Am I a Suppressed Woman?

 General Relief Society Presidency. Left to right: Sharon Eubank, 
Jean B. Bingham, and Reyna I. Aburto.

Yes, I'm a wife and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ o Latter-day Saints , but am I suppressed? Hardly! I think most women members would find that funny. We are often overwhelmed by the load of leadership responsibility we carry.

I think where most people get confused and think that women in The Church are dominated by the men because they have heard that women are "not allowed to hold the Priesthood". Actually, the women are given the same priesthood power when we make covenants in the temple. When we promise to keep the Lord's commandments, He blesses us, both men and women, with some of His power to enable us to grow and to accomplish the things He wants us to do.  Priesthood power is what enables women to guide their family, teach, and lead the children, young women, and women of the Church.

But you might say that the women are not allowed to hold leadership positions. It is true that men and women have been given different responsibilities. Men have the responsibility for general administration. Women have responsibility lead the children, young women, and the women of The Church under Priesthood guidance.


People then say, "See, I told you that the women are dominated by the men!"   No, you do not see. The leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter'day Saints is, of course, Jesus Christ. You do not work your way up and have power over others. A man could be a Bishop one day and be passing out song books the next (I saw this happen).

Our Savior has told us that who is greatest among us should be servant of all. He washed the disciples feet (the job of a slave) demonstrating how they should love and serve each other and all people. For example, a Bishop is the leader of a ward and therefore the servant of all. Without pay, a man called to be a Bishop spends many hours each week trying to give support to those in his Ward (local) area. He does not have a "right" to issue orders, but an obligation to serve. A Bishop has the responsibility to provide leadership to those in his ward, assisted by a council comprised of the other leaders in the ward which includes women.

A Bishop serves by delegating responsibility to other leaders. He helps to coordinate their work, provides counsel, and support when they need it. He does not micro-manage.This is not a boss -employee relationship. We are all volunteers who try to help each other.

Women are not dominated by dictating men, but served by men who have been given the responsibility give us loving support in fulfilling our responsibility of leading the children, young women, and women of the Church.

Note: ONLY women can be Relief Society Presidents (lead the women and all teachers are women), Young Women Presidents (lead young women and all teachers are women), and Primary Presidents (lead the children and the teachers including men teachers; men can teach a Primary class, if his wife assists him).

Not only do we lead in The Church, but we organize events, give talks and prayers, teach Seminary and adult classes, and serve as missionaries. We do all this through the priesthood power we have been given and under the priesthood authority of our local leaders.

Men and women are equal. We have simply been given different responsibilities which suit our particular talents best.


More material to read
https://www.lds.org/ensign/2017/06/priesthood-power-through-keeping-covenants?lang=eng

1.   1. 
   Neil L. Andersen, “Power in the Priesthood,” Ensign, Nov. 2013, 92, 95.
2.   2. 
   M. Russell Ballard, “Men and Women and Priesthood Power,”Ensign, Sept. 2014, 32.
3.  3. 
   Linda K. Burton, “Priesthood Power—Available to All,” Ensign,June 2014, 39.
4.   4. 
   Russell M. Nelson, “The Price of Priesthood Power,” Ensign,May 2016, 69.