if they would be willing to provide profiles (we Exponent ladies were among these and several of us submitted profiles). She said she has been surprised to find support for the movement where she did not expect it, including within her own family. Once the site was up, she has been thrilled that the project has resonated with other people in the public who have also volunteered profiles.
Following these speeches, the floor was opened for anyone who wished to express their feelings about ordination. Many audience members embraced the opportunity to stand and express why they were supporting the movement. There were no awkward silences (like the kind we have all experienced during some fast and testimony meetings.) Nor were there any hecklers; the event seemed to draw a very friendly crowd.
The end of the meeting was devoted to questions for the panel. Wheelright beautifully addressed a question about whether it would be demeaning to ask men to give women authority. She said that she saw gender as a spectrum, not a dividing line, and since she thought of men as other people, and not as a competing sex, this would not be a problem. (By the way, how old is that girl? She is impressive. I predict that she will be president someday.) Someone asked what it would take for the group to feel they had achieved success. Would women need to be eligible for all priesthood callings? All panelists adamantly agreed that they would. All twelve-year-old boys have the potential to be an apostle someday; so should women and girls. What would they do if the first presidency and quorum of the twelve said no? Toscano pointed out that they did say no to the ordination of Blacks–but eventually said yes. This would be a long-term process.
Finally, Kate Kelly revealed the secret to designing a website worthy of attention from the Wall Street Journal or Boston Globe : she used the church’s font.
Thank you for your summary. I feel like the motive in these organizers is so pure and spirit filled. I especially feel it after listening to a convoluted explanation about priesthood and gender roles in General Conference yesterday. Truth is always pure and simple. God loves all of their children as individuals with incredible potential. They do not put gendered limits on what men or women can become.
This brings tears to my eyes. Hooray for everyone who attended, and especially for the speakers—it sounds like everyone spoke with the spirit. You just cast more light on a beautiful spring morning!
Does anyone have access to the WSJ story? I’d love to read it.
This is annoying. It appears that WSJ is redirecting my incoming link, although the article is available publicly. You can google “Wall Street Journal Woman Takes Rare Lead Role at Mormon Event” and get to the full text online.
Thanks!
Thanks for the summary! Sounds fabulous. I wish I had been there!
Nicely covered, April. May I lightheartedly point out that you forgot to mention that there was a time for us all to meet our neighbors, Sunday School break-out style? I thought this was a particularly nice part of it, since it gave those of us who interact only on the web a chance to actually connect in person. Especially for me, who got to meet you.
Thank you for the reminder, Kari! That was an enjoyable part of the evening, and I was pleased to meet you, too!
I was hoping there would be coverage of this event as I live too far away to attend. I feel enlightened and emboldened by this movement of women and men. It is time for women to have full equality with the men in the church. I have felt this since I was quite young (I’m now in my late 50s). As a young mother in the church I was so often puzzled as to why my “divine role” was so limited. My X fully embraced the worst of what the church teaches about women and I finally broke free after 29 years of marriage. I have five daughters, two active LDS, two no longer members and one is yet a teen. I also have four sons, one is active, two are not and one is no longer LDS. Various experiences among my children have fueled their activity/or removal, all of which I understand with no judgment, only love. Would things have been different for some of them who have left, if women would have been in leadership roles – possibly/probably. When Mormon women sit on the highest councils in the church, participate with their brothers at the sacrament tables and are included when their dear babies are blessed, then perhaps our work will be done. I applaud these strong women who have the vision to move forward with their convictions, who listen to the Spirit. I can only imagine Mother and Father watching us and saying to Themselves “It’s about time – they’re finally ready!” Press forward and blessings to all……
Thanks for this summary! I wish I could have gone!
ALSO – maybe this should be a twice-annual event – I love the title – the PRIESTESSHOOD SESSION…
April, this is a great write-up. Thank you for getting it up so quickly. It sounds like an absolutely terrific evening!
[…] Guest post by Andria Bobo. She blogs at Through Feminist Eyes. For information about the Ordain Women launch event from last night, see this. […]
[…] http://www.the-exponent.com/priestesshood-session/ […]
Thanks for the report. I loved reading it.
I wish I could have been there.
Suzette
What a beautiful event!
Thank you so much for attending and covering this, April! Like the other commenters, I live too far away to attend. I wonder if next time there could be a skype connection or something? I’d love to attend, even if only electronically.
Priestesshood Session – I love it!! This weekend I was talking to my mom while the guys were off at Priesthood Session, and I was asking her if women could go, why we don’t have something, etc, so it’s neat to learn about this! If I hadn’t been on vacation I’m pretty sure my sister-in-law and I would’ve been there! Please do something again next General Conference!
One of the best things about supporting Ordain Women is that I get to rub shoulders (at least cyberspacially) with other like-minded folks. It feels especially good for those of us who are risking rejection by speaking up for this. Thank you so much for your positive post!
Thanks for covering this. I love the Relief Society general meeting every year and one of my pet sadnesses is that it only happens in the fall, not in spring. Another perk of the priesthood/priestesshood? Twice a year meetings that uplift and inspire for both women and men?
Yay! I’m so glad that you attended and gave us an insight.
Margaret and Lorie are some of my favorite women in the world.
What an amazing experience.
I’m so happy to have this report! I wish I could have been there.
In this article there is a reference made to a “Hinckley interview in which he suggested that women could be ordained someday, but that they aren’t agitating for it.” I would dearly love to have the information on this quote. When and where he said it and what exactly he said.
Thanks,
http://www.abc.net.au/compass/intervs/hinckley.htm
About 3/4 of the way through the interview. It’s a pretty good interview, all in all.
[…] the discussion continues over women and the priesthood (read: women in leadership) and other gender […]
thank you for your info guys
[…] LDS Church released this video in spring of 2013–around the same time Ordain Women launched. Some of us Exponent ladies were among the first to participate in Ordain Women. Supporting […]
[…] Priestesshood Session April 7, 2013 […]