Doctrine and Covenants 121:7-8

This scripture is shared by request. I agree that it works very well to include the Goddess.

7 My child, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;
8 And then, if thou endure it well, God and Goddess shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.

November in Review

I know I didn't do any posts this month. I have some hymns and scriptures in mind for next month, though.

We'll still look at Heavenly Mother in the Bloggernacle this month:

At Patheos, there was a post called, "The Heavenly Mommy Wars," with the line, "At stake in the issue of Heavenly Mother is nothing less than what it means to be a woman." That article really gets at the some of the dilemma Mormonism faces with being silent about Heavenly Mother.

Rachael Rose guest posted at The Exponent about Heavenly Mother and the Paradoxical Embodiment.

The Huffington Post ran Catholics and Mormons: A New Sisterhood in the Struggle for Women's Ordination, which compares and contrasts some of the feminist topics in Catholicism and Mormonism, including the Divine Feminine and Heavenly Mother.

Also, this past month, the BYU Women's Studies Honor Society held a discussion on Heavenly Mother. Anyone there want to share their notes?

Have you seen any other posts this month?


This month has been a reflective month for me. I haven't been posting, but my mind has been on this blog. Next month is the second anniversary of this blog, which means this month is the second anniversary of the idea of this blog. Two years ago, I was really struggling with exactly what that quote from Patheos above gets at. I looked around and saw no reference to any resurrected being being female. Angels mentioned in the Book of Mormon or in Church History were all male. And in current Church organization, women's groups like YW and Relief Society are "auxiliaries," appendages. And while it's nice to have appendages like arms, you don't need one to live. And that's how I was feeling in my relationship with the world. It's nice that I'm around, but not really necessary. There were a few dark days where my existence was really put into question.

Ultimately I decided that I needed to insist on the importance of Heavenly Mother because I needed to insist on the importance of myself and all the other girls and women in this world. And so this blog began. I hit some resistance from commenters and emails early on, and the number of views and followers of this blog are small, but I do really like this little blog and I'll keep on with it. The holidays are upon us and I'm currently "great with child," so I'm continuing without a lot of momentum at the moment. Thanks for staying along for the ride.

September and October in Review

Sorry I've fallen off the planet. Two months this time!

Our Heavenly Parents lead and guide us, hear us, deserve our praise, bless us, and we believe and "yield our hearts" to Them.

It's been a couple of months, so there are lots of Internet links with the mention of Heavenly Mother this time.

Because I didn't link to it last time, Sarah Familia at Times and Seasons posted her, Finding My Heavenly Mother, Part 2 as well as Finding My Heavenly Mother, Part 3.

Rachel at the Exponent includes Heavenly Mother in her testimony.

crazywomancreek at Feminist Mormon Housewives gets political in her observations on how Mitt Romney talks about Ann in the way Mormons refer to Heavenly Mother.

Suzette at the Exponent asks us how Heavenly Mother is mentioned in Primary.

Ask Mormon Girl responds to a question about gender issues, including Heavenly Mother.

In a guest post at fMh, Blossom mentions Heavenly Mother in her faith transition.

In a guest post at the Exponent, Jen mentions feeling Heavenly Mother's presence.

At Zelophehad's Daughters, Apame mentions Heavenly Mother being important to her own identity.

In another guest post at the Exponent, Barbara connects images of Eve to how we think of Heavenly Mother.

There is a new poem on poetry.com that is called "Heavenly Mother of Mine."

Not a Mormon source, but a Christian blog I run into a lot in my google searches for "Heavenly Mother" lists places the blogger feels Heavenly Mother is mentioned in the Bible.

Brad Kramer is interviewed on the fMh podcast and his article on Heavenly Mother was mentioned and linked to.

On Mormon Diaries, Grae writes about Heavenly Mother and how not talking about Her didn't make sense.

ETA: I just found this post at Gently Hew Stone called On Exaltation, Unity, and Heavenly Mother.



So onto November! My husband and I are currently taking our ward's marriage class, which takes up both hours of Sunday School and RS/EQ, so I feel very separated from what everyone else is doing in those classes, so please excuse me if I'm not on top of this this month. It's easier to remember to post when I hear a good scripture in Sunday School to use, but alas, that won't happen this month.

Keep the Commandments

Sang this one in Relief Society today. Changed "He" to "They."

Keep the commandments; keep the commandments!
In this there is safety; in this there is peace.
They will send blessings; They will send blessings.
Words of a prophet: Keep the commandments.
In this there is safety and peace.

Ether 12: 18

A short one from the talk our Relief Society lesson was based on. I had only to add the Goddess.

18 And neither at any time hath any wrought miracles until after their faith; wherefore they first believed in the Son of God and Goddess.

