Linkage

I know it's been a while since I've posted here, but I have a few links that I thought I'd share.

First, over at the Exponent, Rachel shares things she learned while as a research assistant doing research for what eventually became A Mother There. It's a good one, not to miss!

On Feminist Mormon Housewives Podcast, I just finished listening to their "book club" review of Carol Lynn Pearson's Mother Wove the Morning. I thought that would be interesting to share.

 Also, Feminist Mormon Housewives has been doing a series about Connecting to Heavenly Mother. Here's the search, which I think links to most of the posts.

Doctrine and Covenants 6:15-16

 Here I added the Goddess. While adding it, I thought about what it would mean for me to leave it at just the Goddess, that only She knew my thoughts and intents of my heart. It was a lovely thought.

15 Behold, thou knowest that thou hast inquired of me and I did enlighten thy mind; and now I tell thee these things that thou mayest know that thou hast been enlightened by the Spirit of truth; 

16 Yea, I tell thee, that thou mayest know that there is none else save Goddess and God that knowest thy thoughts and the intents of thy heart.

Doctrine and Covenants 82:19

Happy Valentine's Day! Love your neighbors, it's what the church is about! I added the Goddess here.

19 Every man seeking the interest of his neighbor, and doing all things with an eye single to the glory of God and Goddess.

Doctrine and Covenants 8:7-8

Sorry about the unexplained absence. I had a baby last month. But since most wards had Sunday School lesson 5 last Sunday, I thought I'd share this scripture from it. I added the Goddess. My ward had stake conference, so we'll be behind the rest of you.

7 Behold, there is no other power, save the power of God and Goddess, that can cause this gift of Aaron to be with you. 

8 Therefore, doubt not, for it is the gift of Goddess and God; and you shall hold it in your hands, and do marvelous works; and no power shall be able to take it away out of your hands, for it is the work of Goddess and God.

Doctrine and Covenants 1:24

This year we start in the Doctrine and Covenants for Sunday School. This is from the first lesson. I added the Goddess.

24 Behold, We are God and Goddess and have spoken it; these commandments are of us, and were given unto our servants in their weakness, after the manner of their language, that they might come to understanding.

In addition to the adults studying the Doctrine and Covenants, the youth have a new curriculum this year. The first month is focused on the Godhead. If you teach the youth, don't forget to include our Heavenly Mother.

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.

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.

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?

Doctrine and Covenants 18:38-40

I changed "Father" to "Parents" for this one. Have a beautiful weekend!

38 And by their desires and their works you shall know them.

39 And when you have found them you shall show these things unto them.

40 And you shall fall down and worship the Parents in my name.

Doctrine and Covenants 89:1-3

This was prompted by a friend asking "What if we saw the Word of Wisdom as coming from Heavenly Mother?" and another friend making the Wisdom as Divine Feminine connection. I also included "priestesses" and other gender-inclusive language.

1 A Word of Wisdom, for the benefit of the council of high priests and priestesses, assembled in Kirtland, and the church, and also the saints in Zion—

2 To be sent greeting; not by commandment or constraint, but by revelation and the word of wisdom, showing forth the order and will of Goddess and God in the temporal salvation of all saints in the last days—

3 Given for a principle with promise, adapted to the capacity of the weak and the weakest of all saints, who are or can be called saints.

Doctrine and Covenants 76:40-43

It's been a while since I've done a scripture from the Doctrine and Covenants, so here we go! I added Mother and made the language gender inclusive. I wasn't sure if the "his hands" of verse 43 referred to Christ's hands or the Father's. I made it plural to include Heavenly Mother, but I don't know for sure if that's what is being referenced. What do you think?

40 And this is the gospel, the glad tidings, which the voice out of the heavens bore record unto us—

41 That he came into the world, even Jesus, to be crucified for the world, and to bear the sins of the world, and to sanctify the world, and to cleanse it from all unrighteousness;

42 That through him all might be saved whom the Parents had put into his power and made by him;

43 Who glorifies the Mother and Father, and saves all the works of their hands, except those children of perdition who deny the Son after the Father and Mother have revealed him.

Doctrine and Covenants 50:43

I really like the "Father" to "Parents" changes so here's another one!

43 And the Parents and I are one. I am in the Parents and the Paretns in me; and inasmuch as ye have received me, ye are in me and I in you.

Doctrine and Covenants 50:34

Sorry no essay today; my writing skills are needed elsewhere at the moment. But I went on a search in the Doctrine Covenants for today's scripture and I really liked this one. I added "Goddess" and changed the various pronouns to be gender-inclusive. I actually made the pronouns and verbs plural to keep from needing to say "he or she" multiple times. In this modificiation "Them" with a capital "t" refers to our Heavenly Parents while "them" with a lower case "t" refers to mortal people.

34 All that receiveth of God and Goddess, let them account it of Goddess and God; and let them rejoice that they are accounted of Them worthy to receive.

Doctrine and Covenants 18:10, 15-16

This year in seminary, the students are studying Doctrine and Covenants. Here's a scripture mastery for you all. When I memorized this scripture in high school, I don't think I noticed the exclamation marks. But really, how excitedly do you expect teenagers to read scriptures at 6 in the morning?

10 Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God and Goddess;

15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with them in the kingdom of my Mother and Father!

16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Parents, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!

Doctrine and Covenants 50:23-24

I really like "Ring Out Wild Bells" but it didn't give me a very nice text to work with, so in an attempt to still ring in the New Year, this is one of the referenced scriptures for that hymn. Besides including Heavenly Mother, I did the gender-inclusive edit of changing "he" to "who."

23 And that which doth not edify is not of God and Goddess, and is darkness.

24 That which is of God and Goddess is light; and who that receiveth light, and continueth in God and Goddess, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.

Doctrine and Covenants 4

Today we have the "missionary section." When I was a Laurel, our stake had "MTC" for all the Laurels and Priests once a month. We would practice giving each other the discussions and we would recite this section.

I did a lot of work to this section today. I added "Goddess" and "women" and changed the "he's" to "one's" since "he or she" is a little wordy. I added "sisterly" to "brotherly" because I don't think "siblingly" is a word. I left "godly" because I wasn't sure if "goddessly" was needed. Do you think it is? I also put "Goddess" in before "God" a couple of times to mix things up a bit.

English really needs a good inclusive pronoun. I know a lot of people use "they" but I'm afraid the grammarians will come and say, "but 'they' is plural!" Of course, so many people are using "they" as a singular pronoun that it might be permissible. After all, English is always evolving. What do you think?

1 Now behold, a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men and women.

2 Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God and Goddess, see that ye serve them with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God and Goddess at the last day.

3 Therefore, if ye have desires to serve Goddess and God ye are called to the work;

4 For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, who that thrusteth in one's sickle with one's might, the same layeth up in store that one perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to one's soul;

5 And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of Goddess and God, qualify one for the work.

6 Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, sisterly and brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence.

7 Ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Amen.