In 1994 I published my first essay on the Mother in Heaven, “Toward a Mormon Theology of God the Mother,” which led to my excommunication from the LDS Church in 1Although this continues to be a source of grief in my life, I am grateful for the scriptures revealed by Joseph Smith. They have been …
Speaker: Janice Allred
Revelation: Foundational Principle and the Ground of Equality
We usually consider faith from the human perspective. If we fail to reach out to God, will God abandon us? The good news of the gospel is that God loves all people and initiates the work of salvation through revelation. Revelation is a foundational principle of the gospel, bringing all people into equality in Christ. …
The Great Day of the Lord: The Importance of the Millennium in Salvation
One of the main obstacles to faith in God is the problem of evil. How could a just and loving God create a world in which so much evil exists? Clearly there are great inequities among people, and many people have little opportunity to develop the characteristics required to live in the kingdom of God. …
Extraordinary Ordinary Women
Laurel Thatcher Ulrich’s well-known aphorism, “Well-behaved women seldom make history,” was initially meant not to call attention to the importance of unconventional women’s lives, but to the importance of ordinary women’s lives. This panel will explore the lives of women, both ordinary and extraordinary, that help us better understand our past, give us insights into …
The Greatest and the Least: The Theology of the Parables and Miracles of Jesus
Jesus’ parable of the sheep and the goats, in which he equates himself to the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, and the prisoner—”the least of these”— is not simply an isolated parable with a message encouraging inclusivity; it forms an integral part of the meaning embedded in all of his parables …
Conversations With Harry Sectarianism And The One True Church
My ninety-five-year-old friend, Harry Fox, has ministered his whole life in the Church of Christ, which originated in the Campbellite restoration movement, and we have had many conversations about the quest for the true church of Christ. This paper explores the basic issues of these dialogues. Can the true church of Christ be found in …
Claiming Our Gifts And Knowing The Roots Of Our Mormon Identities Sponsored By The Mormon Women S Forum
This panel will explore why Mormon women of many different varieties and persuasions value spiritual gifts, whether they are still believers or not, and whether they are still in the LDS Church or not. And we will examine the roots and fruits of these beliefs and practices. Margaret Toscano, Linda King Newell, Janice Allred
Saving Faith The Relationship Of Faith To Knowledge Belief And Works
Atheist Richard Dawkins sees faith in God as belief without evidence, while Christian theologians defend faith as both reasonable and empirically justified. Although they grant that the evidence for faith is incomplete, they also hold that knowledge of God is not attainable simply through empirical methods. Faith also plays a role in the Christian doctrine …
Why I Don T Need Heavenly Mother
The Mormon theology of a Heavenly Mother has been widely discussed as a transcendent and empowering doctrine, especially among Mormon feminists. While we recognize this can be a valuable paradigm for many, this panel will discuss some of its implications. For example, what does a heterosexual god-couple imply for same-gender couples? Would feminizing some attributes …
Saving Faith The Relationship Of Faith To Knowledge Belief And Works
Atheist Richard Dawkins sees faith in God as belief without evidence, while Christian theologians defend faith as both reasonable and empirically justified. Although they grant that the evidence for faith is incomplete, they also hold that knowledge of God is not attainable simply through empirical methods. Faith also plays a role in the Christian doctrine …