Confirming Our Hope: Women And Priesthood

April Bennett’s Counterpoint presentation Theological Foundations: What Is Priesthood And Why Is It Necessary For Women?

Ordain Women Aug. 1 Sunstone Presentation Video

On Aug. 1, 2013 four leaders of Ordain Women, Lorie Winder, Kate Kelly, Hannah Wheelwright & Kaimi Wenger presented at Sunstone in Salt Lake City, Utah. After brief presentations, they took questions from the audience and that people had submitted online.

Ordain Women Launch Event Videos

On April 6, 2013 at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Ordain Women held its first public meeting, concurrent with the priesthood session of General Conference. Follow the links below to view the talks that were given at this meeting:

Lorie Winder examines why female ordination is important and how it reflects the eternal potential of women.

Margaret Toscano explores the Biblical history of female priesthood authority at the time of the New Testament.

Mary Ellen Robertson discusses the spiritual gifts of blessing and healing that men and women exercised equally in the early years of the Church.

Hannah Wheelwright describes her recent feminist awakening as a BYU student, which has opened her eyes for women’s need to be ordained.

Debra Jenson explains how her background in the Church–as a young woman, a wife, and a mother–has led her to support female ordination.

Kate Kelly traces Ordain Women’s inception and describes how serving a mission made her aware of the importance of female ordination.

Books and Articles About Women and the Priesthood*

Nauvoo Relief Society Minute Book (part of the Joseph Smith Papers project).

Beecher, Maureen Ursenbach, and Lavina Fielding Anderson, eds. Sisters in Spirit: Women in Historical and Cultural Perspective. University of Illinois Press, 1992.

Carroll, James. “Women and Religion.” The Boston Globe. April 15, 2013.

Farnsworth, Sonja. “Mormonism’s Odd Couple: The Motherhood-Priesthood Connection.” Women and Authority: Re-emerging Mormon Feminism. Ed Maxine Hanks. Signature Books, 1992.

Hansen, Nadine. “Women and Priesthood.”  Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought. Volume 14, No. 4. Winter 1981: pp. 48 to 57.

Lindsey, Betina. “Women as Healers in the Modern Church.” Women and Authority: Re-emerging Mormon Feminism. Ed Maxine Hanks. Signature Books, 1992.

Newell, Linda King. “A Gift Given, A Gift Taken: Washing, Anointing, and Blessing the Sick Among Mormon Women .” Sunstone. September/October 1981: pp. 16 to 25.

Newell, Linda King. “The Historical Relationship of Mormon Women and Priesthood.” Women and Authority: Re-emerging Mormon Feminism. Ed Maxine Hanks. Signature Books, 1992.

Pederson, Rena. The Lost Apostle: Searching for the Truth About Junia. Jossey-Bass, 2006.

Quinn, D. Michael. “Women Have Had the Priesthood Since 1843.” Women and Authority: Re-emerging Mormon Feminism. Ed Maxine Hanks. Signature Books, 1992.

Stapley, Jonathan A., and Kristine Wright. “Female Ritual Healing in Mormonism.” Journal of Mormon History. Volume 37. Winter 2011: pp. 1 to 85.

Stromberg, Lorie Winder. “Power Hungry.” Sunstone. December 2004: pp. 60 to 61.

Toscano, Margaret Merrill. “Are Boys More Important than Girls? The Continuing Conflict of Gender Difference and Equality in Mormonism.” Sunstone. June 2007: pp. 19 to 29.

Toscano, Margaret Merrill. “If Mormon Women Have Had the Priesthood Since 1843, Why Aren’t They Using It?” Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought. Volume 27, No. 2. Summer 1994: pp. 219 to 226.

Toscano, Margaret Merrill. “Put on Your Strength O Daughters of Zion: Claiming Priesthood and Knowing the Mother.” Women and Authority: Re-emerging Mormon Feminism. Ed Maxine Hanks. Signature Books, 1992.

Toscano, Margaret Merrill, and Paul Toscano. Strangers in Paradox: Explorations in Mormon Theology. Signature Books, 1990.

Wheatley, Meg. “An Expanded Definition of Priesthood? Some Present and Future Consequences.” Women and Authority: Re-emerging Mormon Feminism. Ed Maxine Hanks. Signature Books, 1992.

Yeates, Marian. “Why Shouldn’t Mormon Women Want This Priesthood?” Women and Authority: Re-emerging Mormon Feminism. Ed Maxine Hanks. Signature Books, 1992.

Zandamela,Tinesha. “Just Pick One.” ebook, 2015.

 

Blog Posts About Women and the Priesthood*

April. “The Spirit Of Fear.” The Exponent. September 6, 2013

April. “Equal In Faith: Join Us In Fasting August 26, 2013.” The Exponent. July 31, 2013

April. “Ordination Is The Answer To Correlation.” The Exponent. July 18, 2013

April. “Priesthood, I.E., Men.” The Exponent. June 22, 2013

April. “Two Poll Questions About Ordaining Women.” The Exponent. June 16, 2013.

B., Annie. “Priesthood and Gender: Working Toward a More Godlike Understanding.” The Exponent. May 1, 2013.

Beal, Brent D. “A Mormon in the Cheap Seats: Half a Church.” Doves & Serpents. February 19, 2012.

Beal, Brent D. “A Mormon in the Cheap Seats: Half a Foot.” Doves & Serpents. February 26, 2012.

Bobo, Andria. “In Response to Arguments Against Female Ordination.” Young Mormon Feminists. April 7, 2013.

