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Mormonism and the nature of God/Heavenly Mother: Difference between revisions
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Latter-day Saints infer the existence of a Heavenly Mother through scripture and modern revelation. Because LDS theology rejects the doctrine of creation out of nothing ([[creatio ex nihilo]]) as a post-Biblical addition to Christian belief, and because they see God as [[Corporeality_of_God|embodied in human form]] while rejecting creedal [[Godhead_and_the_Trinity|Trinitarianism]], having a female counterpart to Our Heavenly Father seems logical and almost inevitable. This is especially true given the LDS embrace of the doctrine of [[Deification_of_man|''theosis'']], or human deification. Thus, the Heavenly Mother shares parenthood with the Father, and shares His attributes of perfection, holiness, and glory. | Latter-day Saints infer the existence of a Heavenly Mother through scripture and modern revelation. Because LDS theology rejects the doctrine of creation out of nothing ([[creatio ex nihilo]]) as a post-Biblical addition to Christian belief, and because they see God as [[Corporeality_of_God|embodied in human form]] while rejecting creedal [[Godhead_and_the_Trinity|Trinitarianism]], having a female counterpart to Our Heavenly Father seems logical and almost inevitable. This is especially true given the LDS embrace of the doctrine of [[Deification_of_man|''theosis'']], or human deification. Thus, the Heavenly Mother shares parenthood with the Father, and shares His attributes of perfection, holiness, and glory. | ||
As early as 1839, Joseph Smith taught the idea of a Heavenly Mother.{{ref|eom1}} Eliza R. Snow composed a poem (later set to music) which provides the most well-known expression of this doctrine: | As early as 1839, Joseph Smith taught the idea of a Heavenly Mother.{{ref|eom1}} Eliza R. Snow composed a poem (later set to music) which provides the most well-known expression of this doctrine:{{ref|hymn1}} | ||
<center>In the heav´ns are parents single?<br> | <center>In the heav´ns are parents single?<br> | ||
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When I lay this mortal by, <br> | When I lay this mortal by, <br> | ||
Father, Mother, may I meet you <br> | Father, Mother, may I meet you <br> | ||
In your royal courts on high? | In your royal courts on high?</center> | ||
In 1909 the First Presidency, under Joseph F. Smith, wrote that | In 1909 the First Presidency, under Joseph F. Smith, wrote that | ||
"man, as a spirit, was begotten and born of heavenly parents, and reared to maturity in the eternal mansions of the Father [as an] offspring of celestial parentage...all men ''and women'' are in the similitude of the universal Father ''and Mother'', and are literally the sons and daughters of Deity...{{ref|1stpres}} | |||
==Endnotes== | ==Endnotes== | ||
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==Best articles to read next== | ==Best articles to read next== | ||
{{LearnMore}} | {{LearnMore}} | ||
#Kevin L. Barney, "Do We Have a Mother in Heaven?," (Mesa, Arizona: FAIR, 27 June 2001).{{ | #Kevin L. Barney, "Do We Have a Mother in Heaven?," (Mesa, Arizona: FAIR, 27 June 2001).{{pdflink|url=http://www.fairlds.org/pubs/MotherInHeaven.pdf}} | ||
#{{EoM1|author=Elaine Anderson Cannon|article=Mother in Heaven|start=961|vol=}}{{link|url=http://ldsfaq.byu.edu/emmain.asp?number=133}} | #{{EoM1|author=Elaine Anderson Cannon|article=Mother in Heaven|start=961|vol=}}{{link|url=http://ldsfaq.byu.edu/emmain.asp?number=133}} | ||
#{{FR-19-1-9}} | #{{FR-19-1-9}} | ||
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===FAIR web site=== | ===FAIR web site=== | ||
* {{tg|url=http://www.fairlds.org/apol/ai039.html|Mother in Heaven}} | * {{tg|url=http://www.fairlds.org/apol/ai039.html|Mother in Heaven}} | ||
* Kevin L. Barney, "Do We Have a Mother in Heaven?," (Mesa, Arizona: FAIR, 27 June 2001).{{ | * Kevin L. Barney, "Do We Have a Mother in Heaven?," (Mesa, Arizona: FAIR, 27 June 2001).{{pdflink|url=http://www.fairlds.org/pubs/MotherInHeaven.pdf}} | ||
{{GodFAIR}} | {{GodFAIR}} | ||
Revision as of 05:12, 20 August 2007
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This article is a draft. FairMormon editors are currently editing it. We welcome your suggestions on improving the content.
