Women Who Read

One morning while a couple was on vacation, the husband returns after several hours of fishing and decides to take a nap. Although not familiar with the lake, the wife decides to take the boat out. She motors out a short distance, anchors, and starts reading her book.

A short while later, a game warden came along in his boat. He pulls up alongside the woman and says, “Good morning Ma’am. What are you doing?" 

“Reading a book”, she replies (thinking, “Isn’t that obvious”) 

“You are in a restricted fishing area”, he informs her. 

“I’m sorry officer, but I’m not fishing. I’m reading.” 

“Yes, but you have all the fishing equipment in your boat. For all I know you could start at any moment. I’ll have to take you in and write you up.”

“If you do that, I’ll have to charge you for sexual assault”, says the woman.

“But I haven’t even touched you”, says the game warden.

“That’s true, but you have all the equipment to do so. For all I know, you could start at any moment.”

“Have a nice day, ma’am”, and he left.

MORAL: Never argue with a woman who reads. It’s likely she can also think and talk.

Questions on Sustaining and Signing Priesthood Certificates

God invites all of us to be curious, ask questions, and study our questions out in our mind before coming to Him for answers. I don’t believe He just lays it all out without me also putting forth effort to figure out the answers. After I have pondered a question and struggled to understand, I am very grateful for God’s answers.

• . . . Ask of God. Ask and it shall be given you, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you; for everyone that asks, receives; and he that seeks, finds; and to him that knocks, it shall be opened. [emphasis added] Matthew 3:42

Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you when you took no thought save it was to ask me. But behold, I say unto you that you must study it out in your mind, then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right, I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right. But if it be not right, you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong. Therefore, you cannot write that which is sacred save it be given you from me.  [emphasis added] JSH 3:26

After working with women’s councils for the last seven years, I have questions about the rights and responsibilities associated with signing a man’s priesthood certificate. The Lord has given us instructions on how to vote to sustain a man and sign his certificate. He has also revealed how to remove a man’s certificate when his priesthood is called into question. 

“For any who would like to qualify to minister outside his family, he must meet in a community and obtain a sustaining vote of a minimum of seven women. When that is done, all seven who vote to sustain should sign a certificate. . . If the man is married, his wife must be among the seven women. If his wife will not sustain him, he is unworthy to provide priesthood service for the fellowship. . .If a man’s worthiness to function is called into question, then a conference can be convened to deal with the question. . . Removal should be by unanimous vote of the women present, with at least 12 votes against a man to end his authority to act in the fellowship community. . .” Preserving the Restoration, pg. 510-511

Question: If a woman wants to remove her signature from a man’s priesthood certificate after she has signed it, how is this to be done?

I’ve talked to men and women about this question, and most believe the only way a woman can remove her signature from a man’s priesthood certificate is to remove the man’s certificate. This does not make sense to me. A woman might want to remove her signature from a certificate, and it has nothing to do with the man’s worthiness to hold priesthood. Here are just a few reasons a woman might want to remove her signature without removing the man’s certificate.

• She hasn’t seen the man in a long time no longer associates with him

• She is no longer part of this covenant body of believers and does not want to associate herself or her name with us

• The man has left this covenant body of believers

• She is dead and can no longer openly signify support and approval

• She doesn’t feel comfortable with the man, but does not have physical evidence and/or desire to call a council to remove his certificate

• She just doesn’t want to continue openly signifying support and approval for this man

• The man does not want to be accountable to one or more of the women on his certificate

If I sustain a man and sign my name on his priesthood certificate, I believe this means “I openly signify support and approval.” Sustain suggests something ongoing. 

Sustain: To openly signify support and approval by vote or affirmation . . .  to support as true, legal, or just; or to allow or admit a proposal as valid. . . glossary of terms

If women are only authenticating a man’s priesthood certificate and do not need to continue sustaining the man, then I see no reason to remove a woman’s signature. It is a one time deal and lasts a lifetime. The woman does not need to stay in contact with, vouch for, or continue sustaining the man. Having a daily walk with the man is not implied or expected. But signing a priesthood certificate might mean more than authenticating a document (as when documents are notarized by a notary public). 

Question: What are women signifying when they sign a priesthood certificate?

Question: Is there an ongoing responsibility women have to the man or community after signing a priesthood certificate?  If so, what are the responsibilities of the woman? What is to be done if the responsibilities can no longer be fulfilled by the woman?

