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.