Helaman 3:35

I finally was in Sunday School long enough to know what the lesson was! Our ward did the Helaman 1-5 lesson on Sunday. This is from Helaman 3.

35 Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto Goddess and God.

Praise to the Lord, the Lady

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty is my favorite hymn, but I haven't used it here yet because I wasn't sure the best way to make it inclusive. We sang it today in sacrament and I had so much fun, that I decided I would bring it off the back burner and really do it.

This one is difficult because "Lord" is one syllable. You could probably alternate verses to the Lord and Lady very easily. I tried to be inclusive, though, so I added Lady into the first couple of syllables of the next phrase, trying to keep the meaning of the phrase. I also wasn't sure what to do about "Abraham's seed" since if I want to be inclusive, I need to include Sarah. I left it as-is, but if anyone has a good idea on how to tackle that, let me know.



Praise to the Lord, the Lady, Queen, King of creation!
O my soul, praise them, for they are thy health and salvation!
Join the great throng, Psaltery, organ and song,
Sounding in glad adoration!

Praise to the Lord, Lady! All things they gloriously reigneth.
Borne as on eagle wings, safely their Saints they sustaineth.
Hast thou not seen How all thou needest hath been
Granted in what they ordaineth?

Praise to the Lord, Lady, prosper thy way and defend thee.
Surely their goodness and mercy shall ever attend thee.
Ponder anew What the Almighties can do,
Who with their love doth befriend thee.

Praise to the Lord, Lady! All that is in me adore them!
All that hath breath, join with Abraham’s seed to adore them!
Let the “amen” Sum all our praises again,
Now as we worship before them.

3 Nephi 27:9

Jumping ahead to 3 Nephi just for fun. I know many wards are just about into it, right? We had stake conference last weekend, so we are yet another week behind the rest of you!

I changed "Father" to "Parents."

9 Verily I say unto you, that ye are built upon my gospel; therefore ye shall call whatsoever things ye do call, in my name; therefore if ye call upon the Parents, for the church, if it be in my name the Parents will hear you;

Come Away to the Sunday School

In this one, I changed "God" to "They." I usually don't do that without making sure there's a reference to "Heavenly Parents" so we can know who "They" are, but many hymns only mention "He" and it's assumed we know who "He" is. So I'm going with the assumption route this week. I did add "Lady" to "Lord," though. I chose this one since it's fall and school is starting up again.

1. When the rosy light of morning
Softly beams above the hill,
And the birds, sweet heav’nly songsters,
Ev’ry dell with music fill,
Fresh from slumber we awaken;
Sunshine chases clouds away.
Nature breathes her sweetest fragrance
On the holy Sabbath day.

2. For a good and glorious purpose
Thus we meet each Sabbath day,
Each one striving for salvation
Thru Lord, Lady's appointed way.
Earnest toil will be rewarded;
Zealous hearts need not repine.
They will not withhold his blessings
From the eager, seeking mind.

3. Let us then press boldly onward,
Prove ourselves as soldiers true.
They will lead us; they will guide us.
Come, there’s work for all to do,
Never tiring, never doubting,
Boldly struggling to the end.
In the world, tho foes assail us,
They will surely be our friends.

[Chorus]
Then away, haste away!
Come away to the Sunday School!
Then away, do not delay!
Come away to the Sunday School!

Alma 44:4

I've been subbing in Primary so I haven't been in Sunday School in a while. I'm going to assume most of the lessons at this point in the year are on the "war chapters" so here's a "war chapter" verse. I added the Goddess

4 Now ye see that this is the true faith of God and Goddess; yea, ye see that Goddess and God will support, and keep, and preserve us, so long as we are faithful unto them, and unto our faith, and our religion; and never will the Lord or Lady suffer that we shall be destroyed except we should fall into transgression and deny our faith.

August in Review

We were out of town last weekend, so August in Review wasn't posted on time. Sorry!

Heavenly Mother and Father receive our praises, both birth and give us re-birth, will come, and protect us.

In the Bloggernacle this month:

Mraynes at the Exponent wrote "It Matters" about the visibility of women in scripture and how it affects her daughter, who gave a wonderful talk that used the inclusive "Heavenly Parents" for Primary.

At Times and Seasons, Sarah Familia wrote, "Finding my Heavenly Mother, Part 1." I'm guessing Parts 2 (+?) will be forthcoming.

Rune at Feminist Mormon Housewives gave inclusive-treatment to A Child's Prayer.

It was a slow month, let's hope it picks back up again this fall!

Acts 17:29

This is one of the scriptures referenced in President Monson's April 2012 Conference Talk, Race of Life, and I rather like it when the Goddess is added. I also made the language gender-inclusive (man to people).

29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of Goddess and God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and people's device.

Do What is Right

Here's a riveting one to wake you up today. I changed "God" to "Gods" but you could alternate every verse with "Goddess protect you..."

