THE FIRST BOOK OF SHI-TUGO

Women enter the Council of Mothers upon reaching childbearing age. This council nominates leaders and participates in community decision-making.

1Now, when a woman comes of childbearing age, she becomes part of the governing council among the people of Ammon, even that council that elects the rulers and other councils of the people. Behold, this duty and responsibility is conferred upon the woman in a sacred manner, and this is the manner in which it is done:

2The young woman, after she has received the New Name from the Peli, is brought by her mother and all of her female kin before the women of the community and she is seated in the center with all of the other woman seated in circles around her. When all the women are seated, the woman who has been elected to speak for the Council of the Mothers stands and declares the intent and purpose of the meeting. Then she claps her hands above her head three times and clearly pronounces the name of the young woman. When she has done this, she and the young woman both clap their hands above their heads and say her name again. Whereupon, the rest of the women also clap their hands and say her name again. Yea, three times the young woman’s name is spoken.

3Now the Speaker takes sacred herbs in a bowl and strikes fire to them. When she has done this, she raises them to the sacred directions, as has been described regarding other ceremonies and ordinances of the people of Ammon. Yea, she raises the bowl to the sky in a prayer of thanks to the Father. And she touches the bowl upon the forehead of the young woman and offers a prayer of thanks to the Mother. And she raises again the bowl to the sky and offers a prayer of thanks to the Son. Then she raises the bowl to the West and praises the good teachings that the young woman has received from her mother. And also she raises the bowl to the North and praises the young woman’s mother for the sacred manner in which she seeks the Spirit and acknowledges the hand of God in all things. Then she raises the bowl to the East and praises the revelations the young woman receives because of the teachings of her mother. And behold, she raises the bowl to the South and praises the beauty and health, and all the providential practices taught to the young woman by her mother.

4When all this has been done, the women all sing a song of thanksgiving together and they all clap their hands together and express their agreement. And behold, this is a joyous sound that they make in this ceremony. And when the song has been sung, each woman who wishes to do so stands and courteously praises the new mother in the community and welcomes her.

5When all have done with speaking, the women heap gifts upon the new member of their council, and she is given her assignment to be engaged in, and is admitted into all the councils of the women. _The Peli receive their authority through adoption or lineage, confirmed by ordination. Both men and women participate in priesthood functions according to their societal roles._

1Now, those who have received the authority to speak and act in the name of God from the Lord’s anointed are known among the Ammonites as the Peli. They surely receive their calling from the mouth of the prophet. But priesthood is not a thing that the Ammonite men received without their wives. And they received the priesthood of God in a sacred manner. And this is the manner in which they did it.

2The Peli, who had received his authority by adoption or by virtue of his lineage, even down from our first fathers who dwelt in the land of Jerusalem, had this authority confirmed in him by the laying on of the hands of the Lord’s anointed. Then, when the Council of Peli chooses to confer the priesthood upon a man, he is brought with his wife before the council, and they are seated in the center of the sacred place. And behold, all the Council of Peli are seated in circles around them.

3And when all are properly seated, the principle Peli stands and states the purpose of the gathered council and pronounces the name of the man and of the woman and declares that they are Husband and Wife. But this is not all. He also courteously praises the man and the woman and honors them, and all the council clap their hands and express their agreement.

4Then the Peli takes a bowl of sacred herbs and strikes fire to it so that the incense rises up and covers all those present. And he raises the bowl in all the sacred directions, as has hitherto been described. Then he places his hands upon the head of the man with his left hand and upon the head of the woman with his right hand. And, stating his own right and authority to do so, in a clear voice, he confers upon them the Priesthood of God, the two to hold jointly and both to officiate in it at the appropriate times and places. Then he utters whatever words of prophecy the Spirit reveals to him. When he has done with prophecy, he clearly states the name of the man and of the woman again, and all the council clap their hands three times together, and express their agreement.

5This is the sacred manner in which the Priesthood of God is conferred upon men and women among the Ammonites.