I’m a musician, an actress and currently a student at BYU.
I was born in the covenant to two amazing parents who taught me to never be afraid of who I was. Because of the way they raised me, I have become the self-sufficient, independent, out-spoken woman I am today. Over the years, I’ve learned to express the opinions and feelings I have through the many talents I’ve been given by my Heavenly Father. Music, especially, has become a key instrument in my life for self-expression.
I remember my mom telling me when I was younger that the reason she switched her major so many times in college was because God knew she would need all that knowledge if she was going to raise me. I never stopped asking questions and she never stopped answering them. One time, I asked her why I couldn’t hold the priesthood and pass the Sacrament like the boys did. My mom responded that men’s responsibility was to hold the priesthood and women were able to be mothers and have children. I think that was probably the first time I didn’t like an answer to my questions.
Following the first time I heard about Ordain Women, I stayed on the back burner and declared myself an ally, but not a supporter of the movement. I completely supported these women and their search for answers, but I personally did not have a burning desire to be ordained and decided it wouldn’t be the end of the world if women were not given the priesthood. However, the more I listened and the more I pondered, I began to wonder if this group of men and women were saying more than that. It’s not just about ordaining women; it’s about attaining gender equality in the church. It’s not about “different responsibilities”; it’s about allowing women to choose their path and not following the one they’re told they have to simply because of their gender.
People always ask OW supporters, “Why do you want to be ordained? Why can’t you just be happy?” I just have one response to these questions: Why NOT ordination?
I have a testimony of the power of women and the importance of our voices. We need to be heard and we want to serve. For these reasons, I believe women should be ordained.