In 1845, Eliza R. Snow wrote the words of this poem, which she titled My Father in Heaven.
—
O my Father, thou that dwellest
In the high and glorious place,
When shall I regain thy presence
And again behold thy face?
In thy holy habitation,
Did my spirit once reside?
In my first primeval childhood
Was I nurtured near thy side?
For a wise and glorious purpose
Thou hast placed me here on earth
And withheld the recollection
Of my former friends and birth;
Yet ofttimes a secret something
Whispered, “You’re a stranger here,”
And I felt that I had wandered
From a more exalted sphere.
I had learned to call thee Father,
Thru 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.
When I leave this frail existence,
When I lay this mortal by,
Father, Mother, may I meet you
In your royal courts on high?
Then, at length, when I’ve completed
All you sent me forth to do,
With your mutual approbation
Let me come and dwell with you.
Eliza R. Snow, 1804–1887
—
Eliza was reflecting on things she had learned from Joseph Smith, including distinctive truths of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ:
- Our spirits lived in a pre-earth existence before birth.
- All are beloved spirit children of a Heaven Father and Heavenly Mother.1
- The purpose of life is a wise and glorious purpose or plan. It included leaving our Heavenly home to gain experiences and accomplish specific work.
- The longings of the human heart for belonging, love, and something more – are related to our nature as children of God.
- It is our goal to someday return to our Heavenly Home, having completed all we were sent to learn and do, and enjoy the approval and presence of our Heavenly parents.
- God sent His firstborn spirit Son, Jesus Christ, to make possible our safe return to their presence and their approval. Because of His gift, we can be healed from life’s wounds, forgiven of mistakes, and choose the kind of life that we really want.
These truths are treasures. Knowing them changes everything.
On the Path of Life... 