Are We Creating Heavenly Mother in Our Image? (Ft. Amanda Freebairn)

In this episode of Women of Ward Radio, We welcome Amanda Freebairn—associate editor at Public Square Magazine and a special education teacher—for a candid, thoughtful conversation about the doctrine of Heavenly Mother. Drawing from her recent article, “Are We Rewriting Heavenly Mother to Fit Our Own Beliefs?,” Amanda joins the panel to explore how personal desires, cultural pressures, and faith crises can shape the way Latter-day Saints think about divine motherhood.

Amanda shares her personal journey of conversion, inactivity, and return to faith, which led her to write openly about difficult but important questions that affect women in the Church. Together with the hosts, she examines the risks of projecting modern ideals onto Heavenly Mother, the importance of doctrinal unity between Heavenly Parents, and the humility required to stay within the bounds of revealed truth. The discussion touches on feminist critiques, spiritual yearning, and the common tendency to make God in our own image—all while pointing listeners back to scripture, revelation, and the gospel framework.

This heartfelt conversation blends theology with personal experience, offering a safe space for women and men alike to wrestle with questions of faith while staying anchored in what has been revealed. Ultimately, it is an invitation to seek with both honesty and reverence, trusting that the reality of Heavenly Mother will be revealed in God’s time.

VIDEO CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction
04:00 Life-Changing Temple Visit
07:44 Heavenly Parents' Parallel with Earthly Parents
12:57 Heavenly Mother: Contrasting Perspectives
16:04 "Heavenly Mother's Perceived Identity"
19:01 "Seeking Connection with Heavenly Mother"
21:32 Visibility and Validation for Women
25:45 "Divine Relationship Insights"
27:48 Christian Unity and Heavenly Mother
31:09 "Worship: Choice and Consequence"
35:05 Matrix Moment: Questioning Reality
36:06 "Two Trees: Speculative Theology Talk"
40:31 Future Trends in Gospel Interpretation
42:27 "Gospel Focus Over Distractions"
47:26 Seeking Guidance Beyond Prayer
51:16 "Embracing Femininity and Spirituality"
54:02 Women's Church History Resources
56:20 "Remember Me: A Tearful Farewell"