I recently read an article by Jana Riess showing a study where only 10% of LDS women want the priesthood, while 48% of LDS men are supportive of them getting it.
Do you think that with such a low number of women seeking it (versus 100% of black LDS men seeking PH prior to the 1978 revelation) will draw much attention from the GAs beyond giving women more say in Councils, etc?
How would a new revelation on priesthood for women affect the 90% who do not want it? If we suddenly said they had to have a specific priesthood in order to get a temple recommend or serve in a calling, how would it turn their world upside down?
I don’t have a problem with God giving women a priesthood of some kind or the same kind. I do want it carefully considered and deliberated upon, and not just done because it is the sociological thing to do. I think the cultural change caused by it could shock the Church right now, because most LDS women are not ready for it and not wanting it.
And there are other factors:
If women are given the exact priesthood men have, how will it affect the entire system? How would the traditional family and Proclamation on the Family be affected? With the family as the foundation of the Church, would such a major change without preparation of the members and families cause families to fall apart in the chaos that would ensue? Would it end up being like Obamacare – a huge and unpopular program that was implemented too fast and without much forethought on doing it right the first time?
And what if a different priesthood is given to women, which gave them some, but not all, the power of the men? What if there were a minor change that still accomodated the 90% of LDS women? Would it be sufficient for the women beloning to OW? Or would they then complain that it did not go far enough? When would they state, “God has made his decision”?
Do you feel that the changes made recently in how women have more power in the Councils and as missionaries is perhaps the first step by the First Presidency to prepare the women (and members) of the Church for a form of priesthood?
Finally, if we are going to work a change, we have to bring possible solutions to the table, and not just whine and complain. How would YOU propose such change be made that works best for the women and families of the Church?
BTW, I have posted these and other questions at the FMH site, where their “diversity” is being celebrated, but no one (besides Silver Rain, who does not seek the PH) has chosen to answer my questions.