Why don't women hold the priesthood?

12. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 14. For the body is not one member, but many. 15. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16. And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17. If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18. But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 19. And if they were all one member, where were the body? 20. But now are they many members, yet but one body. 21. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 23. And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 24. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: 25. That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. 27. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

5. And the office of thy calling shall be for a comfort unto my servant, Joseph Smith, Jun., thy husband, in his afflictions, with consoling words, in the spirit of meekness. 6. And thou shalt go with him at the time of his going, and be unto him for a scribe, while there is no one to be a scribe for him, that I may send my servant, Oliver Cowdery, whithersoever I will. 7. And thou shalt be ordained under his hand to expound scriptures, and to exhort the church, according as it shall be given thee by my Spirit.

36. That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness. 37. That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man. 38. Behold, ere he is aware, he is left unto himself, to kick against the pricks, to persecute the saints, and to fight against God. 39. We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion. 40. Hence many are called, but few are chosen. 41. No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned; 42. By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile— 43. Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy; 44. That he may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death. 45. Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven. 46. The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever.

18. But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 19. And if they were all one member, where were the body? 20. But now are they many members, yet but one body. 21. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 23. And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 24. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: 25. That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. 27. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

Why do women not hold priesthood offices in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

Do women have the priesthood and perform ordinances in the temple? Yes and no. Joseph Fielding Smith said, "A person may have authority given to him, or a sister to her, to do certain things in the Church that are binding and absolutely necessary for our salvation, such as the work that our sisters do in the House of the Lord." Recently this has been echoed by Church leaders and publications in a more general sense, but there have not been any statements about women having the priesthood. Women are so naturally good that they don't even need the priesthood! - Only men can be ordained to the priesthood and hold priesthood offices and callings. - Women are delegated non-ecclesiastical positions of authority and leadership in the Church as callings. - The Church has no official position as to why women cannot hold offices in the priesthood. - In the past, women were allowed to do washing and anointings outside of the temple and perform blessings of healing by the laying on of hands. - Junia was a woman in a position of importance in the early Church, but no record exists indicating that she was given priesthood authority. From the inception of the Church, women have played crucial roles and continue to be vital contributors to its mission today. However, the male-only structure of the priesthood often seems like a historical vestige that appears outdated and sexist. For the numerous accomplished, skilled, and caring women within the Church, this policy can be a painful limitation, particularly when it prevents them from taking on leadership roles such as serving as a Bishop, shaping policy decisions, or offering blessings for the sick, including their own family members. While women do carry out priesthood ordinances within the temple, the reasons behind the male-exclusive ordinations remain unclear. And although in the past women were encouraged to lay their hands on the sick to heal them in the name of Christ, today, this is discouraged. Some have argued that a change would benefit women and the Church, while others have argued that the gender roles in the Church are divinely inspired. It's okay to have questions about the current policy and to hope that future changes may include the ordination of women. Recognizing the complexity of this issue enhances our ability to support and minister to Latter-day Saint women effectively. At the same time, we should maintain empathy for both those who find the current policy troubling and also those who consider the current policy to be inspired and beneficial. By acknowledging the significant ways women have and continue to exercise spiritual authority and service that benefits the Church, we can foster a more positive dialogue. And ultimately, we should find solace in the belief that any existing injustices will be corrected in the next life, thanks to the atonement of Jesus Christ.

“Why are men ordained to priesthood offices and not women? President Gordon B. Hinckley explained that it was the Lord, not man, ‘who designated that men in His Church should hold the priesthood’ and that it was also the Lord who endowed women with ‘capabilities to round out this great and marvelous organization, which is the Church and kingdom of God’ (“Women of the Church,” Ensign, November 1996, 70). When all is said and done, the Lord has not revealed why He has organized His Church as He has. “When thinking about those things we do not fully understand, I am reminded of these words by my deceased friend and Apostle, Elder Neal A. Maxwell, who said, ‘What we already know about God teaches us to trust him for what we do not know fully’ (Deposition of a Disciple [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1976], 56). “And Elder Jeffrey R. Holland stated in this last April general conference, ‘In this Church, what we know will always trump what we do not know’ (“Lord, I Believe,” Ensign, May 2013, 94). “Brothers and sisters, this matter, like many others, comes down to our faith. Do we believe that this is the Lord’s Church? Do we believe that He has organized it according to His purposes and wisdom? Do we believe that His wisdom far exceeds ours? Do we believe that He has organized His Church in a manner that would be the greatest possible blessing to all of His children, both His sons and His daughters? “… Women are integral to the governance and work of the Church through service as leaders in Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary; through their service as teachers, full-time missionaries, and temple ordinance workers; and in the home, where the most important teaching in the Church occurs” (“Let Us Think Straight” [Brigham Young University campus education week devotional, Aug. 20, 2013], 4–5; speeches.byu.edu).