From Moses to John the Baptist (for more than a millennium), only a relatively few Israelites were authorized to enter the temple, with its holy place and Holy of Holies. In fact, only males, of a certain age, of a single family (Aaron and his male descendants), of a single tribe of Israel (Levites), could enter the temple. In total, a very small percentage of ancient Israel were permitted to enter the temple during this period of time. Furthermore, only those same relatively few Israelites were permitted to participate in various temple rituals, such as washings, anointings, and wearing the sacred vestments. Members of the other eleven tribes—both males and females—were not permitted to enter the temple, nor were they permitted to participate in temple rituals or wear sacred vestments. Males and females of the other tribes were restricted to the temple court.
Why such restrictions on who was permitted to enter the temple and participate in temple rituals? After the Lord brought ancient Israel out of Egypt with great power and many miracles, He declared, “ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation” (Ex. 19:6). Kingdom here deals with kings and queens and priests pertains to priesthood. Note that Hebrew masculine plural nouns may also pertain to females (sometimes, the masculine plural is used when both males and females are present). Thus the plural priests (Hebrew: kohanim) is also relevant to females. But Israel rejected the eternal blessing of becoming a “kingdom of priests”; rather, “they hardened their hearts and could not endure [God’s] presence. . . . Therefore, [the Lord in his wrath] took Moses out of their midst, and the Holy [Melchizedek] Priesthood also; And the lesser [Aaronic] priesthood continued . . . which the Lord in his wrath caused to continue with the house of Aaron among the children of Israel until John” (D&C 84:24–27).
Things changed after John the Baptist, and again with the Restoration of the gospel through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Now, in our dispensation, all worthy women and men are authorized to enter the temple equally! Also, women and men engage in rituals such as washings and anointings, and they wear sacred vestments. Both men and women have priestly roles, pray at the altar, and enter various holy places in the temple. Women, together with men, now participate fully in the rituals, covenants, and ordinances. When they do so, they are exercising priesthood power, as President Russell M. Nelson clarified while speaking to the women of the Church: “When you are set apart to serve in a calling under the direction of one who holds priesthood keys—such as your bishop or stake president—you are given priesthood authority to function in that calling. Similarly, in the holy temple you are authorized to perform and officiate in priesthood ordinances every time you attend. Your temple endowment prepares you to do so.”341
In our dispensation, the Lord’s desire that His covenant people become a “kingdom of priests” is in full effect. John’s statement, the Lamb “hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth” (Rev. 5:10; see also Rev. 1:6; 20:6), also applies to us, as does Peter’s: “Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation” (1 Pet. 2:9). Joseph Smith’s words speak to women and men: “Those holding the fullness of the Melchizedek Priesthood are kings and priests of the Most High God, holding the keys of power and blessings.”342 And also, “men may receive their endowments and be made kings and priests unto the Most High God.”343