Mormons and the term "Heavenly Father"

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I was raised a Mormon and taught that saying “God” is not appropriate or respectful, and to always say “Heavenly Father”. In Mormon speech and writings, “Heavenly Father” is a replacement for actually saying the word “God”.

In Mormon theology, God=God the Father, alone, Mormons do not think or believe God as the Trinity.

“Heavenly Father” or “Our Father in Heaven” are synonymous. As has already been explained, Mormons take God, as Father, very literally. They believe he fathered our souls with a heavenly mother, before the earth was made.

**Do they explain the “nuts and bolts” of this :cool: ? It’s not easy to…visualise, when one has always taken for granted that souls don’t have parents. **​


**Is there more than one “heavenly mother” ? That is, does the HF have more than one wife ? How much is known of the family life of the HF & the HM ? ******
 
I haven’t read all of the thread so if this has been said - please ignore.

I’m suprised that we Catholics are critical of the way Mormons “pray” - arms folded over belly??? As a convert, I’m still suprised to see Catholics just standing there - head not bowed, hands not folded or anything during some of the prayers at mass. It’s very different from what I was used to as a Protestant.

So who are we to judge? Don’t WE hate it when Protestants claim to just KNOW we are praying to “statues.” As if they could read our hearts/minds?

I say leave it up to God. 🤷 It’s His business - not ours when it comes to someone’s prayers.

Besides, I say “Heavenly Father…” all the time and I’ve never been Mormon or really know too much about them at all…
i hope by now you have had an opportunity to go back and read the entire thread. if so then you will see that no one is criticizing the mormons for how they pray. it was brought up as a point about deliberate differences between mormoans and nonMornons, why there would be these differencis, how they originated, why they are perpetuated, etc. by not reading the entire thread i’m afraid you missed a lot.
 
If you look at a picture named Joseph Smith “Preaching to the Lamanites”, you will see the Natives with that arms folded posture, which is universally a sign of being closed off from whatever is being communicated. 'Nough said. 😉

**They don’t look terribly impressed. And his clothes are far too dressy for anyone preaching in such surroundings; though they are rather nice clothes, far too nice for those surroundings. There’s a much nicer pic of him in the BoM. **​

 

**They don’t look terribly impressed. And his clothes are far too dressy for anyone preaching in such surroundings; though they are rather nice clothes, far too nice for those surroundings. There’s a much nicer pic of him in the BoM. **​

i’ve not seen this portrait, but let me ask, is this a protrait of Mr Smith preaching to contemporary native Americans in his own time?
 
i hope by now you have had an opportunity to go back and read the entire thread. if so then you will see that no one is criticizing the mormons for how they pray. it was brought up as a point about deliberate differences between mormoans and nonMornons, why there would be these differencis, how they originated, why they are perpetuated, etc. by not reading the entire thread i’m afraid you missed a lot.
I have had the opportunity to read all of the posts and I’ll stand by my original post.

It seems that YOU kept bringing the thread back to why there would be differences, how they originated etc. Others spoke of their apparent flawed doctrines (spirit babies etc.) the lack of reverence in the meetings and post #67 said LDS prayer is NOT like ours.

Most of those posts remind me of the anti-Catholic posts on this Christian forum I go to. They decide all sorts of stuff about us based on our silent prayers (as if they can read our hearts?) our love for statues & the Pope, the way we dress at mass etc. None of which is true - which makes me wonder about most of the stuff that’s posted here about Mormons???

(P.S. The worst offenders are that “Christian” forum are ex-Catholics.)
 
I have had the opportunity to read all of the posts and I’ll stand by my original post.

It seems that YOU kept bringing the thread back to why there would be differences, how they originated etc. Others spoke of their apparent flawed doctrines (spirit babies etc.) the lack of reverence in the meetings and post #67 said LDS prayer is NOT like ours.
OK, then are you familiar enough with mormon stuff that you can say for certain that what was written by these others is incorrect?
Most of those posts remind me of the anti-Catholic posts on this Christian forum I go to. They decide all sorts of stuff about us based on our silent prayers (as if they can read our hearts?) our love for statues & the Pope, the way we dress at mass etc. None of which is true - which makes me wonder about most of the stuff that’s posted here about Mormons???
again, i’m not quite folllowing you. are you jdgeing the accuracy of what some people wrote by the “tone” in which you perceived them? or are you able to say certainly that what was writen is innacurate?

I’m not trying to argue with you necessarily, I just want to learn what you know. I started out here a few months ago knowing nothing about the LdS religion, and have learned a lot. The exmormons here, I give great credance to what they say. They are in a position to know.

I agree iwth you that there are often exaggerations, and I have been guilty of some of this, I admit it, which is why I want to get all my facts straight, so I don’t make that mistake too often again.
 
(P.S. The worst offenders are that “Christian” forum are ex-Catholics.)
I have met some ex-Catholics elsewhere also. Like you, I find them impossible to take seriously. One of them tried to tell me that Pope John Paul II was possessed by Satan, and drank human blood. (No, I’m not joking). It’s just one of those situations where you pat the ranter on the head, and reply “OK, whatever you say, dear”.

Focusing one’s life on what you leave behind is probably a sign of a not-very-healthy outlook. When/if I wander away from Mormonism, the last thing I want to be is an “ex-Mormon” or a “recovering Mormon”. People who leave the Catholic Church just to spend the rest of their lives raging about it should really get a hobby.
 
😛
I have met some ex-Catholics elsewhere also. Like you, I find them impossible to take seriously. One of them tried to tell me that Pope John Paul II was possessed by Satan, and drank human blood. (No, I’m not joking). It’s just one of those situations where you pat the ranter on the head, and reply “OK, whatever you say, dear”.

