Standard-Examiner Blog :
The Political Surf
Doug Gibson
Is Heavenly Mother a headache for Heavenly Father?
Posted on _March 26, 2012_
(http://blogs.standard.net/the-political-surf/2012/03/26/is-heavenly-mother-a-headache-for-heavenly-father/)
by _Doug
Gibson_ (http://blogs.standard.net/the-political-surf/author/doug-gibson/)
Listen to these words from the LDS hymn, “O My Father”: “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.” It’s a beautiful hymn, written
by Eliza R. Snow. We sang it in our ward yesterday. No doubt it was sung in
hundreds of other LDS wards and branches.
It’s clear Mormons believe in a Heavenly Mother. So why does she gets so
little press? My colleague Cal Grondahl quips it’s because she left Heavenly
Father a long time ago. Jokes aside, it may because my faith’s doctrine
teaches, or has taught, that while there’s only one Heavenly Father, there’s
a lot of Heavenly Mothers. In an earlier blog, I visited an 1853 edition of
the LDS publication, The Millennial Star, with an article where “Abby”
tries to persuade “Nelly” to the virtues of polygamy. (_link_
(http://blogs.standard.net/the-political-surf/2012/02/13/1850s-lds-publication-touts-grande
ur-threatens-celibacy-to-promote-polygamy/) ) “Abby” argues, “… Now if
God is appointing His sons on the earth to fill thrones and occupy many
principalities, and my husband means to be as worthy to fill thrones as
others,
then I will be content to share with him one throne, and rejoice at the
same time to see others share with him other thrones, while my capacity will
not allow me to share any more than my own. …”
Blogger Joanna Brooks talked about a hoped-for Heavenly Mother resurgence
in a blog last year (_Read_
(http://www.religiondispatches.org/dispatches/joannabrooks/4588/is_heavenly_mother_making_a_comeback_in_mormonism_/)
) It
hasn’t occurred in the chapels, although there’s a very interesting
discussion about our maternal goddess _here_
(http://mormonmatters.org/2011/05/17/32-heavenly-mother-in-todays-mormonism/) .
BYU Studies published an
excellent piece on Heavenly Mother’s relevance in Mormonism that can be
accessed
_here_ (https://byustudies.byu.edu/showTitle.aspx?title=8669) .
Heavenly Mother was talked about in LDS churches long go, whether by
Brigham Young, BH Roberts, etc. What many don’t realize is that Mormonism was
once a progressive, eccentric religion that shocked everyone. Much of that
history has been toned down, to put it mildly, the past few generations. In
fact, a generation ago, members were urged by the church’s First Presidency
not to talk about Heavenly Mother. Some believe that was a reaction by
church leaders worried about feminist efforts to harness Heavenly Mother.
So, is Heavenly Mother a headache for Heavenly Father? It’s an interesting
question. I’d sure like to hear more about her in church. My guess is that
the constant fears about revisiting Mormonism’s fascinating history is why
there is this “sacred silence,” as some have called it. The doctrine of
polygamy, eternal life, godhood, and eternal worlds leads to the conclusions
that God is dealing with scores, hundreds, perhaps even thousands of “
Heavenly Mothers.”
Nevertheless, My Heavenly Mother, even if she shares my Heavenly Father
with a lot of other spouses, is a God[ess]. I’d like to learn more about
before I have an opportunity to meet her personally. I bet She can handle it.
--
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