~~  "As Man is, God Once Was. As God Is, Man May Become"  ~~

God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? (Num. 23:19)

God's Word tells us very clearly here that God the Father is not a man, and neither a son (small s) of man, meaning he was never born! Only God has this ability to not lie and no need for repentance, and if he was ever a man, he would have a need to repent.

As God Is, Man May Become?
By Bill McKeever

Although it is not found in any of Mormonism's Standard Works, an expression which precisely defines the LDS teaching that men can become Gods was coined by fifth LDS President Lorenzo Snow. In June of 1840, Snow declared, "As man is, God once was; as God is, man may become." Besides correctly illustrating the Latter-day Saint teaching that God was once a mere mortal man, this couplet also declares that man has the potential to become God! According to LDS theology, eternal life is synonymous with godhood. In the words of LDS Apostle Bruce McConkie, "Thus those who gain eternal life receive exaltation ... They are gods." (Mormon Doctrine, pg. 237).

On page 115 of his book entitled The Gospel Through the Ages, LDS Seventy Milton R. Hunter wrote, "No prophet of record gave more complete and forceful explanations of the doctrine that men may become Gods than did the American Prophet." If eventual Godhood was such a common teaching among early Christians (as Mormons insist), why do we have to go to Joseph Smith to find out about it? If there was indeed a cover-up, it was surely one of unbelievable magnitude.

Though some Mormons, ignorant of their faith, may argue Godhood is not a teaching peculiar to Mormonism, history proves that it indeed was and is. Both the "Journal of Discourses" (JOD) and the "Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith" (TPJS) record that, on April 6, 1844, LDS Church founder Joseph Smith preached to a congregation of 20,000 saying, "Here then is eternal life - to know the only wise and true God; and you have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God the same as all Gods have done before you" (JOD 6:4; TPJS p.346). Brigham Young, the second prophet and president of the Mormon Church, delivered a message in the Salt Lake Tabernacle on August 8, 1852, in which he affirmed this teaching when he said, "The Lord created you and me for the purpose of becoming Gods like Himself" (JOD 3:93).

Biblical Denial

History does bear record to people wishing to become Gods; however, one would be hard-pressed to find a biblical basis for this teaching. Isaiah 43:10 makes it clear that no man, Mormon included, will ever attain Godhood for it says, "I am He; before Me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after Me."

Regardless of what Joseph Smith and other Mormon leaders have said about men passing on to Godhood, the fact remains that the God of the Bible, who is all knowing, says He knows of no other Gods (Isaiah 44:8). Surely this should prove that no mortal has ever attained Godhood; not Joseph Smith, not Brigham Young, no one!

The God of the Bible adamantly declares that He is the first and the last. From eternity past to eternity future, there will never be a true God besides the one God as presented in the Bible (Isaiah 45:5).

Mormon Rebuttal

Mormons will often use verses such as John 10:34 to counter these biblical truths. Here Jesus stands at the famous "porch of Solomon" and responds to the blindness of the religious leaders of his day. He rebukes their unbelief by quoting from Psalm 82:6 which reads, "I have said, Ye are gods." Some Mormons have interpreted this to mean Jesus Himself said that men could one day attain the level of deity. The problem with such an interpretation is that Jesus does not say, "Ye can become Gods." The text reads, "Ye are Gods." Not even Mormons believe that they are Gods right now. At best they are what many LDS leaders have called, "gods in embryo" (The Miracle of Forgiveness, p.286). Successfully interpreting this passage lies in figuring out what the word "gods" means. Fortunately, we can discover this by the Bible itself.

When Psalm 82 is examined, it is not hard to see that this short psalm of Asaph is actually a word of rebuke. While Mormons are quick to quote verse six, they fail to include verse seven which states that the gods of verse six "shall die like men." If gods can die, then eternal life, as defined by Mormonism, is not very eternal.

The gods of Psalm 82 are nothing more than men who, by God's sovereign design, are chosen to rule over other men. In fact, the word "Elohim," used in verse six, is often translated "judges" in the Old Testament. An example of this can be found in Exodus 21:6 where it reads, "Then his master shall bring him unto the judges [Elohim] ..." Another example is Exodus 22:8 which reads, "If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall be brought unto the judges ..." Again, the Hebrew Elohim is used.

No doubt many Latter-day Saints will look upon this interpretation with suspicion. Should that be the case, one of Mormonism's most respected scholars, Apostle James Talmage, should be quoted. In his book "Jesus The Christ," Talmage agreed that Jesus was referring to divinely appointed judges when he wrote, "Divinely Appointed Judges Called 'gods.' In Psalm 82:6, judges invested by divine appointment are called 'gods.' To this the Savior referred in His reply to the Jews in Solomon's Porch. Judges so authorized officiated as the representatives of God and are honored by the exalted title 'gods'" (pg. 501).

