The following insights are from an opinion piece published by the Deseret News.
I’ve spent a lot of time in the past few days thinking about handing out towels.
As a woman in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I’m more concerned about my connection to heaven and my ability to serve than any particular responsibility I may or may not be given.
An LDS Church announcement last week said that ordained priests, young men ages 16-18, will now be able to baptize in the temple and serve as witnesses while young women ages 12-18 will be able to assist in assignments, which in the past have been performed by women who have received ordinances in LDS temples. Both are aimed to help young people stand in holy places and prepare to make and keep sacred covenants. It helps them look beyond themselves. But these “tasks” were immediately interpreted by some to mean only one thing: handing out towels.