Janice Merrill Allred (born in 1947) is an excommunicated Latter Day Saint, theologian, writer, and Mormon feminist. She was born in Mesa, Arizona. [1]
Allred holds a B.A. in English from Brigham Young University (BYU), and some of her writings have been collected in God the Mother, and Other Theological Essays (Signature Books: 1997). She began her studies of the Mother in Heaven concept in 1991. [1] Her writings have been viewed as controversial by leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church); meetings with local leadership regarding her work began in November 1992. In 1993, the LDS Church disciplined six prominent writers; Allred had collaborated with several of these including Lavina Fielding Anderson, Lynne Whitesides (who was president of the Mormon Women's Forum while Allred was vice-president), and brother-in-law Paul Toscano. Allred was in Mexico City at the time, but faced a series of disciplinary councils on her return to Utah. Though her work had been criticized by church president Gordon B. Hinckley, [2] Allred was initially placed on probation (a temporary and relatively minor punishment) in October 1994. However, after lengthy proceedings, a second disciplinary council found her guilty of apostasy and excommunicated her on May 9, 1995. [3] [4]
In addition to her theological work, Allred has criticized the LDS Church for alleged instances of child abuse. [4]
Allred is married to BYU physicist David Allred, and is the mother of nine children. [1] She is the sister of fellow LDS theologian and excommunicant Margaret Toscano. [4]