(I didn't intend to highlight the two quotes below and I don't know how to unhighlight them since it doesn't show up that way on my draft. I do think they are important though.:-)
I have often heard the different roles of men and women in the Church defined as “Women have the babies and men hold the priesthood”. While motherhood is a noble calling, this definition seemed to me to be both narrow and exclusive. What about women who never marry, or marry and never have children? And is the role of women and the priesthood as separate as this definition suggests? If not, what then is the relationship between women and priesthood covenants and authority?
As I have studied the scriptures, talks by General
Authorities and the book, “Daughters in My Kingdom, The History and Work of
Relief Society” I have come to understand much better the role of women, the purpose of Relief Society, and the
relationship between women and the priesthood. Consequently, my vision of my role
and my sense of worth as a woman in the latter-days has been significantly
expanded. Here are a few of the
principles I have learned.
The Covenant of
Eternal Marriage
A definition of “priesthood” is, “the power and authority
given to man to act in God’s name for the salvation of His children” (Preach My
Gospel, p. 83). Priesthood is the power
by which all the work of salvation is
both authorized and accomplished. When we participate in the
work of salvation it is with priesthood authority.
When I went to the temple to be sealed to my eternal
companion, I entered into the covenant of Eternal Marriage. This is a
priesthood covenant. That covenant gave
both my husband and me the authority and the responsibility to create an
eternal family unit. We were given authority to live together as husband and
wife, and the authority to become parents through the bringing of God’s spirit
children into this world.
Through the keeping of that same covenant of Eternal
Marriage we both also receive the power to teach our children in righteousness
and to help them progress along the covenant path in order to receive all the
covenants and ordinances of the Gospel necessary for their salvation and
exaltation. Although our roles as parents
may differ, we both receive our parental
authority and power from the same priesthood covenant.
The teaching of our children and helping them along the
covenant path to exaltation is the pattern of Godhood. It is what our Heavenly
Parents do. As we participate in this work we are learning Godhood, which in
its most simple form is parenthood. Entering into the priesthood covenant of
Eternal Marriage gives us both the authority and the responsibility to
participate with God in His great work, and the keeping of our priesthood
covenants gives us the power to fulfill our responsibilities.
But is that all that is expected of women in this life? No, not at all.
The relationship
between the Relief Society and the Priesthood.
The Relief Society is also an official organization of the
Church and is organized under the same pattern as priesthood quorums with a
president and two counselors. And
although unique from the priesthood, President Joseph F. Smith taught it is
“divinely made, divinely authorized, divinely instituted, [and] divinely
ordained of God to minister for the salvation of the souls of women and men.”
(Daughters in My Kingdom, pg. 66)
Although only men are ordained
to the priesthood, only men hold priesthood keys, and other than in the temple,
only men officiate in priesthood ordinances, all women 18 years of age and
older, both single and married, are members of the Relief Society and by virtue
of their covenants and membership in this
organization, are given priesthood authority and power to participate in
the work of salvation.
In his April 2014 conference talk, Elder Dallin H. Oaks emphasized
this point when he stated, “Since the
scriptures state that ‘all other authorities [and] offices in the church are
appendages to this [Melchizedek] priesthood’ (D&C 107:5) all that is done
under the direction of those priesthood keys is done with priesthood authority.”
(Emphasis added)
He went on to say, “Thus, it is truly said that the Relief
Society is not just a class for women, but something they belong to—a divinely established appendage to the priesthood. “ (Emphasis
added)
Therefore, the purpose of Relief Society is exactly the same as God’s
purpose, our purpose as parents, the purpose of priesthood quorums and the
purpose of the Church in general, “To bring to pass the immortality and eternal
life of man” (Moses 1:39).
As Relief Society Sisters, we have the opportunity and the responsibility
to participate in three main ways.
First is to increase in faith and personal
righteousness. Through the weekly teaching of doctrine, monthly visits as
visiting teachers and mid-week activities, we are strengthened in our knowledge
and understanding of the gospel. This leads to an increased desire to apply
gospel principles and make and keep sacred covenants. Exaltation is becoming
like our Heavenly Parents and living as they do. Relief Society helps prepare and qualify us for this crowning blessing.
Second is to help
strengthen families and homes. As we
come to understand better the doctrine of the gospel, and apply its principles
in our own lives, we are better able to draw upon the power of our priesthood
covenants to strengthen and bless our families. This may be as a wife and
mother, or as a sister and daughter, grandmother, granddaughter or aunt.
In addition to our own personal families, women in the
Relief Society have also been given the authority to preside over and direct
the affairs of the women in the church, as well as to preside and direct the
Primary and Young Women organizations. This is a large and weighty
responsibility. As Relief Society sisters we have been trusted with the duty to
teach and prepare all children to receive the priesthood covenant of baptism at
age 8, to prepare young boys to be ordained to the priesthood at age 12 and to
prepare young women to receive priesthood covenants in the temple as adults.
Sister Julie Beck taught, “Being part
of a Relief Society or quorum is a designation for a way of life. We are to
serve in the association of a Melchizedek Priesthood quorum or a Relief Society
for a lifetime. From the quorum or
Relief Society, we are called to serve in other Church assignments and
organizations . . . No matter where we serve, we always retain our
“citizenship” in and our responsibility to the quorum or Relief Society.
(Sister Julie Beck, BYU Speeches, “Why
We Are Organized into Quorums and Relief Societies”) (Emphasis added)
Therefore it is an error for women to say they do not belong
to Relief Society because they are serving in Primary or Young Women. It is because they belong to Relief Society
they have been given the opportunity, responsibility and the priesthood authority to direct the work in the primary and
young women organizations. When they
serve in these callings they are fulfilling their responsibilities as Relief
Society sisters. Men may also serve in primary, but they do not serve in
the presidency of the primary. This work falls under the direction and authority
of Relief Society sisters who operate under priesthood keys.
The third purpose of
the Relief Society is to seek out and
provide relief for those who are in need. As sisters in Relief Society we not only have
the responsibility to help others along the covenant path, but we have the
opportunity to better keep our own covenants through service to others. When we are baptized we enter into a covenant
to “mourn with those who mourn, and comfort those that stand in need of
comfort” (Mosiah 18:9).
President Henry B. Eyring taught that through our covenant
calling as Visiting Teachers we are to “know the hearts of individuals and
their families” and help the bishop meet the needs and nurture individuals and
families in the ward (Daughters in My Kingdom p. 110). This alone is a great
task but our influence is not in any way limited to those sisters we visit
teach, our own families or our callings in the ward. We are covenant bound to
seek out and help all people who are
in need, to the best of our ability and circumstance, no matter what ward,
country or continent they may live.
In Summary
When Joseph Smith “turned the key” in behalf of women, he
opened the door for women to officially organize and better assist God in His
work of salvation. All adult women have the opportunity to receive priesthood
covenants and are given priesthood authority and power to participate in this
great work. And, as we participate in and learn God’s work, we become like Him
and qualify for Exaltation.
After understanding better these principles, I also
understand better the comment made by Eliza R. Snow to the Relief Society
sisters in her day. “If any of the
daughters and mothers in Israel are feeling in the least [limited] in their
present spheres, they will now find ample scope for every power and capability
for doing good with which they are most liberally endowed (Daughters in My
Kingdom p. 44).
Our responsibilities are great and our potential is
limitless!
And that thought brings great . . . joy to my journey!
