Ordaining Woes, Man!

With family on both sides of the LDS “Ordain Woman” issue, I figured I needed a little more drama in my life, so I may as well throw my hat into the ring and just tick off a few more folks.  As this is my first post into anything terribly controversial on my blog (besides my pronouncement that I really don’t like any of the ex-Beatles’ Christmas songs), I am prepared to lose both of my readers – easy come easy go. 

First I must openly declare that I make no claim to know the mind of God.  If I did, perhaps my Final-Four bracket would have looked much better.  This is merely my humble opinion; which of course means that I think I am right and will argue with anyone who disagrees with me.

So should woman be given the priesthood, the power to act and administer in God name?  It is a legitimate question.  One of the key restored truths highlighted on the Church’s own website is that we can become “kings and queens, priests and priestesses.”  Also, as Elder Oaks taught yesterday in conference, women administer the priesthood power in the temple.  We also know that the church has changed doctrines/policy on the issue of polygamy and blacks in the priesthood.  Finally, core to our faith is the teaching from James 1:5 that got this whole restoration started, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God.”  So to me it is legitimate for women, who think they are missing out on a good time here, to inquire of the Lord’s servants as to God’s will on this issue.  I hope we are all good so far.

My issue with the current approach of the ordain woman organization is the apparent riders added to the scriptures “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God who shall doeth that which you shall demand lest ye make a public spectacle of yourself.”  (check the JST, it must be there).  It seems to me that this counselling God approach didn’t work so well for Joseph Smith, Martin Harris, and some 116 pages of a lost manuscript.  We can beg, plead, entreat, and supplicate before the Lord, but a hippy sit-in at the pearly gates?  That is not where I would put MY efforts.  Sometimes that answer is a firm “NO” or possible a “not now” with no further explanation other than “my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isiah 55:9).  I know a good salesman does not take “no” for an answer, but I am pretty sure a good prophet does (perhaps, like lawyers, there are not many salesmen in heaven).  On the other hand, if the brethren of the church are just not listening to God, then they will be held accountable for that, but I can’t see how our demands could change that.

By demanding a specific answer at the same time we pose the question to God presupposes either (1) we as mortals can command the Almighty, or (2) the church is an organization guided only by man and therefore man (or in this case “woman”) may dictate its practices.

Let’s talk about the first option first.  My kids don’t get to tell dad what to do; it just does not happen.  Those who have tried have found themselves up against a wall with a rather angry paterfamilias in their face.  I am guessing God might just be the same way.  “But wait, we know we can become priestesses, so why not now!”  Again, I have no idea why not now or ever, but I am pretty sure that the scripture does not read, “For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little, but if you bug me enough, I will grow weary of your complaining and dump all of my truth on you on your schedule, because, you know, I am only a Supreme Being and I hadn’t really planned things out.” Sometime we have to wait, ask the children of Israel wandering in the wilderness for 40 years.  The ancient apostles of the Christ were looking for his second coming just after the resurrection - and we are still waiting.   From what I have seen, the leaders of the church heard this question of ordaining women, took it to the Lord, and the Lord said through his servants that in this dispensation he will administer his priesthood through men.  Sounds like an answer to me (again remember the lost 116 pages here).     

Now if you are a second option person who believes that the church is an organization of men that can be directed by the demands of its constituents, would this not suggest a false church of men?  In that case I can’t say there would any “real” authority from God to pass along.  So wouldn’t the request for this priesthood simply be that women want to pretend to have God’s power like the men do?  This sounds a bit like Dumbo’s feather that he is tricked into believing gives him the ability to fly, but in reality it is merely a farce. 

But let’s cut to the chase, the Priesthood is authority to perform ordinances to help others get back to the presence of God.  Holding the priesthood itself does not help the holder get into heaven (it actually seems to bring with it a higher level of scrutiny).  To the contrary, I think it is the meek and humble who will be inheriting the perfected earth.   By holding the priesthood you can’t baptize yourself or bless yourself or seal yourself.  Nope.  When you have the priesthood, it is an obligation to help and serve others.  It has no impact on your relationship with God or your own salvation.  So doesn't this demand contain a bit of pride in itself?  I personally would not want any bishop from the class of people who demand power be given to them.  Heck no! (can't swear in conference weekend)  I want the bishop who respond to such a call with “Who me?  You are obviously mistaking me for someone else, I am really not the right person.”  If I go into my bishop for screwing up, do I really want someone who tells me how ungrateful I must be for dishonoring the priesthood they fought so hard for.  I am not liking my chances for mercy from that person.  I guess for me, by demanding the priesthood, are you really qualified to hold it? (It is a bit like not being humble once you pronounce that you ARE humble - kind of a religious Catch 22)

Personally, I would not be bothered if woman were granted the priesthood.  That would cut the men’s workload in half.  They could collect fast offerings, attends loads of meetings, get dressed up at strange hours to administer to the sick, stress about messing up an ordination, be part of disciplinary counsels, enter tithing and donations into the computer, find speakers for sacrament meeting, and, oh yah, and move everyone into and out of the ward.  Hey, I’d love the help.  But for me and my house, we will choose to serve the Lord by patently asking for and receiving his revelation, line upon line and precepts upon precept, here a little and there a little and wait patiently for that glorious day when women can set up chairs side by side with men.