Week 44: Makes Reason Stare

I had learned to call thee Father,
Thru thy Spirit from on high,
But, until the key of knowledge
Was restored, I knew not why.
In the heav’ns are parents single?
No, the thought makes reason stare!
Truth is reason; truth eternal
Tells me I’ve a mother there.

 Dear Loved Ones, 

 Saydi got parental permission and is on track to be baptized on Saturday! My companion and I are excited to stand as witnesses to her baptism. So far as I know, no woman, girl, or boy was waiting with bated breath for the chance to witness baptisms. You never think of the church as having moving parts until you see those parts move. But after the fact, I'm glad to see witnessing divorced from priesthood. Any idiot who's been baptized can watch that it's done properly. Priesthood's attachment to it was always more cultural than doctrinal.

 I think of all the callings that only men seem to be placed in (ward mission leader, Sunday School president) and wonder if we may see women in those soon. A senior elder who served his first mission in a small French branch of only 20-30 members told me he served as the primary president, though that calling is usually reserved for women. Priesthood's function is to perform ordinances and give blessings. If a task or calling doesn't involve those two things, I hold as my personal opinion that it can be done by anybody else. To think otherwise makes reason stare. 

 We taught Saydi about the priesthood this week and she asked us why women can't be prophets. We explained why to her and then moved on to talking about Heavenly Father. Sister Moritz asked her to say five things she knew about God and she told us, "He has a wife." 

 Saydi has two rambunctious toddler sisters and we tagteam it so one of us teaches Saydi while the other makes the babies behave. I had been on teaching duty the previous time and Sister Moritz was playing. When we got out of this lesson, Sister Moritz asked me if I'd taught her about Heavenly Mother. I'm really not sure that I did. I know we talked about Mary for a minute and I might have mentioned that Mary was Jesus's mom but not God's wife. But I don't have a clear memory of teaching that. I think Saydi might've figured that out on her own. 

 How? All I can think is that she worked through logic. The idea of only having a Father in Heaven makes reason stare. And even a nine year old can see that. 

 The stake president here in Independence is a former member of the RLDS church who broke off when they gave women the priesthood. Though their women may be ordained, they don't speak or pray in church. When President Cato attended our church for the first time, the first thing he saw was a woman praying from the pulpit followed by a woman giving a talk. It was appalling. But he now has gotten used to the idea.

 The COC can come across as having a feminist bent because they ordain women and center their legitimacy around Emma, but women in our church do more. I'm fully satisfied with my role here. And though adult women are included in the new witnessing policy, it's really less of a gender revolution and more of an age revolution.

 Sincerely,

 Sister Smith 

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