Mormon Women Are Revolting (Against Their Treatment By Mormon Men)

Mormon women are revolting!

Which means that some of them are upset with the treatment they are receiving from Mormon men.

Hundreds of Mormon women were denied access to a men-only session of their spring conference because they sought to promote the ordination of women into the lay priesthood.

Dressed in purple robes, the members of the “Ordain Women” group marched to the Salt Lake Tabernacle on Temple Square, which is the center and global home of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

They were looking to occupy vacant seats at the evening priesthood meeting at the faith’s semi-annual conference.

Last fall, they failed in their attempt to gain admittance to the meeting. The Mormon women say they want to play a more significant role in the life of a religion which has over 15 million followers worldwide.

The women – and some male supporters – were politely turned away by a church spokeswoman. High school student Emma Tueller, 16, from Provo, Utah, joined Ordain Women in the previous action last fall.

“This time it was more painful,” she said. “I love this church and I think my personal gifts and my personal talents could be much better utilized if I had the priesthood.”

Church officials had requested Ordain Women in advance to refrain from bringing their cause to Temple Square, claiming it would detract from the “spirit of harmony” at the two-day conference.

They expressed displeasure with what they called the women’s “refusal to accept ushers’ directions and refusing to leave when asked.”

Ordain Women objects to being defined by the Mormon church as protesters. Kate Kelly, a Washington, D.C.-based human rights attorney. and lifetime Mormon, who co-founded the group with about 20 other women, said that they were neither activists or protesters.

“We’re people on the inside. We are investing in an institution… not critiquing it to tear it down,” she said.

Ordained male priests in the Mormon church perform all religious rituals, and can lead congregations. Women cannot make autonomous decisions, even at the highest levels, Kelly said.

The March group newsletter stated: “Ordination of women to the priesthood is a matter of doctrine that is contrary to the Lord’s revealed organization for His Church.”

A 2011 Pew Research study found Mormons are overwhelmingly opposed to the idea of women joining the lay priesthood.

Since Ordain Women first became active, church leaders have taken small steps to show their regard for Mormon women. This year, a Mormon woman was permitted to pray at the conference.

Which means that, in common with a number of religions, the Mormon church understands that change must come, even for Mormon women.