Women and the priesthood

God’s power is found in God’s purpose. Too many members of both sexes incorrectly view extrinsic religious service as a way to attract attention, gain clout, accomplish their own desires, or otherwise serve one’s own purposes.

The differences between men and women mean that each is best suited to advance the purpose of God in different ways. The primary way all people serve God is through learning what he is like and becoming like him. The secondary way all people serve God is through helping people do the same. The most effective way anyone can help others learn about and become more like God is through becoming a righteous father or mother.¹ Service to those outside the home can be considered once you reach the point where you are doing everything that could possibly be done to assist your spouse, children, and grandchildren to learn about and live more like Christ, and still have surplus resources. Because of differences between the roles and capacities of men and women, men will reach this point more often than women, although very few men do.

No one should fall for the trap of seeking supposed service to God outside of the home in order to avoid what they would rather not do in the home. No one should fall for the trap of believing that they will encounter God’s power outside the home while neglecting their service to him within the home. A servant of God joyfully serves where assigned, and men and women each have assignments within the home.