Some Latter-day Saints have used I John 3:2 to support the Mormon claim that men can become Gods. This passage reads, "Beloved, now are ye the sons of God, and it doeth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him." Mormons insist that to be "like Him" means they will have all of the attributes of God Himself. If that is so, does that mean a Mormon will someday become omnipotent? To have more than one omnipotent being defies the very meaning of the word. Furthermore, to draw such a conclusion once again ignores the many passages of the Bible which declare the existence of only one God.

Conclusion

To Mormons who think they will someday become Gods of their own realms, we ask, "Did you make the heavens and the earth?" If not, consider the following passages from Jeremiah 10:10, 11:

"But the Lord is the true God, He is the living God, and an everlasting king: at His wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation. Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens."

If the Lord is the only true God then will you be a false god? If He is the only living God, will you be a dead God? If you hope to become a God but did not make the heavens and the earth, according to the above passages, you can expect to perish. It may be argued that this verse refers to pagan idols. However that may be, let us not forget Psalm 96:5, which says that God considers all the gods of the nations as idols, whether they are hewn from wood, or stone, or "exalted" through good works. All will perish.

Even if Godhood was a biblical possibility, obtaining it according to Mormonism would be in and of itself an impossible feat. According to Bruce McConkie, "... only those who obey the fulness of the gospel law will inherit eternal life" (Mormon Doctrine, pg. 237). It would be safe to say that most Mormons do not even know what the "fulness of gospel law" includes, much less obey it.

The possibility of man becoming divine is a man-made promise that the true God will not honor. It was His plan that we become His children by faith in Jesus Christ, to live with Him throughout eternity as His people (not fellow Gods). In and of ourselves we can do nothing to earn our way there. That debt was paid by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ Himself. Because our good works on their own are like filthy rags in God's sight (Isaiah 64:6), it is imperative that we forsake any such hope of self-exaltation and Godhood and trust in Christ alone for the eternally true salvation that only He can give. Only then will you be able to rejoice at the sight of the new heaven and new earth and hear:

"... a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and He shall be their God." Rev. 21:3

What Does the Bible Say?

The Bible in Matthew 1:20 and Luke 1:35 says that the Holy Ghost came upon Mary, and as a result she conceived our Lord Jesus Christ. The only conclusion reasonably possible is that this was a miraculous event, not a physical one. These verses have:

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. [1 - this is an endnote] (Matthew 1:20)

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:35)

These are a fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14. Interestingly, the Book of Mormon teaches the same idea as in the above two verses:

And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem [2] which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God. (Alma 7:10) [3]

Attributes of God the Father

Does the Mormon Church, in its teaching manuals and in talks and books by its top leaders teach what these three Mormon verses say? It will help in understanding the answer to this question to first know something about the attributes of the Mormon God the Father and Holy Ghost. From the following we learn that God the Father has a body of flesh and bones and has the parts and passions of a man and is a separate God from the Holy Ghost.

The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us. (Doctrine and Covenants 130:22)

I have always declared God to be a distinct personage, Jesus Christ a separate and distinct personage from God the Father, and the Holy Ghost was a distinct personage and a Spirit: and these three constitute three distinct personages and three Gods. If this is in accordance with the New Testament, lo and behold! we have three Gods anyhow, and they are plural; and who can contradict it? (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Edited by Joseph Fielding Smith, p.370, 1976)

From these two references we learn that the Father, Son and Holy Ghost are three distinct personages and are three Gods according to the Mormon Church. The Father is not the Holy Ghost and the Holy Ghost is not the Father. Now let us move on to another set of attributes of the Father.

Our Father in heaven is a personage of tabernacle, just as much as I am who stand before you to­day, and he has all the parts and passions of a perfect man, and his body is composed of flesh and bones, but not of blood. (President Brigham Young, to Sunday School children in Tabernacle, Journal of Discourses, 19:64, July 24, 1877)

The true God exists both in time and in space, and has as much relation to them as man or any other being. He has extension, and form, and dimensions, as well as man. He occupies space; has a body, parts and passions; can go from place to place... ("The Kingdom of God", by Orson Pratt, No. 2, p. 4, October 31, 1848)

Personality of Each Member of the Godhead ­­ From the evidence already presented, it is clear that the Father is a personal being, possessing a definite form, with bodily parts and spiritual passions. (Articles of Faith, by James E. Talmage, p.41, 1968)