Question: What is the purpose and significance of obtaining a priesthood certificate?

If men are not held accountable in the community by requiring them to manifest their priesthood certificate prior to doing priesthood ordinances in the community, what are the reasons for having a certificate?

In the LDS church, we are given the opportunity every year to vote to sustain, oppose, or refrain from voting for our priesthood leaders. We can request our names be removed from the records of the LDS church. We can request to be released from an LDS calling, etc. Giving our sustaining vote is asked for and given on a regular basis.

Without removing a man’s certificate, a woman from this covenant body of believers currently has no release from signifying her sustaining vote for a man once she has signed his priesthood certificate. 

If a woman were to remove her name from a priesthood certificate, I do not believe it would invalidate the man’s certificate, assuming a minimum of seven women on his certificate are still intact. If he no longer has a minimum of seven women on his certificate, it seems reasonable that another woman’s signature could replace the one that was removed. 

Only if the wife were to remove her name from a man’s certificate, would it invalidate his certificate. I think a wife should have this prerogative. She knows her husband’s daily walk and knows his heart and struggles. If she withdraws her sustaining support, he should cease using his priesthood until that support has returned. I do not think it wise to drag personal and private marital problems before a council of 12 women. The wife should be allowed to privately withdraw support and return that support without drawing public attention to their problems. 

In discussing this idea with others, I have heard it said, “But what if the man has a crazy wife who manipulates him by sustaining and revoking just because they had an argument, etc.?” My answer to them is . . .  Sounds like the man has marital problems he needs to work out. It might be better for him to spend his time and attention at home working on his marriage than to go out and perform priesthood ordinances for others. 

I do not want to commit to sustaining any man in the priesthood for a lifetime. My husband is not opposed to my views. His is the only priesthood certificate I could invalidate by removing my sustaining vote. I do not impose these views on other women, and they are free to reason these issues out in their own mind. 

Possible Solutions:

• All priesthood certificates are renewed on a regular basis. This would cover situations where people flow out of each other’s lives, leave this covenant body of believers, or die. 

• A woman can request her signature be removed from a man’s certificate allowing his wife time to get another woman to take her place. Records of these requests should be kept in personal journals. This would cover situations where a woman just doesn’t feel comfortable sustaining a man. 

Question: If a man wants to be ordained to the priesthood but does not want to obtain a priesthood certificate so he can perform ordinances outside his family, does he need the sustaining vote of seven women?

“There are people coming from different faiths to associate with fellowships… [they] will  need to be sustained and ordained. They should understand something about  priesthood before being sustained. Once sustained, when ordaining someone to serve in  these fellowships ordain no one to an office, only confer priesthood. Let everyone be equal. Keep lines of authority. It will reckon through the one who confers the priesthood. But power can only come from Christ. 

First time ordinations (after April 2014) should be done within a fellowship. All who are ordained in these communities should keep a record of the line of authority and pass it down. Be prepared to defend those lines of authority using the records kept. All of the women who vote to sustain should not only sign the certificate, but also record it in  diaries or journals. Let records be kept so if anyone questions, there will be abundant witnesses and documentation.” Preserving the Restoration 512-513

The Lord has not yet revealed His mind and will on these questions. There are many different perspectives and opinions. If we pray together in humility and together meekly present our dispute to the Lord, and if we are contrite before Him, He will tell us His part. I am praying for an answer and would like to invite any who are willing to join with me in petitioning the Lord.

• Study to learn how to respect your brothers and sisters and to come together by precept, reason, and persuasion, rather than sharply disputing and wrongly condemning each other, causing anger. Take care how you invoke my name. Mankind has been controlled by the adversary through anger and jealousy, which has led to bloodshed and the misery of many souls. Even strong disagreements should not provoke anger, nor to invoke my name in vain as if I had part in your every dispute. Pray together in humility and together meekly present your dispute to me, and if you are contrite before me, I will tell you my part.

Share your perspective and opinions in the comments and let us come together by precept, reason, and persuasion. 

Women's Role and Responsibilities in the Priesthood

The Women’s role and responsibilities in the priesthood was revealed by the Lord through Denver Snuffer in September 2014 in Lecture 10 of the Forty Years in Mormonism series. Additional instruction was given in July  2017 in The Answer to Prayer for Covenant. In response to prayers about forgiveness, the Lord gave further instruction in August 2022.

