My name is Kristan and I have been a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints my entire life. I have lived in many different places throughout the United States and cherish the diversity of my experiences as I move from place to place meeting new people and communities. I love art, music, and stories. I am a kindergarten teacher and feel blessed to spend my days surrounded by young children who are so honest and open with their hearts. Both as a mother and a teacher, my goal is to help children recognize goodness, beauty, and truth in the world.
I was raised in a very active family by parents who always taught the importance of continually seeking for greater truth and light directly through God and fostering a personal relationship with Christ. Because of these teachings, I have been raised to see myself as a beloved and capable daughter of Heavenly Parents who want to bless me with eternal love and growth. However, after I was married in the temple I realized for the first time that this message of equality is not fully manifested within the current practices of the temple and church ordinances. Furthermore, my experiences attending and serving in the church as a mother of two young daughters has left me increasingly more aware of and frustrated at the lack of female representation and perspective within our leadership, ordinances, and lessons.
I have prayed, and studied, and struggled for years with my perceptions and experiences of inequality within the Church and have received a personal confirmation that change is needed and is possible. Half of humankind is female, and I do not believe God means to prevent his talented, loving, faithful, and devout daughters from acting with the direct authority of God as priestesses and leaders within the Church. Women can offer unique insight and experience that would enhance all levels of leadership and service capabilities of the Church.
Unfortunately, without female ordination women’s talents and perspectives are not fully included in the decisions made by the leadership structure of the Church. We are left with an imbalance that places women in a subordinate position. To me this does not reflect God’s truth or love. I feel compelled to honor my own inner feelings and the spiritual guidance I have received by working to create ways for women throughout the world to be truly respected, empowered, valued, and included in the Kingdom of God. That is why I believe women should be ordained.