Women and the priesthood
Whether on a Churchwide or local level, women lead and serve in the Church. Women regularly teach and pray from the pulpit. While women are not ordained to the priesthood in the Church, they regularly sit in council meetings with priesthood leaders to provide insight and advice.
The Church has several organizations that are directed by women:
- The Relief Society is a worldwide women’s organization more than four million strong. The president of the Relief Society is Bonnie D. Parkin, with Kathleen H. Hughes and Anne C. Pingree serving as her counselors.
- The Young Women organization serves young women 12 to 18 years of age. The Young Women general president is Susan W. Tanner, and her counselors are Julie B. Beck and Elaine S. Dalton.
- The Primary organization exists to teach children from 18 months to age 12. Cheryl C. Lant is the president of the Primary, and Margaret S. Lifferth and Vicki F. Matsumori are her counselors.
Each of these organizations also operates on a local level, where women are responsible for supervising teachers and committee members, as well as meeting the needs of Church members whom they are called to serve.
Women also serve as teachers, missionaries, chapel librarians, music directors, temple workers, and activities committee chairpersons, among other positions. Opportunities for service are almost endless, and, working together, the women and men of the Church can truly answer the call of the Savior, who asked His disciples to feed His sheep (John 21:16–17).
|
The Church
