Materials Discussed - “What Is Women’s Relationship to Priesthood?” by Lisa Olsen Tait
Discussion - October 13, 2026
Priesthood authority is not always tied to callings: Quotes from President Nelson and President Ballard. President Nelson: As a righteous, endowed Latter-day Saint woman, you speak and teach with power and authority from God. Whether by exhortation or conversation, we need your voice teaching the doctrine of Christ. “Spiritual Treasures,” October 2019. President Ballard: “Like faithful sisters in the past, you need to learn how to use the priesthood authority with which you have been endowed to obtain every eternal blessing that will be yours.” May 2015 BYU Women’s Conference.
Franklin D. Richards - Speaking in 1888 to the Relief Society of the Weber Stake, over which his wife Jane presided, Richards addressed the men in the audience directly. Other than ordination to priesthood office, he insisted, “our sisters share with us any and all of the ordinances of the holy anointing, endowments, sealings, sanctifications and blessings that we have been made partakers of.” “Is it possible,” Richards continued, “that we have the holy priesthood and our wives have none of it?” pg. 249-250
Women’s priesthood was much clearer in the beginning of the church than it is now—it was intertwined with so much
Anointing of pregnant women - the Lord gave us this power
What do we have now and can use? The powerful example of Melissa Inouye - blessings from friends - women wrote poems for each other - we want to draw upon this rich legacy - while working within the existing policies -
One gave a blessing to her husband
Why does it always appear to be 3 steps forward, 10 steps backward
The women were given the retrenchment program; what program was for the young men?
During the 1800s, cultural issues were harder to shift. Today, the younger ward councils handled President Nelson’s changes better.
Footnote from pg. 251 - Eliza R. Snow said, “Any and all sisters who honor their holy endowments, not only have the right, but should feel it a duty, whenever called upon to administer to our sisters in these ordinances.”
Eliza Snow brought her Relief Society minute book from Nauvoo to Utah and consulted it with her closest friends about promises they received there. She was not about to forget.
Did the church's culture match the culture of the day? For the most part, yes.
There was the belief that Priesthood and Motherhood were parallel -
Nothing is gained without conflict - priesthood, motherhood —
In our day, podcasts have helped move us along to be reminded what we have and how we can use our priesthood power and authority
Obstacles include the real threat and examples of excommunication—
1914 letter from Joseph F. Smith, “As these normative understandings of priesthood in the Church and temple solidified, sanction for women’s participation in healing rituals came to an end. In a 1914 circular letter, the First Presidency under Joseph F. Smith endorsed women’s blessing of the sick, affirming that “any good sister, full of faith in God and in the efficacy of prayer, may officiate.” In the same letter, however, they emphasized that women should “confirm” rather than “seal” anointings—presumably because “sealing” was associated with priesthood—and that “the command of the Lord is to call in the elders to administer to the sick,” giving primacy to priesthood blessings.” Pg. 257, 2nd paragraph.
In this same article, Elder Talmage set forth an essentialist view of gender that he believed explained the priesthood order in this life. Men and women retain their “sex” (in his terms) “fundamentally, unchangeably, eternally.” Given this truth, Talmage taught, “woman occupies a position all her own in the eternal economy of the Creator; and in that position she is as truly superior to man as is he to her in his appointed place.” Whatever that “position all her own” might be (Talmage did not elaborate), women’s subordination was part of the plan: “It is part of woman’s mission in this life to occupy a secondary position of authority in the activities of the world, both in the home and in the affairs of public concern.” This arrangement was rational: “In every organization, however simple or complex, there must needs be a centralization of authority, in short, a head.” A gender hierarchy, at least in this mortal realm, is ordered by God’s wisdom; priesthood assignment flows from that order. Pgs 254-255.
All of this shows why it was groundbreaking for President Oaks to give his talk in April 2014: “You know this has never been said.”
Until church members are ready for the change, it won’t happen from the top; it will happen from the bottom up. We are to recognize that women have and act on priesthood power and authority every day. Stop doubting it. Some women are afraid to act on this knowledge.
President Nelson—we have to figure it out—it is not spelled out in any manual
This prepares us for future revelation
Our relationship with Christ will help us move forward
3 entanglements - ecclesiastical authority—Priesthood’s relationship to the temple — ritual authority (blessings)
Jean Bingham - Barbara Morgan Gardner interview
Men have priesthood office, assignment for healing blessings, a more visible role. Their rituals are more public.
Blessing for child, husband gave the blessing, she gave the prayer, and it was a blessing that naturally happened—
Another had the same experience—it naturally happened
As an endowed, faithful woman, I am able to do all through faith and covenants. . . Nothing more powerful than women who pray together
Elaine Pagels’ experience—she is with her sick baby in a New York hospital and has a vision of her friend in California leading a prayer circle for her and her baby. Later she learns that the prayer circle of women happened at the same time she had the vision
Healing the Sick by Dallin H. Oaks 2010—the effect of the blessing is the faith and the Lord’s will - participate with faith, in the sealing, to seal my faith —
Spencer Kimball: the faith of the individual is the most important component
A local RS president - consecrated oil given to the women in her ward; some women pushed back
Being educated on this topic makes a difference, privileges, history, where we are now —not the end of the road—courage understanding the genesis of the philosophies as we move forward—
Correlation committee changed a lot of the practice and policies —
Note: Women in His Church document — contact Kim for document