The Herald asked Stassi Cramm to describe her life forty years ago and how acceptance of the counsel that became Doctrine and Covenants 156, which ushered women into the priesthood and church leadership, changed her life.
By Stassi Cramm
prophet-president designate
In December 1983, at the age of 21, a whirlwind of life changes was waiting for me.
I completed my Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Illinois, got married, and moved to Southern California. In January 1984, my husband, Stephen, and I began attending a congregation in Lancaster, California, USA. By February I had secured my first professional engineering job as a civil servant at the Air Force Flight Test Center.
This marked a significant shift in my life, transitioning from being a single university student reliant on my parents’ support to a married, employed engineer navigating the challenges of adult life.
Far from our parents’ homes in Illinois, Steve and I were fortunate to be adopted by the loving people of the Lancaster Congregation. They welcomed us into their church family and were wonderful in helping us through the usual challenges that arise between major life stages.
Through our ties with the congregation, we got wind of the April 1984 World Conference discussions regarding the approval to ordain women. In those times, long-distance calls were costly. Eventually, we received the news from my parents and learned about the divisions caused by inclusion of Section 156 into the Doctrine and Covenants. Hearing about people I knew well from my upbringing grappling with or alternately supporting the decision made it feel more personal.
As a young adult, I wasn’t fully aware of the ongoing debate on this topic, so I was surprised by the division. Sensing God’s support as I worked hard to earn a degree and enter a profession thought of as male-dominated, I felt strongly that God wanted women to have equal opportunities to receive calls into ministry.
As a young adult, I wasn’t fully aware of the ongoing debate on this topic, so I was surprised by the division. Sensing God’s support as I worked hard to earn a degree and enter a profession thought of as male-dominated, I felt strongly that God wanted women to have equal opportunities to receive calls into ministry.
In my faith journey, men and women played crucial roles in guiding and shaping me. I always had been urged to discern with God in steering my life and taking leadership roles in the church. Amid the busyness of growing up, I hadn’t paused to question why women weren’t ordained. Reflecting now, I feel somewhat embarrassed that it didn’t occur to me earlier. However, in April 1984, as news of Section 156 reached California, I was prepared to affirm that this guidance felt aligned with God’s intention.
It was heart-wrenching to see people divided over this issue, and I felt a deep sense of loss. It was an early lesson in adulthood, showing me that sometimes people can’t agree on what God is calling us to do. I wondered if there might be a better way to address such divisive issues, acknowledging that ignoring them wasn’t an option.
I had a profound sense of gratitude and respect for President Wallace B. Smith, who courageously stood by his faithful understanding of where the church should go. Looking back, I realize how different my life would have been if he hadn’t introduced Section 156.
That event opened opportunities for me and many women. At 21, I couldn’t have imagined the new path the approval to ordain women would set for my life. I’m incredibly grateful as we mark forty years of being a movement that supports ordination for all who are called.