Featuring ”The Hidden Harms of Heavenly Mother”

For those who are turning to the text this week, you will find that the CFM suggests a focus on the structuring of hierarchies in community and the preparation of Moses to receive the 10 commandments on Mount Sinai. Its only three chapters, which is a relatively short selection. While these chapters have feminist implications, our creative time and efforts have been spent creating both the Holy Week series and co-authoring a piece titled "The Hidden Harms of Heavenly Mother."

Elise and I have partnered with Ruth of the Review and Revise podcast and Kate, co-host of the Called to Queer podcast to dive into the harmful systems which the current understandings of Heavenly Mother seem to be rooted in. "The Hidden Harms of Heavenly Mother" will be released in two parts on our website and will be linked in our show notes. The first part, which introduces the piece and the concepts of colonialism, racism, and gender essentialism is live on the website now. The second part will be released tomorrow. 

Heavenly Mother has been a primary focus of the mainstream Mormon feminist community for many years; however, we have yet to see the movements focused on the theology of Heavenly Mother embrace its more expanded and inclusive potential. Our hope, shared by both Ruth and Kate, in publishing "The Hidden Harms of Heavenly Mother" is to provide helpful context, information, and perspective that will encourage a thoughtful, truly intersectional approach to theologies of the divine.

We are deeply appreciative to both Kate and Ruth for their exhaustive work and valuable perspectives on this piece. We encourage our listeners to connect with Ruth (@reviewandrevise) and Kate (@latterdaylez) on Instagram, and find their podcasts, Review and Revise and Called to Queer, on the same platforms you connect with us.

Next week the podcast will return to its regular publishing schedule and content as we continue to move through the Hebrew Bible at breakneck speed. Thank you listeners for your understanding and patience as we dream big and work hard within the frustratingly human constraints of limited time and creative energy. We are excited to return to the text next week to discover the hidden gems waiting for us there. We love you, and we'll see you next week!