The increased emphasis on Heavenly Mother

[Christianlee]

I became LDS about 50 years ago. The issue of Heavenly Mother was kind of in the background, but wasn’t emphasized much.

Now it seems like it has almost become the central doctrine of Mormonism among some elements of the LDS Church. Is this just throwing a sop to feminists? It is difficult to find much information about it in the scriptures. In fact Heavenly Mother seems to be growing into the equivalence of Catholic Marianism among some LDS women.

The entire theology of Heavenly Mother seems to have grown out of some pretty thin soup.

[NewEliza]

It’s definitely being emphasized a lot more but it’s not thin soup. The existence of heavenly mother was taught by JS and BY and others for many decades.

Edit: but yes I do think the emphasis is for feminists. We aren’t teaching about her because we know things about her anymore. They’re teaching about her because they want to

[Gadianton Slayer]

I find it interesting that some have such a negative reaction to a Heavenly Mother.

[Destroyer]

It's always been a peripheral doctrine to me. It's interesting to know, but it doesn't impact my salvation or exaltation. Plus, it seems to attract a lot of speculation because there isn't much revelation or scripture on her in comparison to other subjects.

[JustDan]

It is a false doctrine. Seemingly taught now because the Prophet has many daughters..

[TheDuke]

If you believe in eternal life then you must believe in heavenly mother. what the he.....ll kind of heaven would it be without mother anyway. Besides, I have spoken to my heavenly mother (once), it was incredible. And my Father let me feel a bit of the love he has for my mother in heaven. Eternal life is knowing god and this loving and being loved as our eternal parents love each, enough that the intelligences flow unto them, that is what Elohim says makes one a god.

[Sarah]

Everything about exalted woman is veiled.

[gruden2.0]

This reminds me of an interesting story my wife told me once.

Years ago when she was a grad student at BYU she was doing some research and she came across a dissertation about Heavenly Mother. It piqued her curiosity so she spent some time reading it and the author was actually able to pull in a lot of quotes and such from church leaders and various documents, which somehow brought her to conclude HM was associated with the Holy Spirit, and from there made the connection to priesthood. When my wife returned to the grad library a week or so later to finish reading it, the dissertation had been moved to the special section where it had to be requested. When she submitted a request, she was immediately told to leave the library and never return (imagine a grad student banned from the grad library simply for requesting a book), and they literally escorted her out of the building.

So, there is sufficient information in the archives about the topic in the Mormon vaults, they just don't want the rank-and-file to know anything about it.

[Gadianton Slayer]

Everything about exalted woman is veiled.

Intentionally. After seeing people post on this forum about certain things, I have a good idea of the type of person that would do it too.

[endlessQuestions]

My wife just gave a talk in which she quoted a prophet saying that we don’t pray to our Heavenly Mother.

There were some who took offense, and made their displeasure known.

[Reluctant Watchman]

Men took her out of the conversation. That should speak volumes.

[nightlight]

Men took her out of the conversation. That should speak volumes.

Men took "Her" out of the Book of Mormon?

[Sarah]

Everything about exalted woman is veiled.

Intentionally. After seeing people post on this forum about certain things, I have a good idea of the type of person that would do it too.

I agree it was intentional. It starts with the creation story, and describing man being formed of the dust and Eve from Adam's rib. A man and a woman create new life together normally. So obviously our Father wanted to conceal some sacred truth about female godhood.

[Reluctant Watchman]

Men took her out of the conversation. That should speak volumes.

Men took "Her" out of the Book of Mormon?

Not necessarily that, just in general.

[TheDuke]

Sure everything about mother must be learned as one of the Mysteries of the Kingdom. She is less important in this lower sphere so she lets her husband carry out this creation, I suppose she has more important things to do. BTW god said "Mother is sacred and is the source of all life".

[EvanLM]

Everything about exalted woman is veiled.

