However, in order to truly understand the answer we must first dispose of the false doctrines which corrupt any sincere inquiry into this issue:
False Doctrine 1: Sameness is essential to equality: Sameness is not essential to equality. As I was just discussing with my youngest daughter, I do not think Martin Luther King would ever advocate that for there to be equality every human would have to first become white, or every human would have to first become black. No, he wanted equality for all races, not sameness. Diversity is a blessing, and an eternal verity that cannot be overcome. To understand the truth with regard to the Women and the Priesthood issue we must first recognize that equality is possible, even among those who are different. Just because one’s role is different does not mean they are less equal than another, or as Paul states, “And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,’ that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?
False Doctrine 2: Roles are an invention of men, assigned by those in power and based in domination. The truth is that when it comes to the roles of Motherhood and Fatherhood, they are eternal and inextricably intertwined with gender, which the Proclamation affirms to be “an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose. (Emphasis added).
False Doctrine 3: Any attempt to answer this question by elevating the role of Motherhood or assigning it great power or deference, is simply an act of patronization or the musing of a condescending male. If a person has any intellectual honesty, they must first admit, that it is at least in the realm of possibility, that Motherhood truly is the “highest and holiest calling”. To dismiss consideration of that possibility by labeling it as patronizing, or misogynistic, is a fallacy of logic and demonstrates intellectually dishonesty. I personally know that the First Presidency statement; “Motherhood, is near to divinity. It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind. It places her who honors its holy calling and service next to the angels.” (emphasis Added) …to be a statement of eternal doctrine! It is NOT an act of patronization issued by controlling misogynistic authority simply to appease the sisters.
To the doctrine:
Holding the priesthood, as with presiding, is purely a function of eternal roles. Women do not hold the priesthood, because it is not essential to the completion and fulfillment of their divinely appointed roles and destiny. They can and will become whole, complete, perfect, without holding it. Men hold the priesthood because it is essential to their completion and fulfillment of their divinely appointed roles, and they cannot be made, whole, complete or perfect without it.
If the purpose of our existence it to BECOME as Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother are, and to receive all that they have, then they, in their justice and wisdom, must provide for us access to the necessary tools to complete those roles, to become perfect in those roles. I have a personal witness that Women in general are endowed from birth with what Jesus referred to as the weightier matter of the law…Mercy. Men are endowed with the weightier matter Jesus referred to as Justice. I do not believe it to be a coincidence of language that the scriptures refer the Mercy as a feminine virtue and Justice as a masculine. “For behold, justice exercises all his demands, and also mercy claimeth all which is her own; and thus, none but the truly penitent are saved. Alma 42:24 (Emphasis Added) That is not to say a man cannot develop the qualities of mercy, nor a woman the wisdom of justice, they can… it is only that each gender is initially endowed with a propensity and power that is suited to the fulfillment of their divine roles.
For a woman to increase in the virtue of Justice can and will come by the very act of her fulfilling her divine, highest and holiest role. No other additional help is needed. That exercise of her role is, glorious, multifaceted and encompasses the acquisition and development of many such characteristics. That truth is tied up in the premise taught by President Hinckley; “When you save a girl, you save generations!” (Emphasis Added) I believe that fact explains other sacred anomalies like; Young Women being allowed to enter the temple merely as a function of age and worthiness, no priesthood ordination is required, which to me is a type of the eternal truth, Single sisters may serve many missions, before and after marriage, a service not open to brethren, and other differences that can only be discussed in the temples of our God. Elder Ballard Stated: “Women come to earth with unique spiritual gifts and propensities. This is particularly true when it comes to children and families and the well-being and nurturing of others." (Emphasis Added)
For men, whose role is different and geared toward other ends, the acquisition of mercy, compassion, tenderness, love… cannot and indeed would never be, obtained without an additional aid. That aid or tool, is the priesthood of God. It is a formalized system of service. A schoolmaster for males to learn and acquire the aforementioned Godly characteristics. For in the exercise of the priesthood power to bless the lives of God’s children men can and will developed the other weightier characteristics of the Godhood that our Heavenly Parents would have them obtain. I have seen Priesthood service soften the hearts of many a hardened man. I have seen justice heavy priesthood holders, learn to exercise mercy, through the righteous use of their priesthood. Receiving and exercising the Priesthood is an aid, a facilitator, a catalyst that will help them to become like God, to learn to care for the well-being and nurturing of others. Another related aspect of that tool is that it also is the means by which Priesthood keys are given and exercised, which is tied into antoher essential function of the role of men, that of presiding.
Without the power and learning that comes through exercising priesthood power on behalf of others, men could not fulfill their roles, nor acquire the characteristics required for them to be like Heavenly Father. Priesthood ordination is not needed by women for them to fulfill their roles and to become like Heavenly Mother.
That being so, the question then really becomes one of being dissatisfied with one’s eternal role, rather than a question of equity or standing based on Priesthood ordination.