When Christ rose from the grave, he first appeared to Mary Magdalene. Mary brought her testimony to Christ’s apostles. For that, Saint Augustine named Mary, who truly was a special witness of Christ, “Apostle to the Apostles.” Today, a beautiful cathedral under Mary Magdalene’s patronage sits within a half a mile of the Salt Lake City temple.
Like so many saints since the first century, I look to several women, both inside and outside the Church, as spiritual leaders. If the Church is going to live up to its dispensational call to be a restoration of all things, I feel it cannot ignore the Ordain Women movement. Apostolic women like Mary Magdalene, and the deaconesses mentioned in the Epistles of Saint Paul, wrought mighty miracles in the name of Jesus, and witnessed the transformation of the world through their own testimony. I feel a latter-day restoration of women to the priesthood will transform the ministry in a profound way.
Christ taught “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8). Many Latter-day Saint women have heard the call and are knocking at the door. I believe Christ to be willing to open that door for them. I long to see the miracles that priesthood-bearing women will accomplish for their families and for the world.
I believe women should be ordained.