• September 2014 Preserving The Restoration Lecture Series (2015 Preserving The Restoration book by Denver Snuffer Jr.)

• July 2017 The Answer to Prayer for Covenant

• August 2022 Answer on Forgiveness

It is our prayer that the Lord will continue to reveal and unfold the role and responsibilities of women in sustaining the priesthood. 

Who May Hold Priesthood

T&C 167:1

“I asked the Lord that priesthood get extended beyond the confines of the men who have continually abused and neglected it. I was told that priesthood is confined to men because of the Fall and the conditions ordained by God at that time. Until we reverse things in the Millennium, that is the way it is going to remain, as to the ordinances thus far given in public. I asked the Lord to change that order. It is not going to change. I then asked the Lord that if only men were to hold priesthood for our public ordinances, then could only women vote to sustain them. The saying pleased the Lord, for it was already in His heart. But He said to me, There shall be a minimum of seven women to sustain the man in any vote, and if the man is married, his wife shall be one of them.” (originally given in Lecture 10 of Forty Years in Mormonism series, by Denver Snuffer, Phoenix AZ, Sept 2014.)

T&C 157:57

“And, again, the husband is to hold priesthood to baptize and bless the sacrament of bread and wine in the home, and the husband and wife are to bless their children together. For the husband to use authority to administer outward ordinances outside his own family, his wife must sustain him.”

Obtaining a Priesthood Certificate - Sustaining Vote of 7 Women

Preserving the Restoration, pg. 510-511

“For any who would like to qualify to minister outside his family, he must meet in a community and obtain a sustaining vote of a minimum of seven women. When that is done, all seven who vote to sustain should sign a certificate. The JS papers show copies of the certificates given in the early church. These were handwritten certificates to function as authorization. Among your own fellowships, do as they did in the early Church.

If the man is married, his wife must be among the seven women. If his wife will not sustain him, he is unworthy to provide priesthood service for the fellowship. There is nothing implied in the word [unworthy] regarding a man’s standing before God. Within the community of fellowship, until his wife is prepared to support him in acting outside the family, his effort should be within his family. Husbands and wives are one flesh. The struggle to live that kind of oneness is godly, noble and elevating. The word “unworthy”is not a statement of condemnation, but only of qualification. It was the word the Lord used and therefore I do not feel at liberty to change it.”

“As to single men, there is no impediment to following the pattern and being ordained in the absence of having a wife. But he should marry a woman willing to sustain him if he intends to use priesthood in a community of believers.”

Preserving the Restoration, pg. 513

“There can be conferences that can be called by anyone, but must include seven women if the business includes priesthood ordination. There is no need for any building to be purchased or built. Meetings can be anywhere.”

Removing a Priesthood Certificate - Unanimous Vote of 12 Women

Preserving the Restoration, pg. 510-511

“Sustaining is by women, and removing authority to act within a community or fellowship is likewise to be done by the vote of women. If a man’s worthiness to function is called into question, then a conference can be convened to deal with the question. In removing authority, at least two witnesses should speak against the accused, and he should be allowed to speak on his behalf and call upon such witnesses as he chooses. Men can be witnesses, but only women are allowed to vote. Removal should be by unanimous vote* of the women present, with at least 12 votes against a man to end his authority to act in the fellowship community. As for his family, he is free to do as he chooses, but he cannot act in the community until restored by the vote of a conference of that community. [*If a woman is present and cannot judge the matter she may abstain, and the vote of the remaining women, if unanimous and there are 12 votes, will be sufficient.” Footnote 1391]

T&C 157:57

“...I have told you that to remove authority to use priesthood outside a man’s family requires a unanimous decision by twelve women. A council of twelve women must be convened, either in the man’s home fellowship among those who are acquainted with his daily walk, or in private at a general conference, also including among the twelve women from the conference those who are acquainted with his daily walk, so that no injustice results.”

Reinstatement of Priesthood Certificate

T&C 157:57

“...Reinstatement of the man’s authority must be considered by the same council of twelve women when the man petitions for the decision to be rescinded, and requires seven of the twelve to agree upon his reinstatement, which can occur at any time. During the period of suspension, nothing affects the man’s duties and responsibility in his

own family.” 