Brooks, Joanna. “Ask Mormon Girl: Should Women Be Ordained? Or Do They Already Hold the Priesthood?” Feminist Mormon Housewives. June 29, 2013

Brooks, Joanna. “Ask Mormon Girl: Are Gender-Restricted Church Responsibilities Based in Doctrine or Custom.” Ask Mormon Girl. May 20, 2013.

Brooks, Joanna. “Ask Mormon Girl: What do Mormons Mean When We Say “Priesthood?” Feminist Mormon Housewives. May 6, 2013.

Brooks, Joanna. “Joseph Smith Himself Viewed Women as Priesthood Holders.” Religion Dispatches. April 4, 2013.

Brooks, Joanna. “What is Priesthood? And Don’t Mormon Women Already Have it?” Ask Mormon Girl. April 15, 2013.

Brooks, Joanna. “Who Was the First LDS Leader to Pair Motherhood and Priesthood? What Else Has Changed about Priesthood Over the Course of LDS History?” Ask Mormon Girl. April 29, 2013.

Brunson, Sam. “Dealing with the Problem of Men’s Participation.” Times and Seasons. March 22, 2013.

Caroline. “Sisters Speak: Do Women Hold Some Form Of Priesthood?” The Exponent. June 5, 2013.

Clegg, Christy. “Straight Thinking on the Role of Women” Doves and Serpents. August 25, 2013.

DefyGravity. “In My Mind And In My Heart” The Exponent. July 6, 2013

EOR. “”Ordain Women” interview” Rational Faiths. August 14, 2013

Finnigan, Jessica. “Relief Society and the Priesthood” Rational Faiths. July 12, 2013

Gubler, Sarah. “Women and the Priesthood, an Introduction.” Exploring Sainthood. September 3, 2013

Hedgehog. “Christianity at the Crossroads: Women Bishops.” Wheat and Tares. April 25, 2013.

Jupiterschild. “Priesthood, Women, and Non-Agency.” Faith-Promoting Rumor. May 3, 2013.

Kelly, Donna. “Ask, Seek, and Knock: Standing in Support of the Ordain Women Movement.” The Exponent. March 22, 2013.

Kelly, Kate. “#peakpatriarchy” Feminist Mormon Housewives. August 21, 2013.

Kelly, Kate. “Hope’s Bright Flame: Ordain Women’s Launch.” Feminist Mormon Housewives. April 2, 2013.

Kelly, Kate. “Pay No Attention to That Man Behind the Curtain.” Feminist Mormon Housewives. April 22,2013.

Kelly, Nat. “The Brother of Jared Model: How Do You Ask For Change in a Church Driven by Revelation.” Feminist Mormon Housewives. March 26, 2013.

Kline, Caroline. “Mormons Who Advocate Women’s Ordination.” Feminism and Religion. March 26, 2013.

Lynnette. “Ten Reasons for Women to Hold the Priesthood.” Zelophehad’s Daughters. March, 23, 2013.

Moore Smith, Alison. “Dumb Reasons for Exclusively Male Priesthood.” Times and Seasons. March 22, 2013.

Mormon Child Bride. “Short Lessons on Mormon Feminism.” The Mormon Child Bride. June 19, 2013.

Oman, Nate. “Gender and Priesthood.” Times and Seasons. September 23, 2012.

Pandora. “Dona Nobis Aequalitatem.” Zelophehad’s Daughters. September 5, 2013.

Pawne, Onli A. “Ordination Primer.” Young Mormon Feminists. March 25, 2013.

Rah. “Women’s Ordination and “Wanting to be the Bishop.” Feminist Mormon Housewives. March 24, 2013.

Riess, Jana. “What Do We Teach Teenage Girls about the Mormon Priesthood?” Flunking Sainthood. June 1, 2013.

Riess, Jana. “What’s at Stake in Ordaining Mormon Women?” Flunking Sainthood. April 5, 2013.

Smith, Julie M. “Some Women Are Concerned That They Don’t Hold the Priesthood.” Times and Seasons. April 5, 2013.

Smith, Julie M. “Strands of Priesthood.” Times and Seasons. April 1, 2013.

Suzette. “Equal In Faith.” The Exponent. August 30, 2013.

Suzette. “Waiting for Our Day to Come.” The Exponent. April 28, 2013.

Wheelwright, Hannah. “am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” Young Mormon Feminists. July 16, 2013

Whoa-man. “Equal In Faith: Salt Lake City.” The Exponent. August 31, 2013

ymfsundayschool. “ymf sunday school: priesthood – “the power of godliness”” Young Mormon Feminists. June 6, 2013

Young Bennett, April. “Priestesshood Session.” The Exponent. April 7, 2013.

Podcasts and Other Recordings About Women and the Priesthood*

Robertson, Mary Ellen; Stevens, Michael J.; Toscano, Margaret; and Toscano, Paul. “Hierarchy, Priesthood and Community: Can Women Be Incorporated into Church Leadership? (Part I).” 2011 Counterpoint Conference, The Mormon Women’s Forum.

Robertson, Mary Ellen; Stevens, Michael J.; Toscano, Margaret; and Toscano, Paul. “Hierarchy, Priesthood and Community: Can Women Be Incorporated into Church Leadership? (Part II).” 2011 Counterpoint Conference, The Mormon Women’s Forum.

 

*These links to books, articles, blog posts, podcasts, and other recordings are provided for reference only and do not constitute an endorsement of Ordain Women by the authors cited.