Gathering Zion's People: Women have Spiritual Gifts

FYI: This post is not meant to lower the contributions of male priests or prophets. It is just to show that all can have spiritual gifts regardless of gender (and even age).

I stumbled on this Book of Mormon scripture -- Alma 32:23 And now he imparteth his word by angels unto men, yea not only men, but unto women also. Now this is not all; little children do have words given unto them many times, which confound the wise and the learned.

This is supportive of the idea that the flow of the spirit doesn't have to follow rigid titles and positions in life. In Numbers 11:24-29 (Moses was exhausted, Numbers 11:14 and 17) verses 24 to 29, Seventy Elders were appointed and given the Spirit of God in the tabernacle, and they prophesied. Then, Eldad and Medad were going about the camp. Joshua wanted Moses to stop them, but Moses said he wished that every person would have the Spirit of God with themselves, and could be prophets.

Ha, if you want to read a chapter about transference of the Spirit (Spirit thick in the room) upon unsuspecting people, read 1 Samuel 19:18-24. It is pretty unusual.

Earlier in the week, I was doing a study on Old Testament scriptures pointing, or possibly pointing to the Messiah. I remembered that there was a mention of Immanuel (God with us) in Isaiah, so I thought I would check it out again. After I read Isaiah 7:14 (about the first child called Immanuel) and onward, I found the mention of another child that Isaiah would have with his wife, in Isaiah 8:3. It calls the wife of Isaiah, "the prophetess."

Other mentionings of prophetesses:

Miriam the prophetess, Exodus 15:20.

Deborah, a judge and prophetess who dwelt in Ephraim. Judges 4:4-5.

Huldah the prophetess 2 Chronicles 34:22, 2 Kings 22:14.

Noadiah the prophetess (although I am not sure of whether she was favored or unfavored) Nehemiah 6:14.

Anna, a prophetess, Luke 2:36.

As a side note, some people titled Eliza R Snow (of early Mormondom) a prophetess, as only one of her spiritual gifts.

It is my personal belief that women serve much in the church, but should not be diminished by excessive service in the Church at the expense of righteously raising their children. I do not believe that women need community priesthood duties on top of whatever else they already do with children at home and service at church and in the community, and jobs to earn money. I do believe that a woman should not feel inhibited or feel pressured against using her spiritual gifts particularly at home. Children and grandchildren need their righteous mothers too much at this time. In the Millennium I believe we will see women step into their roles of not just mothers (etc) but also Queens, priestesses, and prophetesses in the community. The world is just too wicked for some things at this time. Women can use their spiritual gifts, and be in training at home!

JOEL 2 A Great Last Days message (read it all)

28 ¶ And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.