195 - Can Women Be Part of the Priesthood? | Church History Matters I Women & Priesthood Series

About this episode

This episode explores the historical role of women in the priesthood across Christian traditions, focusing on evidence from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In this episode of Church History Matters, hosts Casey Griffiths and Scott Woodward sit down with special guest Lisa Olsen Tait to explore one of the most frequently asked and historically complex questions in Christian history: Were women ever allowed to be priests or hold priesthood authority? Together they examine the evidence not only within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but also across broader Christian traditions, tracing how different communities have understood women’s spiritual authority over time. From the early Christian world to modern debates, the conversation carefully separates assumption from documentation and myth from history. The discussion also highlights a pivotal moment in Latter-day Saint history—temple worship in Nauvoo, where in the Nauvoo Temple men and women participated in sacred ordinances involving priesthood functions in ways that were new and significant. What did this mean in the 1830s? How did early Latter-day Saints understand women’s relationship to priesthood power? With careful scholarship and a positive, faith-centered approach, this episode offers historical clarity while inviting thoughtful reflection on women…

People in this episode

Hosts: Casey Griffiths, Scott Woodward

Guest: Lisa Olsen Tait

Topics covered

• women in priesthood
• Christian history
• spiritual authority
• Latter-day Saints
• temple worship
• historical evidence

Keywords

• women
• priesthood
• Christianity
• authority
• history
• Nauvoo Temple
• spirituality
• Latter-day Saints

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Places: Nauvoo

More episodes of Church History Matters

• 208 - Are Caffeine and Meat Against the Word of Wisdom? I Church History Matters I Word of Wisdom Series · June 9, 2026 · 52 min
• 207 - How the Word of Wisdom Became a Temple Standard I Church History Matters I Word of Wisdom Series · June 2, 2026 · 1h 13m
• 206 - U.S. Constitution is Critical to Freedom Everywhere I Church History Matters I Religion & Politics · May 26, 2026 · 1h 9m
• 205 - Did Brigham Young Enjoy Tobacco? I Church History Matters I Word of Wisdom Series · May 19, 2026 · 1h 8m
• 204 - Did Joseph Smith Drink Alcohol? I Church History Matters I Word of Wisdom Series · May 12, 2026 · 55 min
• 203 - Word of Wisdom Command or Counsel? I Church History Matters I Word of Wisdom Series · May 5, 2026 · 51 min