Divine Women

 God the Father is a man. Man of Holiness is His name. The Son is also a man, as is the Holy Ghost. We deal with the male God because we are lost and fallen. We are not worthy to deal with the woman in our state of probation. We cannot handle the power of a woman; we only get a glimpse in the creation of children. Goddesses are part of eternity, but not part of the telestial world. Goddesses are found in the highest heaven, after the resurrection. It is only after we are judged to be worthy that we can come to know the Goddess. As the world moves towards Zion, the terrestrial world, there is more revealed of the divine woman.

 It’s all about power

 Power is the name of the game. Power has always been the purpose of life. Why live? For power, and glory (which is power), and honor (which is power), and growth ( which is power), and love (which is power), and reproduction (which is power). Any reason for life comes down to power. The reason we give our heart and soul to God is to glorify Him and give Him power. God created us to increase His power as He gives us power. Satan tried to take the power from God, and us, and was cast out.

 In the beginning, woman is taken from the side of man in an earthly sense, when coming into “the lone and dreary world.” In being banished the woman serves the man, and he serves her. In the Garden, she led the way to being cast out of heaven, being banished to earth. During probation a man is the head, to bring them together again. He has the power. This has always seemed natural and normal because the man has more muscles, which has always been the prerequisite for domination in the world. It seems natural, but “the natural man is an enemy to God.” So, all too often, men have abused this power. 

it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion.

            (Doctrine and Covenants 121:39)

 In the world, power has always come from muscles, until now. Things are changing. Muscles are no longer needed to have power over another. A gun makes the weakest little old lady stronger than the strongest man in the world. She can protect herself against muscles. Now, power in the world comes from machines. Most of the work is done by machines, and very little is done by muscles. Women can use machines the same as a man. So, a woman in the world is at parity with men. There seems to be no difference. The world has changed.

 More women graduate from college than men. More women get advanced degrees than men. Not that men have stepped down, but that women have stepped up. So, women begin to ask why it’s a man’s world. Why do men run the businesses and nations? Why not a woman? Women are a smart as men, and can push buttons just as well, and type just as fast. There is no longer any reason behind the dominant male. Men can take care of children as well as a woman while his wife goes out and slays the dragons. She can sit at a desk in front of a computer all day as much as her husband. She can give speeches, she can think, calculate, and innovate. Why don’t women have more power? 

Fleeting Power of the World

 In the world all power is temporary. Money and all forms of political power are fleeting. Yesterday I spoke with a woman who had houses and lands and servants and lots of money, but lost it all when she became ill. It’s all gone, and she is in pain. People are elected to office and have power for a short time. Even those who make themselves “presidente for life” will die, and all their power will evaporate. Someone who wants power will find a way to take away what others have and enslave them. The underlying cause of all wars is plunder. Kings were always kings because they could raise an army and pillage other cities, and protect their own people from being plundered. Kings are just in the “protection racket”...until someone bigger comes along to “protect” people. Macbeth, with the support of his wife (and the witches) became king, but found out that there was no real power in having a kingdom, as he had no heir. 

Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown,

And put a barren scepter in my gripe,

                        (Macbeth act 3, scene 1)

 We see political power. We see money, houses, lands and jewels. We are caught up in the ways of the world. Jesus explained that all the power in the world is worthless in the end. 

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:            (Matthew 6:19)

 The power of support

 We don’t see how “the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.” We don’t see the power of woman. We don’t see her influence on her world. We don’t see how she guides her husband. The strong man is told what to do by his wife, and he goes out and does it. He is her servant. We don’t see her rule her world because he is out in front, in the limelight, in charge, and in public. She is his reason, giving him purpose and direction. The man that is not unified with his wife will not be able to handle power; and unless he is a sociopath, will not even seek it. “Behind every great man is a great woman.” There is a need for the supportive role. She gives him children, a family, a purpose. 

Today, many women want to go out and fight battles and lead the world -- they want man-power, or political power. Some women want to be Margaret Thatcher, instead of Eleanor Roosevelt, to take the limelight, instead of being “the wind beneath his wings.” They don’t want to have the power of a woman. They don’t want to create, teach, nurture, and direct. They want the honors of men. They do not see the supportive role as powerful, but that is a great error. The concept of the servant being the master was given by the Lord: 

he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.

            (Luke 22:26)

 He that is ordained of God and sent forth, the same is appointed to be the greatest,                           notwithstanding he is the least and the servant of all.            (Doctrine and Covenants 50:26)

 The supportive role in a relationship holds the real power. It is the power of God, and is forever. The eternal aspect of this power is feminine. 

