We were created in God's image..."Male and female created he them."
Ms CatMay 31, 2025
I believe She has been there from the beginning, right up until now, a participant in all of our historical events and I don't believe She has been silently but that even plain and precious things about Her and words from Her have cut out of scriptures. We are Her work and why wouldn't She be there, everywhere and be a part of it all...when Earth was creat, when Adam and Eve were created, when the City of Enoch was taken up, when the Earth was flooded and most of the people, animals and creatures died, when Noah and his family landed, and millions of other examples. Just because we've read nothing, heard nothing and know very little, doesn't mean She wasn't there, doesn't mean She was silent. What it all means is that we don’t know, that's all it means.
AsibongMay 30, 2025
Thank you for your comments on this topic , I find them quite insightful . In my opinion, I feel Heavenly Mother is very busy in the business of nurturing and getting spirit children ready for their mortal Journey. It would be too much responsibility to get her involved in mortal affairs; hence, the silence about her on earth.
In Summary, I see this as a division of labor . Heavenly mother nurtures and prepares spirit children for the journey of mortality , and heavenly father brings to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.
They both play a significant role in our existence from Pre-Mortal, Mortal and Post Mortal. I believe more will be revealed in the fullness of time.
Marianne PaventyMay 28, 2025
Thank you for speaking of our Divine Mother as a distinct and sovereign being. I agree with you that She has Her own power, Her own roles, Her own majesty. I also agree with you that we should not “crush” Her to fit into the mold we would have Her fill- one that we can comprehend. I think it is human nature to try to fit God in all forms into our own experience and limited understanding instead of expanding our own minds and hearts to be able to comprehend Their true natures. We all do it to some extent. The prayer of my heart is to see and know and understand God as They truly are, not as I hope or desire Them to be. With that said, I also think we put Them into unnecessary boxes when we make definitive statements about Them- like “She is silent,” or “Jesus never spoke of Her” — this immediately limits and puts blinders on our own comprehension, “crushes” Her down to fit our understanding, and shoves Her into our mortal-made box. In my own personal study and experience, I hear Her speaking with power in Proverbs 8, I see Her as the Tree of Life in Lehi and Nephi’s visions, offering Her beloved fruit/Son to us, I hear Her Son honoring Her and speaking of Her often in apocryphal texts, I also feel Her within me and see Her woven throughout the fibers of all life and love. Oh what a treasure trove of finding Her all throughout scripture and experience awaits you and anyone else who simply chooses to open their minds and hearts to Her! You will see Her everywhere, feel Her always with you, and will never be the same again and never be able to unsee Her.
Amy SedgwickMay 28, 2025
I really appreciate the precision and reverence in your reflections here, especially as you point out Her apparent silence. But I’ve come to see each of these very moments as places pregnant with Her presence—not in absence, but in symbol, archetype, and spiritual pattern. Here’s what others and I have come to understand through deeper study and prayer:
• In the Garden of Eden: While Heavenly Mother is not explicitly named, Eve is Her echo. As “the mother of all living,” Eve embodies Her essence. Many believe Eve’s courage to choose mortality was a direct reflection of the Divine Feminine’s wisdom and will. Eve is Her archetype—ushering souls into the mortal journey, as the Mother would.
• To Enoch: In Moses 7, Enoch weeps when he sees the suffering of the world—but the one who teaches him divine compassion is the weeping God. This image, of a God who mourns, comforts, and yearns, may contain the voice of the Mother. Some even see Enoch’s own transformation into a nurturer and comforter as inspired by the Divine Feminine.
• The Burning Bush: The bush burned with fire but was not consumed—a symbol of divine presence in nature, in life, in paradox. The flame that nurtures without devouring has long been understood as a feminine archetype. The bush—living, rooted, aflame—is a perfect metaphor for Her.
• To Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: While the covenants are made with patriarchs, the symbols of those covenants—fertility, land flowing with milk and honey, stars and sand—are feminine metaphors. Sarah, Rebekah, and Rachel are not footnotes; they are covenantal vessels. Through them, the promises are literally and symbolically fulfilled. And Asherah, the feminine consort of El, was worshipped by early Israelites before being obscured.
• To Mary and Elizabeth: She is there—in Mary’s womb, in her song. The Magnificat is the voice of the Daughter of God filled with Divine Feminine fire: “He hath filled the hungry with good things.” Many scholars believe Mary echoes Wisdom/Sophia here. Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, names what is sacred. The meeting of these women is one of the most feminine and spiritually powerful scenes in scripture.
• At Christ’s Baptism: While we hear the Father’s voice and see the Spirit descend “like a dove,” the dove has long been a symbol of the Mother. In many cultures and languages, the Holy Spirit is feminine (ruach, ruha). The moment of divine birth into ministry includes the full Godhead—perhaps She is present as the Spirit Herself.
• In the First Vision: Though only the Father and Son were seen, what Joseph felt—a burst of uncreated light, love surpassing description—may have included Her. And She is there in symbol: the Sacred Grove itself is a grove of trees—ancient archetypes of the Divine Feminine and the Tree of Life. If She was not seen, perhaps She was felt, or embodied in the very setting where Heaven touched Earth. Some have even whispered of alternate First Vision accounts where a divine feminine presence is suggested—though elusive, the idea lingers.