For Latter­day Saints, God exists in the normal sense in association with time and space, rather than in the abstract Platonic sense of beyond time and space. The traditional disparagement of matter and of the physical state of being is not well grounded biblically, and Latter­day Saints believe it is a product of hellenistic thought. They also think the concept of a God "without body, parts or passions" dismisses too much of the biblical data or allegorizes it excessively. (Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Vol.1, p. 400, 1992)

Here are a few references showing the error of the teaching of the so­called Christian world, all creeds and denominations, on this point, and proving that God has both body, parts and passions: Gen. 1:26. 5:1 and 9:6. James 3:8­9. Exodus 33:9­23. Numbers 12:7­8. Ex. 20:5. Deut. 4:24. (Church History and Modern Revelation, Joseph Fielding Smith [1876-1972], Vol 1, p.11)

This loving God who introduced his crucified and resurrected Son was not a God lacking in body, parts, or passions ­­ the God of a man­made philosophy. Rather, God our Father has ears with which to hear our prayers. He has eyes with which to see our actions. He has a mouth with which to speak to us. He has a heart with which to feel compassion and love. He is real. He is living. We are his children made in his image. We look like him and he looks like us. (Thomas S. Monson [1927-], Conference Report, April 1966, p.63) [4]

What is Jesus Christ? He is the son of God, and is every way like his father, being "the brightness of his father's glory, and the express image of his person." He is material intelligence, with body, parts and passions; possessing immortal flesh and immortal bones. (The Mormon Doctrine of Deity, by B. H. Roberts [1857-1933], p.256)

What Kind of Being is God?....if you were to see him today, you would see him like a man in form...God is perfect... (Gospel Principles, p. 6 in pre-1986 editions, p. 9 in 1992 edition)

I have provided a broad number of sources over a long time period to show that this teaching about the attributes of the Father and Holy Ghost are not isolated to one time period or to one small group of authors/sources. Do these leave any doubt whatsoever that the Mormon God the Father has a body of flesh and bones with all of the parts and passions of living man? This is important in understanding how the Father uses these attributes as described below.

How Did Mary Conceive Jesus Christ According to the Mormon Church and its Top Leaders?

Now let us see how Father God, according to the Mormon Church, used his parts and passions.

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. And who is the Father?...Now remember from this time forth, and forever, that Jesus Christ was not begotten by the Holy Ghost. I will repeat a little anecdote. I was in conversation with a certain learned professor upon this subject, when I replied, to this idea­­"if the Son was begotten by the Holy Ghost, it would be very dangerous to baptize and confirm females, and give the Holy Ghost to them, lest he should beget children, to be palmed upon the Elders by the people, bringing the Elders into great difficulties." (Journal of Discourses, Brigham Young, 1:51-52, April 9, 1852)

On other occasions Brigham Young said:
 

We first begin to read that Jesus came in the flesh...But suppose I examine that, a moment. The New Testament tells me that the Father gave His only­begotten Son a ransom for the sins of the world. Do you believe that, brother B.? Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the only­begotten Son of the Father? "Yes." Do you believe the Son was begotten by the Father, as the Apostles said he was? Here I shall have to disagree with you, to begin with; for I believe the Father came down from heaven, as the Apostles said he did, [5] and begot the Saviour of the world; for he is the ONLY­begotten of the Father, which could not be if the Father did not actually beget him in person. (Journal of Discourses, Brigham Young, 1:237­238, July 24, 1853) The Being whom we call Father was the Father of the spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ, and he was also his Father pertaining to the flesh. (Journal of Discourses, Brigham Young, 7:286, October 9, 1859) ...The man Joseph, the husband of Mary, did not, that we know of, have more than one wife, but Mary the wife of Joseph had another husband... The very babe that was cradled in the manger, was begotten, not by Joseph, the husband of Mary, but by another Being. Do you inquire by whom? He was begotten by God our heavenly Father. (Journal of Discourses, Brigham Young, 11:268, August 19, 1866)

These are interesting statements, because if we accept them we would also have to believe that the Father committed incest. The Father according to Brigham Young took one of his spirit daughters as his wife and procreated the body of Jesus Christ with her. I find this offensive. Are these isolated teachings only by Brigham Young? No, they are not. Now let us learn what another president and prophet of the Mormon Church said while speaking to children at an official meeting:

A MODERN PROPHET'S ANSWER...I want the little folks [children] to hear what I am going to tell you. I am going to tell you a simple truth, yet it is one of the greatest truths and one of the most simple facts ever revealed to the children of men.

