Some of Sarah's thoughts on the 'Mormon Feminist Movement'

Sarah shared this in a note on facebook, and I wanted those of you not on facebook to be able to read it. It was so good!
 
I feel compelled to express my thoughts about the many posts and articles I’ve read in the last few months regarding women holding the priesthood. First of all I feel sadness that some women have had the unfortunate experience of being in a home with a priesthood holder who would manipulate the words of the scriptures and the prophets to exercise unrighteous authority to control spouses and children. It is sad that because of this some think that priesthood power is what gives opportunity to create a circumstance such as this. This kind of abuse takes place across countries and cultures where priesthood is present or not and the power of the priesthood should not be tied to this kind of behavior or tainted by it as it is clearly not a power over others but a power for others. Those that try to manipulate it to seem otherwise will stand accountable before God. The priesthood is a power and responsibility. As a woman I feel that I have access to every priesthood power and blessing but have none of the service responsibilities. I have been given countless other opportunities for service in the church and in the home. I have complete trust that this is the way God set it up to maximize my personal growth and the growth of the wonderful men in my life and in the church. I acknowledge that I have been blessed to have been raised by a father who honored his priesthood and been surrounded by brothers and a husband and other church leaders that have honored their priesthood which has helped me come to the understanding that I have. What I have witnessed is men who serve others at sometimes great inconvenience and sacrifice to themselves so that they can ease the burdens of someone else, weather it be through offering priesthood blessings or helping with a huge variety of temporal and spiritual needs. Many times literally taking the burdens of others on themselves. The priesthood is the power of Jesus Christ and that is who these priesthood holders follow and represent. I think of what He did. Jesus Christ took upon himself the burdens, sins, and sorrows of ALL of Gods children. His entire life was spent in service to others. To us it’s all about Him but to Him it’s all about us. Even when he was hanging on the cross his thoughts were towards others as he asked his apostle to take care of his mother.(John 19:26) When my husband leaves to help someone else and I put kids to bed I’m grateful that we are not both required to leave and I can feel good about my sacrifice of giving support to him although it admittedly increases my own burden but my kids still have a parent to tuck them in and sing them a song and read them a story and he gets to sacrifice his time and energy to help someone else and we are both blessed by the experience because we are experiencing things that make us more like Christ which gives us a better understanding of who He is and helps increase our relationship with Him. And that increased relationship with Him is worth any sacrifices made and the sacrifices are so well compensated for as to not seem like sacrifices at all. The priesthood works so well set up the way it is when it is understood and exercised correctly that it just adds to my complete trust in Heavenly Father and His ways. He is bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. (Moses 1:39) That is his work and he is completely efficient at it and His love for All of His children is evident.
One other aspect of the priesthood is the leadership of the Church with Christ as the cornerstone and head of the church and a foundation of prophets and apostles. And again  these positions need to be seen accurately  as the service positions that they are.  The Ephesians 2:20 refers to Christ as the cornerstone and symbolically displays a most accurate picture of things as they really are. Christ is the chief cornerstone. If you take the cornerstone out of the church it will crumble. It literally carries the weight of the church, much like the foundation of apostles and prophets who carry the weight of the church. It is not a pedestal they are placed on. These apostles and prophets of the church have literally given their lives to their service in the church and to the savior and all of God’s children at great personal sacrifice and a sacrifice to their families. I’m so grateful for their sacrifice and the willingness of worthy priesthood holders around the world to follow Christ’s example to sacrifice and serve so that all can come to better know and understand the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.