Hi, I’m Jeff. I am an engineering graduate student at Caltech. I love teaching, animals, teaching animals, talking with my wife, watching my daughter discover the world, woodworking and playing board and computer games. As a lifelong member, I served a mission, attended BYU, was married in the temple, taught Sunday School and served in Elders Quorum and branch presidencies.
Sometime around late 2012, my wife and I found ourselves chatting with a Mormon feminist after a Miller Eccles presentation. Without much warning, she asked if we were in favor of the ordination of women.
Frankly, I was amazed that someone would mention the ordination of women without hushing their voice or looking around to see who might hear. I had never seriously considered it. Caught somewhat off-guard, both my wife and I stammered out some socially-acceptable dodge and the conversation moved on.
After the meeting, I watched the issue closely. I read blogs, listened to podcasts, combed through comments and made a collection of points for and against ordination. I have spent two years researching, thinking, praying and talking with others about it.
In my most honest moments of examination and reflection, all arguments against ordination crumble except for fear of the unknown. I do not know how it would work; I’m not sure how the structure of the Church would accommodate the change. But I do believe that nothing but good stands to come from the ordination of women.
The roles we fill and our capacity for good should be determined by our talents, interests and abilities and not by our biological sex. There is nothing inherent to the nature of women that prevents them from accepting priesthood responsibility and there is no skill they are lacking to perform priesthood functions. The Church and the world are impoverished by our refusal to ordain women.
I believe in the ordination of women.