Focusing one’s life on what you leave behind is probably a sign of a not-very-healthy outlook. When/if I wander away from Mormonism, the last thing I want to be is an “ex-Mormon” or a “recovering Mormon”. People who leave the Catholic Church just to spend the rest of their lives raging about it should really get a hobby.
LaMar – I find what you have said somewhat hard to believe. But, then again, nothing surprises me anymore. Anyone who has gotten to know anything about Pope John Paul II knows he was a very loving man who cared about everyone.

On the other hand, there are some X-Catholics who have come back to being Catholic and are stronger in their faith then before they left it. They often refer to themselves in a humorous way as Reverts.

:kissme: Kathy :irish2:
 

**They don’t look terribly impressed. And his clothes are far too dressy for anyone preaching in such surroundings; though they are rather nice clothes, far too nice for those surroundings. There’s a much nicer pic of him in the BoM. **​

salamandersociety.com/slamtoons/captions/lamanites

This one has been mangled to give some people practice in reading body language. 😃 I would say that even though the picture was painted during the Utah days, it is still an accurate representation of how well Natives received JS’s message.

Winneshiek, a Ho-Chunk spiritual leader, had the courage to laugh at him and tell him that he was crazy. I am sure THAT didn’t go over very well.

Shortly before the death of JS, Keokuk’s Sauk & Fox, who lived just across the river, danced a war dance. The Mormons thought it was fine entertainment, and even knew that it was a war dance.😛
 
Focusing one’s life on what you leave behind is probably a sign of a not-very-healthy outlook. When/if I wander away from Mormonism, the last thing I want to be is an “ex-Mormon” or a “recovering Mormon”. .
I appreciate your gradual approach towards leaving LDS. Do you really realize how far you have wandered already?:yup:
 
I appreciate your gradual approach towards leaving LDS. Do you really realize how far you have wandered already?:yup:
As soon as my youngest sister gets married I’ll likely forget about them. We already attend a reform temple (sporadically, and we don’t take that seriously either).

You’re more a Mormon than I am, surely, with your statements about recovering and such. Why don’t you just forget all about it and move on?
 
Focusing one’s life on what you leave behind is probably a sign of a not-very-healthy outlook. When/if I wander away from Mormonism, the last thing I want to be is an “ex-Mormon” or a “recovering Mormon”. People who leave the Catholic Church just to spend the rest of their lives raging about it should really get a hobby.
Little do you seem to know that you are already an “ex-Mormon” or a “recovering Mormon”.

zerinus
 
Little do you seem to know that you are already an “ex-Mormon” or a “recovering Mormon”.

zerinus
Please. There’s nothing to “recover” from. Mormonism didn’t cause me any pain or problems. I just don’t have time for most of it.
 
I have had the opportunity to read all of the posts and I’ll stand by my original post.

It seems that YOU kept bringing the thread back to why there would be differences, how they originated etc. Others spoke of their apparent flawed doctrines (spirit babies etc.) the lack of reverence in the meetings and post #67 said LDS prayer is NOT like ours.

Most of those posts remind me of the anti-Catholic posts on this Christian forum I go to. They decide all sorts of stuff about us based on our silent prayers (as if they can read our hearts?) our love for statues & the Pope, the way we dress at mass etc. None of which is true - which makes me wonder about most of the stuff that’s posted here about Mormons???

(P.S. The worst offenders are that “Christian” forum are ex-Catholics.)
Thank you. You are entirely correct. As a matter of curiosity, what is that Christian “forum” you are referring to? You can send me a PM if you don’t like to disclose in on the board.

zerinus
 
Please. There’s nothing to “recover” from. Mormonism didn’t cause me any pain or problems. I just don’t have time for most of it.
That makes you just an “ex-Mormon” then I guess.

zerinus
 
You’re more a Mormon than I am, surely, with your statements about recovering and such. Why don’t you just forget all about it and move on?
I am not and never have been LDS, RLDS, OR FLDS. The story is much too involved to explain here. Actually I have moved on. As you know, geography helps. I am enjoying this as a hobby, now. No longer bitterness to it, even though LDS people put me through many losses. The time I have spent studying the problem shouldn’t go to waste, you know. 😃
 
I am not and never have been LDS, RLDS, OR FLDS. The story is much too involved to explain here. Actually I have moved on. As you know, geography helps. I am enjoying this as a hobby, now. No longer bitterness to it, even though LDS people put me through many losses. The time I have spent studying the problem shouldn’t go to waste, you know. 😃
Hey, I agree. I like the fact that you talk about it and criticize it. I do that too. Criticism is the only thing that’s going to lead to a better expression of spirituality.

I really don’t think you should hang out on that exmormon board (for the same reasons I don’t think anyone should hang out on that madb forum). Life is much better when the big picture is in focus.
 
That makes you just an “ex-Mormon” then I guess.

zerinus
I still have a temple recommend, but I appreciate being “excommunicated” on an internet bulletin board.

You shouldn’t take any of that religious hogwash too seriously, Brother Zerinus. There’s nothing to it. Use Mormonism to better your life here, and to make the world a better place for others.
 
I really don’t think you should hang out on that exmormon board (for the same reasons I don’t think anyone should hang out on that madb forum). Life is much better when the big picture is in focus.
Yeah, I lurk at MADB still, but don’t post. Who knows what the Danites among them will do? 😃

Exmo-- I mostly lurk, occasionally post. It isn’t as bitter as it used to be. I think they got hold of amazon.com/When-God-Becomes-Drug-Booth/dp/0874777038#CustomerDiscussions
 
I still have a temple recommend
That proves your extreme dishonesty. You could have only obtained that by lying through your teeth to your bishop and stake president. Not a good character to emulate.

zerinus
 
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