1. Do what is right; the day-dawn is breaking,
Hailing a future of freedom and light.
Angels above us are silent notes taking
Of ev’ry action; then do what is right!

2. Do what is right; the shackles are falling.
Chains of the bondsmen no longer are bright;
Lightened by hope, soon they’ll cease to be galling.
Truth goeth onward; then do what is right!

3. Do what is right; be faithful and fearless.
Onward, press onward, the goal is in sight.
Eyes that are wet now, ere long will be tearless.
Blessings await you in doing what’s right!

Chorus:
Do what is right; let the consequence follow.
Battle for freedom in spirit and might;
And with stout hearts look ye forth till tomorrow.
Gods will protect you; then do what is right!

Turn Your Hearts

For this hymn, I added the Lady in the first first and made the last line of the second verse gender-inclusive. Happy Sunday!

1. Turn your hearts; Lord, Lady coming,
Malachi the prophet said.
Turn your hearts in preparation
To the work of exaltation
For the living and the dead.

2. In the latter days Elijah
Will renew the plan sublime.
He will teach you and remind you
Of the promises that bind you
To all people throughout all time.

3. Turn your hearts toward your parents—
Generations gone before.
May you seek until you find them;
In the temple seal and bind them
To your hearts forevermore.

4. Turn in love to all your children—
Generations yet to be.
May your deeds of gospel giving,
Temple service, righteous living,
Bless them all eternally.

Alma 36:23-24

From Sunday School this past week:

23 But behold, my limbs did receive their strength again, and I stood upon my feet, and did manifest unto the people that I had been born of God and Goddess.    

24 Yea, and from that time even until now, I have labored without ceasing, that I might bring souls unto repentance; that I might bring them to taste of the exceeding joy of which I did taste; that they might also be born of Goddess and God, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

From Homes of Saints Glad Songs Arise

I added "Queen" to this and changed "Father" to "Parents." This is a lesser-sung hymn that we happened to sing in Relief Society today. It was a great find.

From homes of Saints glad songs arise,
For there is Queen and King.
There faith is learned and prayers ascend,
The Spirit’s peace to bring.
For homes where scriptures old are loved,
And living prophets, too,
All thanks we give; the Parents praise
For guidance sure and true.

Their truths protect the hearth from wrong
When error’s ways allure,
Lift minds from self to nobleness,
Keep thought and action pure.
Then sing, O Saints, in hymns of praise;
Sing thanks to Gods on high,
Whose counsels kept in homes on earth
Bring heaven’s glory nigh.

July in Review

Our Heavenly Parents are mindful of all, give us power and love and sound minds, want us to live with them, help us, and simply are.

On the Internet:

mraynes writes that she feels we need to start with Heavenly Mother when it comes to empowering women in the Church in the The Potential of Priestesshood at the Exponent.

Jena mentions Heavenly Mother in her testimony in Believing "Inactivity."

I didn't see a lot of mention of Heavenly Mother this month. With people going on summer vacations and Pioneer Day, it seems to be a slow month. Have you seen any new links this month?

Let Us All Press On

I hadn't realized the mention of Heavenly Father in this hymn until I happened to sing the bass line today. So I've changed that to "Heavenly Parents" and made other small inclusive changes.

1. Let us all press on in the work of the Lords,
That when life is o’er we may gain a reward;
In the fight for right let us wield a sword,
The mighty sword of truth.

 [Chorus] Fear not, though the enemy deride;
Courage, for the Lords are on our side.
We will heed not what the wicked may say,
But the Lords alone we will obey.

 [Chorus: Alto, Tenor, and Bass] Fear not, courage, though the enemy deride;
We must be victorious, for the Lords are on our side.
We’ll not fear the wicked nor give heed to what they say,
But the Lords, our Heav’nly Parents, them alone we will obey.

 2. We will not retreat, though our numbers may be few
When compared with the opposite host in view;
But an unseen pow’r will aid me and you
In the glorious cause of truth.

3. If we do what’s right we have no need to fear,
For the Lords, our helpers, will ever be near;
In the days of trial their Saints they will cheer,
And prosper the cause of truth.

Matthew 5:8

I added the Goddess to this one. Very simple and lovely.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God and Goddess.

Alma 30:45

Our ward had the lesson on Korihor this past Sunday. The idea of teaching that there is no Goddess struck me, so I wanted to use this verse today.

45 And yet do ye go about, leading away the hearts of this people, testifying unto them there is no Goddess or God? And yet will ye deny against all these awitnesses? And he said: Yea, I will deny, except ye shall show me a sign.

