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Mormonism and the nature of God/Heavenly Mother: Difference between revisions
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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}} | 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}} | ||
:::In the heav´ns are parents single?<br>No, the thought makes reason stare! <br>Truth is reason; truth eternal <br>Tells me I´ve a mother there. <br>When I leave this frail existence,<br> When I lay this mortal by, <br>Father, Mother, may I meet you <br>In your royal courts on high?<br> | |||
In the heav´ns are parents single?<br> | |||
No, the thought makes reason stare! <br> | |||
Truth is reason; truth eternal <br> | |||
Tells me I´ve a mother there. <br> | |||
When I leave this frail existence,<br> | |||
When I lay this mortal by, <br> | |||
Father, Mother, may I meet you <br> | |||
In your royal courts on high?<br | |||
In 1909 the First Presidency, under Joseph F. Smith, wrote that | In 1909 the First Presidency, under Joseph F. Smith, wrote that | ||
Revision as of 21:14, 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]
- In the heav´ns are parents single?
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 your royal courts on high?
- In the heav´ns are parents single?
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]
Despite these beliefs, Mother in Heaven plays virtually no role in LDS worship or teaching beyond that outlined above. It is not considered proper for members to pray to Mother in Heaven, since there are no prophetic or scriptural examples encouraging such a practice. Members of the Church pray as taught by the Savior, "Our Father, who art in heaven...." (Matthew 6:9, 3 Nephi 13꞉9, 3 Nephi 17꞉15, 3 Nephi 18꞉21,3 Nephi 19꞉19-21, (italics added).)
As President Gordon B. Hinckley observed:
- Logic and reason would certainly suggest that if we have a Father in Heaven, we have a Mother in Heaven. That doctrine rests well with me. However, in light of the instruction we have received from the Lord Himself, I regard it as inappropriate for anyone in the Church to pray to our Mother in Heaven...The fact that we do not pray to our Mother in Heaven in no way belittles or denigrates her...none of us can add to or diminish the glory of her of whom we have no revealed knowledge.[4]
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"). Written at Joseph Smith's death, the poem was originally published as Eliza R. Snow, "Invocation," Times and Seasons 6 no. 17 (15 November 1845), 1039. off-site GospeLink (See Terryl L. Givens, People of Paradox: A History of Mormon Culture (Oxford University Press, 2007), 168. ISBN 0195167112. ISBN 978-0195167115.)
- [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
- [note] Gordon B. Hinckley, "Daughters of God," Ensign (November 1991): 97.off-site
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
- Gordon B. Hinckley, "Daughters of God," Ensign (November 1991): 97.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: Mother in Heaven 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).