I don't think so. The women sit on one side of the temple. . receive all of the same tokens . . .adminster in the priesthood the same as the men . . .go through the veil the same as men. . . .women the same. . .

btw: when the husband took the wife through the veil (only once) then it is just a courtesy and part of the parable of the church(woman) being married to Christ(the man). . . just a PARABLE. . .Christ will take ALL of us through . . .he is on the other side of the veil . . . only Christ for men and women . . . . no servant will be there . . and only he knows your pre existent name . . . the name on the earth that is given in the pretend preexistence in the temple is a PRETEND name. . . we don't remember our name right now and no one on earth can give it to us randomly. . . Christ will call our name both men and women

So, if we have know who Christ is then we know who God is and we know who our Heavenly Mother is. . . there is no gender for exaltation . . . all the same requirements . . .all the same gifts and blessings . . .sorry to break this news

I have a friend and her patriarchal blessing says that she looks like her mother in heaven. pretty cool

[EvanLM]

My wife just gave a talk in which she quoted a prophet saying that we don’t pray to our Heavenly Mother.

There were some who took offense, and made their displeasure known.

We don't pray to angels, either. when satan tempted Jesus then he told Jesus to call down angels. Look up Jesus' response. Blasphemous and is being currently taught by apostles wives and is NOT correct worship. Even Jesus didn't call them down or ask God to. NOT correct worship. . . has nothing to do with superiority . . just has to do with correct worship

[TheDuke]

Evan: you truly don't understand exaltation if you think there is no gender. You must not believe anything JS taught about exaltation and you then think god has no gender? Might as well be on a Catholic Forum or somewhere where exaltation doesn't even exist. Exaltation is being in a union man & woman. If there are no men or women in heaven, I will head back to the Telestial or Terrestrial, where ever men and women exist.

[Ciams]

Heavenly mother is a fact, and rooted in scripture and more. I'm annoyed when people talk about Her as they know when haven't been revealed (other than the principle of heavenly mother). If she's been revealed to you then you wouldn't have much to say.

The reality is, Christ didn't reveal and talk about all things publicly. If you're not following Christ's example, you're not following Christ.

[CuriousThinker]

My wife just gave a talk in which she quoted a prophet saying that we don’t pray to our Heavenly Mother.

There were some who took offense, and made their displeasure known.

We don't pray to angels, either. when satan tempted Jesus then he told Jesus to call down angels. Look up Jesus' response. Blasphemous and is being currently taught by apostles wives and is NOT correct worship. Even Jesus didn't call them down or ask God to. NOT correct worship. . . has nothing to do with superiority . . just has to do with correct worship

You don't think we can ask God for ministering angels to be sent to help us or others? There are many stories in the scriptures and out of them of angels being sent to help people.

[Sarah]

Everything about exalted woman is veiled.

I don't think so. The women sit on one side of the temple. . receive all of the same tokens . . .adminster in the priesthood the same as the men . . .go through the veil the same as men. . . .women the same. . .

btw: when the husband took the wife through the veil (only once) then it is just a courtesy and part of the parable of the church(woman) being married to Christ(the man). . . just a PARABLE. . .Christ will take ALL of us through . . .he is on the other side of the veil . . . only Christ for men and women . . . . no servant will be there . . and only he knows your pre existent name . . . the name on the earth that is given in the pretend preexistence in the temple is a PRETEND name. . . we don't remember our name right now and no one on earth can give it to us randomly. . . Christ will call our name both men and women

So, if we have know who Christ is then we know who God is and we know who our Heavenly Mother is. . . there is no gender for exaltation . . . all the same requirements . . .all the same gifts and blessings . . .sorry to break this news

I have a friend and her patriarchal blessing says that she looks like her mother in heaven. pretty cool

Right, the Temple is where these things about woman's potential are revealed. I was thinking about what we have in scripture.

[Lizzy60]

Evan: you truly don't understand exaltation if you think there is no gender. You must not believe anything JS taught about exaltation and you then think god has no gender? Might as well be on a Catholic Forum or somewhere where exaltation doesn't even exist. Exaltation is being in a union man & woman. If there are no men or women in heaven, I will head back to the Telestial or Terrestrial, where ever men and women exist.

That’s NOT what Evan said.

[Robin Hood]

I believe there are heavenly mothers, Eve for example, but I don't know that I believe in a Heavenly Mother.

[I Dont Know...]

...great discussion....thanks...

[Niemand]

Well, I suppose kowtowing to the pope is one thing, but here is the next possible stage.