When I am Baptized

I substituted for the Primary pianist today and this is one of the songs they are singing for the program in the fall. There is only one mention of "God" and it's in the chorus. I wasn't sure what to do with it, so I made it plural. Since you sing the chorus twice, you could sing it once with "God" and once with "Goddess" for balance.

1. I like to look for rainbows whenever there is rain
And ponder on the beauty of an earth made clean again.

2. I know when I am baptized my wrongs are washed away,
And I can be forgiven and improve myself each day.

ChorusI want my life to be as clean as earth right after rain.
I want to be the best I can and live with Gods again.

2 Timothy 1:7-8

This scripture was from the Relief Society lesson we had on Sunday. I added the Goddess to this one.

7 For God and Goddess hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 

8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord and Lady, nor of me their prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God and Goddess;

Alma 26:37

Our Sunday School lesson yesterday was on Alma 23-29. In this verse, I made it gender-inclusive and added the Goddess.

37 Now my brethren and sisters, we see that Goddess and God are mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, they numbereth their people, and their bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God and Goddess forever. Amen.

May and June in Review

So for the past couple of months I've been a little missing in action. Lots of things going on at home, but also things are looking up. I was recently released from nursery, so I actually will get a chance to follow the Sunday School and Relief Society lessons. Being in nursery meant that I didn't know where everyone was in the manual and if I wanted to use scriptures from the recent or upcoming lessons, I didn't know where to turn! But now I will!

Our Heavenly Parents nurture us, gave us Christ, and love us.

Heavenly Mother on the Internet

Kelly Ann at the Exponent used the example of wanting more revelation about Heavenly Mother in her post called Pipe Dreams.

5inthebed wrote that the mention of Heavenly Mother in O My Father was calming for her.

Heather wrote about worshipping Heavenly Mother this past Mother's Day.

Mother's Day also brought up some thoughts about Heavenly Mother on SK{ru}SH.

Feminist Mormon Housewives had a fun post of questions to ask children to find out their responses, which included a question about Heavenly Mother.

KRCL did an interview with the editors of the recent Motherhood issue of Sunstone called Heavenly Mother's Day.

Descent lets the pagan-leaning Heavenly Mother-inquiring Mormons know where to go for discussion.

Also, Ask Mormon Girl directly tackled the subject of Heavenly Mother this month.


I know I've missed some. If you know of links from the past few months about Heavenly Mother, leave them in the comments! Happy July!

Young Women Theme

I changed "Father" to "Parents" and made the rest of the wording inclusive as well. I like it much better this way.

 We are daughters of our Heavenly Parents, who love us, and we love Them. We will "stand as witnesses of Gods at all times and in all things, and in all places" (Mosiah 18:9) as we strive to live the Young Women values, which are:
Faith
Divine Nature
Individual Worth
Knowledge
Choice and Accountability
Good Works
Integrity
and Virtue.
 We believe as we come to accept and act upon these values, we will be prepared to strengthen home and family, make and keep sacred covenants, receive the ordinances of the temple, and enjoy the blessings of exaltation.

Alma 5:48

Added "Mother" and made the language gender-inclusive.

48 I say unto you, that I know of myself that whatsoever I shall say unto you, concerning that which is to come, is true; and I say unto you, that I know that Jesus Christ shall come, yea, the Son, the Only Begotten of the Mother and Father, full of grace, and mercy, and truth. And behold, it is he that cometh to take away the sins of the world, yea, the sins of every one who steadfastly believeth on his name.

O My Mother

I normally change hymns to be more inclusive: "Father" to "Parents," for example, but just for Mother's Day, I thought it would be interesting to turn the tables on "O My Father." In this rendition,"Father" is "Mother" and vice versa.

O my Mother, thou that dwellest
In the high and glorious place,
When shall I regain thy presence
And again behold thy face?
In thy holy habitation,
Did my spirit once reside?
In my first primeval childhood
Was I nurtured near thy side?

For a wise and glorious purpose
Thou hast placed me here on earth
And withheld the recollection
Of my former friends and birth;
Yet ofttimes a secret something
Whispered, “You’re a stranger here,”
And I felt that I had wandered
From a more exalted sphere.

I had learned to call thee Mother,
Thru thy Spirit from on high,
But, until the key of knowledge
Was restored, I knew not why.
In the heav’ns are parents single?
No, the thought makes reason stare!
Truth is reason; truth eternal
Tells me I’ve a father there.

When I leave this frail existence,
When I lay this mortal by,
Mother, Father, may I meet you
In your royal courts on high?
Then, at length, when I’ve completed
All you sent me forth to do,
With your mutual approbation
Let me come and dwell with you.

April in Review

Happy May!

Heavenly Mother and Father gave us Christ, take care of us, hold children dear, accept our temples, give us everything, are our Shepherds, give us commandments, and we are indebted to Them.

