I’m a wife, a mother, a student, a foodie and an avid reader. I love studying, discussing and experiencing faith — my own and that of others.
My three siblings and I were raised in the Deep South in a devout Mormon home. We are the first generation in our family to be born into the Church. My husband and I grew up in the same ward and were later married in the Provo Temple while attending BYU. We have returned to our hometown to raise our two children.
I believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ. I believe, as Alma said, that “all things denote there is a God.” I love to sing the hymns of the church – however poorly. Throughout my life, I have treasured my ability to receive personal revelation. This has given me a great deal of peace during challenging periods of my journey. I value the companionship of the Spirit in my life.
While I have always been an observant member of the Church, I have struggled greatly with issues related to gender inequality in our tradition. As a young girl, I felt the discomfort of gender inequality at church before I was old enough to properly name it. I put many of my questions on the proverbial “shelf”, but as I face raising my own daughter in the faith these questions have returned with an intensity that demands my attention.
I find scriptural, historical, and doctrinal evidence that points to the possibility of the ordination of women. In the scriptures we learn of Phoebe, a deacon in the early Christian church. In Acts we read about the daughters of Philip, who “did prophesy” (Acts 21:8-9). In the latter days, Joseph Smith organized the Relief Society “as a kingdom of priests.”
Most especially, I believe that the Mormon recognition of God as both male and female – our Heavenly Parents – sets the foundation for the ordination of women. If the priesthood is the power to act in God’s name, and God is both male and female, then what is the role of current Latter-day Saint women in the priesthood?
Finally, I have personal reasons to hope for the ordination of women. I wish that on the most difficult night of my life, as my husband and I sat with our 5-week old daughter in a local ER, that her two faithful parents would have been enough to give her a blessing of health. My daughter recovered from that illness, but my wish for LDS women to have authority to give their children blessings of health remains.
I am thankful to be a member of a living church, where God still speaks. I believe the 9th Article of Faith which says, “We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.” I hope that we will be open and prepared to understand the things that God has yet to reveal to us. I believe that women should be ordained.