And then there’s the verse that launched it all: “If any of you lack wisdom…” (James 1:5). In ancient scripture, Wisdom is a woman—Chokhmah, Sophia. Could it be that Joseph’s seeking heart was answered by both Heavenly Parents? If the Father spoke, perhaps the Mother stood beside Him, as She always has, just beyond the veil of our perception.
In all these stories, Her presence may not have been named—but like the moon, She reflects and radiates light in ways that are easy to miss unless we are looking with a soft gaze and a listening heart. Her silence may not be absence—it may be invitation.
Kerry FarrMay 27, 2025
My ways are not your ways, My thoughts not your thoughts. We might not know more about Heavenly Mother while we are in this earthly state because our mortal minds could not comprehend the way their Godhood partnership works…
Kerry FarrMay 27, 2025
I have always had a longing for Her.
Have a need for her example and mentoring. Maybe it has been silently there … I can’t imagine that she would not have somehow been there when Her Beloved Son paid the ultimate price.
Maybe she was the “ angel” who came to comfort and support in the Garden of Gethsemane. I’m waiting eagerly to know her better
David MalpasMay 27, 2025
As I understand there is no other Christian denomination that teaches anything about the existence of a "Heavenly Mother". (As we know they have no idea of what the Godhead is like anyway, believing that the Father is some nebulous Spirit that floats around the Universe and the false doctrine of the "three-in-one Trinity"). And She is not openly mentioned in the Bible. I don't know if reference to Her has been removed in an earlier time, by "evil and designing men" but I do wonder this. We all know that the names of the Father and the Son are commonly used as swear words. Especially in that last few years, movies and "entertainment" are filled with profanity. I wonder if our Father, in His adoration, love and respect for Her, has kept Her mostly hidden from the world as He will not allow Her, or Her name, to be misused, sullied or disrespected in any way. He is protecting Her from those in this world who would misuse and abuse the very thought of Her, as they have with His name and that of the Savior. It makes sense to me that He would do this.
Warren AstonMay 27, 2025
Kimberly, thank you mentioning our Heavenly Mother in a public forum. That alone is much needed. When I first read your article, I felt the need to respond to many aspects of it; for example, that you don't see scriptural mentions of Her - She is all through Scripture, the Bible and the Book of Mormon in particular. She is there in sacred, especially Jewish, history. But in reading the comments, I see that almost all that I would have written is covered by others. So, I invite you to consider their offerings, and to expand your views include a MUCH broader awareness and understanding. You will then begin to see that while the Mother has indeed been minimized by the traditions of men, She has always been here helping us manage our journey through mortality. I believe that one day the final veil obscuring her will be removed and we will all discover that She has been involved in our mortality much more intimately and closely than we dreamed. A full and complimentary partnership with the Father. If She is the mother our spirits, how could it be otherwise?
Amanda Lynn BlairMay 27, 2025
I have reread your words and I appreciate them even more the second time. They make me think of the recent theological conversation about all power to act in Gods name being priesthood power that comes from the Father. But that has made me uncomfortable. I did not grow life and give birth through the power of the Father, I do not continue to create and connect through the power of the Father alone. She has her own power, and Her own voice and She is agentic. Saying so does not put Her at odds with the Father. Unity can only exist if there is l more than one in the first place. And I don’t mean this in some kind of complimentarianism. She is a whole sovereign being and He is a whole sovereign being and yet they are one. This is my belief. And it is also my belief that we can’t possibly do the work of building Zion without our Mother. She is not superfluous or replaceable in the here and now.
JocelynMay 27, 2025
There is so much of the Mother in scripture! While some publicly express a wish to know more, others quietly testify that they already do because they have asked, seeked, knocked and the veil has been parted for them. Such are given eyes to see Her in scripture and feel Her with every breath. For those still seeking here is some scriptural and archaeological evidence for the Mother.
https://youtu.be/qvCx7K200wQ?si=gT8BUwPoEVxU-XCf
Here are some of her names in scripture
https://youtu.be/qvCx7K200wQ?si=gT8BUwPoEVxU-XCf
And here are the patterns of her found in her daughters in scripture.
https://youtu.be/iMPo_E6NdU4?si=hrmI_x-LRfLzdErh
Truly, speculation is not necessary when revelation is so readily available! Blessings
Meg RittmanicMay 27, 2025
I appreciate the focus on our Heavenly Mother and the powerful truth you convey about Her speaking to our hearts and minds. Personal revelation and connection with Her in this way is indeed profoundly comforting. However, I do have to contend with the second sentence in this article which says “our Cannon says nothing”. My own extensive study has revealed that, far from being silent, She does indeed speak and is referenced through various names, metaphors, and personifications that require a deeper study of the original Hebrew linguistics of the Bible. In my studies, I have found over 2550 references to God the Mother in the Old Testament alone.
