Difference between revisions of "Question: Is it true that little is known about our Heavenly Mother because she is "protected"?"

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===This idea is simply speculation, and has no basis in scripture or Latter-day Saint doctrine===
 
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In trying to fathom why there are only scant and vague references to a Heavenly Mother in LDS theology, Church members who might have had good intentions but no inspiration or authority to speak on the matter have arrived at false conclusions.  Perhaps the most common bad explanation for our lack of information on Heavenly Mother is the idea that she is being "protected" by our Heavenly Father from the blasphemy he and the Son endure.  This is an old-fashioned bit of folk-wisdom steeped in the benevolent sexism of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.  It's a misapplication of the "courtly love" and romantic notions that were once important in Western literature, manners, and sexual politics.  These kinds of protective ideals were well-rooted in Western culture centuries before the Church was restored.
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Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe that God has a wife. This Heavenly Mother has been claimed to not receive much mention in Latter-day Saint theology. In trying to understand why Heavenly Mother is not mentioned frequently in Latter-day Saint discourse, Church members have circulated an idea that Heavenly Mother is not mentioned because the father wants to protect her from blasphemy and maligning.  
  
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We have found no evidence of a Church leader, male or female, talking about Heavenly Mother being "protected" by her own obscurity in LDS doctrine. Though this was once a widely spread idea it appears to be little more than speculative folk-wisdom unsupported by prophetic revelation.
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Contrary to popular belief, there actually hasn't been a singular general authority that has advanced the notion. Additionally, references to Heavenly Mother by General Authorities are actually multitudinous as has been demonstrated by David Paulsen and Martin Pulido.<ref>David L. Paulsen, Martin Pulido, "A Mother There: A Survey of Historical Teachings about Mother in Heaven," ''BYU Studies'' 50:1 (2011): 71-97.</ref> These teachings have "explored her roles as a fully divine being, a creator of worlds with the Father, a coframer of the plan of salvation, and a concerned and involved parent of her children on earth."<ref>Ibid.</ref> There have been no revelations that have told us why we don't know more about her. Church members who have arrived at this conclusion have evidently done so based on poor information. Church members should be more careful in how they theologize this.  
  
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If, as President Hinckley states, a prayer to Heavenly Mother cannot "add to or diminish her glory" then certainly blaspheming against her cannot harm her either.  She needs no protection from us.
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If, as President Hinckley states, a prayer to Heavenly Mother cannot "add to or diminish her glory"<ref>Gordon B. Hinckley, "[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1991/10/daughters-of-god?lang=eng Daughters of God]," ''General Conference'' (October 1991).</ref> then certainly blaspheming against her cannot harm her either.  She is a goddess and much more powerful than any human being. She won't need protection from us.
 
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Revision as of 07:26, 3 February 2020

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Question: Is it true that little is known about our Heavenly Mother because she is "protected"?

This idea is simply speculation, and has no basis in scripture or Latter-day Saint doctrine

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe that God has a wife. This Heavenly Mother has been claimed to not receive much mention in Latter-day Saint theology. In trying to understand why Heavenly Mother is not mentioned frequently in Latter-day Saint discourse, Church members have circulated an idea that Heavenly Mother is not mentioned because the father wants to protect her from blasphemy and maligning.

Contrary to popular belief, there actually hasn't been a singular general authority that has advanced the notion. Additionally, references to Heavenly Mother by General Authorities are actually multitudinous as has been demonstrated by David Paulsen and Martin Pulido.[1] These teachings have "explored her roles as a fully divine being, a creator of worlds with the Father, a coframer of the plan of salvation, and a concerned and involved parent of her children on earth."[2] There have been no revelations that have told us why we don't know more about her. Church members who have arrived at this conclusion have evidently done so based on poor information. Church members should be more careful in how they theologize this.

If, as President Hinckley states, a prayer to Heavenly Mother cannot "add to or diminish her glory"[3] then certainly blaspheming against her cannot harm her either. She is a goddess and much more powerful than any human being. She won't need protection from us.


Notes

  1. ↑ David L. Paulsen, Martin Pulido, "A Mother There: A Survey of Historical Teachings about Mother in Heaven," BYU Studies 50:1 (2011): 71-97.
  2. ↑ Ibid.
  3. ↑ Gordon B. Hinckley, "Daughters of God," General Conference (October 1991).
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