"MOTHERHOOD OF GOD."

The revival among Western nations of a belief in the very ancient doctrine of the feminine element in the Deity, is the subject of an article in a late number of the Literary Digest. In this it is pointed out that the primitive belief of the Hebrews contained the idea of the dual nature of the Godhead; that this feminine element, which of course has been recognized in almost all the great religions of the world, ancient and modern, is believed by some to have been existent in the earlier conception of the Christian trinity, in which the Holy Spirit represented the Divine Woman of the deific family; and that those who accept this view find in the high reverence pad to the Virgin throughout the greater part of Christendom in all ages, an indication tat the religious instinct can not permanently dispense with a feminine conception of the divine nature as an object of worship. The Literary Digest then goes on to say:

"In this century several non-Catholic sects among them the 'Mormons,' the Shakers, and, most recent of all, the Christian Scientists, have formulated the doctrine of the Motherhood of God."

In so far as there is any implication that the "Mormons" believe that woman is one of the Divine Trinity, the expression quoted is an error. But as to the idea that woman held an exalted sphere in the spiritual existence, and will do so in the future, as well as she does in the more enlightened conditions of the present, the "Mormons" hold emphatically favorably views tersely expressed in the Mosaic account of the creation: "So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them." it is not woman in the Godhead; that is a quorum of Divine personages who preside over or control the destinies of the universe—the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. But it is woman in the family relation, in sacred eternal union—that, as God holds the relation of father, so is there the personal relationship of the feminine as mother—the motherhood of God as described in the quotation from Genesis.

The elimination of the idea among believers in Christianity if woman in holy relationship with the first person in the Godhead is so out of harmony with reason and with scripture, that it is inexplicable except when taken in connection with that other fallacy that God is without "body, parts or passions," and therefore is neither male nor female. But as the albeit many mistaken ideas may be substituted by those who are unwilling to accept modern revelation in declaring the truth. But the evolution of the world's best thought is being brought by the divine Power nearer to "Mormon" doctrine of all lines and with regard to the motherhood of God this is well expressed in the "Mormon" hymn:

"I had learned to call Thee Father,

Through Thy Spirit from on high;

But until the key of knowledge

Was restored, I knew not why.

In the heavens are parents single?

No; the thought makes reason stare!

Truth is reason; truth eternal

Tells me I've a mother there."

—Deseret News