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I was sitting in a lesson where the topic was Priesthood, the person sitting next to me was asked “could you please share your testimony and thoughts on the priesthood?” I couldn’t help but ask myself – how would I handle that situation if they had asked me? I realized I might say something like:
Quote:I’m a little surprised that you ask me to share, because I freely say I don’t have all the answers. My understanding is not perfect, I have many questions. I can say however that I have received priesthood blessings and have felt comforted. I have given blessings and I have seen healing. I may not have a perfect understanding, but sometimes a perfect knowledge is not necessary. I believe in doing what works. “By their fruits ye shall know them” is a statement that I have fallen back on many times in my life, it is a concept that I hold dear. The fruits of our magnifying our priesthood should be easy to see, and I think we should often ask ourselves: “have I done any good in the world today?” The authority to act in God’s name is an honor, we would do well to constantly ask oursleves: “What would God have me do?” and then listen to the spirit as we carry out our work.
Personally, I don’t care if you view the priesthood as simply the permission to perform ordinances in our church – or as the universal and literal power of God. I think either perspective can take equal benefit from discussions such as the above.
Quote:I have a testimony that the priesthood is that authority to act in the name of God.
That’s probably what I’d say. I wouldn’t even try to get into what that means to me, or the implications of it, or any kind of exclusionary statements about it.For example, my 12 year old son is authorized to pass the sacrament in a tie and white shirt. There is not magic about it, the bread doesn’t transform into the literal flesh of God. But because my son was serving the congregation, it helps him to exercise his faith through service while blessing those who can partake of the symbolism found in the sacrament service.
I guess I try to keep my testimonies simple these days…it helps me be honest about them.
Thanks for this. I think that is an excellent way to address it. I probably would say something like:
Quote:I am grateful for those times when I feel like I have been connected into something greater than myself – especially the handful of times I know I was speaking words that weren’t my own as I gave a blessing and understood I was uttering revelation and the will of God. It hasn’t happened very often for me, but I’m grateful for the times it has happened. I also am grateful for the times I’ve participated in temple baptisms, especially, and felt a very special spirit as I took the time to perform them like I would at one of my own children’s baptisms or the baptism of a covert. I absolutely love performing baptisms for the youth and recent converts in the temple.
I would say something like: Quote:I think the priesthood helps me elevate myself. Even though my understanding of how the priesthood acts on the physical world is limited, the idea that I have been commissioned by God to act in his name gives me a role to live up to. More than once it has encouraged me to act with greater reverence, greater selflessness, and greater spiritual power .
I too would keep it simple. “I don’t know how PH blessings work, but they certainly have worked in my life – to provide comfort or healing. And for that I’m grateful. I also appreciate that PH provides members with an opportunity and obligation to serve each other.” I was asked to talk about PH when my son was ordained, and I took out my Sours candies. I pointed out that there were two openings to get the candies out, one that was large that said “Not to Share” and one that was small that said “To Share.” I said the PH was just the opposite of that – it wasn’t for the person who held it, but for others. The “To Share” side was the big side, not the other way around.
As a woman with issues with patriarchy that has come out of the priesthood. Here is my simplified testimony. “I know that there is power of God on earth, and that we know that to be the priesthood, what I know of the priesthood is that it is the authority to act in God’s name. I believe it to be a power to perform ordinances, and healings and administrative work of the Church”.
That is it. That is all. I cant’ say any more. I don’t think there is “no end” to the priesthood as currently constituted by the Church. I know I am just praying for more understanding of everything.
*sigh* Still working through some things.
I wouldn’t go into this in a Sacrament Meeting (although I have talked briefly about it in a leadership meeting), but I believe absolutely and unequivocally that women who have gone through the temple have been “endowed” with the Priesthood, especially since they perform ordinances in it and wear the symbols of that Priesthood when they leave the temple. I see a big difference between “The Priesthood” and “the authority to perform Priesthood ordinances”. One is open to all who make the temple covenants; the other is given institutionally and, imo, is subject to change at any time. Age qualifications for males is a good example of how the granting of authority has changed over time, and I see those decisions as much more “policy” than “eternal doctrine”. I know that’s heterodox, but it’s the only view that makes sense to me at this time.
After what I saw last Sunday, and how this issue is hurting my daughter and her faith, I probably would have to excuse myself from the assignment. Good idea, cwald – especially in your branch. hmm, I actually have a very strong opinion against calling what women are endowed to Priesthood power (of course yes I know I also like egalitarian words, hmm the irony). I would rather call it a priestesshood. I am a weird one on this though. Just due to personal revelation I have felt strongly I’ve gotten. Feminizing the terms seem empowering to me on this one if women have the power of it, it would obviously take a more feminine form, not “SOFT” as we consider feminism culturally, but Womanly, because it comes from woman, not because it is less or somehow softer then a man’s power. It’s just to me, it makes sense that way. But I understand if other’s view it differently. Of course I also blame the English Language on this one too.
To me if we are to speak in terms which are associated with gender, then we should keep them to their gender as allowed by our language (as corrupt and patriarchal as I consider it to be, I actually am not so afraid of messing with the dictionary, lets create new words, myself I’m on a hunt for the word like priesthood but is gender neutral in both definition and connotation, wish me luck).
I guess in a nutshell what I am saying is: If it is masculine as a power, it should be masculine. If it is feminine as a power it should be feminine, but if it really constitutes both, lets fine a new word and get creative. (of course that will never fly with the General Authorities, but one can hope
wonderingcurrent, ironically, the wording in the temple is priests and priestesses – so that, at least, ought to be a bit of a comfort, other things notwithstanding. Yes, its a slight comfort. Notwithstanding other things as you said.
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