176. The Cherished Doctrine of Heavenly Mother — A Conversation with McArthur Krishna and Michal Thomas
Jul 22, 2023
01:03:31
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
auto_awesome
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
Embracing personal experiences with Heavenly Mother breaks long-held taboos and fosters a deeper connection with the divine feminine.
Recognizing the diverse ways individuals can connect with Heavenly Mother beyond traditional practices empowers women to embrace their own divinity.
Advocating for an inclusive approach in activism within the Church balances sharing innovative ideas while respecting leadership directives.
Deep dives
MacArthur Krishna and Michael Thomas Discuss 'Cherish, the Joy of Our Mother in Heaven'
MacArthur Krishna and Michael Thomas join to discuss their book, 'Cherish, the Joy of Our Mother in Heaven,' which delves into the concept of Heavenly Mother in Latter-day Saints' belief. They mention Elder Dale G. Renland's 2022 address on Heavenly Mother, breaking the taboo of not discussing her. MacArthur highlights the need to share personal experiences of divine connections with Heavenly Mother, emphasizing the importance of understanding women's nature through her. The book, inspired by personal stories, provides diverse perspectives on what Heavenly Mother symbolizes.
Understanding the Genesis of 'Cherish' Book
The genesis of the book 'Cherish, the Joy of Our Mother in Heaven' stemmed from a need to amplify individual experiences with Heavenly Mother after years of silence. MacArthur Krishna and Ashley Carcinelli felt prompted to create a collection of writings, art, and poetry that celebrate the doctrine of a Heavenly Mother. Through a collaborative effort with various contributors, the book aims to shed light on the profound personal significance of connecting with the divine feminine.
Challenging Taboos and Embracing Doctrine through 'Cherish'
The book 'Cherish, the Joy of Our Mother in Heaven' challenges long-held taboos surrounding Heavenly Mother by aligning personal stories with the doctrine from the Church's Gospel Topics essay. It encourages individuals, especially women, to explore their relationship with Heavenly Mother in a Sunday school-style format. By emphasizing that the love and joy derived from understanding Heavenly Mother's nature can empower women to embrace their own divinity, 'Cherish' serves as a testament to the importance of recognizing and celebrating the divine feminine presence.
Connecting with Heavenly Mother through various avenues
The podcast discussion emphasizes the diverse ways individuals can connect with Heavenly Mother beyond traditional prayer, drawing parallels between earthly and heavenly maternal relationships. By sharing personal anecdotes and experiences, the speakers highlight the importance of seeking a connection with Heavenly Mother through activities that resonate individually, such as cooking, art, and creativity. This approach underscores the infinite possibilities for connection with Heavenly Mother, going beyond conventional prayer to embrace personal, meaningful interactions.
Balancing activism and respecting leadership within the Church
The episode delves into the concept of activism within the context of the Church, exploring the balance between sharing innovative ideas and respecting leadership directives. Through personal reflections and historical examples, the speakers navigate the nuanced terrain of contributing ideas while honoring the authority of church leadership. They advocate for an inclusive approach, recognizing the importance of being spirit-led and contributing positively to the Church's growth and development, emphasizing collaboration and stewardship in prompting positive change within the community.
The Gospel Topics essay titled “Mother in Heaven,” on churchofjesuschrist.org states “The doctrine of a Heavenly Mother is a cherished and distinctive belief among Latter-day Saints.”
It’s with this in mind that three Latter-day Saint women — McArthur Krishna, Ashli Carnicelli, and Trina Caudle, have curated a new collection of writing, poetry, and art called Cherish: The Joy of Our Mother in Heaven.
We were lucky enough to bring McArthur on, along with another one of the book’s contributors, Michal Thomas. We thought that those two women were the perfect pair to come on and speak with us.
Among the subjects we discussed was Elder Dale G. Renlund’s April 2022 General Conference address on the subject of Heavenly Mother — McArthur described the joy she felt when she heard Elder Renlund address the topic in General Conference, in her mind, effectively ending the speculative taboo that Church members shouldn’t even talk about Heavenly Mother. Of course, Elder Renlund did call for an end to “speculation” about Heavenly Mother, and McArthur and Michal fully endorse that idea. As McArthur explains in the episode, it appears that it was unfounded “speculation” by a seminary teacher that led to the half-century-plus “sacred silence” around Heavenly Mother.
These two emphasize that there is so much we can do with our existing beautiful doctrine; everyone should be able to see deity in their own image, and women, in particular, can better understand their own nature by understanding the nature of a Mother in Heaven. And because Heavenly Mother is infinite, there are infinite ways to connect with Her. McArthur and Michal explore that in this conversation, and of course, this new book is a great example of how many are doing it.
We’re really grateful to McArthur and Michal for coming on and having this discussion with us. You can find this new book, Cherish, on Amazon.
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
