Posted by OrdainWomen on Feb 1, 2017 in Blog |

Debra Jenson serves as the chair of the Ordain Women communications committee.

What about women who don’t want the priesthood? Why aren’t you satisfied in your role? Women already hold the priesthood so why do you need it?

I love and respect the women of my church. I am the granddaughter of a member of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers and I am proud of my pioneer ancestors. I fully understand the concerns of women who do not want the priesthood—many of whom are already stretched to their limits with family and church commitments—seeing priesthood ordination as yet one more demand on their time.

In response to this question, I first say that women who do not feel the call to ordination should absolutely not feel obligated to be ordained. I do not believe ordination should be required for any member who does not feel called to its duties. As children of Heavenly Parents, we are born with divine natures and individual worth; we should be allowed to take the unique talents and gifts we are given and use them in service.

In addition to this, I believe that women must acknowledge that the very same stress they feel at the thought of ordination is already felt by men and boys in our community. Mormon men are forced to carry the burden of leadership by themselves, even though they have busy lives with family, work, and community responsibilities pulling at their time. Imagine the work we could do, the miracles that could be accomplished were we to truly be equally yoked, with double the number of priesthood holders in our church.