A Mother in Heaven?

It was 1993, Ed was 20 years old when I discovered how negligent I had been to not have taught him that he has a Mother in Heaven as well as a Father.  He came up through the Primary and Sunday School systems and never heard of his Mother in Heaven? We read the scriptures every day, where unfortunately she is not mentioned. He loves Heavenly Father and Jesus.  He should love his Mother too.  Distinctly.

One Sunday, he was leaving for church when he mentioned something about Heavenly Father and I told him he ought to remember his Heavenly Mother too.  “No. NO. I don’t have a Heavenly Mother; only a Heavenly Father.”  “That doesn’t make sense, Eddy.  Of course, you have a Heavenly Mother.”  He stomped around and was adamant.

Trying to teach him through hymns, we sang O My Father.  “I love this one but it’s wrong.  This is one of my favorite hymns, Mom,” he tells me.

The next day, he says, “I love you, Mom, since you’re my only mother.”

“Just me and your Mother in Heaven,” I add.

“She doesn’t exist.  I told you that yesterday.”  Then he relents ever so slightly, “I love Heavenly Mother, who doesn’t exist, but I love her anyway.”  May 4, 1993

Later as we gathered for our daily hymns, he said, “First tune I want to do is O My Father because it’s about Heavenly Mother who doesn’t exist because I love her and I love Heavenly Father and Jesus and whoever else is in heaven.” 

I guess he’s going to be prepared for anyone else I decide to spring on him!

I had learned to call thee Father,

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 mother there. 

When I leave this frail existence,

When I lay this mortal by,

Father, Mother, 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.” 

 --Eliza R. Snow Vs 3,4 Pg 292 Hymns;

Also, Oh, What Songs of the Heart:

 Oh, what songs we’ll employ!

Oh, what welcome we’ll hear!

While our transports of love are complete,

As the heart swells with joy

In embraces most dear

When our heavenly parents we meet! 

As the heart swells with joy,

Oh, what songs we’ll employ,

When our heavenly parents  we meet!” 

--Joseph L. Townsend Vs 4 Pg 286 Hymns

“Heavenly Father,” Ed prays at the dinner table, “thank thee for the food; bless it to our use.  Tell Mom to get off MY case.  Tell Heavenly Mother that I love her.  I love thee.  In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.” August 19, 1993

Then one Sunday at dinner, DeRay said something and Ed asks,  "What about our Mother in Heaven, the one I love?"  "You love our mother in heaven who doesn't exist?" I tease.  "I do."  It sure made me feel better to know that Ed believes that I have a counterpart in heaven, therefore a future.  March 3, 1997

It has been my custom when hiking through the hollow, to stop in the oak grove and utter an informal prayer to Heavenly Father.  I was clear out of the oak grove before I remembered this ritual one Saturday evening at General Conference time.  I turned around and went back in.  “Sorry. I thought You'd be in General Priesthood meeting.  Are you there?”  No answer.  “Well, what about Mrs. God?  Mother God?  She will listen to me.”  So I pray to her.  I asked her to help me not get lost (I’m not talking about the trail.)  She cares.  Some people in our Church have been excommunicated for talking about, writing about, and especially for praying to our Mother in Heaven.  I don't know why.  She's nice.  April 4, 1998

The next day, we sit down to dinner around 3 PM, right during the afternoon session of General Conference.  "We won't say the blessing because God is busy listening to conference," I explain.  (So were we.)  "What do you mean listening?" Amy questions, "He's talking.  He told them what to say; He doesn't have to listen."  "Well," I project, "we could pray to Mother God. She wasn't invited to talk in conference.  She'll listen to us."  April 5, 1998

Elizabeth Cady Stanton, a pioneer for women’s rights, walked four miles to church and back each Sunday to hear the minister, Theodore Parker, invoke an androgynous “Mother and Father of us all.”