August 7, 2026

I really liked something that I heard from the Follow Him podcast this week about patriarchal vs patriarchy. Abraham and Sarah entered into an eternal marriage through the patriarchal order of the priesthood. They had the fullness of the gospel and were blessed with all the covenants we make today. In this patriarchal order, Abraham and Sarah were equals. When Abraham asked Sarah to pretend to be his sister for her safety, he did not command her, he suggested it and they decided together. This is patriarchal. Contrast this to Ahasuerus and his command to Vashti. Do you think Abraham would have ever treated Sarah that way? We see deep reference and mutual respect between Sarah and Abraham. Patriarchy is the adversaries warped hush of something sacred, as he makes with so many other sacred things, to draw the children of God into unhappiness.

When the Israelites were in bondage in Egypt, they lost many of the sacred truths they once had. Surrounded by paganism and idolatry, the eternal significance of the patriarchal order of the priesthood faded from memory. Then, when Moses went to to Mount Sinai, he brought back down the higher laws, but the Israelites were not ready for this. Shattering the tablets he returned and brought the preparatory law. Because of this, we see a great deal of patriarchy practiced in the middle east. Jews practice patriarchy and wives are subservient to husbands. This is not the way of God. In the patriarchal order of the priesthood, the higher law and ultimate covenants we enter into, man and women become two equal parts of one whole, united force.

The damage, pain, and suffering that comes from forgetting or not entering into our covenants is seen in part by the plague of patriarchy. God has a higher role and expectation for His children, and following it brings joy.