For instance, The name El Shaddai (אֵל שַׁדַּי), often translated as "God Almighty," is used frequently in blessings pertaining to fruitfulness and posterity, particularly in the blessings given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob of which the author mentioned in the article. The etymology of Shaddai is linguistically significant in connection to a God with breasts, one that nurtures and nurses. Suggesting a divine aspect intimately connected to sustaining, nurturing, and providing abundance—qualities powerfully associated with the Divinely Feminine attributes of Heavenly Mother.
Furthermore, the very names of God in the Old Testament offer subtle yet profound allusions to the Divine Feminine, a nuance often lost in translation. Consider the foundational Hebrew names: El (אֵל), the singular masculine form of God, stands in sacred relationship with Eloah (אֱלוֹהַּ), the singular feminine form. Together, they form Elohim (אֱלֹהִים), a majestic plural often referring to both Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother working in perfect concert. Because scripture so frequently uses this plural form, implicitly encompassing both, we can safely embrace the understanding that our Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother function as a unified team, working tirelessly for the salvation of humankind. Often, the words attributed to "God" or "the Lord" in scripture are, in fact, the shared pronouncements of this divine partnership.
Yet, while they operate in perfect unity, they are undeniably distinct individuals, each with Their own voice and unique contributions to our eternal progress. Indeed, there are compelling instances where Eloah speaks for Herself. For example, a faithful translation of Proverbs 30:5 reads: "Every word of Eloah is pure; She is a shield to those who put their trust in Her." This direct address from the Divine Feminine powerfully demonstrates Her active voice and protective nature within the scriptural record. Therefore, continuing to perpetuate the idea that Heavenly Mother "never speaks" or "is never mentioned" in scripture, unfortunately, carries forward a historical tradition of misinformation rather than illuminating the profound truths that attentive study and reverence for the original text can reveal.
It's crucial to understand that the perception of scriptural "silence" on Heavenly Mother often stems from centuries of complex biblical translation processes. As texts moved from their original Hebrew into later Greek, Latin, and ultimately English versions, theological biases, patriarchal contexts of the time, and interpretive choices profoundly impacted the visibility of the Divine Feminine in the text. What were once explicitly feminine names or concepts were often deliberately obscured or converted into masculine forms, effectively erasing Her presence from common understanding. This historical obfuscation has created a pervasive, yet inaccurate, belief that the scriptures contain no mention of Her.
Mel HendersonMay 27, 2025
I so appreciate that thoughtful writers like you are choosing to write about Heavenly Mother. I don't disagree with your thesis—Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother are, truly, NOT the same—but I believe you've arrived at it your thesis through a lens of very incomplete history and a lens that seems designed to reassure patriarchal insecurities (the idea that good women don't overstep by "seeking" her; they "let her be"...?)—instead of wholistic doctrines of being equally yoked.
I agree: If the Mother's presence were just a mirror of the Father's presence, she would be redundant. Unnecessary. I don't believe we should be "pasting" Her on top of Him.
HER presence is the missing piece. Her absence is half of the map tjat we need to be whole. She is the nourishment that we've been trying to survive without. I believe what the Mother brings is wholly aligned in love and purpose with the Father, but wholly DIFFERENT and wholly ESSENTIAL. Humanity is self-destructing without her.
Rachel PierceMay 27, 2025
Loved this perspective, it is definitely food for thought and brings up ideas I’ve never thought of before! I don’t know what the answers all are, but when things like this are brought up, it just reaffirms to me that my mortal understanding is so limited and their is an eternity of learning to do! Thank you Kimberly for your thoughts and research and putting your ideas out there!
Ashli CarnicelliMay 27, 2025
While I appreciate what you are trying to say and appreciate your thesis, have you read Joseph Smith’s First Vision that includes Heavenly Mother? Have you read the countless quotes from Prophets and Apostles and the Gospel Topics Essay that contains 30 footnotes with references to the scriptures and other prophetic teachings that speak of Her, Her role, and Her importance with clarity? Have you considered that any silence around Her is not of God?
Susan MorrisMay 27, 2025
Believing that mortal life is a shadow of immortal life, both premortal and post-mortal, I assume that the roles of men and woman have always been distinct and yet complementary and cooperative. If "the faithful elders of this dispensation, when they depart from mortal life, continue their labors in the preaching of the gospel of repentance and redemption (D&C 138:57), what do the faithful women do? I seems likely to me that they continue nurturing their family members as "guardian angels," if you will, which they probably also did in premortality. And that there are overlapping efforts in missionary work and family work there, as there also are here.
Amanda Lynn BlairMay 27, 2025
She is the tree, She is Wisdom, She is the Mother of all living, She is the woman searching for the lost coin. The scriptures are full of Her. She is present in the parting of the vail between this world and the world that came before (childbirth). Just because we haven’t noticed Her presence or recorded it (perhaps just like so little of the feminine experience of the Divine is recorded at all in scripture, it being a record mainly of the Fathers interactions with His sons) doesn’t mean She isn’t there. I value your reverence for Her here and your belief in Her existence as a sovereign being who is not the Father. And, I’ve had too many experiences and heard too many experiences from others to agree that She isn’t here and hasn’t been present for this mortal experience.