This month in the bloggernacle, G at Figuring It Out shares her artwork, including the pieces used in the the new March 2012 Sunstone on Motherhood. There are many articles there about Heavenly Mother.

5inthebed blogged on Easter, how the mention of Heavenly Mother in the hymn O My Father comforted her.

Daughters of Mormonism published an episode, Re-visioning the Garment Symbols, in which the panelists talk about how the garment symbols can point to Heavenly Mother.

Zelophehad's Daughters was a powerhouse this month, starting with the bold, Mormonism has the most Sexist Cosmology of Any Religion, which laments the lack of knowledge about Heavenly Mother (among other things). Then Lynette, in her series of her feminist journey, mentions in parts 3 and 4 her run-ins with Heavenly Mother theology (or lack of).

We are coming up on May and with the American Mother's Day holiday, I predict we will see some more posts this month mentioning Heavenly Mother.

2 Nephi 11:7

I wanted to add the Goddess to this verse, but this is a scripture that brings to question of whether we consider Christ God or Heavenly Father God. I left the ending of the verse alone, but did choose to include the Goddess. I wish there was a good female Christ image. I know some feminist Christians use Sophia as Christ's female counterpart.

7 For if there be no Christ there be no Goddess and God; and if there be no Goddess and God we are not, for there could have been no creation. But there is a God, and he is Christ, and he cometh in the fulness of his own time.

Jacob 5:15-17

I wanted to include Heavenly Mother into the allegory of the Olive Tree, so she's here as "the Lady."

15 And it came to pass that a long time passed away, and the Lord and Lady of the vineyard said unto their servant: Come, let us go down into the vineyard, that we may labor in the vineyard.
16 And it came to pass that the Lady and Lord of the vineyard, and also the servant, went down into the vineyard to labor. And it came to pass that the servant said unto his master and mistress: Behold, look here; behold the tree.
17 And it came to pass that the Lord and Lady of the vineyard looked and beheld the tree in the which the wild olive branches had been grafted; and it had sprung forth and begun to bear fruit. And they beheld that it was good; and the fruit thereof was like unto the natural fruit.

How Dear to Them are Little Children

"How Dear to God are Little Children" is a seldom-sung Primary piece that I really love. I changed "God" to "Them."

How dear to Them are little children;
With them their spirit life began.
So priceless their security,
Their innocence and purity;
They are a part of their eternal plan.

To earthly parents They send children
To guide and teach, protect and love.
Oh, let us keep the sacred trust
That they has placed with each of us
And help to guide them back to Them above.
How dear to Them are little children.

Doctrine and Covenants 109:4

In going along with the lessons in Relief Society and Priesthood, here is a scripture about temple work. I changed "Father" to "Parents" and the respective pronouns.

4 And now we ask thee, Holy Parents, in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of thy bosom, in whose name alone salvation can be administered to the children of all, we ask thee, O Lady and Lord, to accept of this house, the workmanship of the hands of us, thy servants, which thou didst command us to build.

Mosiah 4:16-19

Another Book of Mormon scripture! Again, I included the Goddess in this scripture and made the pronouns gender-inclusive.

16 And also, ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor; ye will administer of your substance unto who that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that the beggar putteth up their petition to you in vain, and turn them out to perish. 17 Perhaps thou shalt say: The person has brought upon themselves their misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto them of my food, nor impart unto them of my substance that they may not suffer, for their punishments are just— 18 But I say unto you, O, whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause to repent; and except they repenteth of that which they hath done they perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God and Goddess. 19 For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Beings, even Goddess and God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind?

Mosiah 2:34

I'm trying to catch up to where you all are in the Sunday School Manual. This is in Mosiah. I changed "Father" to "Parents" and the rest of pronouns as well. And at the end, I included Sariah.

34 I say unto you, that there are not any among you, except it be your little children that have not been taught concerning these things, but what knoweth that ye are eternally indebted to your heavenly Parents, to render to them all that you have and are; and also have been taught concerning the records which contain the prophecies which have been spoken by the holy prophets, even down to the time our parents, Lehi and Sariah, left Jerusalem;

Lord, Lady my Pasture Will Prepare

The Lord My Pasture Will Prepare was our closing hymn today. Typically, shepherd imagery is limited to Christ, but I wanted to include our Heavenly Parents, and particularly Heavenly Mother because shepherding is a work that is dualistic in nature: the shepherd both nurtures and protects.

Instead of "The Lord" I used, "Lord, Lady." If you want to sing it this way, the half note that is "Lord" in the original hymn becomes two quarter notes.

Lord, Lady my pasture will prepare
And feed me with a shepherd’s care.
Their presence will my wants supply,
And guard me with a watchful eye.
My noonday walks they will attend
And all my silent midnight hours defend.

