As an example, let's take the account of Job. As we both know, Satan approaches the Lord and tells him of what he has been doing and the Lord asks Him: "Hast Thou considered my servant Job that there is none like him in the earth. A perfect and upright man, one that feareth God in escheweth evil." As the conversation went Satan basically said that the reason that Job was so good and so blessed was because the Lord protects him, but if he lost everything he would curse God. It was then that the Lord said "Behold all that he has is in thy power only upon himself put not forth thy hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord". And began to cause terrible things to come upon Job and his household.

As we read on we find that Job loses everything and his friends begin to mock him and tell him to curse God for all the evil that had come upon him. It is at this point that Job bares deep testimony of his own faithfulness and refuses to turn away from God, even though he has suffered the most extreme trial (Job chapters 9 – 13 as well as the chapters following).

In another account, notice how the children of Israel are chastised and punished, tried and blessed in their forty year wondering after being taken out of Egypt by Moses. Again, a trial, a testing period to see who would be faithful and who would not. The purpose for which is the same purpose for us, and that is to strengthen our faith, purify our hearts become more tender and charitable and more worthy to be called the children of God, as all of these things minister to our education.

Like you, I would do anything to help and bless my children, but I suspect like me, you wouldn't give them every single thing they asked for when they asked for it for fear of spoiling them and keeping them from learning certain things by their own experience. As parents we bless our children most when we teach them the things that they must learn (as long as the teaching is done with Christ centered kindness and compassion). Isn't it true, Joyce, that when one of your children breaks a family rule, they suffer a certain consequence, whatever that might be? This doesn't mean that you love them less, it means that you love them more and are willing to allow them to be tried and tested in order for them to learn and grow. So it is with our Father in Heaven and our relationship to him as His children.

You asked why the level of rewards for faith, saying that it sounded very judgmental. If I understand your question correctly, you are referring to the different degrees of glory in the resurrection. I have written several documents on this topic that you can read if you would like. So, rather than being redundant here, I will briefly address it in the following way. First of all let's ask, who is going to be doing the judging? Not us! Who better to judge us than He who knows all things. He has said "Judge not that ye be not judged". It is His right, as our God and Creator, to judge us as He has promised He would. (Exodus 12: 12, Psalms 19 & 9, John 5: 22, & John 8:16) As you know there are so many references on this subject. But the one that makes the point so clearly is Matthew 25: 31 – 46. In these verses we see the list of things the Lord expects of us and at the conclusion of the chapter we learn that if we do not do these things we will "go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life". As we can see the Savior Himself delineates "levels of rewards for faith".

Regarding your question "Where is the grace"? It is found in the second principal of the gospel, which is repentance. Even those unfaithful ones who would not do the Christ centered things that were listed in the 25th chapter in Matthew, still have the opportunity if they will take it, to fully repent of past transgressions and find themselves acceptable before God.

You asked about our church stand on women in church leadership and whether women were equal in the leadership of worship in sacraments. Members of the church who are women are held in the highest personal regard. We revere them because of their womanhood and their motherhood. As a matter of fact, it is a well known fact of how much respect and love I have for my wife. I am not superior in any way to her whatsoever. To me there is nothing as exquisite and wonderful as her ability to bring our children to the earth. I honestly believe that there is nothing as close to Godhood as womenhood because of their ability to produce life and then to nurture and care for, educate and sustain their children, not only to adulthood, but throughout their lives.

As far of the organization of the church is concerned and the leadership roles of women in the church itself, women are appointed and lead the largest women’s organization in the world. The president and leader of the church’s Relief Society organization, whose membership runs into the millions, is specifically and only lead by women. Leadership of the Young Women’s Mutual Improvement Association, which has responsibility for the teaching and guiding of teenage girls from the age of 12-17 is specially and only lead by women. There is no one better suited to train, teach, guide and direct the female membership of the church better than a women.

The male membership of the church is entitled (if they are worthy) to hold either the Aaronic or the Melchezidek priesthood (depending on their age and assignment). But priesthood leadership is patterned after that same organization which existed in Christ’s church while He was upon the earth. Mainly apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, etc. Those priesthood duties are all filled by men but not because they are superior to women as I stated above. We know that they are not, but rather men are co-equal with them. The importance of their priesthood role in the church and in the family is equally as important as womanhood’s role in the church and in the family. Each of them have different assignments. I think that it is profound and wonderful that our all knowing Father in Heaven and His son Jesus Christ has made it clear that "God is a God of order" and in spite of the conflicts which the world creates between men and women, this calling in womenhood and men’s calling in the priesthood is not a contest. God is not the author of confusion, but rather a God of order. I hope that this is helpful to you.

Sincerely,

Donny Osmond


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