Laura CopeMay 27, 2025
I have had my own wrestle with the absence of our Mother in Heaven. I have learned for myself that she IS in the scriptures for those that have eyes to see. If you study the history of the Bible, she has largely been taken out in several ways. The overall tone of this article is poor and unhelpful as it perpetuates more of her silence (which is cultural and not doctrine!) Missing the mark, she is everywhere for those who have eyes to see. She and our Father point me to Christ and Christ leads me to Them (as they are side by side- according to the gospel topics essay on Mother in Heaven which has been declared doctrine by Elder Renlund) we should celebrate Her! We know much more than people realize!!!
McArthur KrishnaMay 27, 2025
There is much to celebrate in an article talking about our Heavenly Mother! This doctrine and reality give so much joy. As the author says, Eve is a great example and we honor her. Let’s honor Heavenly Mother too!
And, while I do not think Heavenly Mother is the same as the Father (which seems to be the main concern of the author), we DO know some about how They are. What doctrine we as a church know can be found in the Gospel Topics Essay according to Elder Renlund in General Conference. That essay explains how our heavenly parents are “side by side” and “working together” for the salvation of Their children. It talks about our Mother being involved and the eternal prototype for women. It’s glorious to embrace this!
I do, however, have a few points I differ with the author.
1. We actually don’t know if Heavenly Mother spoke and participated. We have what was recorded and mistranslated and edited— not always done with righteous motives.
2. Elohim in the Bible can refer to both Father and Mother. It doesn’t always— but it can.
3. There are many beautiful scriptures with female deity analogy such as a hen gathering her chicks.
4. A female god WAS worshipped until Josiah did a purge to centralize worship (and tax collecting) in one place. How might the scriptures be different if “plain and precious” truths weren’t lost?
All that said, we believe in personal revelation. There are many people who are having incredible experiences with their Mother— Cherish 1 and Cherish 2 are just small collections that highlight these. Isn’t it exciting to know our Mother loves us!
While we speak of Her with respect (just as we do with the Father and Son), leaving Her out altogether is not respect… just neglect.
David A Watson, DDSMay 27, 2025
I would respectively disagree. In Genesis 5:3 God created man in the likeness of God. Male and female created He them and called their name Adam. There are numerous times when Adam is mentioned, and it means both Adam and Eve. God has commanded us to become one, as He and Christ are one. Moses 7:18, 1 Cor. 1:10, John 17:20-23, and D&C 38:27. I believe that when God speaks, they both speak because have become one. We have been commanded to be one as couples in the Temple also. I think they are truly one and speak as one.
PeggyMay 27, 2025
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this! Thanks so much for sharing your insights so beautifully. I hope I can share and retain this soul-satisfying understanding. Also I love the book you co-authored!
HelenCMay 27, 2025
Beautifully said; thank you.
It reminds me of the saying I have long used:
“If you and I were exactly alike, one of us would be unnecessary.” This is particularly true of our God-given genders.
I am not a feminist, I am female. To me, “ist” is like “ite” in 3 Nephi. It is divisive. It is time for us to cease looking for divisions and also to stop trying to merge us all together as one, amorphous entity.
While there should be “no manner of ites among [us]”, we are each responsible for our own progression, whether male or female, with access to the sacred powers granted every one of us within that sacred division.
Danver KengerMay 27, 2025
I don’t know all the details but this much makes sense to me that “All energy and matter in the universe is the mother, and all consciousness is the father. Both exist simultaneously and one cannot exist without the other. The mother exists within the father as the father also has flesh and bones. The mother doesn’t have to appear because she is already here in us and all the matter and energy everywhere.”
Phyllis Spotted WolfMay 27, 2025
Kimberly White: I thank you for the article and your words that you shared... I needed it today... It will be a re-read for me and I will share with family and friends.
Becky RoseMay 27, 2025
She is mentioned in my patriarchal blessing. I sat at her knee as she gave me advice and told me to return home and tell her the wonderful experiences I had and how I gained my testimony.
Steve DoneganMay 27, 2025
Sis. Kimberly, My spirit is telling me I’ve waited a long time to hear your perspective. Thank you for putting into words what has been too distant for me to grasp. This is the reason I read, to have my perspective shaken then firmed.
KCMay 27, 2025
Thank you! That is exactly how I feel as well. If our Mother is omnipotent, she has the power to do what she must/wills--based on perfect eternal law. She cannot nor should not be debased by assuming she doesn't have the power to act on her own.
I believe Christ learned how to become one with the Father by exemplifying His Mother and Father's relationship as well. Part of His condescension then was to show us how to submit to Them because we are fallen, not how She submits to Him, because she is God.
When Christ was in complete harmony and unity with the Father, we can be assured He was also with His Mother as by nature Gods cannot be cross purposes.
I love how you said, "Eve, who speaks no word in the telestial scene. And yet in the garden, she is the driver of events. She does not seek unanimity. She simply chooses. She, as herself, is the mighty spirit who brought us all into this life of love and learning and joy and sorrow; it is she who opened the door for our Savior."
If we look to the temple as a guide as you so beautifully reminded us, Her testimony is also given in our realm at the end. For us, just because it isn't spoken or personified overtly to be canonized, doesn't mean we can't see or hear it if we look and listen closely to nature and prophets and angels among us.
