The Nature of Deity and Prayer

[JudoMinja]

In another thread, an interesting discussion developed that was starting to derail the thread. If you would like to see the source of this topic in full detail you can read it there- Violence- Worse than Pornography?. Please keep comments on that thread though on the original topic, as this separation was made to help it get back on track.

There are two separate questions here that are linked together:

1. To whom do we pray and why?

2. Is the Godhead "sexist"?

Now, the answer to question one for the majority of Christianity is Heavenly Father. Specifically, for LDS we pray to the Father in the name of His Son (as Christ is our intercessor on our behalf). Different beliefs on the nature of the Godhead can alter how we perceive the nature of prayer and how it works. This ties into the second question-

As LDS, we put a strong emphasis on families and we believe we have a Heavenly Mother, though she is rarely mentioned or spoken of. She is never directly mentioned in scriptures, many of us believe because the Father seeks to protect her from mockery or the misuse of her name. However, there are several religions that prefer the worship of a Goddess and find Christianity and the Bible to be sexist. Some of these see the earth itself as our Mother and Creator and as such seek to treat her with utmost reverence.

We can discuss here the beliefs of differing religions, but I want the main focus to be LDS teachings. Can we as LDS pray to anyone other than the Father? If we do, are we wrong? And though we believe in a Heavenly Mother and speak of her reverently, are our teachings sexist if we do not also pray to her?

[Backroads]

I have heard of Mormons who claim to pray sometimes to Heavenly Mother (though I doubt this is sanctioned by the Church). I also believe one offshot branch of the Church includes Heavenly Mother in the Godhead.

[HiJolly]

JudoMinja, this brings out something I positively love about our Church. We have no creed. There are very few "litmus" tests for membership in the Church, as long as we are prudent in our speech.

Can we as LDS pray to anyone other than the Father?

Yes we can, just not publicly. Whether we *should* or not is another question entirely.

If we do, are we wrong?

Maybe we are, maybe we are not. A lot has to do with our intentions, our personal revelations, and our object in so praying.

And though we believe in a Heavenly Mother and speak of her reverently, are our teachings sexist if we do not also pray to her?

Not usually, at least in our Church. Just my opinion, of course.

HiJolly

[rameumptom]

I personally believe that when we address Heavenly Father, we essentially are addressing the Godhead. While we often consider the Godhead to be Father, Son and Holy Ghost - I believe there is an extended Godhead that includes Mother in Heaven and all those who have entered into a loving and eternal relationship with God. In so doing, he infuses them with His fulness, and so the whole becomes as God himself.

For this reason we see Jesus/Jehovah standing in as God the Father (see Moses 1 as an example), or angels standing in as Jesus (see Rev 19:10). Divine Investiture means that one is like the other. Each is a full member of the Godhead or extended Godhead, able to speak or do in accordance with the whole and with God's will.

When we pray to Father, he answers through the Holy Ghost, another member of the Godhead or presidency in the Godhead. Yet, often the Holy Ghost will respond through angels. Does it make the response any less that it did not come directly from Father? No. Because these are members of the Godhead, who can speak in the name of the Lord, even as if they were the Lord.

So, essentially, when we pray to Father, we are praying to Jesus, the Holy Ghost, and Mother, as well. Whatever her part is in our lives right now, I have no doubt she is active in it.

[Guest gopecon]

"Can we as LDS pray to anyone other than the Father?" Not if we want to do it correctly.

"If we do, are we wrong?" Yes, the Savior and church leaders have consistently taught that we are to pray to our Father in heaven. I've never seen anything to indicate that prayer can be addressed to anyone else.

"And though we believe in a Heavenly Mother and speak of her reverently, are our teachings sexist if we do not also pray to her?" No. I don't think worldly definitions of sexism are applicable when discussing heavenly roles. We don't believe that equality requires identical roles.

[volgadon]

We don't believe that equality requires identical roles.

Exactly. We don't consider it sexist that only women can have babies, which is nobody's fault, not even the Romans'.

[JudoMinja]

Okay, it seems there is a strong consensus on the answer to the first question- To whom do we pray?

Several scriptures offer sufficient clarification on this point, and I will pull a quote from Vort that lists them in the previous thread:

Exodus 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Matthew 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

3 Nephi 18:19 Therefore ye must always pray unto the Father in my [Jesus'] name

3 Nephi 19:6 And the twelve did teach the multitude; and behold, they did cause that the multitude should kneel down upon the face of the earth, and should pray unto the Father in the name of Jesus.

Jesus outlined the correct manner of prayer during His earthly ministry. Though our prayers are directed to the Father, every member of the Godhead is involved- 1. We pray TO the Father. 2. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ (He entreats the Father on our behalf). 3. Our prayers are answered by the Holy Ghost.

It is a simple and well understood method for prayer that can be easily explained and corrected. I believe it also emphasizes the need for order, that we do not offer prayers to seperate entities or put their worship before our worship of the Father. It also, I think, highlights our Father's direct involvement in our lives, His love for us, and His infinite ability to address all our concerns. We ALL pray directly to Him, and He answers us. We do not need to go through any chain of command or worry about letting someone else handle our prayers because they are not "important" enough to be brought to the Father. I think this is wonderful.

On the second point- I personally do not believe that there is a problem with sexism in the church or the scriptures. However, there are many who see the lack of the female role and female involvement and have some problems. In particular, I can think of a video that addresses this topic exactly. The movie "Dogma", meant to be a humorous spoof on religion, specifically targets the "sexism" of the scriptures. They claim that God is actually a woman, but the male authors of the scriptures wanted a more male centered religion that would permit them to oppress females- casting Eve as the temptress who led Adam astray and supporting the sexism of ancient societies in favor of male dominance.

Several, non-Christian religions favor the worship of a Goddess, including the "pagan" practices of Wicca, the animism of several Native American tribes, the more modern "Gaian" philosophy, and others. I think that as Latter-Day Saints, we have a tendancy to appeal to those who believe in Christianity but have issues with the seeming sexism- those who may have steered toward these non-Christian practices were it not for their faith in Christ. This is because we do believe in a Heavenly Mother. We support the family and the separate divine natures of the male and female without putting one above the other. While our worship is reserved for the Father, we still recognize that there must be a motherly aspect to the Godhead that is not fully covered in scripture.

I think that her role, though important, is not vital to our salvation, and this is why she was excluded from scriptural revelations. The scriptures are meant to guide us through this life and turn us toward repentance. Christ is central. The atonement is central. Forgiveness, charity, virtue, obedience... these are the most important principles for us to learn of and adhere to in this life if we are to progress and grow in our spirituality.