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“The Vision Beautiful,” Improvement Era 23, no. “The Origin of Man,” Improvement Era 13, no.

292 see also Jill Mulvay Derr, “The Significance of ‘O My Father’ in the Personal Journey of Eliza R. “My Father in Heaven,” in “Poetry, for the Times and Seasons,” Times and Seasons 6 (Nov. Phelps, “Come to Me,” in “Poetry, for the Times and Seasons,” Times and Seasons 6 (Jan. (Susa Young Gates, History of the Young Ladies’ Mutual Improvement Association of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 15–16.) Zina Diantha Huntington Young recalled that when her mother died in 1839, Joseph Smith consoled her by telling her that in heaven she would see her own mother again and become acquainted with her eternal Mother. Paulsen and Martin Pulido, “‘A Mother There’: A Survey of Historical Teachings about Mother in Heaven,” BYU Studies 50, no. For an extensive survey of these teachings, see David L. See “ Becoming Like God” see also Elaine Anderson Cannon, “ Mother in Heaven,” in Encyclopedia of Mormonism, ed. The Church acknowledges the contribution of scholars to the historical content presented in this article their work is used with permission. Our highest aspiration is to be like them.” 15 Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has said, “Our theology begins with heavenly parents. Just as we have a Father in Heaven, we have a Mother in Heaven. Latter-day Saints believe that this pattern is reflected in Paul’s statement that “neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.” 14 Men and women cannot be exalted without each other. Nevertheless, we have been given sufficient knowledge to appreciate the sacredness of this doctrine and to comprehend the divine pattern established for us as children of heavenly parents. Hinckley said, “The fact that we do not pray to our Mother in Heaven in no way belittles or denigrates her.” 12 Indeed, as Elder Rudger Clawson wrote, “We honor woman when we acknowledge Godhood in her eternal Prototype.” 13Īs with many other truths of the gospel, our present knowledge about a Mother in Heaven is limited. In this, they follow the pattern set by Jesus Christ, who taught His disciples to “always pray unto the Father in my name.” 11 Latter-day Saints are taught to pray to Heavenly Father, but as President Gordon B. Latter-day Saints direct their worship to Heavenly Father, in the name of Christ, and do not pray to Heavenly Mother. Lee stated, “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.” 10 “We are part of a divine plan designed by Heavenly Parents who love us,” taught Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Prophets have taught that our heavenly parents work together for the salvation of the human family. In 1909, the First Presidency taught that “all men and women are in the similitude of the universal Father and Mother, and are literally the sons and daughters of Deity.” 6 Susa Young Gates, a prominent leader in the Church, wrote in 1920 that Joseph Smith’s visions and teachings revealed the truth that “the divine Mother, side by side with the divine Father.” 7 And in “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” issued in 1995, the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles declared, “Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny.” 8 Subsequent Church leaders have affirmed the existence of a Mother in Heaven. Snow, entitled “My Father in Heaven” and now known as the hymn “O My Father.” This text declares: “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.” 5 4 The most notable expression of the idea is found in a poem by Eliza R.

3 The earliest published references to the doctrine appeared shortly after Joseph Smith’s death in 1844, in documents written by his close associates.

While there is no record of a formal revelation to Joseph Smith on this doctrine, some early Latter-day Saint women recalled that he personally taught them about a Mother in Heaven. 1 The doctrine of a Heavenly Mother is a cherished and distinctive belief among Latter-day Saints. This understanding is rooted in scriptural and prophetic teachings about the nature of God, our relationship to Deity, and the godly potential of men and women. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that all human beings, male and female, are beloved spirit children of heavenly parents, a Heavenly Father and a Heavenly Mother.