100 References to Heavenly Mother in General Conference
100 References to Heavenly Mother in General Conference
Is it okay to talk about our Mother in Heaven? Please examine the evidence and let me know.
It gets said in the Church that we shouldn’t talk about Heavenly Mother because She is too sacred. But the reality is that our Mother in Heaven is mentioned far more often than we recognize in General Conference. Our Heavenly Mother has been there all along, if only we were listening.
No prophet or General Authority has ever actually taught that we shouldn’t talk about Heavenly Mother. The superlative article “A Mother There” is the authoritative source—and required reading—on this topic, and provides this guidance:
…we have found no public record of a General Authority advising us to be silent about our Heavenly Mother; indeed, as we have amply demonstrated, many General Authorities have openly taught about her.
Listed below are 100 times Heavenly Mother has been mentioned in General Conference. To qualify, it has to be either a specific reference to “Heavenly Mother” or “Mother in Heaven,” or the more general “Heavenly Parents,” which clearly acknowledges the existence of a Heavenly Mother. This isn’t every time She has been mentioned, but a hundred references ought to be enough to settle this conversation. Feel free to send this list to someone who thinks we should not talk about Heavenly Mother.
Ulisses Soares, 2023: “The gospel of Jesus Christ teaches that we are all begotten spirit sons and daughters of heavenly parents who truly love us and that we lived as a family in God’s presence before we were born on this earth.”
Emily Belle Freeman, 2023: “I walk this path as a ‘beloved daughter of heavenly parents,” divinely known and deeply trusted.”
Dale Renlund, 2022: “…we have heavenly parents, a father and a mother. The doctrine of a Heavenly Mother comes by revelation and is a distinctive belief among Latter-day Saints.”
Dieter F. Uchtdorf, 2021: “He has proven His love in endless ways, but above all by giving His Only Begotten Son as a sacrifice and as a gift to His children to make the return to our heavenly parents a reality.”
M. Russell Ballard, 2021: “Because we are the spirit children of God, everyone has a divine origin, nature, and potential. Each of us ‘is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents.’”
Dallin H. Oaks, 2021: “He also taught us the commandments and covenants we must obey and the ordinances we must experience to take us back to our heavenly parents.”
Jean B. Bingham, 2020: “…helping their children also understand and embrace those principles that would make them happy in this life, as well as prepared to return to their heavenly parents after having increased their abilities and proved their obedience to God.”
Dallin H. Oaks, 2020: “As spirits, we desired to achieve the eternal life enjoyed by our heavenly parents.”
Michelle D. Craig, 2020: “Perhaps the most important things for us to see clearly are who God is and who we really are—sons and daughters of heavenly parents, with a ‘divine nature and eternal destiny.’”
Dallin H. Oaks, 2020: “…we can be of good cheer as we keep ourselves on the path toward our eternal destiny—reunion and exaltation with our loving heavenly parents.”
Neil L. Andersen, 2019: “The proclamation begins: ‘All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny.’”
Russell M. Nelson, 2019: “My dear brothers and sisters, Jesus Christ invites us to take the covenant path back home to our Heavenly Parents and be with those we love.”
Jeffrey R. Holland, 2019: “…the love of Heavenly Parents, the atoning gift of a divine Son, the comforting guidance of the Holy Ghost, the latter-day restoration of all these truths and so much more.”
D. Todd Christofferson, 2019: “‘…the joy of making it possible for you and me to return home—clean and worthy—to live with our Heavenly Parents and families.’”
Reyna I. Aburto, 2019: “Like our Heavenly Parents and our Savior, we have a physical body and experience emotions.”
Bonnie H. Cordon, 2019: “You are literally the spirit daughters of Heavenly Parents, and nothing can separate you from Their love and the love of your Savior.”
Dallin H. Oaks, 2019: “‘…Abiding by God’s laws will keep you safe as you progress toward eventual exaltation’—that is, to become like God, with the exalted life and divine potential of our Heavenly Parents.”
M. Russell Ballard, 2019: “Before this earth was formed, we lived in the spirit world as sons and daughters of Heavenly Parents, who loved us and continue to love us now.”
Peter M. Johnson, 2019: “‘The Family: A Proclamation to the World’ states: ‘All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny.’”
Lynn G. Robbins, 2018: “I am eternally grateful for the loving-kindness, patience, and long-suffering of Heavenly Parents and the Savior, who allow us countless second chances on our journey back to Their presence.”
Reyna I. Aburto, 2018: “Like the monarch butterflies, we are on a journey back to our heavenly home, where we will reunite with our Heavenly Parents.”
Russell M. Nelson, 2018: “Please note that anytime I use the word mother, I am not talking only about women who have given birth or adopted children in this life. I am speaking about all of our Heavenly Parents’ adult daughters.”
