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Most LDS Church members oppose ordination of women, study shows

Posted at 8:14 PM, Mar 10, 2014
and last updated 2014-03-11 07:48:07-04

SALT LAKE CITY -- More than half of women who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints say marriage is more satisfying when the husband provides for the family and the wife takes care of things at home, according to a 2011 Pew Research study.

“That’s the arrangement for my family and I do find it very satisfying, but I do think there’s power in doing it because it’s what you choose to do and because you have considered other options and have other options -- as opposed to doing it because that’s the only way things can be,” said Sara Hanks, blogger for Feminist Mormon Housewives.

According to the study, 90 percent of women believe that women should not be ordained to the priesthood.

The priesthood is held only by LDS men who uphold the Church’s standards.

Eighty-seven percent of LDS men believe women should not be ordained, the study showed.

Debra Jenson is the spokeswoman for ‘Ordain Women,’ a group that is fighting for women to receive the priesthood.

Jenson disagreed with the statistics saying the study did not ask the questions correctly.

“The Pew study asked people to agree with an idea that the prophet has not supported yet, so it absolutely violates this foundational idea of who we are,” Jenson said.

For the past year many women have joined the group Ordain Women in an effort to appeal to Church leaders to change its rules about women and the priesthood.

The group with renew its push to ordain LDS women and seek admittance to the priesthood session during April’s General Conference session.

“I think the roles of everyone will change in ways we can’t imagine but for women, yes, and it’s exciting. It’s good women can bring things to the table others cannot,” Jenson said.

Related stories:

Feminists call for LDS Church to give women the priesthood

Women asking to attend priesthood session of LDS General Conference denied

Mormon women plan to request tickets to historically male-only meeting, again