Power and Authority

We often use power and authority in connection with the Priesthood. This is due in large part to our understanding and interpretation of the scriptures as the men holding the power. Yet in my study of world religions, I remember reading this quote:

All that is soft drives that which is hard

In this case, if we look at the structure of what is labeled to be soft, and what is labeled to be hard, we can not help but notice the very masculine and feminine nature of this statement, and in fact in can be labeled this way:

All that is feminine drives that which is masculine

How does feminine power speak? Where does it come from? How is it legitimate, and equal to male priesthood power? How is it the same? How is it different? These are just some of the numerous of questions one can ask about Power and Authority in terms of the Feminine.

This is I also think the opposite is true in that:

All that is masculine or hard, drives that which is feminine or soft

That we are all interdependent on each other, we may come to look at our current hierarchy, and understand it doesn't always need to remain this way, in which the Males rule, and the females all to often have a small voice, but submit to the overall decision made by the man. Patriarchy is a system that cannot have equality. The same goes for Matriarchy, though my own opinion between the two is Matriarchy is more preferable because it centers on the home. And if we want a society centered on the home, we should have matriarchy. Of course, my preferred route is a Gylany, a Peer marriage, one that balances work and life, and treats each other as equals, and each other's work as equally valid, and understood.

Of course I digress. My main though on this page is Power and Authority and women. So lets look at what Women are said to have in the Church. We are said to have influence. Except this is somewhat disconnected from power and authority of the priesthood. Though influence is the most misunderstood and misapplied principle of power, even what I believe to be the main power, that all have access too.

We have so long divided influence from power and authority we have downgraded its reach, and downplayed its strength, much as we do with women. 

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