What Do We Know About Heavenly Mother?
There is a common cultural misconception within the church that we are not supposed to talk about our Mother in Heaven. That is unfortunate because in reality, while we have been told not to pray to her, we have never been asked not to speak about her. There is actually on record a rich history of general authorities and leaders in the church discussing her role and extrapolating on what we do know about her. A massive study done by BYU scholars found no public record of any General Authority advising members of the church to be silent about our Heavenly Mother. I believe it may assuage some unfounded fears of women in the church, if we were to talk more about what has been revealed about her.
Elder Glenn L. Pace said, “Sisters, I testify that when you stand in front of your heavenly parents in those royal courts on high and you look into Her eyes and behold Her countenance, any question you ever had about the role of women in the kingdom will evaporate into the rich celestial air, because at that moment you will see standing directly in front of you, your divine nature and destiny.”
What we do know about her is that she is a divine being, with equal glory, power and intelligence as the Father. The First Presidency under President Joseph F. Smith published a declaration titled “The Father and the Son,” in which they assert that our heavenly parents passed through “several stages or estates by which [they] have attained exaltation." In reference to scriptures affirming that male and female are created in the image of God, Elder Orson F. Whitney asked, “What is this but a virtual recognition of the feminine principle as well as the masculine principle of Deity?”
Elder Erastus Snow (Quorum of the Twelve, February 12, 1849–May 27, 1888) avowed:
“What,” says one, “do you mean we should understand that Deity consists of man and woman?” Most certainly I do. If I believe anything that God has ever said about himself . . . I must believe that deity consists of man and woman. . . There can be no God except he is composed of the man and woman united, and there is not in all the eternities that exist, or ever will be a God in any other way. We may never hope to attain unto the eternal power and the Godhead upon any other principle . . . this Godhead composing two parts, male and female."
She was the co-Creator. Brigham Young stated in 1876 General Conference that“eternal mothers” and “eternal daughters” as beings after the resurrection who will “be prepared to frame earths like unto ours and to people them in the same manner as we have been brought forth by our [heavenly] parents.”
Elder Charles W. Penrose cited the feminine gender of the divine Spirit in the morning of creation that moved upon the face of the waters as evidence that Mother in Heaven was involved in the creation.
She was once like us. Elder Orson F. Whitney (bishop, July 14, 1878–April 1906) explained that “there was a time when that being whom we now worship—that our eternal Father and Mother were once man and woman in mortality.”
Elder Milton R. Hunter stated, "Our Heavenly Parents have through aeons of time . . . applied in Their lives an untold number of these everlasting laws. As They learned these verities and how to operate them, these laws thereby became subject unto Elohim."
She gave birth to our spiritual bodies. James E. Talmage said, “We [are] literally the sons and daughters of divine parents, the spiritual progeny of God our Eternal Father, and of our God Mother.”
It is ok to love and adore her and see her attributes in us. Elder Rudger Clawson of the Quorum of the Twelve stated, “It doesn’t take from our worship of the Eternal Father, to adore our Eternal Mother, any more than it diminishes the love we bear our earthly fathers, to include our earthly mothers in our affections.” Rather, “we honor woman when we acknowledge Godhood in her eternal prototype.”
We, as her daughters, should seek to be like her. Elder Dallin H. Oaks affirmed that our theology “teaches that our highest aspiration is to become like our Heavenly Parents.”
She has shaped who we are. President Spencer W. Kimball supposed that our renewed relationship with our Heavenly Mother would be immensely influential. He reasoned, “Knowing how profoundly our mortal mothers have shaped us here, do we suppose her influence on us as individuals to be less if we live so as to return [to heaven]?”
She helped frame the Plan of Salvation. “we are part of a divine plan designed by Heavenly Parents who love us.” President Harold B. Lee said, "There came a day, then, when Mother and Father said, “Now, my son, my daughter, it is now your time to go. This is the greatest time in the history of the world. This is the fulness of times, and now because of your faithfulness you are permitted to go down in this fulness of time upon the earth.” I suppose as Father and Mother bade us good-bye, there may have been some sadness there because they knew Satan was here and one-third of all the hosts were here [with him]."
She continues to watch over and care for us during mortality. Again, President Lee taught, "Sometimes we think the whole job is up to us, forgetful that there are loved ones beyond our sight who are thinking about us and our children. We forget that we have a Heavenly Father and a Heavenly Mother who are even more concerned, probably, than our earthly father and mother, and that influences from beyond are constantly working to try to help us when we do all we can."
We will return to live with and report to her. Of speaking about judgment after this life, Elder James G. Duffin declared, “We, as parents, give an account to our Father and Mother in heaven of the manner in which we have conducted ourselves toward the precious souls entrusted to us.”