When in the sultry glebe I faint,
Or on the thirsty mountain pant,
To fertile vales and dewy meads
My weary, wand’ring steps they lead,
Where peaceful rivers, soft and slow,
Amid the cooling verdant landscape flow.

1 Nephi 17:3

In this one, I added the Goddess and used "Them" and "they" to refer to our Heavenly Parents for the rest of the verse.

3 And thus we see that the commandments of God and Goddess must be fulfilled. And if it so be that the children of all keep the commandments of Them they doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which they have commanded them; wherefore, they did provide means for us while we did sojourn in the wilderness.

March in Review

Our Heavenly Mother and Father give us agency, rule, are our goal, offered us Christ, and perfect us.

Heavenly Mother on the Internet
The Exponent mentioned Her twice this month, once in the March Visiting Teaching message, and once on the doctrine of equality.

Zelophehad's Daughters did a quick post, Repudiating Sexism.

Like Unto Eve wrote about Speaking up for Mother.

And Jenne speaks about her connection with the Divine Feminine on the Daughters of Mormonism podcast.

This weekend threw me off my groove, but I'll get back on it. I wasn't able to listen to conference Saturday, but I hear that one of the speakers did mention "Heavenly Parents" in a talk. I'll look once the text is up online.

1 Nephi 12:11

From Sunday School lesson 4. I added the Goddess

11 And the angel said unto me: Look! And I looked, and beheld three generations pass away in righteousness; and their garments were white even like unto the Lamb of Goddess and God. And the angel said unto me: These are made white in the blood of the Lamb, because of their faith in him.

1 John 2:3-6

Again, I made this gender-inclusive and added the Goddess. I used the very wordy "he or she" to refer to the person because "them" is referring to Heavenly Parents here and I didn't want to confuse the meanings of the verses.

3 And hereby we do know that we know them, if we keep their commandments.

4 He or she that saith, I know them, and keepeth not their commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him or her.

5 But whoso keepeth their word, in him or her verily is the love of Goddess and God perfected: hereby know we that we are in them.

6 She or he that saith she or he abideth in them ought her- or himself also so to walk, even as they walked.

1 Nephi 11:24

I've been slacking on the scriptures here. Recently my husband was called to join me in the nursery, so we now have no connection to what our ward is doing in Sunday School. I have no clue what lesson they are on, so finding scriptures for the lessons has proved difficult. To make up for this, I'm going to post regularly until I come to my best guess as to which lesson everyone is on. I'm going to skip into lesson 3, because I think I did lessons 1 and 2 earlier this year. And if not, well, they'll come around again in 4 years!

So from lesson 3, the Tree of Life, I added the Goddess and made the language gender-inclusive.

24 And after he had said these words, he said unto me: Look! And I looked, and I beheld the Son of God and Goddess going forth among the children of all; and I saw many fall down at his feet and worship him.

O Thou Before the World Began

We sang this as our sacrament hymn today and I'm not sure it's one we sing regularly as it was pretty unfamiliar. I modified the language to be gender-inclusive, so the first two lines end differently to accommodate the rhyming of "all." I also changed "Father's" to "Parents'."

O thou, before the world's first fall,
Ordained a sacrifice for all,
And by th’eternal Spirit made
An off’ring in the sinner’s stead;
Our everlasting Priest art thou,
Pleading thy death for sinners now.

Thy off’ring still continues new
Before the righteous Parents' view.
Thyself the Lamb forever slain;
Thy priesthood doth unchanged remain.
Thy years, O God, can never fail,
Nor thy blest work within the veil.

Oh, that our faith may never move
But stand unshaken as thy love,
Sure evidence of things unseen;
Now let it pass the years between
And view thee bleeding on the tree:
My Lord, my God, who dies for me.

Choose the Right

The Primary is learning this hymn for their presentation this year, so I thought it would be good to include it. I changed "heaven" to "Goddess" in verse 3. And in the chorus I changed "God" to they.

1. Choose the right when a choice is placed before you.
In the right the Holy Spirit guides;
And its light is forever shining o’er you,
When in the right your heart confides.

2. Choose the right! Let no spirit of digression
Overcome you in the evil hour.
There’s the right and the wrong to ev’ry question;
Be safe thru inspiration’s pow’r.

3. Choose the right! There is peace in righteous doing.
Choose the right! There’s safety for the soul.
Choose the right in all labors you’re pursuing;
Let God and Goddess be your goal.

[Chorus]
Choose the right! Choose the right!
Let wisdom mark the way before.
In its light, choose the right!
And They will bless you evermore.

Isaiah 40:22

It is pi (3.1415926535...) day today (3/14), so in honor of that, today's scripture is circle-related. I changed "he" to "they."

22 It is they that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:

Know this that Every Soul is Free

It's International Women's Day and this hymn is running though my brain. I've made the language gender-inclusive, which means using "they" as singular and some funky rhythms in the rhymes (last line of first verse, for example).

