User:Marsbell/Gender of God

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Unlike many other sects of Christianity, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) doctrine teaches that God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are three distinct and separate beings. LDS God has a physical body, and thus is not only identified as being a man, but has a physical sex, that being male. The same is for Jesus, God’s son, but not for the Holy Spirit, which has a spiritual form. God is also married to the Heavenly Mother. It is unknown if she has a physical body or defined sex like God. However, she is identified as the “mother” and uses she/her pronouns, so it can be assumed that she is viewed as a woman or womanly figure in opposition to God’s male figure. LDS believers do not pray to the Heavenly Mother, as God is the one who hears and answers prayers. However, those who view the Heavenly Mother as part of the Godhead risk excommunication, even though the LDS website claims that they honor her Godhood. It should also be noted that the Heavenly Mother’s exact role is unknown. For example, it is unknown if she is an equal partner to God, also partaking in creation, or if she reflect a human woman’s role to a human man’s, that of submission. The LDS believe that redeemed humans can ascend to godhood, which is what Jesus did.