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Joseph Smith, in speaking to the female relief society, said that soon he would "turn the keys of the priesthood to the women," and that this 'society' would become a kingdom of 'priests'. He was referring to the Endowment that these sisters would yet receive along with their husbands.
I used to wonder how it was that in the LDS Temple ordinances women were giving washings and anointings to women. How could that be? It's a priesthood ordinance is it not? Then as you proceed to the actual endowment ceremony women are handing to women the keys of the priesthood. Are those women who work in the Temple just borrowing the priesthood from the men for awhile? May I submit that the sisters receive the same keys of the priesthood in the endowment that the brethren do. They function in their matriarchal priesthood. Once a woman has received a true endowment, she is empowered in the matriarchal portion of the Melchizedek priesthood. Women may participate in the priesthood function of praying in the True Order just as the men. This is so a woman may bless her life and the lives of those close to her through righteous participation on her own in this holy ordinance of the True Order of Prayer.
A woman is promised to become, through faithfulness, a Queen and PRIESTESS to her husband. The word priestess entails possession of priesthood. The sisters in the early days of the Church understood this concept and 'used' their priesthood in connection with blessing their own children with or without their husband present, and other priesthood functions.
This matriarchal portion of the Melchizedek priesthood functions within the stewardship of of a woman's posterity and home. The society of women can give each other blessings when the spirit dictates. Women's priesthood is not, by God's edict, an authority to preside or conduct within the confines of the Church, or organized priesthood. However, she certainly does retain priesthood to administer in her immediate stewardship; ie.. giving blessings to her children and husband, and at times other sisters. Obviously, in situations of emergency or need a women can lay her hands on persons and render a blessing by the power of the priesthood because she has been given those keys in an endowment. It is not a 'borrowing' of her husband's priesthood, but a personally held dispensation from God.
This clarity is lost in current LDS theology and practice, but it wasn't always so. LDS women today are told that they do not have priesthood, but once a woman receives a true endowment, she truly obtains keys of the matriarchal portion of the Melchizedek priesthood.
I personally have seen the power of God manifest as sisters have administered blessings to myself and others. For me, this is not a nebulous, armchair discussion, but a 'hands on' experiential reality. My wives assist me in giving blessings to our sick children as needed. It is a beautiful experience and the spirit confirms that it is acceptable and right before God. I share these things to relate to the female gender that history and current experience demonstrate that there is power and truth in women's priesthood.
Confusion exists today because women inherently know that they have this right and privilege and yet are not permitted to exercise it in their own homes and stewardships. This is a result of a loss of knowledge of how these things used to be in earlier times.
Sincerely, Jeff Hanks