Know this, that ev’ry soul is free
To choose their life and what they'll be;
For this eternal truth is giv’n:
Goddess, God'll force no one to heav’n.

They'll call, persuade, direct aright,
And bless with wisdom, love, and light,
In nameless ways be good and kind,
But never force the human mind.

Freedom and reason make us human;
Take these away, what are we then?
Mere animals, and just as well
The beasts may think of heav’n or hell.

May we no more our pow’rs abuse,
But ways of truth and goodness choose;
God, Goddess pleased when we improve
Their grace and seek their perfect love.

February in Review

Our Heavenly Parents love us, look on our hearts, forgive us, and love us some more.

Elsewhere on the Internet:

At the Exponent, Rachel Hunt Steenblik ponders the question, "What is your conception of Heavenly Mother?"

Jenni at Mother Wheel talks about drawing energy from both heavenly parents.

Elisothel, at fMh, mentions the desire to address both Parents in prayer in Report from Camelot.

Happy February! Now to March: in like a lion or lamb?

3 Nephi 13:14-15

I changed "Father" to "Parents" here and used gender-inclusive language.

14 For, if ye forgive all their trespasses your heavenly Parents will also forgive you;

15 But if ye forgive not all their trespasses neither will your Parents forgive your trespasses.

The Brodies

I just found out this blog was nominated for the "2011 Best Faithful Perspective Mormon Blog". It's pretty far behind in the votes, but I'm excited just to be nominated! You can vote for the 2011 Brodies here.

Their Love

Because Valentine's Day is upon us, I wanted to share a song about love. This is from the Children's Songbook and is titled, "God's Love." I altered the second verse in order to include the Goddess and used "They" in the third verse.

We do not see the wind;
We only hear it sigh.
It makes the grasses bend
Whenever it goes by.

Nor Goddess', nor God's love,
But in our hearts we know
They watch over us
Wherever we may go.

We do not have to see
To know the wind is here;
We do not have to see
To know Their love is near.

1 Samual 16:7

Now that we are halfway through the school year, 1 Samuel is probably in the front of the minds of seminary students. Here is another scripture mastery; I added the Lady. The "he" in the scripture refers to Eliab, so I didn't change those particular gender-specific pronouns.

7 But the LORD and LADY said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD and LADY seeth not as people seeth; for people looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD and LADY looketh on the heart.

1 Nephi 11:25

From Sunday School, lesson 3, The Vision of the Tree of Life. I added the Goddess.

25 And it came to pass that I beheld that the rod of iron, which my father had seen, was the word of God and Goddess, which led to the fountain of living waters, or to the tree of life; which waters are a representation of the love of Goddess and God; and I also beheld that the tree of life was a representation of the love of God and Goddess.

January in Review

Heavenly Mother and Father are good and merciful, give us truth, care for us, gave us a redeemer, hear our cries, teach us their mysteries, give us holy places, call to us, nourish us, and give us light.


Heavenly Mother on the Internet this month:
Joshua Behn included Heavenly Mother in his New Year's address to the Affirmation blog community.
Mormon Mommy Blogs created a thread for people to ask President Beck questions to address and many many people asked about Heavenly Mother.
Beginnings New suggested mentioning both Heavenly Parents when teaching about Divine Potential.
Jared Anderson discussed his concerns about the lack of Heavenly Mother talk on his children and wrote about how he has included her in their Family Home Evening and other worship opportunities in his Manuary post at fMh.

Happy January!

As a Child of Gods

This is the new song for the Primary program this year (page 28 here). I pluralized God to include Heavenly Mother because I wasn't sure how else to approach the limited syllables. If you have another way to address this song, leave a comment!

I came to earth with power to choose.
Good choices bless me and my family too.

I feel so safe and happy because
Such feelings of peace come from family love.

In my own home, I'll happily serve.
I'll strengthen my family by my good works.

Chorus:
As a child of Gods, I receive special light.
The Holy Ghost helps me to know what is right.

Moroni 6:4

We had ward conference yesterday and this was the theme of the talks. I added the Goddess.

4 And after they had been received unto baptism, and were wrought upon and cleansed by the power of the Holy Ghost, they were numbered among the people of the church of Christ; and their names were taken, that they might be remembered and nourished by the good word of Goddess and God, to keep them in the right way, to keep them continually watchful unto prayer, relying alone upon the merits of Christ, who was the author and the finisher of their faith.

Israel, Godddess, God are calling

This is a rewrite of Israel, Israel, God is Calling. In order to include "Goddess" I took out the second Israel. I also made the rest of the lyrics gender inclusive.


