Thursday, April 3, 2014

My 2 cents on women and the priesthood

I am a single Mormon woman who a week ago Saturday had the amazing opportunity to attend a broadcast of the General Women's Meeting. This was the first time since long before I was born where all women of the church over the age of 8 were gathered together to listen to the inspired words of our church leaders. I was near tears from the very beginning because I have never felt the presence of the Holy Ghost so strongly during a broadcast. All I could think the whole time is that I hope that the precious young daughters of God who I will be given stewardship over this summer at Oakcrest were also in attendance somewhere. We truly heard divine inspiration.
Fast forward to today. This Saturday is the start of the 184th Semi-Annual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Recently there has been a lot of attention thrown on the Church, specifically the women of the Church. Not all this attention has been good. The New York Times recently published an article entitled "From Mormon Women, a Flood of Requests and Questions on Their Role in the Church"which you can read here or even this article, also published in The New York Times, about how the lowering of the mission age for girls is signaling a "growing role for Mormon women".
Let me explain to you why I, Maegan Kasteler, will not be attending the Ordain Women movement.
I, Maegan Kasteler, am a daughter of a loving Heavenly Father who has much love for me and all of his children. I know this. I know that I have divine nature that is not altered or swayed by the views and opinions of the world. I believe that women have been endowed with certain attributes that allow us to be mothers, to nurture, to bear and rear children.
Now that I have explained some of my beliefs let me better explain exactly why I am not attending the Ordain Women movement.
We live in a world that I believe is trying to make everything equal. Equal is good there should not be things like segregation and discrimination. However, "equal" does not always mean "same". 2+2 equals 4 just as much as 3+1 equals 4.
I am a strong independent woman who wishes to have  a career and to be successful. I also desire to be a mother and to raise children in the gospel. I do not have the desire to hold the priesthood. I have lived in a family that for the past 2+ years has not had a holder of the Melchizedek priesthood in the home. I have felt that hole and it has been all too real. But I still have the priesthood in my life. I have grandfathers, uncles, friends, and church leaders who are ready and willing and worthy to exercise their God given power on behalf of me. Throughout this time I have been able to be reassured in my calling as a Woman in the Gospel. I have power that I am unaware of. I have the ability to do more than my mortal mind can comprehend. I do not need to hold the priesthood to reap the benefits.
I can see where the members of the OW movement are coming from. If you look at it, it does appear that the Church oppresses women. Here is how I see it, by encouraging us to rear and bear children the Church encourages us to exercise a God given power to gestate and give birth to His children. We are asked and have the ability to be the sacred vessels to bring these choice spirits into the world. Notice I said a "God given power". I used that phrase earlier to describe the priesthood.
And that is how I see it. It is simple. We have been endowed with sacred power, both men and women, the power is different but we are equal. God sees us all as his children, we should all see in ourselves and others what God sees us and who he knows we can become.

*I hope that I have not offended anyone. This is my personal blog where I am free to express my opinions. Please if you have any negative comments refrain from posting them on my blog! Thank you!

4 comments:

  1. lol brainwashed much?

    Just because you don't want to be in the priesthood doesn't mean that you shouldn't help women to become equal in your church.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Maeg! I love this and couldn't agree more. Men and Women both have a place in the church. Thanks for sharing. Oh and I know that there are lovely beehives being prepared to be in your presence for a week this summer, you will both be better because of it!

    ReplyDelete
  3. You made a great point. We are equal but not the same. We are physically, mentally, and emotionally different. The worlds fastest man will always be faster then the worlds fastest women. The woman's hippocampus is bigger then a man's. Women have children and men do not. We ARE undoubtedly different and will never be the same. You are not brainwashed, you are seeing the obvious truth. Well said maegan

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm proud of you girly! Don't let anyone shift your opinion or make you think less of yourself because you share what you feel is right! I support you 100%!

    ReplyDelete