Answer on Forgiveness  August 8, 2022

In response to prayers over the last several months I received the following Answer to an Inquiry About Forgiveness:

You have inquired of me concerning the questions raised by the scriptures which state, Then came Peter to him and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times? Jesus said unto him, I say not unto you, until seven times, but, until seventy times seven; on the one hand, and the scripture which states, You shall love your wife with all your heart, and shall cleave unto her and none else, and he that looks upon a woman to lust after her shall deny the faith, and shall not have the spirit, and if he repent not he shall be cast out. You shall not commit adultery, and he that commits adultery and repents not shall be cast out; and he that commits adultery and repents with all his heart, and forsakes and does it no more, you shall forgive him; but if he does it again, he shall not be forgiven, but shall be cast out; on the other hand. I answer your inquiry as follows:

In the Answer to Prayer for Covenant you were told to, Be like me. You have all been wounded, your hearts pierced through with sorrows because of how the world has treated you. But you have also scarred one another by your unkind treatment of each other, and you do not notice your misconduct toward others because you think yourself justified in this. You bear the scars on your countenances, from the soles of your feet to the head, and every heart is faint. Your visages have been so marred that your hardness, mistrust, suspicions, resentments, fear, jealousies, and anger toward your fellow man bear outward witness of your inner self; you cannot hide it. When I appear to you, instead of confidence, you feel shame. You fear and withdraw from me because you bear the blood and sins of your treatment of brothers and sisters. Come to me and I will make sins as scarlet become white as snow, and I will make you stand boldly before me, confident of my love. I descended below it all, and know the sorrows of you all, and have borne the grief of it all, and I say to you, Forgive one another. Be tender with one another, pursue judgment, bless the oppressed, care for the orphan, and uplift the widow in her need, for I have redeemed you from being orphaned and taken you that you are no longer a widowed people. Rejoice in me, and rejoice with your brethren and sisters who are mine also. 

Be one. How can you be one if you gather together with another who has been the adulterer again after being forgiven? And how can a man love his wife with all his heart and cleave unto her and none else if he commit adultery again after being forgiven?

You did not ask, but remember that I have said also that, You shall not kill, and he that kills shall not have forgiveness, neither in this world nor in the world to come. And again, you shall not kill; he that kills shall die. You shall not steal, and he that steals and will not repent shall be cast out. You shall not lie; he that lies and will not repent shall be cast out.

How can you be one with he who murders, with the liar who deceives, and with the thief who steals? I say to you that you cannot be one when you are fractured and your little ones threatened by the disobedience of the adulterer, murderer, liar and thief who will not repent.

You did not ask me, but I say that your question arises from the instructions I gave you: I have told you that to remove authority to use priesthood outside a man’s family requires a unanimous decision by twelve women. A council of twelve women must be convened, either in the man’s home fellowship among those who are acquainted with his daily walk, or in private at a general conference, also including among the twelve women from the conference those who are acquainted with his daily walk, so that no injustice results. Reinstatement of the man’s authority must be considered by the same council of twelve women when the man petitions for the decision to be rescinded, and requires seven of the twelve to agree upon his reinstatement, which can occur at any time. During the period of suspension, nothing affects the man’s duties and responsibility in his own family. I say to you, if a man has been suspended for adultery, and then been reinstated, and return again to adultery, he shall not be reinstated again, for to do so places my community at peril. These words were to guard so that no injustice results. I ask, is there injustice if my people cannot become one because of disobedience? Even a single disobedient soul who breaks the hearts of others by his sinful disobedience can destroy the peace of all my people. I say again, Each of you must equally walk truly in my path, not only to profess, but to do as you profess. You shall not show mercy to the disobedient when to do so results in injustice to the people who seek to become one. You shall not forgive the adulterer and welcome him into the community when he has been forgiven and returns again to his sin. You shall not place the community at peril by embracing the willful and unrepentant among you, to leave your little ones at peril of injury, harm, and destruction. Study the words given in the Answer to Prayer for Covenant, and you will see how to regard one another, how to succor one another, how to protect one another, and how to live in peace with one another. I have given what I have given to be followed, neither to be added to nor taken from, but to be your counsel and guide. Do as you are bidden and you will have peace in this troubled world, which will be your first reward.

The Rights and Privileges of the Women in the Church

I was reading from the History of the Church and found some teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith of which I was not aware.