Comments | Return to Story
NealJune 1, 2025
We were created in God's image..."Male and female created he them."
Ms CatMay 31, 2025
I believe She has been there from the beginning, right up until now, a participant in all of our historical events and I don't believe She has been silently but that even plain and precious things about Her and words from Her have cut out of scriptures. We are Her work and why wouldn't She be there, everywhere and be a part of it all...when Earth was creat, when Adam and Eve were created, when the City of Enoch was taken up, when the Earth was flooded and most of the people, animals and creatures died, when Noah and his family landed, and millions of other examples. Just because we've read nothing, heard nothing and know very little, doesn't mean She wasn't there, doesn't mean She was silent. What it all means is that we don’t know, that's all it means.
AsibongMay 30, 2025
Thank you for your comments on this topic , I find them quite insightful . In my opinion, I feel Heavenly Mother is very busy in the business of nurturing and getting spirit children ready for their mortal Journey. It would be too much responsibility to get her involved in mortal affairs; hence, the silence about her on earth. In Summary, I see this as a division of labor . Heavenly mother nurtures and prepares spirit children for the journey of mortality , and heavenly father brings to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. They both play a significant role in our existence from Pre-Mortal, Mortal and Post Mortal. I believe more will be revealed in the fullness of time.
Marianne PaventyMay 28, 2025
Thank you for speaking of our Divine Mother as a distinct and sovereign being. I agree with you that She has Her own power, Her own roles, Her own majesty. I also agree with you that we should not “crush” Her to fit into the mold we would have Her fill- one that we can comprehend. I think it is human nature to try to fit God in all forms into our own experience and limited understanding instead of expanding our own minds and hearts to be able to comprehend Their true natures. We all do it to some extent. The prayer of my heart is to see and know and understand God as They truly are, not as I hope or desire Them to be. With that said, I also think we put Them into unnecessary boxes when we make definitive statements about Them- like “She is silent,” or “Jesus never spoke of Her” — this immediately limits and puts blinders on our own comprehension, “crushes” Her down to fit our understanding, and shoves Her into our mortal-made box. In my own personal study and experience, I hear Her speaking with power in Proverbs 8, I see Her as the Tree of Life in Lehi and Nephi’s visions, offering Her beloved fruit/Son to us, I hear Her Son honoring Her and speaking of Her often in apocryphal texts, I also feel Her within me and see Her woven throughout the fibers of all life and love. Oh what a treasure trove of finding Her all throughout scripture and experience awaits you and anyone else who simply chooses to open their minds and hearts to Her! You will see Her everywhere, feel Her always with you, and will never be the same again and never be able to unsee Her.
Amy SedgwickMay 28, 2025
I really appreciate the precision and reverence in your reflections here, especially as you point out Her apparent silence. But I’ve come to see each of these very moments as places pregnant with Her presence—not in absence, but in symbol, archetype, and spiritual pattern. Here’s what others and I have come to understand through deeper study and prayer: • In the Garden of Eden: While Heavenly Mother is not explicitly named, Eve is Her echo. As “the mother of all living,” Eve embodies Her essence. Many believe Eve’s courage to choose mortality was a direct reflection of the Divine Feminine’s wisdom and will. Eve is Her archetype—ushering souls into the mortal journey, as the Mother would. • To Enoch: In Moses 7, Enoch weeps when he sees the suffering of the world—but the one who teaches him divine compassion is the weeping God. This image, of a God who mourns, comforts, and yearns, may contain the voice of the Mother. Some even see Enoch’s own transformation into a nurturer and comforter as inspired by the Divine Feminine. • The Burning Bush: The bush burned with fire but was not consumed—a symbol of divine presence in nature, in life, in paradox. The flame that nurtures without devouring has long been understood as a feminine archetype. The bush—living, rooted, aflame—is a perfect metaphor for Her. • To Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: While the covenants are made with patriarchs, the symbols of those covenants—fertility, land flowing with milk and honey, stars and sand—are feminine metaphors. Sarah, Rebekah, and Rachel are not footnotes; they are covenantal vessels. Through them, the promises are literally and symbolically fulfilled. And Asherah, the feminine consort of El, was worshipped by early Israelites before being obscured. • To Mary and Elizabeth: She is there—in Mary’s womb, in her song. The Magnificat is the voice of the Daughter of God filled with Divine Feminine fire: “He hath filled the hungry with good things.” Many scholars believe Mary echoes Wisdom/Sophia here. Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, names what is sacred. The meeting of these women is one of the most feminine and spiritually powerful scenes in scripture. • At Christ’s Baptism: While we hear the Father’s voice and see the Spirit descend “like a dove,” the dove has long been a symbol of the Mother. In many cultures and languages, the Holy Spirit is feminine (ruach, ruha). The moment of divine birth into ministry includes the full Godhead—perhaps She is present as the Spirit Herself. • In the First Vision: Though only the Father and Son were seen, what Joseph felt—a burst of uncreated light, love surpassing description—may have included Her. And She is there in symbol: the Sacred Grove itself is a grove of trees—ancient archetypes of the Divine Feminine and the Tree of Life. If She was not seen, perhaps She was felt, or embodied in the very setting where Heaven touched Earth. Some have even whispered of alternate First Vision accounts where a divine feminine presence is suggested—though elusive, the idea lingers. And then there’s the verse that launched it all: “If any of you lack wisdom…” (James 1:5). In ancient scripture, Wisdom is a woman—Chokhmah, Sophia. Could it be that Joseph’s seeking heart was answered by both Heavenly Parents? If the Father spoke, perhaps the Mother stood beside Him, as She always has, just beyond the veil of our perception. In all these stories, Her presence may not have been named—but like the moon, She reflects and radiates light in ways that are easy to miss unless we are looking with a soft gaze and a listening heart. Her silence may not be absence—it may be invitation.