 We cannot assume heaven is the same as earth. One of the things that is different is the power structure. In heaven there is more honor for love and support, and thus more power in the divine female. The feminine role is the supportive power, she wields the power of God by making it all have value. She gives God purpose. She is the servant, who is the greatest. She is the reason for all, for without her there is no power, glory, honor, or purpose. The woman is the creation, while the man is the unification. There is no conflict, no war, no vying for power over the other. Power comes through both. There is no worry about political power because it doesn’t exist. There is no political power in heaven because every individual is one with God.

 Hell is a constant battle for power because there is no unity. In the world we are in hell, in a sense, but we can make it into heaven. In heaven there is no domination, the unification of love brings all together into one body. There is no envy or strife because there is no power over another. Each intelligence is exactly what they want to be. Each has everything. There is no protecting so there is no “protection racket.” There is no competition between men and women, only cooperation. Unification is both, or none. 

neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.

            (1 Corinthians 11:11)

 It is not logical for us to assume that the rules of the penal colony are going to be the same as those with freedom -- and power. Being on probation is going to be totally different from heaven. Being in bondage is different than having liberty. God even thinks differently than we do.

 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

            (Isaiah 55:8-9)

 The Joy of family

 Because we are cast out, we are not dealing with our Mother in heaven. I imagine the divine Mother had a much greater role in the lives of all God’s children before we came to earth, and I imagine she will have a greater role after we leave this life, if we are worthy.

 Eve is “the mother of all living.” She was given that name before she was able to have children. There is purpose in that name. The purpose of women is mother, to be the mother of all living. 

And Adam called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living; for thus have I, the Lord God, called the first of all women, which are many.

            (Moses 4:26)

 We don’t just grow individually, we reproduce. Part of our purpose in life is to create children. The “measure of our creation” is to have progeny, which brings joy. Lehi said: 

And they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin. But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things. Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.

            (2 Nephi 2:23-25)

 Without a man and a woman there will be no descendants, and without children they cannot have joy. Our purpose for existence is to have joy. Joy is not found in our own accomplishments, but in our progeny. Gods create things, and goddesses create children, or life. Both have joy in their creations. However, they are one God. 

Women Must Receive the Priesthood

 Men are ordained to the administrative priesthood, but that is not the priesthood -- it is only a small part. In the fallen world, a man who is ordained may officiate in the ordinances of salvation, and represent the masculine God on the earth, to preach the gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof. There is no requirement of purity or holiness when officiating in ordinances. The power is not in the priesthood holder, but in God. For example, one man who was a temple worker and served in a bishopric was also a child molester, and had destroyed many lives. When it was found out what he was doing he was excommunicated, but what about all the ordinances he performed, are they null and void? No. The man lost his priesthood authority, which is temporarily given to fallen man, but that which he did while he had authority remains in force. Priesthood authority can be given to act in certain ordinances, cementing a relationship between man and God, but the power or worthiness of the officiator is not a factor. He is just a representative, substitute, or stand-in for God.

 Real priesthood power, on the other hand, requires worthiness, faithfulness, and charity. It comes through the Patriarchal Priesthood, which includes a man and a woman. In a spiritual, or eternal sense, a man and woman are called to the priesthood when they are worthy. In the world there is separation, but in eternity there is none. Priesthood power requires being called and chosen. People are called because of their desires, and chosen because of their works of righteousness. This is not specific to a man or a woman. Power in the priesthood is given to all who make themselves worthy. Those who receive the higher priesthood, man or woman, receive the spiritual blessings promised while in the flesh, which include: 

To have the privilege of receiving the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, to have the heavens opened unto them, to commune with the general assembly and church of the Firstborn, and to enjoy the communion and presence of God the Father, and Jesus the mediator of the new covenant.

            (Doctrine and Covenants 107:19)

 Then, in the eternal world, the promised blessings of power and authority are given to those who have received the priesthood. Neither the man nor the woman has the higher priesthood, rather they come together as one, and collectively hold the fullness of the priesthood. A man does not have power alone; he must have a priestess. Only in being one do they have power to create. He only fulfills his priesthood in the new and everlasting covenant of marriage. Likewise, she receives the priesthood only by her covenant with Him, becoming a priestess. There is no priestess without a priest. In the eternal world they must be one. 

Thus, the proper “holding” of the priesthood is not a gender role, but a human one. A complete human is man and woman. A complete god is man and woman. The question of whether women should “hold” the priesthood is not relevant to God because women already have the same power in the priesthood. Those who believe women should be ordained do not understand the nature of the priesthood, they are too narrowly focused on the present mortal and temporal state. Our object on earth is not to learn how to do things of the world, temporary, or temporal things, but rather how things are done in heaven. We start in the “lone and dreary world” as separate individuals, but move towards becoming one, as God. The question of running the church, being bishops, stake presidents, apostles and prophets, refers to a political, temporary organization. This is not the power of the priesthood, but rather the administration of ordinances that can allow others to receive priesthood power. Power in the priesthood is the ability to act as God -- to create and save Their creations, which requires being complete, as the Lord commanded:

 Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.

