Priesthood and Sisterhood

Priesthood and Sisterhood: An Equal Partnership 

Grethe Ballif Peterson 

 

President Kimball spoke more precisely and extensively than ever before to the women of the Church. He described the great possibilities of womanhood and methodically discussed what women need to know and need to do. In the Church's women's conference in the fall of 1979, he stated unequivocally that men and women have full equality as spirit children. Then, quoting Elder John A. Widtsoe, he said, "The place of woman is to walk beside the man, not in front of him nor behind him." President Kimball continued: "Within those great assurances, however, our roles and assignments differ. These are eternal differences, with women being given many tremendous responsibilities of motherhood and sisterhood and the men the tremendous responsibilities of fatherhood and the priesthood." (My Beloved Sisters, Deseret Book, 1979, pp. 35, 37.) 

President Kimball seemed to be making a distinction that I had not heard before. He was talking about the responsibilities of men and women, equating motherhood with fatherhood, which we certainly understand, and then sisterhood with priesthood. He seemed to be talking about a parallel relationship in the function of priesthood and sisterhood, a relationship that is obviously important, but one that we haven't thought much about.

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Spencer W. Kimball

"My Beloved Sisters"

Chapter - "Be Thou an Example"

We had full equality as his spirit children. We have equality as recipients of God's perfected love for each of us. The late Elder John A. Widtsoe wrote: "The place of woman in the Church is to walk beside the man, not in front of him nor behind him. In the Church there is full equality between man and woman. The gospel, which is the only concern of the Church, was devised by the Lord for men and women alike." 

Within those great assurances, however, our roles and assignments differ. These are eternal differences, with women being given many tremendous responsibilities of motherhood and sisterhood and the men the tremendous responsibilities of fatherhood and the priesthood—but the man is not without the woman nor the woman without the man in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 11:11.) Both a righteous man and a righteous woman are a blessing to all those whom their lives touch.

Counsel to Emma - Counsel to All Women

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Women in the Church

2011 Relief Society Meeting

You Are Not Forgotten

—President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

As a child, when I would look at the little forget-me-nots, I sometimes felt a little like that flower—small and very insignificant. I wondered if I would be forgotten by my family or by my Heavenly Father.

Years later, I can look back on that young boy with tenderness and compassion. And I do know now I was never forgotten.

And I know something else. As an Apostle of our Master, Jesus Christ, I proclaim with all the certainty and conviction of my heart and soul—neither are you!

You are not forgotten.

Sisters, wherever you are, whatever the circumstances may be, you are not forgotten. No matter how dark your days may seem, no matter how insignificant you may feel, no matter how overshadowed you think you may be, your Heavenly Father has not forgotten you. In fact, He loves you, with an infinite love.

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Make Temple Blessings the Great Goal

—Sister Julie B. Beck

I hope my granddaughters value the temple as did the sisters of the first Relief Society, who believed that temple blessings were the grand prize and great goal of every Latter-day Saint woman. I hope that, like early Relief Society sisters, my granddaughters will strive daily to become sufficiently mature to make and keep sacred temple covenants and that when they go to the temple, they will pay attention to all that is said and done.

Through the blessings of the temple they will be armed with power and blessed to receive the “key of the knowledge of God.” Through the ordinances of the priesthood found only in temples, they will be blessed to fulfill their divine, eternal responsibilities, and they will promise to live as committed disciples.

I am grateful that one of the Lord’s primary purposes in organizing Relief Society was to give the women the responsibility to help prepare “for the greater blessings of the priesthood found in the ordinances and covenants of the temple.”

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President James E. Faust

General Relief Society Meeting

October 2005

"I believe that all of you sisters want to be happy and find the peace that the Savior promised. I think many of you try very hard to keep up with all of your responsibilities. I do not wish to offend anyone. I am reluctant to mention a matter but feel it should be said. Sometimes we carry unhappy feelings about past hurts too long. We spend too much energy dwelling on things that have passed and cannot be changed. We struggle to close the door and let go of the hurt. If, after time, we can forgive whatever may have caused the hurt, we will tap "into a life-giving source of comfort" through the Atonement, and the "sweet peace" of forgiveness will be ours.⁴ Some injuries are so hurtful and deep that healing comes only with help from a higher power and hope for perfect justice and restitution in the next life. Sisters, you can tap into that higher power and receive precious comfort and sweet peace."

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