Brian K. Ashton, 2018: “In the premortal world, we were born as spirits to Heavenly Parents and lived with Them as a family. They knew us, taught us, and loved us.”
Dale G. Renlund, 2018: “We can trust that we are beloved children of Heavenly Parents and worth ‘bothering about’ and be assured that ‘on our own’ will never mean ‘alone.’”
Joy D. Jones, 2017: “‘God is your Father. He loves you. He and your mother in heaven value you beyond any measure.’”
Linda K. Burton, 2017: “Sisters, I testify of loving Heavenly Parents; of our Savior, Jesus Christ; and of His infinite Atonement in our behalf.”
M. Russell Ballard, 2017: “I testify there is no greater goal in mortality than to live eternally with our Heavenly Parents and our beloved Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. But it is more than just our goal—it is also Their goal. They have a perfect love for us, more powerful than we can even begin to comprehend. They are totally, completely, eternally aligned with us. We are Their work. Our glory is Their glory. More than anything else, They want us to come home—to return and receive eternal happiness in Their presence.”
Dieter F. Uchtdorf, 2017: “Remember that you are of the royal house of the kingdom of God, daughters of Heavenly Parents, who reign throughout the universe.”
Dieter F. Uchtdorf, 2017: “I believe that every man, woman, and child has felt the call of heaven at some point in his or her life. Deep within us is a longing to somehow reach past the veil and embrace Heavenly Parents we once knew and cherished.”
Jeffrey R. Holland, 2017: “I testify that in this and every hour He is, with nail-scarred hands, extending to us that same grace, holding on to us and encouraging us, refusing to let us go until we are safely home in the embrace of Heavenly Parents.”
David A Bednar, 2017: “‘All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny.’”
Neill F. Marriott, 2016: “‘…it is through… toil and tribulation, that we gain the education… which will make us more like our Father and Mother in heaven.’”
Donald L. Hallstrom, 2016: “In 1995, the 15 living apostles and prophets affirmed: ‘All human beings … are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents.’”
Gary E. Stevenson, 2016: “Sealing keys, restored by the Old Testament prophet Elijah, enable ordinances to take place in holy temples. Ordinances performed in these temples enable individuals and families to return to the presence of our heavenly parents.”
M. Russell Ballard, 2016: “Family councils have always been needed. They are, in fact, eternal. We belonged to a family council in the premortal existence, when we lived with our heavenly parents as their spirit children.”
Paul V. Johnson, 2016: “The Resurrection is brought to pass by the Atonement of Jesus Christ and is pivotal to the great plan of salvation. We are spirit children of heavenly parents.”
Carole M. Stephens, 2016: “Remember your divine identity: you are a beloved daughter of Heavenly Parents.”
Dieter F. Uchtdorf, 2016: “Brothers and sisters, we are eternal beings, without beginning and without end. We have always existed. We are the literal spirit children of divine, immortal, and omnipotent Heavenly Parents!”
Russell M. Nelson, 2016: “And what was the joy that was set before Him? Surely it included the joy of cleansing, healing, and strengthening us; the joy of paying for the sins of all who would repent; the joy of making it possible for you and me to return home—clean and worthy—to live with our Heavenly Parents and families.”
M. Russell Ballard, 2016: “Where will you go to find others who share your belief in personal, loving Heavenly Parents, who teach us how to return to Their eternal presence?”
Ronald A. Rasband, 2016: “These things I know for myself, independent of any other voice or witness, and I pray that you and I will never forget sacred eternal truths—first and foremost that we are sons and daughters of living and loving Heavenly Parents, who desire only our eternal happiness.”
Jeffrey R. Holland, 2015: “To Mother Eve, to Sarah, Rebekah, and Rachel, to Mary of Nazareth, and to a Mother in Heaven, I say, ‘Thank you for your crucial role in fulfilling the purposes of eternity.’”
Carole M. Stephens, 2015: “The family proclamation teaches that as beloved spirit daughters of heavenly parents, we have a divine nature, eternal identity, and purpose.”
Linda K. Burton, 2015: “Will you join me in seeking the help of the Holy Ghost to teach us how we can better lift each other in our complementary roles as covenant sons and daughters of our loving heavenly parents?”
D. Todd Christofferson, 2015: “Prophets have revealed that we first existed as intelligences and that we were given form, or spirit bodies, by God, thus becoming His spirit children—sons and daughters of heavenly parents.”
Larry M. Gibson, 2015: “I love being a husband and father—married to a chosen daughter of heavenly parents. I love her. It is one of the most fulfilling parts of my life.”
Rosemary M. Wixom, 2015: “We come into this world ‘trailing clouds of glory.’ ‘The Family: A Proclamation to the World’ teaches that each one of us ‘is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents’ and ‘each has a divine nature and destiny.’”
