Priestesses

Eliza R. Snow, denominated “poetess-presidentess-priestess-prophetess”246 by a historian, served as the second General President of the Relief Society (1866–87). On a certain occasion she addressed the sisters: “Inasmuch as we continue faithful, we shall be those that will be crowned in the presence of God and the lamb. You, my sisters, if you are faithful, will become Queens of Queens, and Priestesses unto the Most High God.”247 Years later, Bathsheba W. Smith, the fourth General President of the Relief Society (1901–10), provided these words: “When I had my endowments Brother Joseph [Smith] was there. . . . I have always been pleased that I had my endowments when the Prophet lived. He taught us the true order of prayer. . . . He wanted to make us, as the women were in Paul’s day, ‘A kingdom of priestesses.’”248 In point of fact, on March 31, 1842, Joseph Smith spoke to the Relief Society and told them that “he was going to make of this Society a kingdom of priests an [as] in Enoch’s day—as in Pauls day.”249

Eliza R. Snow, the second General President of the Relief Society (1866–87).

John the Revelator wrote that Jesus Christ “hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever” (Rev. 1:6). John’s words—kings and priests—refer to both males and females. The expression “hast made us unto our God kings and priests” is so significant that it will become part of a “new song” that will be sung in heaven: “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou [Jesus Christ] art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests” (Rev. 5:9–10). According to this passage, persons from “every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation” are made kings and priests (and priests, here, refers to the “order of Melchizedek” and not that of Aaron [Ps. 110:4; see also Heb. 5:10; 7:11, 21]). This glorious and eternal blessing is for all worthy women and men, not a single family or tribe, as it was during periods of the Old Testament.

President John Taylor sets forth the distinction between a king and a priest: “Kings and Priests—Priests to administer in the holy ordinances pertaining to the endowments and exaltation; and Kings, under Christ, who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, to rule and govern, according to the eternal laws of justice and equity, those who are thus redeemed and exalted.”250

A number of our prophets have taught regarding the significance of kings and priests and queens and priestesses. In 1966, President Spencer W. Kimball spoke on “Kings and Priests” at a Brigham Young University devotional. He said, “Now, you 10,000 priests and priestesses, where do you stand? You are heirs to great fortunes, for eternal life is the greatest gift. What will you do with it? You are entitled to a kingdom or a queendom. You are princesses and princes. . . . Claim your throne, hold tightly to the scepter, keep your inheritance inviolate. You will be priests and priestesses, kings and queens, throughout all eternity, may you precious young people never abdicate.”251 And President Joseph Fielding Smith wrote of faithful men and women, “They have been promised that they shall become sons and daughters of God, joint heirs with Jesus Christ, and if they have been true to the commandments and covenants the Lord has given us, to be kings and priests and queens and priestesses, possessing the fulness of the blessings of the celestial kingdom.”252