Kerry FarrMay 27, 2025
My ways are not your ways, My thoughts not your thoughts. We might not know more about Heavenly Mother while we are in this earthly state because our mortal minds could not comprehend the way their Godhood partnership works…
Kerry FarrMay 27, 2025
I have always had a longing for Her. Have a need for her example and mentoring. Maybe it has been silently there … I can’t imagine that she would not have somehow been there when Her Beloved Son paid the ultimate price. Maybe she was the “ angel” who came to comfort and support in the Garden of Gethsemane. I’m waiting eagerly to know her better
David MalpasMay 27, 2025
As I understand there is no other Christian denomination that teaches anything about the existence of a "Heavenly Mother". (As we know they have no idea of what the Godhead is like anyway, believing that the Father is some nebulous Spirit that floats around the Universe and the false doctrine of the "three-in-one Trinity"). And She is not openly mentioned in the Bible. I don't know if reference to Her has been removed in an earlier time, by "evil and designing men" but I do wonder this. We all know that the names of the Father and the Son are commonly used as swear words. Especially in that last few years, movies and "entertainment" are filled with profanity. I wonder if our Father, in His adoration, love and respect for Her, has kept Her mostly hidden from the world as He will not allow Her, or Her name, to be misused, sullied or disrespected in any way. He is protecting Her from those in this world who would misuse and abuse the very thought of Her, as they have with His name and that of the Savior. It makes sense to me that He would do this.
Warren AstonMay 27, 2025
Kimberly, thank you mentioning our Heavenly Mother in a public forum. That alone is much needed. When I first read your article, I felt the need to respond to many aspects of it; for example, that you don't see scriptural mentions of Her - She is all through Scripture, the Bible and the Book of Mormon in particular. She is there in sacred, especially Jewish, history. But in reading the comments, I see that almost all that I would have written is covered by others. So, I invite you to consider their offerings, and to expand your views include a MUCH broader awareness and understanding. You will then begin to see that while the Mother has indeed been minimized by the traditions of men, She has always been here helping us manage our journey through mortality. I believe that one day the final veil obscuring her will be removed and we will all discover that She has been involved in our mortality much more intimately and closely than we dreamed. A full and complimentary partnership with the Father. If She is the mother our spirits, how could it be otherwise?
Amanda Lynn BlairMay 27, 2025
I have reread your words and I appreciate them even more the second time. They make me think of the recent theological conversation about all power to act in Gods name being priesthood power that comes from the Father. But that has made me uncomfortable. I did not grow life and give birth through the power of the Father, I do not continue to create and connect through the power of the Father alone. She has her own power, and Her own voice and She is agentic. Saying so does not put Her at odds with the Father. Unity can only exist if there is l more than one in the first place. And I don’t mean this in some kind of complimentarianism. She is a whole sovereign being and He is a whole sovereign being and yet they are one. This is my belief. And it is also my belief that we can’t possibly do the work of building Zion without our Mother. She is not superfluous or replaceable in the here and now.
