Thank you.

I understand how people get hot under the collar when ideas they hold sacred, or cherished doctrines or prophetic direction seems to be ignored or disregarded.

However, as I read the initial blog post I see someone asking a question. In the comments there may have been some promotion of praying to Heavenly Mother…. but the initial post was essentially a question posed by the author.

In the spirit of kindness we should not be lions in the grass pouncing on people with honest questions. I can see how someone would ask these questions. Asking honest questions has been approved of in recent General Conferences.

Surely in the celestial realm there is no place for the sexism so evident here on the earth. In heaven we want our mothers and daughters to have every opportunity and maximum fulfillment. If heaven were a place where women were oppressed as they have been in this world, eternity would not be enticing at all.

I am sure the next life will be a more equal place between the sexes… I am just not sure how this will be accomplished.

In Jesus I see a son whose every thought turned to His Father in Heaven. It was that relationship that enabled Jesus to overcome the world. I also see in Jesus’ life a man who at every turn defended, lifted, protected and cherished women.

I think we can do better at listening to the voices of women in the church. If we did a better job giving women a voice then the author’s question would be less compelling.

“No man knows the Father except by and through the Son.”

But this post wasn’t about knowing the father.

“Anyone who has received revelation of HM would know better not to direct their prayers to her.”

This is nothing but an unfounded assumption. I know plenty of people who have received revelation of Heavenly Mother and who also are more than comfortable praying to her.

“But it’s clear from personal experience that if you want to get closer to God and have a knowledge of the mysteries of godliness, there place for that is the temple”

In 25 years of attending the temple, I have never received knowledge of the mysteries of godliness. I have received knowledge of the nuances of the ordinances and the covenants made, but certainly nothing that complex. So, while your personal experience might make that clear to you, my personal experience does not make it clear to me.

“It’s not a point to be argued or debated. I hope you can come around to that understanding.”

I have no intention of “coming around” to an understanding expressed condescendingly.

Jesus showed us the way to the Father . No man knows the Father except by and through the Son. To know the Father is to receive eternal life. Once you’ve come to know the Father I can state with personal testimony that our Heavenly Mother can be revealed to you.

You can’t gain the further light and knowledge you seek if you short circuit the flow of Revelation from Son to Father to revelation of exalted Heavenly Parents.

Anyone who has received revelation of HM would know better not to direct their prayers to her. Not because she isn’t there or capable of listening but because that’s not the way ordained for us to grow from grace to grace in this life.

I presume your intentions are good in posting this. But it’s clear from personal experience that if you want to get closer to God and have a knowledge of the mysteries of godliness, there place for that is the temple with a willingness to submit to the order that God has established.

It’s not a point to be argued or debated. I hope you can come around to that understanding.

Kim, As I noted, you are free to take the advice of President Hinckley or reject it. I also said that I do not know if it is a sin. I do not know if Heavenly Mother can answer prayers. I do not know if she wants me to pray to Her. I do not know anything about Her. She is nowhere described in the scriptures or even acknowledged. Her existence can only be inferred. Yet, the phrase from “Oh My Father” still rings true.

I grew up with a father that did not communicate very well. He was a good man who had been raised rough and with a lot of criticism. I looked to my mother for my communications. When I was stationed at Norfolk I would get home on the weekends and we would often sit up talking until two or three o’clock in the morning. After all of these years, I still miss her. But I still communicate with her, with my thoughts, when I meditate, etc.

I do not see why that would not also work with Heavenly Mother. I just do not know. We have no guidance from Heavenly Father on the subject. Why? But I believe that Heavenly Mother and heavenly Father are in complete harmony. So maybe we need to check in with Him first.

Glenn

Well, God hasn’t instructed us to not pray to her either.

Hinckley never announced news. He gave only his opinion.

Of course you have your own agency to choose whether you will heed the prophets’ advice or not. And I do not know whether it is a sin or not.

It would be a mistake, though, to let specious reasoning be a substitute for guidance from the Holy Ghost.

Glenn

So true, CL.

I’ve been doing it for a few months now. I was scared at first (which tells you how ingrained the culture is), but I found my first time to be a very emotional experience. Today, it feels normal.