O My Father (hymn)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

O My Father is a Latter-day Saint (LDS or Mormon) hymn written by Eliza R. Snow who felt inspired to write it after Joseph Smith, Jr. had taught her the principle of heavenly parents. Interesting in terms of Mormon theology in that it is the one of the few authoritative references to the "Heavenly Mother", who is assumed to exist but remains otherwise officially unacknowledged.

After discussing pre-mortal existence and a sense of belonging to "a more exalted sphere" in heaven, stanza three reasons that the if there is an eternal Father there must also be an eternal Mother:

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.

The Times and Seasons first published the words 15 November 1845, more than a year after Joseph Smith, Jr. was killed. The poetry was later set to music and included in Latter-day Saint hymnals (including the current one).