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Something happened in Sunday school this past week I wanted to share. I am having trouble putting my feelings in words and hope maybe others can help me out.

The substitute teacher was a lady somewhere in her late 50's, I think.

In the middle of the lesson, she brought up the subject of priesthood and inadvertently said something that indicated priesthood office was open to any member. Something like, "We don't have to worry about that unless we are a bishop." Innocuous enough.

But then she realized the implication of what she said and hastened to append an impromptu homily about how she couldn't become a bishop, of course.

She clasped her hands, turned her eyes to heaven, and thanked God that women could not hold the priesthood. "I don't want it," she continued. "You men can have it. That's fine with me."

The lesson continued.

I was troubled by that little episode, and am not exactly certain why. It is not the first time I have heard women say this at church. I am beginning to think this is becoming a "script" of sorts that women learn and repeat at such times.

It seemed contrived and off-putting, at least to me.

I couldn't help but think of a black slave falling all over himself thanking his massah for a piece of corn pone.

Or is that image out of place?

Any thoughts?

All the Best!

--Consiglieri

Consiglieri - a very apt piece of imagery there. It is a script that women have adopted. A way of signaling righteousness to the group by embracing and defending inequality.

Yeah I think it is a line that a lot of women say and they are out of place if they don't say it. Or they could just be honest too. Hell having the priesthood was freakin annoying I wish I didn't have it either. When we were younger we had to prepare, bless, and pass the sacrament. We had to do home teaching and go out and get fast offerings. Then when we get older there are callings like bishops and stake presidents and there is blessing the sick as well. I'm not saying women don't have big time consuming callings as well it just seemed like men had more of these types of callings available to them.

Oh and this line kind of reminds me of the line that guys would use when they hear about polygamy. "You know Joseph Smith and BY were better men than me. I don't know how they could have more than one wife because I could barely handle my own wife." The whole time I am thinking "Yeah right! Polygamy allows you to have sex with a different women and that's pretty sweet." haha Keep in mind I was a teenage boy at this time hearing this.

It is a script. It is an affirmation of ones status that has to be repeated often in the face of something so obviously sexist and wrong.

There seems to be a whole Relief Society class devoted to this type of thing at least yearly (When we have a lesson about priesthood).

You will here lots of greatly troubling things like:

*We/women have enough responsibility as it. I would never want the priesthood.

*I get to hold the priesthood every night. (BARF!!!)

*The priesthood helps the men become more compassionate and service oriented. Women already are.

*Women have motherhood, men have priesthood.

*The man is the head of the family, but the woman is the neck that turns the head. (BARF!!!)

There is sometimes an attack on feminism and reference made to the evil ERA. There may also be jokes that belittle men....and the men do this in their class, too. They belittle themselves to try and make the situation seem not as bad as it really is.

You'll even see the priesthood belittled. You see it on message boards, too. Not that I believe in priesthood, but if I did then I would be troubled by this. The priesthood is supposed to be the power of God on earth, or the power to act in his name. It is also authority. Power and authority are denied to the women. So, a lot of members act like the priesthood is nothing but a burden and horrible responsibility.

I think that most people in the church today know in their hearts that the priesthood ban on women is wrong. We have to constantly affirm its righteousness and godliness because of that. The communal cogdis would get out of control if we didn't.

There is also a very real danger in saying anything that could be construed as actually wanting the priesthood. You very well may be labeled a feminist and looked at as a bit off. It will effect your place in the ward and LDS community. It will effect the way you are treated and the callings that you receive.

What woman would want to expose herself to the possibility of being called as a bishop etc.? Similarly, what man wants to become pregant and deliver a baby? Execptions are few and far between.

It's troubling only to those who believe there are no or should not be any differences between men and women.

bcspace wrote:What woman would want to expose herself to the possibility of being called as a bishop etc.? Similarly, what man wants to become pregant and deliver a baby? Execptions are few and far between.

It's troubling only to those who believe there are no or should not be any differences between men and women.

bcspace

What is the scriptural basis for the ban on priesthood for women?

Thanks.

What is the scriptural basis for the ban on priesthood for women?

What is the scriptural basis for the ecclesiastical priesthood being conferred upon women?

bcspace wrote:What woman would want to expose herself to the possibility of being called as a bishop etc.? Similarly, what man wants to become pregant and deliver a baby? Execptions are few and far between.

It's troubling only to those who believe there are no or should not be any differences between men and women.

What does pregnancy/childbirth have to do with priesthood office?

What man actually wants to be a bishop?

Where did anyone claim there were no differences between men and women?

What does pregnancy/childbirth have to do with priesthood office?

Nothing at all, which illustrates the point.

Where did anyone claim there were no differences between men and women

Whenever someone claims the priesthood should be conferred upon women.