SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Feb. 17, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints may not be ready to grant women the priesthood, but Ordain Women is ready ─ Ready to Witness.
That’s the title of a new campaign by the group and launched Wednesday.
Ordain Women, which describes its members as “Mormon women seeking equality and ordination to the priesthood,” announced it is inviting women to download a postcard or fill out an online form and share their stories of how being barred from the priesthood has hurt them.
The following suggestions, shared in Ordain Women’s words, are listed on the site:
• Explain what it feels like to have your infant taken from your arms and blessed while you weep because you are not allowed to witness the moment, because policy says a woman cannot hold her baby.
• Share the moment you were told that you could not act as witness to your best friend’s baptism, because policy says that witnessing is a role reserved for men.
• Describe the fear you feel when you imagine young women, alone in rooms with adult men asking them personal questions, and no one to sit next to them to witness and protect them, because policies dictate worthiness interviews with male leaders.
• Tell of the moment you realized that your Young Women’s president could not serve as the witness at your temple sealing because the Church Handbook of Instruction says that only men are acceptable witnesses.
• Ask of why, when women were chosen to serve as the first witnesses of the resurrected Christ, these policies are in place to keep women from serving as witnesses to these moments in our church.
Ordain Women announced that on April 4, it will take all Ready to Witness submissions to the Church Administration Building for delivery.
In addition, Ordain Women leaders will be at the building during daylight hours on April 1 through 3, collecting more postcards and stories. Supporters are invited to join leaders outside the Church Administration Building.
This deeply saddens me. These poor women have it so very backward. As a woman, I have been so very blessed in my life thru the priesthood, not because I hold it, but because it’s blessing are readily available to me. I fear they do not see our Heavenly Father’s great wisdom and his deep love for his daughters in his choice to have only men hold the priesthood (not the only ones to receive the blessings from it).Truly sad.
I am with you on that.
The statements made by this group regarding the issues addressed in the article are disingenuous in the extreme. “To have your infant aken from your arms… while you weep.” This charge would be laughable if it were not so diabolical. No child is”taken.” Never, not ever. The insinuation is sickening. The so-called “Ordain Women” organisation should be revealed for what it is – a deceptive insurgent group whose leaders are apostate. If possible, they would gladly destroy the church and rebuild it in the image of a God of there own making.
To be denied the right to”witness” an ordinance suggests one is being denied access to the ceremony – another gross deception. Finally, the idea that women must be present when clergy are ministering to young women so they can be “protected,” presumably from sexual exploitation, is a sickening, dreadful, asnd baseless accusation that impugnes the honor and integrity of thousands of men who would lay down there lives defending the virtue of women and girls in their ecclesiastical care.
This group needs to be exposed and called out. At the very least, they are utterly lost, misguided souls. At worst, they are calculating schemers, filled with anger, frustration, and vitriol.
Good I supported your opinion hundred percent God bless you
If it is only a policy that women cannot do such and such, perhaps the policy should be changed. Joseph saw nothing wrong with women blessing others, if heaven decided to grant healing. However the church decided to make a policy against it. Seems to me that is not right.
These groups are apostate. They need to be arrested when they come to the Temple site. They have been possess with the devils spirit and is huntening them .they needs total repentance,they should humble themselves and see their bishops for help .if not they will never be successful, they will suffer here on this earth and I promised them they will died and go to the spirit prison. Anybody who have plan to join them should be careful because these groups have Notting to do with the Church they are in to course confusion to those who’s testimony are not strong. Everybody should be careful with these so call groups.
Really Amos Wallace, your remarks belong in the Dark Ages. The matters they refer to are only policy matters, policy issues in the Church are not doctrine and in the past policy decisions have been changed. I agree that some of the language is overly emotive but unless people question change will never occur. It’s seems to be the default position to label anyone or any group apostate, who question. That is more of a sad reflection of religious people rather than followers of Christ.
These are very ignorant views coming from men who supposedly strive to be like Jesus. The fear of losing their power to women is just oozing off them! Just sad.
These are some very interesting views coming from men striving to be like Jesus. The fear of losing their power to women is just oozing off them! The ladies are going to make it happen, they will get what they are asking for. I suggest you prepare your self for your worthiness interviews from your local ladie bishops!
Sad old men.
Perhaps the one thing that they have a legitimate view on is the fact that young women are interviewed alone by men. Now, i’m not saying that anything untoward is happening, but it can be intimidating, and there have been some few scattered instances of abuse… It might be a good idea if a young woman asks for it, to have the young woman’s president, her Mother, or the Relief Society President present at these, just to make them feel more comfortable and provide additional prospective if called upon by the Bishop. Particularly about situations where he might feel at a loss to give counsel… This IS a policy and really has nothing to do with doctrine… Just something to think about…
I’m not thrilled about youth of either gender having these interviews in private. I agree with you, Aaron, about expanding the circle of supporters to attend these interviews. One thing that did occur to me as I was reading your comments is there have been cases of rape where the woman goes to her bishop for healing and he blames her for the crime. I think adding a person with professional training in these matters to the circle of possible supporters would be a good idea.
Why don’t they just start their own church and organise it however they want? They can have pink sacrament trays or wear pin stripe pant suits or whatever makes them happy!. They should really consider it.
Karen, great idea. Not everything has to keep changing. The grievance suggestions from this group sound like brainwashing. Furthermore these suggestions insinuate really awful things that are either untrue or out of context. A baby being torn from her mother’s arms? Really this is laughable nonsense. Try dealing in actual facts and truths to make your case, not fabrications, distortions and outright lies. With some of these comments I have to wonder: Is it men of the Church that are on a power trip, or is it this group of women. Having a woman for a Bishop or Elders Quorum President vs a man would be better in what way exactly? Why cant I be the first male Relief Society President or Young Women’s President?
Well, I solved the issue quite easily by becoming a Lutheran and graduating from Seminary. Priesthood of all believers comes with Baptism through the authority of the Lord God Almighty (no apostles required). Ordination to full ministry Priesthood is there – just take it.
Simple choice. Trust God and Sin Boldly.
J