Something Troubling in Sunday School

[_why me]

"Alpha children wear grey. They work much harder than we do, because they’re so frightfully clever. I’m really awfully glad I’m a Beta, because I don’t work so hard." ~ From Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

As to what woman would want the priesthood, I'm not going to speak for Mormons. But my own denomination (Evangelical Covenant Church) currently has more female MDiv graduates coming out of North Park every year than it can actually place. The senior pastor of my congregation is a woman in her early 30s. She even had a baby while serving as senior pastor and somehow, the world hasn't stopped.

But of course your church is set up differently than the LDS church. In the LDS church all eligible men and boys are given the priesthood. What would this mean if women and girls were given the priesthood in the LDS church? A lot. It would be a church with just priesthood holders and nothing more. Or should it voluntary in the LDS church.

We are not just dealing with women but also with girls since Mormon boys from the age of 11 can hold the priesthood.

[_why me]

I'm sure if LDS women allowed themselves to be frank, most of them would love to have the priesthood. I remember reading that women tend to be more religious than men - and more superstitious, too.

And what about Mormon girls? Would they want to the priesthood too? Should they also be allowed to have the priesthood or is this just a woman thing? Mormon boys get the priesthood at 11. What age should girls get the priesthood?

[_why me]

When's the last time you heard of a cow making decisions as to how the farm will be run?

.

I think that Mormon cows are dominating Mormon bulls all the time. Haven't you noticed? No cow or bull on the farm is thinking about the farmer.

[_why me]

Okay lets come together in one big prayer group to pray to heavenly father that he would allow women to hold the priesthood. Consig and just me would you both like to lead us in prayer? Lets all ask heavenly father if he can do this for all the women out there in the LDS church who wish to have the priesthood.

We seem to forget who Mormons claim leads the church.

[_moksha]

My young daughter has expressed to me two concerns which keep bugging her:

1. She doesn't think the Church should interfere with gay marriages outside the Church.

2. She says the Church is chauvinistic and that girls as well as boys should be able to hold the priesthood.

I haven't encouraged her or discouraged her when she shares these thoughts. They do seem normal for a 12 year old LDS girl who is naturally idealistic. Given time she may learn to either stifle these thoughts and be sweet and pure in a cookie-cutter fashion or keep her concerns and be a person true to her own innate sense of right and wrong.

.

.

[_jon]

Okay lets come together in one big prayer group to pray to heavenly father that he would allow women to hold the priesthood. Consig and just me would you both like to lead us in prayer? Lets all ask heavenly father if he can do this for all the women out there in the LDS church who wish to have the priesthood.

We seem to forget who Mormons claim leads the church.

Turkey's don't vote for Thanksgiving so you may be better served praying to Heavenly Mother...

[_MsJack]

So if you don't believe in the priesthood, why on earth do you care that you can't have the authority to run the show?

I can't speak for others, but I care because I'm mindful of the messages being sent to my daughter (and I think I'd be an irresponsible parent if I didn't pay attention). If the town mayor had a Christmas tree lighting ceremony and decreed that only boys can come forward and light the tree, I'd protest. If the mayor tried to say that girls don't need to light the tree because they get to have babies, I'd really protest. Why should church be any different?

I also care because religions that discriminate against women tend to reinforce each other by pointing to one another whenever they come under fire for their policies. "Sure, we don't ordain women, but neither do the Catholics / Orthodox / Mormons / Jehovah's Witnesses / Many Evangelical Protestants / etc." The more people do it, the more it's perceived as "normal" and "not a big deal." So the LDS church's policies do effect me, however indirectly.

But of course your church is set up differently than the LDS church. In the LDS church all eligible men and boys are given the priesthood. What would this mean if women and girls were given the priesthood in the LDS church?

It would be an important step towards treating women as equals instead of subordinates.

Or should it voluntary in the LDS church.

That's not a question I have much interest in, but voluntary lay ordination seems to be working out for the Community of Christ.

You are correct though, you aren't just dealing with women, you're dealing with girls. My adventurous, wild-hearted daughter is one of those girls. And you'd be surprised how many little girls perceive inequality at church and are not okay with it.

Similarly, I have often noticed how much farmers value their livestock.

Or how the dog values his master. So what does this mean? Are you saying that women in the LDS church are livestock?

Darth J is saying that valuing someone and treating her as your equal are two very different things. To use a different example, I most definitely value my five year-old daughter---but she sure as hell isn't my equal.

[_why me]

My young daughter has expressed to me two concerns which keep bugging her:

1. She doesn't think the Church should interfere with gay marriages outside the Church.

2. She says the Church is chauvinistic and that girls as well as boys should be able to hold the priesthood.

I haven't encouraged her or discouraged her when she shares these thoughts. They do seem normal for a 12 year old LDS girl who is naturally idealistic. Given time she may learn to either stifle these thoughts and be sweet and pure in a cookie-cutter fashion or keep her concerns and be a person true to her own innate sense of right and wrong.

.

.

However you should discuss her thoughts with her and give an LDS explanation. The outside world can certainly influence young minds. And if these ideas are against the LDS church and its beliefs, it is up to LDS parents to have a conversation and not just leave them alone.

[_Yoda]

I'm sure if LDS women allowed themselves to be frank, most of them would love to have the priesthood. I remember reading that women tend to be more religious than men - and more superstitious, too.

And what about Mormon girls? Would they want to the priesthood too? Should they also be allowed to have the priesthood or is this just a woman thing? Mormon boys get the priesthood at 11. What age should girls get the priesthood?

Again, your ignorance is showing. Boys receive the Aaronic Priesthood at 12, not 11.

And yes, it should be the same for both.

[_why me]

Again, your ignorance is showing. Boys receive the Aaronic Priesthood at 12, not 11.

And yes, it should be the same for both.

Okay liz, now please don't forget to respond in the same way when one of your board friends makes a mistake in their facts.

Tonight pray to heavenly father about it. He listens to prayers. It will be up to him, right?