A Woman Member's Thoughts on Priesthood and Personality

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. One day I was doing some writing on my Perspectives on Personality blog about how Thinker types (logic, task oriented, 3/4 of men) can better relate with Feeler types (value, people oriented, 3/4 of women). I was giving suggestions to Thinker types on how to relate more personally to Feeler types, when the thought came to my mind that what would help the most was if the Thinker gave service to the Feeler.  Suddenly, I realized that this is part of why men are given Priesthood assignments -- it is help them learn to serve and love. For women, we naturally see a need and meet it. We don't need as much structure to reach out to others. That is just how we are.

I can see how assigning men to watch over others helps them focus on the needs of the people they are responsible for, whether it is in his family, or in his ward (local church group).
Men's assignments to serve others and support them gives the men opportunities grow in love and compassion. I can see how Priesthood assignments help most men develop their weaker Feeling abilities by directing their focus on values, and on both short and long term human needs, and by encouraging men to become more involved in the lives of the people around them. This is especially needful for Thinkers since they tend just to focus on completing tasks, often at the expense of relationships. 

Priesthood assignments give men opportunities to become more aware of the needs of people and become actively involved in meeting those needs, providing men with a more balanced life. From a Personality Type perspective, I can't envision a better way to help men grow into more loving people and great men, than to have them serve others through Priesthood assignments. 


Note: Priesthood is the power and authority of God.  All that is done in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by both men and women is done through the power and authority of God. Men are given the responsibility to administer the Priesthood, but they are not "The Priesthood".