FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Difference between revisions of "Jesus Christ/Conception"
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==Criticism== | ==Criticism== | ||
| − | + | Critics claim that Latter-day Saints believe Jesus was conceived through sexual intercourse between God the Father and Mary. As evidence they point to a handful statements from early LDS leaders that directly or indirectly say so. | |
| − | + | <!-- | |
===Source(s) of the Criticism=== | ===Source(s) of the Criticism=== | ||
* | * | ||
| + | --> | ||
| + | ==Response== | ||
| + | Latter-day Saints believe in the virgin birth. | ||
| + | |||
| + | At the annunciation, Mary questioned the angel about how she could bear a child: "How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?" ([http://scriptures.lds.org/luke/1/34#34 Luke 1:34]; the expression "know" in the Greek text is a euphemism for sexual relations). Nephi likewise described Mary as a virgin ([http://scriptures.lds.org/1_ne/11/13-20#13 1 Nephi 11:13-20]), as did Alma<sup>1</sup> ([http://scriptures.lds.org/alma/7/10#10 Alma 7:10]). | ||
| + | |||
| + | Latter-day Saints believe Jesus was the Only Begotten of the Father in the flesh (e.g., [http://scriptures.lds.org/2_ne/25/12#12 2 Nephi 25:12]; [http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/93/11#11 D&C 93:11]). He was literally the Son of God, not the son of Joseph or even the son of the Holy Ghost. | ||
| − | + | What the Church has not taken a position on is ''how'' the conception took place. The scriptures are silent on the issue—even Nephi's detailed vision of then-future Messiah is veiled during the part where Mary conceives ([http://scriptures.lds.org/1_ne/11/19#19 1 Nephi 11:19]). | |
| − | The | + | |
| + | With the scriptures quiet on this issue, some early leaders of the Church felt free to express their beliefs on how the conception took place. For example, Brigham Young said the following in a discourse given 8 July 1860: | ||
| + | |||
| + | :"...[T]here is no act, no principle, no power belonging to the Deity that is not purely philosophical. The birth of the Saviour was as natural as are the births of our children; it was the result of natural action. He partook of flesh and blood—was begotten of his Father, as we were of our fathers." <small>—''Journal of Discourses'' 8:115 (cf. 1:238; 4:218; 11:268).</small> | ||
| + | |||
| + | But are these types of statements official Church doctrine, required for all believing Latter-day Saints to accept? '''''No'''''—they were never submitted to the Church for ratification or canonization. (See [[General authorities' statements as scripture]].) | ||
| + | |||
| + | It is possible that Brigham Young was correct, but it doesn't necessarily follow that the conception ''had'' to come about as the result of a sexual union. Science has discovered alternative methods of conceiving children that don't involve sex, so it is certainly not outside of God's power to conceive Christ by other means. | ||
==Conclusion== | ==Conclusion== | ||
| − | + | Critics of the Church like to dig up quotes like the one above for their shock value, but such statements—whether true or not—do not represent the official doctrine of the Church. | |
| − | |||
==Further reading== | ==Further reading== | ||
===FAIR wiki articles=== | ===FAIR wiki articles=== | ||
| − | * | + | *[[General authorities' statements as scripture]] |
===FAIR web site=== | ===FAIR web site=== | ||
| − | *FAIR Topical Guide: | + | *FAIR Topical Guide: [http://www.fairlds.org/apol/ai226.html Virgin Birth] |
* Gary Bowler, [http://www.fairlds.org/apol/brochures/GodMary.pdf "Does The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Teach That God Had Sex with Mary?]," FAIR brochure | * Gary Bowler, [http://www.fairlds.org/apol/brochures/GodMary.pdf "Does The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Teach That God Had Sex with Mary?]," FAIR brochure | ||
| − | + | <!-- | |
===External links=== | ===External links=== | ||
*Links to external web pages | *Links to external web pages | ||
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===Printed material=== | ===Printed material=== | ||
*Printed resources whose text is not available online | *Printed resources whose text is not available online | ||
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Revision as of 16:23, 6 November 2005
This article is a draft. FairMormon editors are currently editing it. We welcome your suggestions on improving the content.
Contents
Criticism
Critics claim that Latter-day Saints believe Jesus was conceived through sexual intercourse between God the Father and Mary. As evidence they point to a handful statements from early LDS leaders that directly or indirectly say so.
Response
Latter-day Saints believe in the virgin birth.
At the annunciation, Mary questioned the angel about how she could bear a child: "How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?" (Luke 1:34; the expression "know" in the Greek text is a euphemism for sexual relations). Nephi likewise described Mary as a virgin (1 Nephi 11:13-20), as did Alma1 (Alma 7:10).
Latter-day Saints believe Jesus was the Only Begotten of the Father in the flesh (e.g., 2 Nephi 25:12; D&C 93:11). He was literally the Son of God, not the son of Joseph or even the son of the Holy Ghost.
What the Church has not taken a position on is how the conception took place. The scriptures are silent on the issue—even Nephi's detailed vision of then-future Messiah is veiled during the part where Mary conceives (1 Nephi 11:19).
With the scriptures quiet on this issue, some early leaders of the Church felt free to express their beliefs on how the conception took place. For example, Brigham Young said the following in a discourse given 8 July 1860:
- "...[T]here is no act, no principle, no power belonging to the Deity that is not purely philosophical. The birth of the Saviour was as natural as are the births of our children; it was the result of natural action. He partook of flesh and blood—was begotten of his Father, as we were of our fathers." —Journal of Discourses 8:115 (cf. 1:238; 4:218; 11:268).
But are these types of statements official Church doctrine, required for all believing Latter-day Saints to accept? No—they were never submitted to the Church for ratification or canonization. (See General authorities' statements as scripture.)
It is possible that Brigham Young was correct, but it doesn't necessarily follow that the conception had to come about as the result of a sexual union. Science has discovered alternative methods of conceiving children that don't involve sex, so it is certainly not outside of God's power to conceive Christ by other means.
Conclusion
Critics of the Church like to dig up quotes like the one above for their shock value, but such statements—whether true or not—do not represent the official doctrine of the Church.
Further reading
FAIR wiki articles
FAIR web site
- FAIR Topical Guide: Virgin Birth
- Gary Bowler, "Does The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Teach That God Had Sex with Mary?," FAIR brochure