Presuming to Know

In the time of ancient Israel, the people kept in their possession the ark of the covenant.  Moses was commanded to have it made.  It was highly sacred and was attended to by the priests of the tribe of Levi.  Aaron instructed that "they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die" (Numbers 4:15).  Among other things, it included the book of the law and was carried at the front of the House of Israel as they traveled.

Many years later King David decided to bring the ark of the covenant out of Kirjath-jearim back to the capital city.  They brought it on a new cart pulled by oxen, driven by Uzza and Ahio.  Amidst all the revelry, "Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled.  And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he put his hand to the ark: and there he died before God."

It seems like a harsh punishment, however, Uzza was aware of the consequences of touching the things he had been forbidden to.  It implies that Uzza thought the ark would fall and that God was being clear that He would not let it fall, or be lost, if they were faithful to their covenants (as He had promised from the beginning).  Uzza presumed to know the outcome and assumed that God needed him to break a commandment to steady the ark -- again, presuming that God would, or could, not protect the ark.

I often think about this story when I hear criticisms leveled at the LDS Church by its own members.  One such criticism is that it appears unfair that women are not given equal opportunity in holding the priesthood.  The criticism is based on the assumption that it is unfair.  How is it unfair?  There is no clear reply, except that it means the men get to have something that the women cannot.  While it sounds childish and jealous, it does also allude to a presumption we know what equity is better than God does -- if He would just ask us our opinion, then He would change His mind.

In the moment, Uzza was not seeing the whole picture.  He was seeing the oxen stumbling and assumed that the ark would fall.  Some members of the church today see the male priesthood line as being a "stumbling" within the church and think that it will fail to bring about the blessings that have been promised to women. 

If we humbly acknowledge that we do not see all that God sees, or even the panorama that is given to a chosen prophet and seer of God, we can realize that we are only comprehending part of the view.

8 ¶ For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

  9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

  10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

  11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.  (Isaiah 55: 8-11)

Enough, and more!, has been given to us to qualify us for celestial glory, according to our worthiness, but there is much that remains a mystery.  It takes faith to accept that we don't know it all and that there are great reasons for why the Lord works in the way that he does, and to be content with what we have been given.

And what have we, women, been given?  A promise of inestimable worth and joy!

19 And again, verily I say unto you, if a man marry a wife by my word, which is my law, and by the new and everlasting covenant, and it is sealed unto them by the Holy Spirit of promise, by him who is anointed, unto whom I have appointed this power and the keys of this priesthood; and it shall be said unto them—Ye shall come forth in the first resurrection; and if it be after the first resurrection, in the next resurrection; and shall inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions, all heights and depths—then shall it be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life ... and if ye abide in my covenant, ... it shall be done unto them in all things whatsoever my servant hath put upon them, in time, and through all eternity; and shall be of full force when they are out of the world; and they shall pass by the angels, and the gods, which are set there, to their exaltation and glory in all things, as hath been sealed upon their heads, which glory shall be a fulness and a continuation of the seeds forever and ever.  (D&C 132:19)

Could we ask for anything more?  What more could we ask for?  To request, while in our limited scope, the priesthood to be conferred upon women, without the direction of the Lord, is to fail to recognize the marvelous worth of the blessings already waiting for us.

Our inheritance is magnificent!

-Michelle Cox, Texas-

To Rule Over

An excerpt from:

Crossing Thresholds and Becoming Equal Partners

Bruce C. Hafen and Marie K. Hafen, “Crossing Thresholds and Becoming Equal Partners,” Ensign, Aug 2007, 24–29

The concept of interdependent, equal partners is well-grounded in the doctrine of the restored gospel. Eve was Adam’s “help meet” (Genesis 2:18). The original Hebrew for meet means that Eve was adequate for, or equal to, Adam. She wasn’t his servant or his subordinate. And the Hebrew for help in “help meet” is ezer, a term meaning that Eve drew on heavenly powers when she supplied their marriage with the spiritual instincts uniquely available to women as a gender gift.3
 
As President Boyd K. Packer, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, has said, men and women are by nature different, and while they share many basic human traits, the “virtues and attributes upon which perfection and exaltation depend come [more] naturally to a woman.”4
 
Genesis 3:16 states that Adam is to “rule over” Eve, but this doesn’t make Adam a dictator. A ruler can be a measuring tool that sets standards. Then Adam would live so that others may measure the rightness of their conduct by watching his. Being a ruler is not so much a privilege of power as an obligation to practice what a man preaches. Also, over in “rule over” uses the Hebrew bet, which means ruling with, not ruling over. If a man does exercise “dominion … in any degree of unrighteousness” (D&C 121:37; emphasis added), God terminates that man’s authority.