Learning more about what the leaders of the church have taught about Her, helps us to elevate and recognize the feminine divine within us and our sisters, wives and mothers.
Elder Glenn L. Pace said, “Sisters, I testify that when you stand in front of your heavenly parents in those royal courts on high and you look into Her eyes and behold Her countenance, any question you ever had about the role of women in the kingdom will evaporate into the rich celestial air, because at that moment you will see standing directly in front of you, your divine nature and destiny.”
What we do know about her is that she is a divine being, with equal glory, power and intelligence as the Father. The First Presidency under President Joseph F. Smith published a declaration titled “The Father and the Son,” in which they assert that our heavenly parents passed through “several stages or estates by which [they] have attained exaltation." In reference to scriptures affirming that male and female are created in the image of God, Elder Orson F. Whitney asked, “What is this but a virtual recognition of the feminine principle as well as the masculine principle of Deity?”
Elder Erastus Snow (Quorum of the Twelve, February 12, 1849–May 27, 1888) avowed:
“What,” says one, “do you mean we should understand that Deity consists of man and woman?” Most certainly I do. If I believe anything that God has ever said about himself . . . I must believe that deity consists of man and woman. . . There can be no God except he is composed of the man and woman united, and there is not in all the eternities that exist, or ever will be a God in any other way. We may never hope to attain unto the eternal power and the Godhead upon any other principle . . . this Godhead composing two parts, male and female."
She was the co-Creator. Brigham Young stated in 1876 General Conference that“eternal mothers” and “eternal daughters” as beings after the resurrection who will “be prepared to frame earths like unto ours and to people them in the same manner as we have been brought forth by our [heavenly] parents.”
Elder Charles W. Penrose cited the feminine gender of the divine Spirit in the morning of creation that moved upon the face of the waters as evidence that Mother in Heaven was involved in the creation.
She was once like us. Elder Orson F. Whitney (bishop, July 14, 1878–April 1906) explained that “there was a time when that being whom we now worship—that our eternal Father and Mother were once man and woman in mortality.”
Elder Milton R. Hunter stated, "Our Heavenly Parents have through aeons of time . . . applied in Their lives an untold number of these everlasting laws. As They learned these verities and how to operate them, these laws thereby became subject unto Elohim."
She gave birth to our spiritual bodies. James E. Talmage said, “We [are] literally the sons and daughters of divine parents, the spiritual progeny of God our Eternal Father, and of our God Mother.”
It is ok to love and adore her and see her attributes in us. Elder Rudger Clawson of the Quorum of the Twelve stated, “It doesn’t take from our worship of the Eternal Father, to adore our Eternal Mother, any more than it diminishes the love we bear our earthly fathers, to include our earthly mothers in our affections.” Rather, “we honor woman when we acknowledge Godhood in her eternal prototype.”
We, as her daughters, should seek to be like her. Elder Dallin H. Oaks affirmed that our theology “teaches that our highest aspiration is to become like our Heavenly Parents.”
She has shaped who we are. President Spencer W. Kimball supposed that our renewed relationship with our Heavenly Mother would be immensely influential. He reasoned, “Knowing how profoundly our mortal mothers have shaped us here, do we suppose her influence on us as individuals to be less if we live so as to return [to heaven]?”
She helped frame the Plan of Salvation. “we are part of a divine plan designed by Heavenly Parents who love us.” President Harold B. Lee said, "There came a day, then, when Mother and Father said, “Now, my son, my daughter, it is now your time to go. This is the greatest time in the history of the world. This is the fulness of times, and now because of your faithfulness you are permitted to go down in this fulness of time upon the earth.” I suppose as Father and Mother bade us good-bye, there may have been some sadness there because they knew Satan was here and one-third of all the hosts were here [with him]."
She continues to watch over and care for us during mortality. Again, President Lee taught, "Sometimes we think the whole job is up to us, forgetful that there are loved ones beyond our sight who are thinking about us and our children. We forget that we have a Heavenly Father and a Heavenly Mother who are even more concerned, probably, than our earthly father and mother, and that influences from beyond are constantly working to try to help us when we do all we can."
We will return to live with and report to her. Of speaking about judgment after this life, Elder James G. Duffin declared, “We, as parents, give an account to our Father and Mother in heaven of the manner in which we have conducted ourselves toward the precious souls entrusted to us.”
Learning more about what the leaders of the church have taught about Her, helps us to elevate and recognize the feminine divine within us and our sisters, wives and mothers.
I love that you posted this! Where in the world did you find all those awesome sources/how did you manage to compile them? They can be so difficult to find.
ReplyDeleteMost of this came from a study done at BYU. It's published here https://byustudies.byu.edu/showTitle.aspx?title=8669
ReplyDeleteit costs $2 to download, but you can print it and have it for your records. I thought it was worth it. I'm so glad you enjoyed the post! :)