Reflections on Heavenly Mother
Reflecting on Heavenly Mother as I draw out some ideas for the @certainwomenartshow. These musings and thoughts are centered around the LDS faith and history as that is the lens I view this topic through.
There are a lot of misconceptions out there about Heavenly Mother. That She is too sacred to discuss. That She isn't discussed in LDS circles by leaders and prophets, past and present. That She isn't found in the scriptures. That we don’t have enough revelation about Her. That She is removed from us. That we shouldn't pray to Her. I will cover and discuss these beliefs below.
Melvin R. Brooks was an LDS seminary teacher that taught Heavenly Mother was too sacred to discuss. He was the earliest record where this myth may have originated. But that is all that belief is, a myth. There has been no public record of a General Authority advising against discussing Her and instead many have spoken of Her. We have quotes throughout the growth of the church that teach and testify of Her. She has been sought since the beginning of the foundation of the LDS Church and can be seen included in Hymns about her and in journal entries recounting conversations with the prophet Joseph Smith. Eliza R. Snow was particularly vocal about Her. Heavenly Mother is certainly not more sacred in comparison to Heavenly Father. If we can talk about the Father and Jesus then we should be able to discuss the Mother.
Heavenly Mother is included in the bible and has been called by many names. Some of her names include Wisdom, Asherah, grove/tree. The bible features very little influence of women and a female diety would likely have been edited out to fit the narrative of those compiling teachings in the bible. Reading the passages we have of her can help us gain glimpses of who She is and how to relate to Her. Scholars of the Bible have discussed the Divine Female aspect in scripture. She is there and waiting to be found. We can also learn more about her through searching for more information on her worship by the Canaanites and other ancient religions. Jesus, being one with God, often uses imagery including a feminine presence (A hen gathering her chicks, for example). If Jesus is one with God it would track that he is one in purpose with both the Mother and Father. Studying and seeking Her, both in the scriptures and her archetypes throughout history brings us a more complete view of God. This view is more expansive, more inclusive, more loving. It is a view that validates and empowers women. Elder Rudger Clawson said, “We honor women when we acknowledge Godhood in her eternal Prototype."
In the book Dance of the Dissident Daughter, Sue Monk Kidd reflects on the Divine Feminine, the role of women in Christianity, and the importance of female ritual and bonding. This book highlighted a lot of frustration that I felt and continued to feel within Christianity. Surrounded by men who make decisions and lead with little input from women, mostly male pronouns in scriptures and hymnals, I'm taught mostly by men from their point of view, and my communication is encouraged to be limited to a male God. It can be extremely limiting and discouraging. If we believe firmly "by the mouth of two or three witnesses it shall be established." Only one prophet in the LDS church has said to not pray to her. When we look at Christ's examples of how to pray he uses the word "pater" that can be taken as pleural for parents and often was used instead of the pleural form in the past (one example cited is that Plato himself used pater pleurally). With that, I leave prayers and individual connections with deity open to personal exploration and preferences. I believe that Heavenly Father is secure and loving to His children and His partner. Talking about and to Heavenly Mother should only grow us closer to where we need to be. It need not be a detraction or distraction from Heavenly Father. God the Father is not narcissistic, insecure, or small in His requirements for our worship.
These feelings and frustrations surrounding the male-centric focus of Christianity are similarly reflected in a @faithmattersfoundation podcast with Claudia Bushman where she discusses the lack of women's voices in the Mormon church, the lack of coming-of-age traditions for girls and women, how our voices can be better heard, and how we can create and embrace our own forms of ritual. She discusses how women can gain more autonomy within the structure of the LDS church, and I'd argue the Christian faith, from a balanced and level-headed place. She encourages us to seek our own revelation and to create our own scripture through it. To take back our own autonomy and act as we feel called to. I have found so much good and healing while heeding that call.
These thoughts and the growing action that they have inspired are my gift to God the Mother as I continue to reflect upon Her, learn of Her, and think of ways that I will move forward with this knowledge.
For more information check out the Heavenly Mother gospel topic, seekingheavenlymother.com, @dialoguejournal article How to Worship Our Mother in Heaven (Without Getting Excommunicated), @seekingheavenlymother, @ourmotherinheaven, @our.mother.tree, @our_mother_eve, @womb_sisters
