I have often wondered why people seem so upset that women do not "hold" the Priesthood. They seem to view the men's Priesthood responsibilities as the men having all power and dictating their will to submissive women. (I think it is rather funny to think women would go along with that!) What must be remembered is that God's power can only be used if a person is righteous, and His power can only be used to serve others.
This is one of the last lessons that the Savior taught his disciples. Listen to the Savior's response when the mother of James and John, two of his disciples, came to him and asked if her sons could sit on the Savior's right and left in His kingdom (have positions of honor).
25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. Matthew 20
To emphasize and demonstrate that His power can only to be used to serve others, the Savior washed His disciples feet. Washing feet was a slave's job and indicated their subjection to a social superior person. In fact, washing someone's feet was a sign of being a slave. This was one of the last things the Savior did on the night before he left with his disciples to go to the garden of Gethsemane.
4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
5 After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. John 13
I am so impressed that the Savior would humble himself and show us the way to lead, serve, and love each other. In His church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, no one has power over, or a right, to give orders to others. All that is done by both men and women is done to serve, as the Savior would, those around them.
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