I wrote a painful post using a horrible, hackneyed metaphor about God as an artist. Now it is gone, thank goodness, and instead I just want to ask a few questions.

In Doctrine and Covenants, God says, “It is not meet that I should command in all things.”

Joseph Smith said, “I teach the people correct principles and let them govern themselves.”

It seems to me that the implications in these two statements should be central in working towards what Mormons believe is God’s ultimate goal for us: to learn everything God has to teach. Yet self-governance and acting on one’s own are not common subject matter at church. Instead it’s obey obey follow obey, when you’re happy, when you’re sad, when you don’t understand. Got a question? Ultimately, obedience is the answer.

Who does God obey?

Who was there by God’s side every step of the way, instructing God in every aspect of life until finally, the last instruction was checked off, and through obedience, God became God?

If this process sounds shallow and simplistic compared to the depth and intelligence we envision in the supreme beings we call Parents, how is it going to improve humanity?

What if there’s something about the process of becoming better that requires more than the ability to do as we’re told?

Can we talk about it?

 

 

Heidi Doggett graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor of Arts in Theater and a minor in Anthropology. She dedicates much of her time to research and writing on the women's topics and the LDS church, as well as running her blog No Dead Beetles and leading forums and workshops to discuss parenting and life balance issues. She lives in California with her spouse and two children.

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