Comments on: Female role parallel to priesthood

By: alea

alea — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 17:33:59 +0000

I agree that priesthood=brotherhood, as it appears, does Rudger Clawson:

"The Priesthood is a great brotherhood, held together by the eternal and immutable laws that constitute the framework of the Gospel. The feeling of brotherhood should permeate the quorum. It should be the first concern of a quorum to help all members who may be in need temporally, mentally, or spiritually. The spirit of brotherhood should be the directing force in all the plans and operations of the quorum." (quoted by L. Tom Perry in his Oct 04 conference address)

This quote is interesting because it downplays the role of the priesthood as holding the keys to ordinances and, with a few minor word changes (brother to sister, quorum to some word to usefully describe the local Relief Society unit), it'd sound pretty close to what you hear is expected of the sisters.

By: Kim Siever

Kim Siever — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 16:43:19 +0000

Maybe priesthood is supposed to be brotherhood.

By: lief

lief — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 16:11:37 +0000

I taught that lesson in my Elder's Quorum last Sunday, and took pains to point out the comparison that President Kimball's quote actually makes. I don't have it in front of me anymore, but it said that men have priesthood and fatherhood and women have motherhood and sisterhood. I liked how priesthood wasn't equated with motherhood and that fatherhood wasn't ignored in his quote. Still, it's unclear what "sisterhood" means and whether there is an equivalent brotherhood.

By: Mary Siever

Mary Siever — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 15:50:42 +0000

Yes, I think that would be correct, what Alea said.

By: alea

alea — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 03:19:00 +0000

What about sisterhood, in the sense of ye old giving-blessings-by-the-laying-of-hands to women about to give birth and as a role in the blessing of others via the service of Relief Socity?