Picture of Redwood Trees in Muir Woods National Monument, Mill Valley, CA
Author’s Note: I wrote this poem ~10 years ago as a thought experiment – inspired by the A Mother Here Art and Poetry Contest and the then recently published multiple accounts of the First Vision. I submitted it to A Mother Here but it was not chosen. I never submitted it elsewhere although friends encouraged me to when I verbally shared it. The concept of seeing God the Mother seemed radical when I wrote the poem, but I don’t consider it so now. I have been reminded of the poem in the context of the Come Follow Me curriculum and discussions online of the First Vision. I am thus publishing it now on the Exponent blog to add to the dialogue and envision more to the story.
First Vision
Brightness and glory defy all description.
Seeking, pleading for redemption, to overcome the darkness,
to know the truth, a child was bestowed mercy, enwrapped
in a pillar of light, of fire, a personage, then another.
The Father and the Mother? Was She there with Him?
Side by side, hands joined in unison, proclaiming
“This is Our Beloved Son, Hear Him”
How could Joseph not see Her?
Standing, dancing, above him in the air, smiling,
fingers intertwined with Heavenly Father’s, robes flowing together.
Overwhelmed, perhaps, seeing God as one –
as they were in purpose, might, and glory.
Overwhelmed, with the answer to his prayer,
receiving forgiveness of his sins, meeting his Savior.
But how could he forget Her smile?
Her white hair above the brightness of the sun.
Was the Mother lost in retelling the story?
The details change after all.
Variation in retelling is not fabrication,
to the contrary, it expands our vision.
She must have been there –
In a quiet grove of trees, a light descended
like a pillar of fire, two personages appeared
whose brightness and glory defy all description.
3 Responses
This is lovely. I’m so glad you posted it. Someone once pointed out to me that in Joseph’s account of the first vision, God is not gendered. Joseph went looking for “the Lord”, and I think sometimes we only see what we are looking for.
I see the feminine divine in the trees too. I think you’d like this post I wrote a while back:
https://exponentii.org/blog/do-we-believe-in-sacred-groves/
Beautiful poem. I love the thought of Her being there.
This is such a beautiful poem– thank you for sharing! I have thought about this throughout my adulthood, and it’s always so comforting to know others do, too..
I have a wonderful, scriptorian aunt who is also been a seminary, institute teacher, CES speaker, tour guide in Jerusalem, etc. She is the one who pointed out to me, “When you read/hear that Jesus was on the right hand of Heavenly Father, who do you think was on his left side?”