Larry R. Lawrence, 2015: “When I was a young adult, I began investigating the Church. At first I was drawn to the gospel by the examples of my Latter-day Saint friends, but eventually I was attracted to the unique doctrine. When I learned that faithful men and women could keep progressing and ultimately become like our heavenly parents, I was frankly amazed. I loved the concept; it rang true to me.”
Dale G. Renlund, 2015: “No matter what the assignment or calling is in the Church, to serve capably, one must serve knowing that everyone we serve ‘is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, … has a divine nature and destiny.’”
Carole M. Stephens, 2015: “Each of us is ‘a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents.’ Their love for us is apparent in commandments. Commandments are vital instructions to teach, guide, and protect us as we ‘gain earthly experience.’”
Thomas S. Monson, 2014: “The primary purposes of our existence upon the earth are to obtain a body of flesh and bones, to gain experience that could come only through separation from our heavenly parents, and to see if we would keep the commandments.”
Dieter F. Uchtdorf, 2014: “My dear sisters in the gospel, whether you are 8 or 108, there is one thing that I hope you truly understand and know: You are loved. You are dear to your heavenly parents.”
Boyd K. Packer, 2013: “We know that we are spirit children of heavenly parents, here on earth to receive our mortal bodies and to be tested.”
M. Russell Ballard, 2013: “And the primary purpose of this priesthood power is to bless, sanctify, and purify us so we can live together with our families in the presence of our heavenly parents, bound by priesthood sealings, participating in the marvelous work of God and Jesus Christ in forever expanding Their light and glory.”
David A. Bednar, 2013: “‘All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and … has a divine nature and destiny.’”
Dallin H. Oaks, 2013: “From modern revelation, unique to the restored gospel, we know that the commandment to seek perfection is part of God the Father’s plan for the salvation of His children. Under that plan we are all heirs of our heavenly parents.”
Christoffel Golden Jr., 2013: “Seen in its true light, the doctrine of the Father and the Son is the doctrine of the eternal family. Every human being has existed previously as a spirit child with heavenly parents, with Christ being the Firstborn of the Father in this heavenly family.”
Carole M. Stephens, 2013: “We are beloved spirit sons and daughters of heavenly parents, with a divine nature and destiny. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, loved us enough to give His life for us.”
Dallin H. Oaks, 2013: “Our theology begins with heavenly parents, and our highest aspiration is to attain the fulness of eternal exaltation.”
Russell M. Nelson, 2013: “We are eternal beings—spirit children of heavenly parents. The Bible records that ‘God created man in his own image, … male and female created he them.’”
Ulisses Soares, 2012: “To sow in the Spirit means that all our thoughts, words, and actions must elevate us to the level of the divinity of our heavenly parents.”
Boyd K. Packer, 2011: “In ‘The Family: A Proclamation to the World,’ an inspired document issued by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, we learn that in the premortal existence ‘all human beings—male and female—[were] created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny.’”
W. Christopher Waddell, 2011: “Long before leaving our earthly home to serve a full-time mission, we left heavenly parents to fulfill our mortal mission.”
Randall K. Bennett, 2011: “Each of you—as we have been taught this conference—is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents. You do have a divine nature and destiny.”
Boyd K. Packer, 2009: “You lived in a premortal existence as an individual spirit child of heavenly parents. At the time of your birth, you received a mortal body of flesh and blood and bone in which to experience earth life.”
Dieter F. Uchtdorf, 2009: “We are created in the image of our heavenly parents; we are God’s spirit children. Therefore, we have a vast capacity for love—it is part of our spiritual heritage.”
Russell M. Nelson, 2008: “We further proclaim that ‘all human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny.’”
Dieter F. Uchtdorf, 2006: “You live in a time of great challenges and opportunities. As spirit sons of heavenly parents, you are free to make the right choices.”
H. Bruce Stucki, 2006: “I testify that the family is the unit and the vehicle through which we can be sealed together and return, as a family, into the presence of our heavenly parents, there to experience eternal joy and happiness.”
Dallin H. Oaks, 2005: “Our relationship to God and the purpose of earth life are explained in terms of the family. We are the spirit children of heavenly parents.”
Jeffrey R. Holland, 2005: “First of all, I want you to be proud you are a woman. I want you to feel the reality of what that means, to know who you truly are. You are literally a spirit daughter of heavenly parents with a divine nature and an eternal destiny.”
L. Tom Perry, 2004: “‘All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.’”
Julie B. Beck, 2004: “Oh, that every girl and woman would have a testimony of her potential for eternal motherhood as she keeps her earthly covenants. ‘Each is a beloved … daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine … destiny.’”
Boyd K. Packer, 2003: “Before we came into mortal life, we lived as spirit children of our Father in Heaven. ‘All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each [of you] is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, [you have] a divine nature and destiny.’”