           ( 3 Nephi 12:48)

 He is talking to men and women. Perfection is wholeness. The priesthood is not complete unless there is a man and woman, which make together a perfect human. Eternal marriage is now. Power in the priesthood is found in unity. Being priests and priestesses can start in our present state, if it is sought diligently. First, each must individually receive the priesthood. 

For whoso is faithful unto the obtaining these two priesthoods of which I have spoken, and the magnifying their calling, are sanctified by the Spirit unto the renewing of their bodies. They become the sons of Moses and of Aaron and the seed of Abraham, and the church and kingdom, and the elect of God. And also all they who receive this priesthood receive me, saith the Lord; For he that receiveth my servants receiveth me; And he that receiveth me receiveth my Father; And he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father’s kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him. And this is according to the oath and covenant which belongeth to the priesthood. Therefore, all those who receive the priesthood, receive this oath and covenant of my Father, which he cannot break, neither can it be moved.

            (Doctrine and Covenants 84:33-40 )

All who receive the priesthood become “the seed of Abraham,” does not refer to only men, but all individuals, all the sons and daughters of God. Women need to seek the priesthood the same as men so they are prepared to be sealed for all eternity. “Obtaining these two priesthoods” does not refer to being ordained, but rather “receiving,” or “taking in.” There are those who desire the priesthood as Abraham: 

And, finding there was greater happiness and peace and rest for me, I sought for the blessings of the fathers, and the right whereunto I should be ordained to administer the same; having been myself a follower of righteousness, desiring also to be one who possessed great knowledge, and to be a greater follower of righteousness, and to possess a greater knowledge, and to be a father of many nations, a prince of peace, and desiring to receive instructions, and to keep the commandments of God, I became a rightful heir, a High Priest, holding the right belonging to the fathers.

        (Abraham 1:2)

Abraham sought to be ordained to administer the blessings, or covenants of the priesthood, but priesthood power was given to him as a follower of righteousness, keeping the commandments of God, and teaching others to do so. Based on his righteousness, he became a rightful heir. This is not just for Abraham, whose name represents all the followers of righteousness, but his wife as well is part of this. 

Look unto Abraham, your father, and unto Sarah, she that bare you; for I called him alone, and blessed him.

            (2 Nephi 8:2)

 “Him alone” refers to “Abraham and Sarah.” In the scriptures, or the Tongue of Angels, “Abraham” means “Abraham and Sarah,” “sons” means “sons and daughters,” and “men” means “men and women,” the part referring to the whole because the man is the head. God does not have the same way of seeing His children as we do. We think of separate, single, individuals, but He sees a whole, complete, perfect being -- man and woman. The words of the prophets are not written to help us get along in the world, but rather to bring us out of the world and into eternity. 

All the changes in the temple endowment take our focus off the world, and are more directed to eternity. Before, there was more about our journey in the world. The old temple endowment is to show us how to manage our lives in the world. We are in a fallen world. There is a division of men and women. Men do exercise unrighteous dominion. We live in obscurity. We tolerate hatred, suffering, selfishness, and all kinds of injustice. We must be humble and submit to those who rule, though they be wicked. However, there is a light of the gospel that dispels this darkness. 

Now, however, the world has become much less of the focus. We are now directed to being one, the concentration is centered in the eternal world. This moves us toward Zion, the pure in heart. There is hope for peace and love. As we move toward Zion, we seek unity instead of division, love instead of selfishness, and hope instead of despair. This is found in becoming perfect, complete, and whole -- a man and a woman, a god and a goddess, a king and a queen, a priest and a priestess. The whole being exponentially greater than the sum of its parts. The woman knows her power of creation and salvation, as the man knows his. They are not two, but one. After all, there is only one God. 

It is time for women to take their place as queens and priestesses. They must receive the priesthood the same as men. They must seek for the blessings of the priesthood through their diligence and faithfulness, like Sarah. If we are to become Zion, it will not be because a man who is ordained and set apart for an office, though he be a prophet, seer, and revelator, is going to make it happen. Zion will come when each individual man and woman receives the priesthood, obtains the greater knowledge, has communion with the church of the Firstborn, and partnership with God, making us one. Women cannot just leave this to men. Unity is found on every level in Zion: a man and woman united as a whole person, families united with their children, cities united in their economy, and the world united in praises unto God. This is the result of women receiving priesthood power, and becoming divine.