Ask and receive

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

I'm of two minds about a group of Mormon women asking the prophet to ask God to give women the priesthood ("Mormons launch online push to ordain women to the priesthood," Tribune, April 3).

First, I do believe that "all are alike unto God … black and white … male and female" (2 Nephi 26:33). Once, Mormons didn't think that necessarily meant black ordination; now it does. So why not women ordination?

Second, while I don't like pigeonholing anyone, neither do I want sameness. There is something to the Mormon way of celebrating differences in the sexes. In empowering women, should it be in the male power modes of Mormon priesthood? Can't we allow Mormon women to create their own empowered society?

Regardless, I hope the prophet does indeed ask God with all the fervor that former LDS Church President Spencer Kimball asked about blacks and the priesthood. And I hope he listens just as intently, too.

Rob Douglas

Salt Lake City