Q&A: Priesthood Principles and Women

By YA Weekly staff

Do you have questions about women’s involvement with priesthood authority and priesthood power? Here are some answers that might help.

“How am I able to use priesthood authority as a woman?”

“What does the priesthood power I receive in the temple mean for me?”

We can find answers, encouragement, and blessings as we study God’s priesthood power and how it applies to all of us, both women and men. As President Russell M. Nelson taught, “What could possibly be more exciting than to labor with the Spirit to understand God’s power—priesthood power?”¹

With that in mind, here are some answers to just a few questions about women and priesthood.

What’s the difference between priesthood power, priesthood authority, and priesthood keys?

“The priesthood is the authority and power of God. … Through the priesthood, Heavenly Father accomplishes His work ‘to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man’ [Moses 1:39].”²

“Priesthood authority is the authorization to represent God and act in His name. In the Church, all priesthood authority is exercised under the direction of those who hold priesthood keys. Worthy male Church members receive priesthood authority through priesthood conferral and ordination to priesthood offices. All Church members can exercise delegated authority as they are set apart or assigned to assist in accomplishing God’s work.”³

“Priesthood keys are the authority to direct the use of the priesthood on behalf of God’s children.”⁴ Priesthood keys are held by a relative few and enable God’s house to be a house of order: “Jesus Christ holds all of the keys of the priesthood. Under His direction, priesthood keys are given to men to use in specific callings for the accomplishing of God’s work.”⁵

“Priesthood power is the power by which God blesses His children. God’s priesthood power flows to all members of the Church—female and male—as they keep the covenants they have made with Him. Members make these covenants as they receive priesthood ordinances.”⁶ Priesthood power is received only through personal righteousness (see Doctrine and Covenants 121:36).

This is an important distinction—priesthood keys, priesthood authority, and priesthood power are all different things!

Why do only men hold priesthood offices?

Because that’s how Heavenly Father has revealed that His kingdom should be organized. President Dallin H. Oaks, First Counselor in the First Presidency, has taught, “The Lord has directed that only men will be ordained to offices in the priesthood.”⁷

Many have theorized about why, but the Lord has not revealed this. We do know, however, that God loves His children (see 1 Nephi 11:17) and desires to bless us and have us return to Him.

As President M. Russell Ballard has said, “This matter, like many others, comes down to our faith. Do we believe that this is the Lord’s Church? Do we believe that He has organized it according to His purposes and wisdom? Do we believe that His wisdom far exceeds ours? Do we believe that He has organized His Church in a manner that would be the greatest possible blessing to all of His children, both His sons and His daughters?”⁸

Why do men and woman have different responsibilities?

Within the family, women and men have interdependent responsibilities as mothers and fathers, not as mothers and priesthood holders. Mothers and fathers both serve important purposes and have equal access to God’s power—or priesthood power—through righteous living. President M. Russell Ballard, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, taught: “Just as a woman cannot conceive a child without a man, so a man cannot fully exercise the power of the priesthood to establish an eternal family without a woman. … Both the procreative power and the priesthood power are shared by husband and wife.”⁹

Men and women have interdependent responsibilities because all are children of God, and God did not create a superior gender (see Acts 10:34). As Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles pointed out, “The distinct, complementary gifts of women and men … together produce a greater whole.”¹⁰

Does a woman have direct access to priesthood power in her life?

Yes! Priesthood power and blessings are available to everyone.¹¹

Priesthood power, God’s power, comes into our lives as we receive priesthood ordinances and then faithfully keep our covenants. “Righteousness is the qualifier … to invite priesthood power into our lives.”¹²

So what does priesthood power look like in our daily lives? Sister Jean B. Bingham, Relief Society General President, has explained: “Often, we women don’t realize that the power through which we accomplish ‘much good’ in our callings and in our homes is an expression of priesthood power. As a matter of fact, all the good that is done in the world is done through God’s power. As the Lord told Moroni, ‘good cometh of none save it be of me.’ God uses His priesthood power to accomplish all His purposes. Knowing that women have access to that priesthood power strengthens us to be able to do what is asked in whatever responsibilities or assignments are ours.”¹³

Do women have opportunities to serve with priesthood authority?

Yes! “When men and women are set apart under the direction of those who hold priesthood keys, they are given authority from God to act in that calling.”¹⁴ This means they are entitled to receive revelation to bless God’s children in the capacity of their calling.

President Dallin H. Oaks, First Counselor in the First Presidency, taught:

“Priesthood keys direct women as well as men, and priesthood ordinances and priesthood authority pertain to women as well as men. …

“We are not accustomed to speaking of women having the authority of the priesthood in their Church callings, but what other authority can it be? … Whoever functions in an office or calling received from one who holds priesthood keys exercises priesthood authority in performing her or his assigned duties.”¹⁵