Did we exist before our birth?

[Kepha15]

I’m currently in a conversation with a Mormon who says human beings existed in a spiritual state with God prior to physical conception. I know the Catholic Church doesn’t believe this, but I’m having trouble coming up with a response, especially one that’s scripture-based. All I can think of is Jeremiah 1:5: “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.” But that kinda seems to support the Mormon position, not the Catholic. Does anyone have any ideas?

 

[Dorothy]

I’m currently in a conversation with a Mormon who says human beings existed in a spiritual state with God prior to physical conception. I know the Catholic Church doesn’t believe this, but I’m having trouble coming up with a response, especially one that’s scripture-based. All I can think of is Jeremiah 1:5: “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.” But that kinda seems to support the Mormon position, not the Catholic. Does anyone have any ideas?

The Scripture that you mentioned serves to show that we were in the mind of God before our birth - not that our spirits already existed.

The Good Lord knew when he wanted us to be born.

 

[followingtheway]

That doesn’t support the Mormon position at all. God knows everything doesn’t He? So He knows the future and therefore he knew you before you were even born, as in He knows who you were.

 

[Bearontherun]

As was said, we are in the mind of God before our parents conceive us.

I heard Father Mitch Pacwa on the radio the other day and he said that we come into being at the moment of conception. Before that, we exist only in the mind of God.

 

[Matthewmatt]

Thats a good question i cant think of anything but a good idea would be to instead of saying where the Bible says that we dont exsist before Conception ask the mormon where in the Bible does it say that we were here before conception? if he says well the book of mormon than you could talk about the contradictions of the book of mormon and how it is not Inspired.

Maybe you could talk about how Christ did exsist before He was born but He was special becasue He is God He has a Divine Nature and a Human one while we only have a Human Nature with a Soul. Also if Our souls were here before conception then why dont we remember any of it or anything like that. Im sure Christ did. Thats how He can so wise talking to the men in the Temple in the Gospel of Luke

Good luck and may the Holy Spirit speak for You !!!

 

[yablabo]

I’m currently in a conversation with a Mormon who says human beings existed in a spiritual state with God prior to physical conception. I know the Catholic Church doesn’t believe this, but I’m having trouble coming up with a response, especially one that’s scripture-based. All I can think of is Jeremiah 1:5: “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.” But that kinda seems to support the Mormon position, not the Catholic. Does anyone have any ideas?

If he asserts the positive, the burden of proof is in his court. Ask him to put forth evidence supporting his position and the logic which connects the evidence concluding the proof.

– Nicole

 

[haroldcrews]

God exists beyond time. He is present in every moment in every place. It is part of God’s plan that parents participate in the creation of children. It is a failing of human language to say that God knows us ‘before’ our conception. I suspect this understanding of God’s knowledge of us prior to conception on the part of Mormon’s originates from their very different concept of God. God in Mormon theology does not exist beyond time and is himself a creature.