L. Tom Perry, 2003: “‘President Brigham Young explained that our families are not yet ours. The Lord has committed them to us to see how we will treat them. Only if we are faithful will they be given to us forever. What we do on earth determines whether or not we will be worthy to become heavenly parents.’”
Dallin H. Oaks, 2002: “We serve God and our fellowmen in order to become the kind of children who can return to live with our heavenly parents.”
Boyd K. Packer, 2000: “‘All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny.’”
L. Edward Brown, 1997: “Prophets of God proclaim that ‘all human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny.’”
Russell M. Nelson, 1996: “Trees reach up for the light and grow in the process. So do we as sons and daughters of heavenly parents. Facing upward provides a loftier perspective than facing right or facing left. Looking up in search of holiness builds strength and dignity as disciples of Deity.”
Susan L. Warner, 1996: “It reminds us of what the prophets have recently proclaimed to the entire world, that ‘each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny.’”
Gordon B. Hinckley, 1991: “Logic and reason would certainly suggest that if we have a Father in Heaven, we have a Mother in Heaven. That doctrine rests well with me.”
Adney Y. Komatsu, 1987: “‘…it is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire and which will make us more like our Father and Mother in heaven.’”
Vaughn J. Featherstone, 1987: “Women are endowed with special traits and attributes that come trailing down through eternity from a divine mother… Theirs is a sacred, God-given role, and the traits they received from heavenly mother are equally as important as those given to the young men.”
Ardeth G. Kapp, 1986: “‘I just wish of all things I could go up and give Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother a big hug and tell them that I made it back.’”
Spencer W. Kimball, 1978: “God is your father. He loves you. He and your mother in heaven value you beyond any measure. They gave your eternal intelligence spirit form, just as your earthly mother and father have given you a mortal body.”
Spencer W. Kimball, 1978: “…we get a sense of the ultimate in maternal modesty, of the restrained, queenly elegance of our Heavenly Mother, and knowing how profoundly our mortal mothers have shaped us here, do we suppose her influence on us as individuals to be less if we live so as to return there?”
Neal A. Maxwell, 1978: “Could such a regal homecoming be possible without the anticipatory arrangements of a Heavenly Mother?”
Eldred G. Smith, 1973: “In the heavens, before the earth was formed, the plan of this earth life was explained to all of us. We were then but spirit offspring of our Father and Mother in heaven.”
Marion G. Romney, 1948: “I believe we were born to him and to our mother in heaven. I do not know the process, but I do know how we are born to our fathers and mothers in this earth and that is the way I think about it.”
Hyrum G. Smith, 1924: “We do not wander in our minds, but we know, like little children, that we have a father, and a mother in heaven, and that we have our loved ones there.”
Rudger Clawson, 1924: “We were his children in spirit, in heaven, and suffice it to say we also have a mother in heaven. There were parents in heaven -- parents and children.”
German E. Ellsworth, 1911: “…I have called it ‘Eternal Motherhood,’ and it is, as I have said, in harmony with the idea of our having a mother in heaven, and in harmony with the light that has been given to the world, in relation to this subject.”
James G. Duffin, 1909: “…when we, as parents, give an account to our Father and Mother in heaven of the manner in which we have conducted ourselves toward the precious souls entrusted to us, how we have dealt with them…”
Heber C. Iverson, 1908: “That doctrine was ridiculed seventy years ago, when announced by this hymn, teaching what had been given by inspiration flowing first through the mind of the Prophet Joseph Smith, that we have a mother in heaven.”
Orson F. Whitney, 1907: “Why, then, should it be deemed unphilosophic for man, the child of God, -- man and woman, male and female, -- to become like their Father and their Mother in heaven?”
Asahel H. Woodruff, 1904: “We have left our Father and Mother in heaven, become self-exiled from the associations of our primeval existence, and have come down here on earth in obedience to the will of God, for a wise purpose He has in view.”
Orson F. Whitney, 1898: “…until they shall become divine beings themselves, worthy to stand upon that plane where stand their Father and their Mother in heaven.”
Orson F. Whitney, 1896: “We are taught that men and women… were sent here to take mortal tabernacles and undergo experiences that would in due time exalt them to the plane occupied by their Father and Mother in heaven.”
Orson F. Whitney, 1888: “…Christendom shouted and praised the great man whose mind had given birth to the wonderful thought that we had a Mother as well as a Father in heaven.”
Erastus Snow, 1885: “Now, it is not said in so many words in the Scriptures, that we have a Mother in heaven as well as a Father. It is left for us to infer this from what we see and know of all living things in the earth including man.”
It’s interesting to me how the transition to “heavenly parents” as the main vernacular when referencing Heavenly Mother in any way started to take hold (at least from reading through this list) within the last 30-40 years. I appreciate the fact that “Heavenly Parents” unifies them in purpose and standing, but for some reason it makes it feel like it’s softening the mention of her existence. Maybe that’s just me?