JocelynMay 27, 2025
There is so much of the Mother in scripture! While some publicly express a wish to know more, others quietly testify that they already do because they have asked, seeked, knocked and the veil has been parted for them. Such are given eyes to see Her in scripture and feel Her with every breath. For those still seeking here is some scriptural and archaeological evidence for the Mother. https://youtu.be/qvCx7K200wQ?si=gT8BUwPoEVxU-XCf Here are some of her names in scripture https://youtu.be/qvCx7K200wQ?si=gT8BUwPoEVxU-XCf And here are the patterns of her found in her daughters in scripture. https://youtu.be/iMPo_E6NdU4?si=hrmI_x-LRfLzdErh Truly, speculation is not necessary when revelation is so readily available! Blessings
Meg RittmanicMay 27, 2025
I appreciate the focus on our Heavenly Mother and the powerful truth you convey about Her speaking to our hearts and minds. Personal revelation and connection with Her in this way is indeed profoundly comforting. However, I do have to contend with the second sentence in this article which says “our Cannon says nothing”. My own extensive study has revealed that, far from being silent, She does indeed speak and is referenced through various names, metaphors, and personifications that require a deeper study of the original Hebrew linguistics of the Bible. In my studies, I have found over 2550 references to God the Mother in the Old Testament alone. For instance, The name El Shaddai (אֵל שַׁדַּי), often translated as "God Almighty," is used frequently in blessings pertaining to fruitfulness and posterity, particularly in the blessings given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob of which the author mentioned in the article. The etymology of Shaddai is linguistically significant in connection to a God with breasts, one that nurtures and nurses. Suggesting a divine aspect intimately connected to sustaining, nurturing, and providing abundance—qualities powerfully associated with the Divinely Feminine attributes of Heavenly Mother. Furthermore, the very names of God in the Old Testament offer subtle yet profound allusions to the Divine Feminine, a nuance often lost in translation. Consider the foundational Hebrew names: El (אֵל), the singular masculine form of God, stands in sacred relationship with Eloah (אֱלוֹהַּ), the singular feminine form. Together, they form Elohim (אֱלֹהִים), a majestic plural often referring to both Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother working in perfect concert. Because scripture so frequently uses this plural form, implicitly encompassing both, we can safely embrace the understanding that our Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother function as a unified team, working tirelessly for the salvation of humankind. Often, the words attributed to "God" or "the Lord" in scripture are, in fact, the shared pronouncements of this divine partnership. Yet, while they operate in perfect unity, they are undeniably distinct individuals, each with Their own voice and unique contributions to our eternal progress. Indeed, there are compelling instances where Eloah speaks for Herself. For example, a faithful translation of Proverbs 30:5 reads: "Every word of Eloah is pure; She is a shield to those who put their trust in Her." This direct address from the Divine Feminine powerfully demonstrates Her active voice and protective nature within the scriptural record. Therefore, continuing to perpetuate the idea that Heavenly Mother "never speaks" or "is never mentioned" in scripture, unfortunately, carries forward a historical tradition of misinformation rather than illuminating the profound truths that attentive study and reverence for the original text can reveal. It's crucial to understand that the perception of scriptural "silence" on Heavenly Mother often stems from centuries of complex biblical translation processes. As texts moved from their original Hebrew into later Greek, Latin, and ultimately English versions, theological biases, patriarchal contexts of the time, and interpretive choices profoundly impacted the visibility of the Divine Feminine in the text. What were once explicitly feminine names or concepts were often deliberately obscured or converted into masculine forms, effectively erasing Her presence from common understanding. This historical obfuscation has created a pervasive, yet inaccurate, belief that the scriptures contain no mention of Her.
Mel HendersonMay 27, 2025
I so appreciate that thoughtful writers like you are choosing to write about Heavenly Mother. I don't disagree with your thesis—Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother are, truly, NOT the same—but I believe you've arrived at it your thesis through a lens of very incomplete history and a lens that seems designed to reassure patriarchal insecurities (the idea that good women don't overstep by "seeking" her; they "let her be"...?)—instead of wholistic doctrines of being equally yoked. I agree: If the Mother's presence were just a mirror of the Father's presence, she would be redundant. Unnecessary. I don't believe we should be "pasting" Her on top of Him. HER presence is the missing piece. Her absence is half of the map tjat we need to be whole. She is the nourishment that we've been trying to survive without. I believe what the Mother brings is wholly aligned in love and purpose with the Father, but wholly DIFFERENT and wholly ESSENTIAL. Humanity is self-destructing without her.
Rachel PierceMay 27, 2025
Loved this perspective, it is definitely food for thought and brings up ideas I’ve never thought of before! I don’t know what the answers all are, but when things like this are brought up, it just reaffirms to me that my mortal understanding is so limited and their is an eternity of learning to do! Thank you Kimberly for your thoughts and research and putting your ideas out there!
Ashli CarnicelliMay 27, 2025
While I appreciate what you are trying to say and appreciate your thesis, have you read Joseph Smith’s First Vision that includes Heavenly Mother? Have you read the countless quotes from Prophets and Apostles and the Gospel Topics Essay that contains 30 footnotes with references to the scriptures and other prophetic teachings that speak of Her, Her role, and Her importance with clarity? Have you considered that any silence around Her is not of God?
Susan MorrisMay 27, 2025
Believing that mortal life is a shadow of immortal life, both premortal and post-mortal, I assume that the roles of men and woman have always been distinct and yet complementary and cooperative. If "the faithful elders of this dispensation, when they depart from mortal life, continue their labors in the preaching of the gospel of repentance and redemption (D&C 138:57), what do the faithful women do? I seems likely to me that they continue nurturing their family members as "guardian angels," if you will, which they probably also did in premortality. And that there are overlapping efforts in missionary work and family work there, as there also are here.
Amanda Lynn BlairMay 27, 2025
She is the tree, She is Wisdom, She is the Mother of all living, She is the woman searching for the lost coin. The scriptures are full of Her. She is present in the parting of the vail between this world and the world that came before (childbirth). Just because we haven’t noticed Her presence or recorded it (perhaps just like so little of the feminine experience of the Divine is recorded at all in scripture, it being a record mainly of the Fathers interactions with His sons) doesn’t mean She isn’t there. I value your reverence for Her here and your belief in Her existence as a sovereign being who is not the Father. And, I’ve had too many experiences and heard too many experiences from others to agree that She isn’t here and hasn’t been present for this mortal experience.
