EMPTYING THE FULLNESS OF THE PRIESTHOOD This presentation focuses on the historical example of Joseph Smith’s inclusion of Mormon women in priesthood fullness and LDS church governance during the short period preceding his death. I examine evidence showing that, contrary to Smith’s practice and shortly after his murder, LDS women were denied continued participation in the highest quorum of the church, were no longer anointed priestesses unto God, and were deprived of the Relief Society as a female priesthood organization. I explore how these blows to women’s claim to priesthood theologically resulted in the vitiation of the doctrine of the fullness of the priesthood as the basis for the Quorum of the Twelve’s claim to succeed Joseph Smith as successor, as well as the negative impact that the denial of priesthood fulness to women has had on the LDS church and the male priesthood contingent.

PAUL TOSCANO