“At two o'clock I met the members of the "Female Relief Society," and after presiding at the admission of many new members, gave a lecture on the Priesthood, showing how the sisters would come in possession of the privileges, blessings and gifts of the Priesthood, and that the signs should follow them, such as healing the sick, casting out devils, &c., and that they might attain unto these blessings by a virtuous life, and conversation, and diligence in keeping all the commandments. . .” History of the Church 4:602

Here are some of the remarks of Joseph Smith to the Relief Society reported by Eliza R. Snow:

“No matter who believeth, these signs, such as healing the sick, casting out devils, &c., should follow all that believe, whether male or female. He asked the Society if they could not see by this sweeping promise, that wherein they are ordained, it is the privilege of those set apart to administer in that authority, which is conferred on them; and if the sisters should have faith to heal the sick, let all hold their tongues, and let everything roll on. . .

“Respecting females administering for the healing of the sick, he further remarked, there could be no devil in it, if God gave His sanction by healing; that there could be no more sin in any female laying hands on and praying for the sick, than in wetting the face with water; it is no sin for anybody to administer that has faith, or if the sick have faith to be healed by their administration. . .

“He spoke of delivering the keys of the Priesthood to the Church, and said that the faithful members of the Relief Society should receive them in connection with their husbands, that the Saints whose integrity has been tried and proved faithful, might know how to ask the Lord and receive an answer; for according to his prayers, God had appointed him elsewhere. . .

“This is a charitable Society, and according to your natures; it is natural for females to have feelings of charity and benevolence. You are now placed in a situation in which you can act according to those sympathies which God has planted in your bosoms.

“If you live up to these principles, how great and glorious will be your reward in the celestial kingdom! If you live up to your privileges, the angels cannot be restrained from being your associates. Females, if they are pure and innocent, can come in the presence of God; for what is more pleasing to God than innocence; you must be innocent, or you cannot come up before God: if we would come before God, we must keep ourselves pure, as He is pure. . .

“President Smith then gave instruction respecting the propriety of females administering to the sick by the prayer of faith, the laying on hands, or the anointing with oil; and said it was according to revelation that the sick should be nursed with herbs and mild food, and not by the hand of an enemy. Who are better qualified to administer than our faithful and zealous sisters, whose hearts are full of faith, tenderness, sympathy and compassion. No one. Said he was never placed in similar circumstances before, and never had given the same instruction; and closed his instructions by expressing his heart-felt satisfaction in improving this opportunity.

The Spirit of the Lord was poured out in a very powerful manner, never to be forgotten by those present on this interesting occasion.” History of the Church 4:602-607, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith p. 223-229

I feel blessed to read, hear, and live the words of God. He restored much truth through the Prophet Joseph Smith and his words are worth considering. Some of his views received from heaven seem to differ from what is generally taught in church today.

Sisters administering to the sick? Females laying on hands? Anointing with oil? Casting out devils? All that believe, whether male or female? A sweeping promise? Sisters ordained? And if the sisters should have faith to heal the sick, let all hold their tongues, and let everything roll on. Wow! This is getting interesting.

Delivering the keys of the Priesthood to faithful members of the Relief Society in connection with their husbands? No sin for anybody to administer that has faith? There could be no devil in it? Who is better qualified to administer than sisters of faith, tenderness, sympathy and compassion? No one?

I doubt this would get through the church correlation department in these latter days; in fact, it hasn’t. There are a lot of things Joseph said and doctrines he taught that have been obscured, buried, and discarded. If Joseph preached today what he restored nearly two centuries ago, some may promptly call him on the carpet, believe him to be an apostate, and likely reject him altogether. It may even be said, “There is a strange thing in the land; a wild man hath come among us” Moses 6:38.

Even in his day, Joseph felt opposition from the people and lamented that few of the saints were willing to carefully consider newly revealed truth. He declared:

“There has been a great difficulty in getting anything into the heads of this generation. It has been like splitting hemlock knots with a corn-dodger [a piece of corn bread] for a wedge, and a pumpkin for a beetle [a wooden mallet]. Even the Saints are slow to understand.

I have tried for a number of years to get the minds of the Saints prepared to receive the things of God; but we frequently see some of them, after suffering all they have for the work of God, will fly to pieces like glass as soon as anything comes that is contrary to their traditions: they cannot stand the fire at all. How many will be able to abide a celestial law, and go through and receive their exaltation, I am unable to say, as many are called, but few are chosen”. [see D&C 121:40] History of the Church, 6:184–85