I had learned to call thee Father,
Thru thy Spirit from on high,
But until the key of knowledge
Was restored, I knew not why.  
In the heav’ns are parents single? 
No, the thought makes reason stare! 
Truth is reason; truth eternal
Tells me I’ve a mother there.  

When I leave this frail existence,
When I lay this mortal by, 
Father, Mother, may I meet you
In your royal courts on high?
Then, at length, when I’ve completed
All you sent me forth to do,    
With your mutual approbation
Let me come and dwell with you.

O My Father, traditional Mormon hymn written by Eliza R. Snow 
(stanzas 3 and 4–emphasis added)

Since the time of Joseph Smith, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) has taught that all humans are literal sons and daughters of the Heavenly Father. It asserts we were the literal offspring of God in a pre-earth state before we were born of earthly parents on earth. This corresponds with LDS teachings about the nature of God as an exalted man of flesh and bone and that we are his progeny.

What this implies, and what the LDS has always quietly acknowledged, is that we also have a Heavenly Mother. That is, if we are the offspring of a god of flesh and bone then he must have a consort to carry his children until their births. The Heavenly Father and Mother, thus, are our Heavenly Parents. 

A curious aspect of this doctrine is how the LDS almost never makes mention of the Heavenly Mother. Except for a few inconspicuous references like the one above, she is virtually ignored. That seems shamefully inconsiderate. We would never treat our earthly mother that way.

Nonetheless, it has not gotten any better for our Heavenly mom. Since 1978 the LDS has published a basic doctrinal study manual titled Gospel Principles. It recently released a new 2009 edition.  Our friends at Mormonism Research Ministry have carefully examined the newest edition and have discovered that it contains dozens of major revisions from earlier ones (the last revised edition was in 1997–still available online at http://www.lds.org/library/display/0,4945,11-1-13-1,00.html ). Among the numerous 2009 changes is that it obscures even more the existence of the Heavenly Mother. In several places it speaks vaguely of our “heavenly parents” (Father and Mother), but far less so than in the past. In several places “heavenly parents” has been altered to simply “Heavenly Father” (see MRM’s analysis at http://www.mrm.org/gospel-principles).

All this, of course, is reflective of the serious theological deviations of Mormonism. The notions that God is a man, has a physical body, fathers children, and has a wife (or wives) are without any biblical foundation. The LDS grossly distorts the scriptural teachings on the spiritual, eternal, and infinite nature of God. It also totally misconstrues Jesus’ and our relationship to the “Father."

Do these subtle changes in its primary text book mean the LDS has changed its doctrines and is becoming more orthodox? In the words of Kevin in Home Alone, “I don’t think so.”  What it does reveal is that the LDS is far more conscientious about its reputation as a counterfeit cult and wants to be perceived as an authentic Christian movement. In recent years the LDS has increasingly obscured many of its bizarre teachings and shifted to using more mainline Christian terminology. It would be naïve, however, to assume that this indicates a genuine shift in theological positions among the leaders and committed members of the LDS. Though they may not say much about her, and never talk to her, they still remember Mama.