Perhaps because false teachings had twisted original scriptural meanings, President Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985) preferred “preside” rather than “rule.” He said: “No woman has ever been asked by the Church authorities to follow her husband into an evil pit. She is to follow him [only] as he follows and obeys the Savior of the world, but in deciding [whether he is obeying Christ], she should always be sure she is fair.”5 In this way, President Kimball saw marriage “as a full partnership,” stating, “We do not want our LDS women to be silent partners or limited partners” but rather “a contributing and full partner.”6
 
Spouses need not perform the same functions to be equal. The woman’s innate spiritual instincts are like a moral magnet, pointing toward spiritual north—except when that magnet’s particles are scrambled out of order. The man’s presiding gift is the priesthood—except when he is not living the principles of righteousness. If the husband and the wife are wise, their counseling will be reciprocal: he will listen to the promptings of her inner spiritual compass just as she will listen to his righteous counsel.

And in an equal-partner marriage both also bring a spiritual maturity to their partnership, without regard to gender. Both have a conscience and the Holy Ghost to guide them. Both see family life as their most important work. Each also strives to become a fully rounded disciple of Jesus Christ—a complete spiritual being.

To read the full article, click here.

The Women in Our Lives

The Supporting Role

The home in which I grew up consisted of my mom, my dad, my three brothers, my sister, and me.  I was the middle child and, hopefully, not too much trouble.  I feel intensely grateful for the loving marriage that my parents share.  I was always confident of their devotion to each other, and to us kids.  I saw them disagree and find a compromise.  I saw them laugh, and cry, together.  I saw them sneak a kiss in the kitchen -- or kiss in front of us to make us all squeal in mock disgust.  I also watched as my father exercised his priesthood, placing his hands on a sick sibling, or on my own head, and my mother would sit beside us and bow her own head in reverence as a blessing was pronounced.  She also didn't hesitate to ask us if we would like my dad to give us a blessing.

Likewise, I have witnessed by dad treating my mother with great respect.  He opens the door for her, praises her dinners, hugs her and tells her how beautiful she is, willingly goes along with outings she plans, and not just once has soundly scolded my brothers for being rude to their mother.

I see the partnership of priesthood and womanhood in their relationship.  Neither one being above the other.  Both playing a supporting role.  Neither being complete without the other.

It is true that the priesthood in the LDS Church is passed down through the male line.  It is true that the priesthood claims the responsibility of directing the Church.  And it is true that women will not be called to be bishops, apostles or prophets.

But it has never bothered me.

I have never felt left out, belittled, restrained, withheld from achieving my potential, or labeled second-rate for not being able to hold the priesthood because I am a woman.  I have always seen myself as being as capable to achieve any dream I might have as any other girl or boy.  I see that, in the religious setting, I am being beckoned by the Savior to follow Him, as much as any other girl or boy, man or woman.  He wants me to succeed as much as He wants every other human being to succeed.  I will not inherit less in the world to come if I have been true and faithful in all the covenants that I make, just because I am a woman.  Not being able to hold the priesthood does not mean I will become less perfect or less like the Savior.  I am ordained to become a joint-heir with Christ, through faithfulness to temple covenants.  Because I am a woman, I can achieve this!

The scriptures NEVER say that women will not inherit eternal life or live with God in great joy and glory or that we are less than men.  

"... and he ^ainviteth them ^ball to ^ccome unto him and partake of his goodness; and he ^ddenieth none that come unto him, black and white, ^ebond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the ^fheathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile (2 Ne. 26: 33).

