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.