Thanks for the thought-provoking questions. Most members would scoff at you asking such things (definition of priesthood, women and priesthood, motherhood and priesthood, etc), but having spend some time studying and pondering these very topics, I can see that you are anything but "clueless"-- in fact you are embarking on one of the most exciting of all quests for understanding.
Now having said all that, I'm not sure I know how to answer your questions. I am assuming that you haven't been through the temple yet. So my hesitancy comes not solely from not understanding but from not wanting to share that which I have covenanted not to share.
Priesthood-- depending on the nature of the definition is "the power of God"-- in the short definition. It is also "the power of God delegated to man to act in God's stead for the salvation and exaltation of His children." That is a longer definition. I suspect if we wanted to search the talks given by the Brethren for the past 175 years, you would find many more definitions which would focus on one or more aspects of the Priesthood. However, for our discussion, the above two definitions should suffice.
If we stick with the first definition-- Priesthood being the power of God, then obviously motherhood equals priesthood. Why? Because without God's sanctioning power, no matter how often a man and woman had sexual relations it would not result in the creation of a body. That life-giving power is God's power (see D&C 88:7-13), which we have defined as priesthood.
There is a further consideration. In D&C 131:1-4 the Prophet Joseph Smith declared that a man must enter into "this order of the Priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage]" in order to attain unto the highest degree of the Celestial Kingdom. Then in D&C 132:19-20 verse 19 begins by stating "if a man marry a wife" and they are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, then it states in verse 20 "then shall they be gods". So if Godhood really is "an order of the priesthood" and it requires "a man and a woman", doesn't it stand to reason that the woman would be a joint bearer of the priesthood?
Since mortality is our probationary or preparatory period (see Alma 34:32-35), and since we are gaining the experience necessary to become like God, doesn't it seem reasonable that God would grant to His daughters as well as His sons, part of His power (Priesthood) so we could learn to use it before we are given it as an eternal part of our exaltation?
What about Motherhood being associated with Priesthood? You may recall the quotation by Matthew Cowley:
"You [Sisters] belong to the great sorority of Saviorhood. You may not hold the priesthood. Men are different. Men have to have something given to them to make them saviors of men, but not mothers, not women. You are born with an inherent right, an inherent authority, to be the saviors of human souls. You are the co-creators with God of his children. Therefore, it is expected of you by a right divine that you be the saviors and the regenerating force in the lives of God’s children here upon the earth." (Matthew Cowley Speaks, p. 109)
When he said "you may not hold the priesthood", I don't think he had any illusion to the fact that you would never hold the priesthood but that "here during mortality" you might be limited to that portion of the priesthood associated with "saviorhood" or "motherhood." Isn't the office of "Savior" a priesthood office? While men would hold what we traditionally see as being the "priesthood"-- which in reality is only half of God's administrative--life-giving power. That may not be too clear. Priesthood seems to have two halves (at least for our discussion): 1) an administrative part; and 2) a life-giving part. Hence the man has one half and the woman the other half. Together they make a whole which eventually is given the priesthood title of "God."
If women were given the portion of the priesthood reserved for men in addition to their life-giving power part of the priesthood, then what need would women have of men? If men could bear children (which the screwed up world is trying to get to happen) in addition to their administrative part of the priesthood, what need would men have of women? Since neither sex is complete without the other, then you can see why the Priesthood title "God" consists of both an exalted man and his exalted wife.
Understanding that principle, it becomes fairly evident to see why in Moses 6:8-9, God "calls their name Adam" in the day He created them-- He didn't call his name Adam and her name Eve. Since our total objective in coming to earth is to qualify to become like our Heavenly Parents, and since They are called God, it would be counterproductive for all the power to placed in one half of the divine Duo rather than having them equally dependent on each other to qualify for the exaltation They now enjoy. Also, you can see why the Lord commands in D&C 38:27-- "Be one, and if ye are not one, ye are not mine."
If you understand that principle, then it is relatively easy to determine whether any teaching, philosophy, activity, or movement is ordained of God or no-- when it relates to husband and wife. If it divides them, it is not of God. If it unifies them, it has the stamp of Divine approval.
You made a quantum leap when you suggested (and it is found in Abraham 3:24-25) that Christ and priesthood-bearing men helped to create the earth and then questioned where righteous, noble and great women were. What makes you think that women did not help create the earth? The two aspects of the priesthood that I haven’t talked about (see again D&C 88:7-13) have to do with the “creative power” and “the enlightening power”—because here in mortality we don’t have either of them given to us as mortals. However, that doesn’t mean that we didn’t have at least a partial access to the creative powers when we (men and women) helped to create the earth.
Why did God organize the relationship of the sexes as He did? I don’t know that I fully understand that. However, let me share at least one idea that may give you some additional direction. Up to this point in our progression towards godhood, we have only had to deal with one person—ourselves. Since God is a composite of an exalted man and his exalted wife, where are we to learn to work together in a complimentary, non-competitive way where we realize that we are not a “whole being until we are eternally united? You may remember my paraphrasing President Joseph F. Smith and Apostle Erastus Snow where they both said in essence: “Do you mean to tell me that you believe that God is both a man and a woman combined? If I believe anything that God has revealed about Himself, I must believe that. I like to liken it to a pair of sheers (we would call them scissors). They are made of two complimentary, non-competing halves. Alone neither can perform its function. Welded together they can perfectly perform their function.” Then it dawned on me—what is obvious—there couldn’t be a “Father in Heaven” unless there was a “Mother in Heaven” and there couldn’t be a “Mother in Heaven” unless there was a “Father in Heaven.”
Now one more thought. Since Satan is called “the enemy to ALL righteousness four times in the Book of Mormon and once in the New Testament, and since men and women cannot be exalted without a mate, where do you think Satan would focus his greatest destructive efforts? Certainly he is doing a number on LDS temple-married couples in these days leading up to the Second Coming. I am seeing an increasing concern expressed by young woman (you are not one I am concerned with) feeling cheated that they are not priesthood bearers (the governing principle that men hold) like the men. Some are questioning their testimonies and even threatening to leave the Church. How terrible shallow of us to cut and run just because we do not understand fully some principle or doctrine revealed by God. There are mega things that I understand much more clearly now that I didn’t understand as a young man. Thankfully I have been willing to put those questions in the “hold” part of my brain and continue on living the gospel knowing that sooner or later the Lord would give me the insight I needed to satisfactorily answer the question. I have seen too many people lose their testimonies, leave the Church, and wander off into forbidden paths just because they didn’t currently understand. I suggest you continue studying, asking, and pleading with Heavenly Father for more insight. Who knows but what you will be the one to answer to all women how this whole thing fits together.
Now I have only scratched the surface of the topic but hopefully it will give you the confidence to continue your search without viewing yourself as "clueless" or moving towards apostasy. Just proceed cautiously and be patient enough to allow God to reveal to you the answer to your questions in "mine own due time, and in my own way, and according to my own will" (see D&C 88:68). Your questioning and searching will yield revelatory fruits the likes of which you cannot even begin to imagine at this time. However, I suspect some of the information will not be given to you until you have departed this life. Even members of the Church seem to be content with the superficial understanding of the gospel rather than searching deeper and deeper to understand even the mysteries (see D&C 6:11; 8:11). One final caution: Don’t get out in front of the Brethren. If they are not teaching a principle or doctrine, then don’t you. Is it OK to ask the tough questions which may not have immediate and complete answers? Sure. But be wise enough to keep to yourselves those things which have not been revealed through the authorized channels.
Bro. Bott
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