"And for this cause ye shall have ^afulness of joy; and ye shall sit down in the kingdom of my Father; yea, your joy shall be full, even as the Father hath given me fulness of joy" (3 Ne. 28: 10).

"The Spirit itself beareth ^awitness with our ^bspirit, that we are the ^cchildren of God:  And if children, then heirs; ^aheirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we ^bsuffer with him, that we may be also glorified together" (Romans 8:16-17).

"Behold I say unto you, that whosoever has heard the words of the ^aprophets, yea, all the holy prophets who have prophesied concerning the coming of the Lord—I say unto you, that all those who have hearkened unto their words, and believed that the Lord would redeem his people, and have looked forward to that day for a remission of their sins, I say unto you, that these are his seed, or they are the heirs of the ^bkingdom of God" (Mosiah 15:11).

 Also, when observing the prophets and apostles, I am always struck with their humility and deference to their callings.  They absolutely take their jobs seriously and solemnly.  They do not boast about being priesthood holders or talk down to women in any way.  There have been numerous talks in General Conference by prophets and apostles about the divine role of women, with such titles as;

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The Honored Place of Woman,

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Womanhood: The Highest Place of Honor,

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An Elect Lady,

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How Near to the Angels,

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Instruments in the Hands of God, etc.


Neal A. Maxwell said:

We know so little, brothers and sisters, about the reasons for the division of duties between womanhood and manhood as well as between motherhood and priesthood. These were divinely determined in another time and another place. We are accustomed to focusing on the men of God because theirs is the priesthood and leadership line. But paralleling that authority line is a stream of righteous influence reflecting the remarkable women of God who have existed in all ages and dispensations, including our own. Greatness is not measured by coverage in column inches, either in newspapers or in the scriptures. The story of the women of God, therefore, is, for now, an untold drama within a drama.

We men know the women of God as wives, mothers, sisters, daughters, associates, and friends. You seem to tame us and to gentle us, and, yes, to teach us and to inspire us. For you, we have admiration as well as affection, because righteousness is not a matter of role, nor goodness a matter of gender. In the work of the Kingdom, men and women are not without each other, but do not envy each other, lest by reversals and renunciations of role we make a wasteland of both womanhood and manhood.

...  I, along with my brethren of the priesthood, express undying gratitude to our eternal partners. We know that we can go no place that matters without you, nor would we have it otherwise. When we kneel to pray, we kneel together. When we kneel at the altar of the holy temple, we kneel together. When we approach the final gate where Jesus Himself is the gatekeeper, we will, if faithful, pass through that gate together.

(Neal A. Maxwell, “The Women of God,” Ensign, May 1978, 10)

When women of the Church complain about not being able to hold the priesthood, I hear jealousy in their tone, not humility.  When women conspire to change the Church, I hear disaffection, not faith.  At the very bottom of it all, do we believe that God has a plan for us?  Do we believe that He gives commandments and that He rewards His faithful children?  Do we believe that His ways are higher than our ways?  Do we presume to know better than Him how to organize His children so that all may come unto Him?  Do we thank God for our prophets, and sustain them as the mouthpiece of the Lord?  Do we not believe that because of the infinite and eternal nature of the atonement of Christ that all things will be made right in the end?  No matter the circumstance, whatever it may be that a person has lacked or missed out on in this life, it will be made up to them.  We will never be without the opportunity to become like Christ and rejoice eternally with Him, and to have compensation where deserved.

We, faithful women, do not need to worry about whether we may hold the priesthood or not.  We have every blessing and covenant available to us in order to return with triumph to our Father in Heaven.  We have a need to support the priesthood.  Our covenants are made possible through this power.  If we form our own version of the church in order to get what we want, we instantly lose access to that saving power.  Men, likewise, support the priesthood by keeping it sacred.  They support women by treating us with respect and dignity, honoring us for our unique role, realizing that our partnership is essential.

And women must support womanhood with humility and reverence by rejoicing in our divine nature and seeking to prepare our children to make their own temple covenants, and thereby, qualify for the Kingdom of God.  Both womanhood and priesthood inherently serve others and magnify the cause of Jesus Christ, supporting His great work and adding to His glory.

Submitted by Michelle Cox, Texas