This page is based on an answer to a question submitted to the FAIR web site, or a frequently asked question.
Question
Do Latter-day Saints believe in a female divine person, a "Heavenly Mother" as counterpart to God, the Heavenly Father?
Answer
Latter-day Saints infer the existence of a Heavenly Mother through scripture and modern revelation. Because LDS theology rejects the doctrine of creation out of nothing (creatio ex nihilo) as a post-Biblical addition to Christian belief, and because they see God as embodied in human form while rejecting creedal Trinitarianism, having a female counterpart to Our Heavenly Father seems logical and almost inevitable. This is especially true given the LDS embrace of the doctrine of theosis, or human deification. Thus, the Heavenly Mother shares parenthood with the Father, and shares His attributes of perfection, holiness, and glory.
As early as 1839, Joseph Smith taught the idea of a Heavenly Mother.[1] Eliza R. Snow composed a poem (later set to music) which provides the most well-known expression of this doctrine:[2]
No, the thought makes reason stare!
Truth is reason; truth eternal
Tells me I´ve a mother there.
When I leave this frail existence,
When I lay this mortal by,
Father, Mother, may I meet you
In 1909 the First Presidency, under Joseph F. Smith, wrote that
"man, as a spirit, was begotten and born of heavenly parents, and reared to maturity in the eternal mansions of the Father [as an] offspring of celestial parentage...all men and women are in the similitude of the universal Father and Mother, and are literally the sons and daughters of Deity...[3]
Endnotes
- [note] Elaine Anderson Cannon, "Mother in Heaven," in Encyclopedia of Mormonism, 4 vols., edited by Daniel H. Ludlow, (New York, Macmillan Publishing, 1992), :961.off-site
- [note] This is Hymn #292 in the current LDS hymnal ("O My Father"). It was originally ... [needs work]
- [note] Messages of the First Presidency, edited by James R. Clark, Vol. 4, (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1970), 205–206. GL direct link(italics added). Originally in First Presidency, "The Origin of Man," Improvement Era 13 (November 1909), 61–75.GL direct link FAIRWiki link
Best articles to read next
The best article(s) to read next on this topic is/are:
- Kevin L. Barney, "Do We Have a Mother in Heaven?," (Mesa, Arizona: FAIR, 27 June 2001). PDF link
- Elaine Anderson Cannon, "Mother in Heaven," in Encyclopedia of Mormonism, 4 vols., edited by Daniel H. Ludlow, (New York, Macmillan Publishing, 1992), :961.off-site
- Alyson Skabelund Von Feldt, "Does God Have a Wife? Review of Did God Have a Wife? Archaeology and Folk Religion in Ancient Israel," FARMS Review 19/1 (2007): 81–118. off-site wiki
Further reading
FAIR wiki articles
FAIR web site
- FairMormon Topical Guide: {{{topic}}} FairMormon link
- Kevin L. Barney, "Do We Have a Mother in Heaven?," (Mesa, Arizona: FAIR, 27 June 2001). PDF link
External links
- Elaine Anderson Cannon, "Mother in Heaven," in Encyclopedia of Mormonism, 4 vols., edited by Daniel H. Ludlow, (New York, Macmillan Publishing, 1992), 3:961.off-site
- David L. Paulsen, "Are Christians Mormon? Reassessing Joseph Smith's Theology in His Bicentennial," Brigham Young University Studies 45 no. 1 (2006), 35–128. (needs URL / links)
- Alyson Skabelund Von Feldt, "Does God Have a Wife? Review of Did God Have a Wife? Archaeology and Folk Religion in Ancient Israel," FARMS Review 19/1 (2007): 81–118. off-site wiki
Printed material
- Linda P. Wilcox, "The Mormon Concept of a Mother in Heaven," in Sisters in Spirit, edited Maureen U. Beecher and Lavina F. Anderson, (Urbana, Ill., 1987).