Final answer:
According to Official Declaration 2, all worthy male members of the LDS Church may be ordained to the priesthood, reflecting an important doctrinal change in 1978. This change aligns with historical views of spiritual equality, such as Martin Luther's 'priesthood of all believers', and mirrors societal shifts toward equal rights, as in the inclusion of women in the Canadian Senate.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Official Declaration 2, the Lord revealed that all worthy male Church members may be ordained to the priesthood. This declaration, made in 1978 by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), marked a significant change in the church's policy, allowing men of all races and ethnicities to be ordained to the priesthood and participate fully in the associated temple rituals and leadership roles.
The concept of priesthood and spiritual equality has been a topic of considerable debate and evolution in Christian history, as seen in various theological assertions. For instance, during the Reformation, Martin Luther advocated the idea of a 'priesthood of all believers', which challenged the hierarchical structure of the church by suggesting that every Christian has direct access to God and may perform sacred religious duties. This view diminished the perceived gulf between clerical and lay members, emphasizing that spiritual authority comes from faith and one's relationship with God rather than ecclesiastical ordination or office.
Social movements and legal decisions have also shaped the interpretation of spiritual roles, expanding the recognition of equal rights within religious and secular institutions alike. The inclusion of women in the Canadian Senate, as a result of recognizing 'persons' as inclusive of both male and female sexes, is an example of societal progress toward equality, paralleling changes in religious organizations such as the LDS Church's decision reflected in Official Declaration 2.