Israel, Goddess, God are calling,
Calling thee from lands of woe.
Babylon the great is falling;
God shall all her tow’rs o’erthrow.
Come to Zion, come to Zion
Ere their floods of anger flow.
Come to Zion, come to Zion
Ere their floods of anger flow.

Israel, Goddess, God are speaking.
Hear your great Deliv’rers' voices!
Now a glorious morn is breaking
For the people of their choice.
Come to Zion, come to Zion,
And within her walls rejoice.
Come to Zion, come to Zion,
And within her walls rejoice.

3. Israel, angels are descending
From celestial worlds on high,
And to all their pow’r extending,
That the Saints may homeward fly.
Come to Zion, come to Zion,
For your coming Lords are nigh.
Come to Zion, come to Zion,
For your coming Lords are nigh.

4. Israel! Israel! Canst thou linger
Still in error’s gloomy ways?
Mark how judgment’s pointing finger
Justifies no vain delays.
Come to Zion, come to Zion!
Zion’s walls shall ring with praise.
Come to Zion, come to Zion!
Zion’s walls shall ring with praise.

Psalms 24:3-4

It has been a while since I've featured a scripture mastery verse here. I added the Lady and made the scripture gender-inclusive. Again, I used "they" to be singular, even though I know you grammarians would take umbrage.

3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord and Lady? or who shall stand in their holy place?

4 They that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up their soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

1 Nephi 2:16

In this scripture, from lesson 2 in gospel doctrine this year, I added the Goddess and changed "father" to "parents" to include Sariah.

16 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, being exceedingly young, nevertheless being large in stature, and also having great desires to know of the mysteries of God and Goddess, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lady and Lord; and behold they did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my parents; wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers.

Psalm 74:1-4

I added the Goddess in the first verse.

1 O God and Goddess, why hast thou cast us off for ever? why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?

2 Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old; the rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.

3 Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations; even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary.

4 Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; they set up their ensigns for signs.

1 Nephi 13:40

So Book of Mormon this year. I'm going to try to share a scripture from the Sunday School lessons each week. This is from Lesson 1: The Keystone of Our Religion. For this one, I added the Goddess, changed "Father" to "Parents" and made the rest of the verse gender-inclusive.

40 And the angel spake unto me, saying: These last records, which thou hast seen among the Gentiles, shall establish the truth of the first, which are of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, and shall make known the plain and precious things which have been taken away from them; and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God and Goddess is the Son of the Eternal Parents, and the Savior of the world; and that all must come unto him, or they cannot be saved.

Sweet is the Peace the Gospel Brings

I have only sung this a handful of times in my life and today was one of them. I changed "Father's" to "Parents'" and used inclusive language to include Heavenly Mother. I assumed "he" referred to Heavenly Father because of the first reference to "Father," but I think a good argument could be made for Christ, so if you feel that way, you don't have to use all the changes.

Sweet is the peace the gospel brings
To seeking minds and true.
With light refulgent on its wings,
It clears the human view.

Its laws and precepts are divine
And show our Parents' care.
Transcendent love and mercy shine
In each injunction there.

Faithless tradition flees its pow’r,
And unbelief gives way.
The gloomy clouds, which used to low’r,
Submit to reason’s sway.

May we who know the sacred Names
From every sin depart.
Then will the Spirit’s constant flame
Preserve us pure in heart.

Ere long the tempter’s power will cease,
And sin no more annoy,
No wrangling sects disturb our peace,
Or mar our heartfelt joy.

That which we have in part received
Will be in part no more,
For they in whom we all believe
To us will all restore.

In patience, then, let us possess
Our souls till he appear.
On to our mark of calling press;
Redemption draweth near.

Doctrine and Covenants 50:17-19

This past Sunday, we jumped into the introduction lesson for the Book of Mormon this year. This scripture is listed in the lesson. I made it inclusive and added the Goddess. I know you grammar sticklers will take issue with using "they" to be singular, but that's the way the language is trending and so I'm going with it.

17 Verily I say unto you, that who is ordained of me and sent forth to preach the word of truth by the Comforter, in the Spirit of truth, doth they preach it by the Spirit of truth or some other way?

18 And if it be by some other way it is not of God and Goddess.

19 And again, who that receiveth the word of truth, doth they receive it by the Spirit of truth or some other way?

I Thank Thee, Dear Parents

It's been a while since I've done a Primary song, so today I changed "I Thank Thee, Dear Father" to "I Thank Thee, Dear Parents."

I thank thee, dear Parents in heaven above,
For thy goodness and mercy, thy kindness and love.
I thank thee for home, friends, and parents so dear,
And for ev’ry blessing that I enjoy here.

Help me to be good, kind, and gentle today,
And mind what my father and mother shall say.
In the dear name of Jesus, so loving and mild,
I ask thee to bless me and keep me thy child.