Mormon beliefs on the conception of Christ ??????

[CJ_Nick]

Good afternoon all,

I was visiting another reliogion site ( LDS.NET ) and ran into a thread that was, to me being Catholic, very disturbing.

At any rate the thread was titled " the conception of Christ " and the answers from LDS members seem to vary across the entire spectrum. I was wondering if anyone on this site ( LDS or not ) could lend me some of their perspectives on this.

Does LDS doctrine teach that God had physical relations with Mary??

Did or do some LDS prophets ( past or present ) teach this??? If so can you direct me to where I can find this??

Thanks in advance for any contributions.

Peace,
CJ

 

[ParkerD]

Here is the best LDS writing I have seen on this subject. It is by a prophet named Nephi:

1 Nephi 11:13 And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the great city of Jerusalem, and also other cities. And I beheld the city of Nazareth; and in the city of Nazareth I beheld a virgin, and she was exceedingly fair and white.
14 And it came to pass that I saw the heavens open; and an angel came down and stood before me; and he said unto me: Nephi, what beholdest thou?
15 And I said unto him: A virgin, most beautiful and fair above all other virgins.
16 And he said unto me: Knowest thou the condescension of God?
17 And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.
18 And he said unto me: Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is the mother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh.
19 And it came to pass that I beheld that she was carried away in the Spirit; and after she had been carried away in the Spirit for the space of a time the angel spake unto me, saying: Look!
20 And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms.
21 And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father! Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw?
22 And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things.
23 And he spake unto me, saying: Yea, and the most joyous to the soul.
24 And after he had said these words, he said unto me: Look! And I looked, and I beheld the Son of God going forth among the children of men; and I saw many fall down at his feet and worship him.
25 And it came to pass that I beheld that the rod of iron, which my father had seen, was the word of God, which led to the fountain of living waters, or to the tree of life; which waters are a representation of the love of God; and I also beheld that the tree of life was a representation of the love of God.
26 And the angel said unto me again: Look and behold the condescension of God!
27 And I looked and beheld the Redeemer of the world, of whom my father had spoken; and I also beheld the prophet who should prepare the way before him. And the Lamb of God went forth and was baptized of him; and after he was baptized, I beheld the heavens open, and the Holy Ghost come down out of heaven and abide upon him in the form of a dove.

 

[PaulDupre]

See a few sample quotes from the LDS prophets and apostles here and here.

There is much more, but this should suffice for now.

The Mormon leaders have traditionally taught that God the Father (whom they believe is a resurrected human male) had sex with Mary. Many, if not most, Mormons today still believe it, though few will admit as much to non-members. Several LDS on this forum have admitted to this belief. I think that the ones who do not believe it do not really understand or accept the LDS doctrine of eternal progression, for within that context the belief makes perfect sense.

When I was a TBM, I believed it too.

 

[Jerusha]

And he said unto me: Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is the mother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh

Sure seems to indicate a physical union.

 

[Earnest_Bunbury]

A very compelling case for the need, and an advocacy for, the Magisterium. As is the doctrinal “sand” of those in the non-Catholic world. “I believe it because it’s absurd” takes you away from the truth into things like the “Church of the Sub-Genius” with their being “saved” by aliens on “X Day”. An extreme example, but one of importance to the need for the conforming to the truth, not what merely satisfies you.

 

[zerinus]

Good afternoon all,

I was visiting another reliogion site ( LDS.NET ) and ran into a thread that was, to me being Catholic, very disturbing.

At any rate the thread was titled " the conception of Christ " and the answers from LDS members seem to vary across the entire spectrum. I was wondering if anyone on this site ( LDS or not ) could lend me some of their perspectives on this.

Does LDS doctrine teach that God had physical relations with Mary??

No.

Did or do some LDS prophets ( past or present ) teach this??? If so can you direct me to where I can find this??

Some in the past have taught it; but it is not a doctrine taught in the scriptural canon of the Church, and it was never adopted as the official doctrine of the Church.

zerinus

 

[Chris_LaRock]

Brigham Young denied His conception by way of the Holy Spirit, in direct conflict with what the Gospels themselves state. He taught that a literal sexual conception occured between God in a physical body and Mary.

I don’t remember the citation for this, but Brigham Young published it in one of the early LDS publications.

 

[zerinus]

Brigham Young denied His conception by way of the Holy Spirit, in direct conflict with what the Gospels themselves state. He taught that a literal sexual conception occured between God in a physical body and Mary.

I don’t remember the citation for this, but Brigham Young published it in one of the early LDS publications.

I believe this is the passage you are referring to:

When the Virgin Mary conceived the child Jesus, the Father had begotten him in his own likeness. He was not begotten by the Holy Ghost (Journal of Discourses, Vol.1, p.50). Source.

Well that is correct. Jesus Christ was the Son of God the Father; He was not the Son of the Holy Ghost.

zerinus

 

[Chris_LaRock]

I believe this is the passage you are referring to:

When the Virgin Mary conceived the child Jesus, the Father had begotten him in his own likeness. He was not begotten by the Holy Ghost (Journal of Discourses, Vol.1, p.50). Source.

Well that is correct. Jesus Christ was the Son of God the Father; He was not the Son of the Holy Ghost.

zerinus

Mat 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

Mat 1:20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

Brigham Young went on to say that a physical act of sex took place between God and Mary to conceive Jesus. The traditional Christian teaching never claimed Jesus was the Son of the Holy Spirit. Just that His conception was a direct act of creation by way of the Holy Spirit.