In Doctrines of Salvation, Joseph Fielding Smith was answering a question about whether or not women hold the priesthood through their husbands. He said they do not but he goes on to say that…
Women… will become priestesses and queens in the kingdom of God, and that implies authority… (Doctrines of Salvation 3:178)
Just thougth that was interesting, that’s all. I’ve heard it before, but I couldn’t remember where I had seen it. Now if I can just find that dang quote about the temple and the Patriarchal Order of the priesthood.
Interesting indeed.
Which quote about the Patriarchal Order are you searching for?
I dislike ellipses, since you always know something has been left out. Any reason why you left out the whole quote? “Women do not hold the priesthood, but if they are faithful and true they will become priestesses and queens in the kingdom of God, and that implies that they will be given authority.”
Speaking of leaving things out, there is a similar quote from JFS in the new Daughters in my Kingdom Book, pg 133, which reads “It is within the privilege of the sisters of this Church to receive exaltation in the kingdom of God and receive authority and power as queens and priestesses.” Interestingly, they stopped the sentence there, but it actually continues to say “It is within the privilege of the sisters of this Church to receive exaltation in the kingdom of God and receive authority and power as queens and priestesses, and I am sure if they have that power they have some power to rule and reign. Else why would they be priestesses?”
Thanks Rosemary, the entire quotation makes up for all the stuff that keeps being left out.
Bruce,
Have you read this article?
http://www.ldsmag.com/article/1/201
It may have something you are looking for.
Paul describes Phoebe as a deaconess in the Church. I wonder what her duties really were.
Rosemary and Yvonne S, I agree the entire quotation is better, but you seem to be implying that Bruce is somehow manipulating something. It seems to me he was just being concise. I don’t see a huge change in meaning between your quotations and what Bruce quoted — and doesn’t he get some brownie points for bringing up the subject at all? I know Bruce personally, and he really relishes brownie points, so please give him some.
Geoff B., I am happy he is bringing it up. But when he leaves out the “but if they are faithful and true” it makes it sound like it’s a given (which I don’t really think he is asserting, but just pointing it out). And I’m pleased he brought this to light, I hadn’t seen it before.
Now if you were to accuse me of implying that the writer/editors of DIMK were somehow manipulating the quote to make sure there was no hint of a mention of “ruling” or “power” in connection with women to not give women any ideas as they read then I’d have to say: guilty.