Laura CopeMay 27, 2025
I have had my own wrestle with the absence of our Mother in Heaven. I have learned for myself that she IS in the scriptures for those that have eyes to see. If you study the history of the Bible, she has largely been taken out in several ways. The overall tone of this article is poor and unhelpful as it perpetuates more of her silence (which is cultural and not doctrine!) Missing the mark, she is everywhere for those who have eyes to see. She and our Father point me to Christ and Christ leads me to Them (as they are side by side- according to the gospel topics essay on Mother in Heaven which has been declared doctrine by Elder Renlund) we should celebrate Her! We know much more than people realize!!!
McArthur KrishnaMay 27, 2025
There is much to celebrate in an article talking about our Heavenly Mother! This doctrine and reality give so much joy. As the author says, Eve is a great example and we honor her. Let’s honor Heavenly Mother too! And, while I do not think Heavenly Mother is the same as the Father (which seems to be the main concern of the author), we DO know some about how They are. What doctrine we as a church know can be found in the Gospel Topics Essay according to Elder Renlund in General Conference. That essay explains how our heavenly parents are “side by side” and “working together” for the salvation of Their children. It talks about our Mother being involved and the eternal prototype for women. It’s glorious to embrace this! I do, however, have a few points I differ with the author. 1. We actually don’t know if Heavenly Mother spoke and participated. We have what was recorded and mistranslated and edited— not always done with righteous motives. 2. Elohim in the Bible can refer to both Father and Mother. It doesn’t always— but it can. 3. There are many beautiful scriptures with female deity analogy such as a hen gathering her chicks. 4. A female god WAS worshipped until Josiah did a purge to centralize worship (and tax collecting) in one place. How might the scriptures be different if “plain and precious” truths weren’t lost? All that said, we believe in personal revelation. There are many people who are having incredible experiences with their Mother— Cherish 1 and Cherish 2 are just small collections that highlight these. Isn’t it exciting to know our Mother loves us! While we speak of Her with respect (just as we do with the Father and Son), leaving Her out altogether is not respect… just neglect.
David A Watson, DDSMay 27, 2025
I would respectively disagree. In Genesis 5:3 God created man in the likeness of God. Male and female created He them and called their name Adam. There are numerous times when Adam is mentioned, and it means both Adam and Eve. God has commanded us to become one, as He and Christ are one. Moses 7:18, 1 Cor. 1:10, John 17:20-23, and D&C 38:27. I believe that when God speaks, they both speak because have become one. We have been commanded to be one as couples in the Temple also. I think they are truly one and speak as one.
PeggyMay 27, 2025
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this! Thanks so much for sharing your insights so beautifully. I hope I can share and retain this soul-satisfying understanding. Also I love the book you co-authored!
HelenCMay 27, 2025
Beautifully said; thank you. It reminds me of the saying I have long used: “If you and I were exactly alike, one of us would be unnecessary.” This is particularly true of our God-given genders. I am not a feminist, I am female. To me, “ist” is like “ite” in 3 Nephi. It is divisive. It is time for us to cease looking for divisions and also to stop trying to merge us all together as one, amorphous entity. While there should be “no manner of ites among [us]”, we are each responsible for our own progression, whether male or female, with access to the sacred powers granted every one of us within that sacred division.
Danver KengerMay 27, 2025
I don’t know all the details but this much makes sense to me that “All energy and matter in the universe is the mother, and all consciousness is the father. Both exist simultaneously and one cannot exist without the other. The mother exists within the father as the father also has flesh and bones. The mother doesn’t have to appear because she is already here in us and all the matter and energy everywhere.”
Phyllis Spotted WolfMay 27, 2025
Kimberly White: I thank you for the article and your words that you shared... I needed it today... It will be a re-read for me and I will share with family and friends.
Becky RoseMay 27, 2025
She is mentioned in my patriarchal blessing. I sat at her knee as she gave me advice and told me to return home and tell her the wonderful experiences I had and how I gained my testimony.
Steve DoneganMay 27, 2025
Sis. Kimberly, My spirit is telling me I’ve waited a long time to hear your perspective. Thank you for putting into words what has been too distant for me to grasp. This is the reason I read, to have my perspective shaken then firmed.
KCMay 27, 2025
Thank you! That is exactly how I feel as well. If our Mother is omnipotent, she has the power to do what she must/wills--based on perfect eternal law. She cannot nor should not be debased by assuming she doesn't have the power to act on her own. I believe Christ learned how to become one with the Father by exemplifying His Mother and Father's relationship as well. Part of His condescension then was to show us how to submit to Them because we are fallen, not how She submits to Him, because she is God. When Christ was in complete harmony and unity with the Father, we can be assured He was also with His Mother as by nature Gods cannot be cross purposes. I love how you said, "Eve, who speaks no word in the telestial scene. And yet in the garden, she is the driver of events. She does not seek unanimity. She simply chooses. She, as herself, is the mighty spirit who brought us all into this life of love and learning and joy and sorrow; it is she who opened the door for our Savior." If we look to the temple as a guide as you so beautifully reminded us, Her testimony is also given in our realm at the end. For us, just because it isn't spoken or personified overtly to be canonized, doesn't mean we can't see or hear it if we look and listen closely to nature and prophets and angels among us.
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