You all know that your fathers are indeed your fathers and that your mothers are indeed your mothers - you all know that don't you? You cannot deny it. Now, we are told in scriptures that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God in the flesh. Well, now for the benefit of the older ones, how are children begotten? I answer just as Jesus Christ was begotten of his father...Now my little friends, I will repeat again in words as simple as I can, and you ask your parents about it, that God, the Eternal Father, is literally the father of Jesus Christ. (Joseph F. Smith, Box Elder Stake Conference Dec 20, 1914 as quoted in Brigham City Box Elder News, 28 Jan, 1915, pp.1-2.) (Family Home Evening [Manual], Personal Commitment, copyright 1972 by Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, pages 125-126).

Note in the first paragraph of this reference the phrases "I am going to tell you a simple truth," "one of the greatest truths" and "simple facts ever revealed to the children of men." In other words what is said is truth and revelation. Note that the person speaking was the president of the Mormon Church and he was speaking at an official meeting. This was not just his personal opinion. On page 126 of this last reference, a teaching manual published by the Mormon Church, is a graphic picture of an algebraic equation:

Daddy + Mommy = You

Our Heavenly Father + Mary = Jesus

(Ibid, page 126).

Another LDS teaching manual has:

...he was able to make payment because he lived a sinless life and because he was actually, literally, biologically the Son of God in the flesh. (Messages for Exaltation, For the Sunday Schools of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Gospel Doctrine Class, published by the Deseret Sunday School Union, printed by Deseret News Press, 1967, pages 378-379)

Another top Mormon leader, Apostle Orson Pratt, in his publication, The Seer, expressed a similar idea.

God, the Father of our spirits, became the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh....it was the personage of the Father who begat the body of Jesus...both the spirit and body of Jesus were begotten by the Father... The fleshly body of Jesus required a Mother as well as a Father. Therefore, the Father and Mother of Jesus, according to the flesh, must have been associated together in the capacity of Husband and Wife, hence the virgin Mary must have been, for the time being, the Lawful wife of God the Father. (The Seer, by Apostle Orson Pratt, October 1853, Vol. 1, No. 10, p. 158)

Another president and prophet said:

President Ezra Taft Benson stated, "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter­day Saints proclaims that Jesus Christ is the Son of God in the most literal sense. The body in which He performed His mission in the flesh was fathered by that same Holy Being we worship as God, our Eternal Father. Jesus was not the son of Joseph, nor was He begotten by the Holy Ghost. He is the Son of the Eternal Father!" (Benson, p. 4). (Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Vol. 2, p. 725, 1992; The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p. 7)

Ancient and modern scriptures use the title Only Begotten to emphasize the divine nature of Jesus Christ. Latter­day Saints recognize Jesus as literally the Only Begotten Son of God the Father in the flesh (John 3:16; D&C 93:11; Moses 6:52). This title signifies that Jesus' physical body was the offspring of a mortal mother and of the eternal Father (Luke 1:35, 1 Ne. 11:18). It is LDS doctrine that Jesus Christ is the child of Mary and God the Father, "not in violation of natural law but in accordance with a higher manifestation thereof" (Jesus The Christ, James E. Talmage, p. 81). (Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Vol.2, page 729)

It is very plain if men will comprehend, firstly, the fact, that God is the Father of man, spiritually, and that God is the Father of Jesus Christ, both temporally and spiritually, and that Jesus Christ is nothing more nor less than the Son of God, begotten of His Father, as absolutely, and as truly as any child was begotten of his earthly father. You don't need to mince the matter. (Latter­Day Saints Follow Teachings of the Savior, Scrapbook of Mormon Literature, Joseph F. Smith, [1838-1918], Vol. 2, p.557)

All that I have to say in reply to that charge is this­­they worship a Savior that is too pure and holy to fulfil the commands of his Father. I worship one that is just pure and holy enough "to fulfil [sic] all righteousness;" not only the righteous law of baptism, but the still more righteous and important law "to multiply and replenish the earth." Startle not at this! for even the Father himself honored that law by coming down to Mary, without a natural body, and begetting a son; and if Jesus begat children, he only "did that which he had seen his Father do." (Journal of Discourses, Orson Hyde, 2:210, March 18, 1855)

We believe absolutely that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, begotten of God, the first-born in the spirit and the only begotten in the flesh; that He is the Son of God just as much as you and I are the sons of our Fathers. ("Analysis of the Articles of Faith," Heber J. Grant, Millennial Star, 5 Jan. 1922, p. 2)

The First Presidency (the president/prophet and his counselors) at another time said:

It was our Father in Heaven who begat the spirit of him [Christ] [6] who was 'the Firstborn' of all the spirits that come to this earth, and who was also his Father by the Virgin Mary, making him 'the only begotten in the flesh' (Joseph F. Smith, Anthon H. Lund, Charles W. Penrose, in James R. Clark, comp., Messages of the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 6 vol. [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1965-75], 4:266). (as quoted in a Mormon Church teaching manual, New Testament, Seminary Student Manual, p. 7, 1984)

Let us now see what a more recent LDS apostle, Bruce R. McConkie, had to say about the virgin birth:

Our Lord is the only mortal person ever born to a virgin, [7] because he is the only person who ever had an immortal Father. Mary, his mother, "was carried away in the Spirit" (1 Ne. 11:13­21), was "overshadowed" by the Holy Ghost, and the conception which took place "by the power of the Holy Ghost" resulted in the bringing forth of the literal and personal Son of God the Father. (Alma 7:10; 2 Ne. 17:14; Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18­25; Luke 1:26­38.) Christ is not the Son of the Holy Ghost, but of the Father. (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 1, pp. 18­20.) Modernistic teachings denying the virgin birth are utterly and completely apostate and false. (Mormon Doctrine, Bruce R. McConkie, p. 822, 1979)

These name­titles all signify that our Lord is the only Son of the Father in the flesh. Each of the words is to be understood literally. Only means only; Begotten means begotten; and Son means son. Christ was begotten by an Immortal Father in the same way that mortal men are begotten by mortal fathers. (ibid, pp. 546-547)

God the Father is a perfected, glorified, holy Man, an immortal Personage. And Christ was born into the world as the literal Son of this Holy Being; he was born in the same personal, real, and literal sense that any mortal son is born to a mortal father. There is nothing figurative about his paternity; he was begotten, conceived and born in the normal and natural course of events, for he is the Son of God, and that designation means what it says. (ibid, p. 742)

Another LDS teaching manual says it this way.

Thus, God the Father became the literal father of Jesus Christ. (Gospel Principles, p. 57 in pre-1986 editions, p. 64 in 1992 edition)

As with the attributes of the Father, I have provided a broad number of sources over a long time period to show that the teachings about the conception of Jesus Christ are not isolated to one time period or to one small group of authors/sources.

A Major Error By Mormons

John 3:16, one of my favorite verses, says "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son....." Mormons read this term "only begotten Son" to mean the Son was begotten physically, biologically, was fathered, was procreated. The mistake is that the Greek word "monogenes" that is translated "only begotten" does not mean this. There is a Greek word, "gennao" that could cover what the Mormons are believing and teaching. But it was not used. The Complete Biblical Library says it this way:

In the Fourth Century, a heresy known as Arianism mistakenly saw monogenes [3302][8] as a derivation related to the word gennao (1074), which means "to beget, to generate, or to give birth." This inappropriate connection was used to support the false doctrine that Jesus was created by God and was not eternal with Him. However, the context of John's Gospel makes it clear that monogenes is emphasizing the unique relationship between God the Son and God the Father, and not the physical birth of Jesus. Nowhere does the Bible teach that Jesus is a created being. On the contrary, the Scriptures reveal Jesus Christ to be the Second Person of the Trinity, coeternal with the Father and with the Holy Spirit. "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily" (Colossians 2:9). Jesus was with God [as God] in eternity past.

In addition, as the "only-begotten" of the Father, Jesus is not simply unique, He is the One who was with God from the beginning, the pre-existent, eternal Son (John 1:2; 8:58; 17:5,24). He did not become the "Son" of God at the Incarnation; He is the Son from eternity and remains so forever. This truth is a divine mystery which John did not attempt to fully explain. In one creed of the Church (the Nicene Creed) this mystery is stated as follows: Christ is "eternally begotten of the Father." Strong 3439, Bauer 527, Moulton-Milligan; 416-17, Kittel, 4:737-41, Liddell-Scott 1144; Colin Brown 2:723-25. ("The New Testament Greek-English Dictionary" 2948-3664, Complete Bible Library, Springfield, MO, p. 219)

Also not understood is the term "begotten" ("gennao" in Greek) when applied to our Lord's conception. Again let us look at what the Greek word means.

In the messianic Psalms two familiar passages employ a form of gennao [begotten, #1074] in the Septuagint translation. Psalm 2:7 (quoted in Acts 13:33 and Hebrews 1:5; 5:5) states, "Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee." Psalm 110:3 (listed as 109:3 in the Septuagint) declares, "I have begotten thee from the womb before the morning." Throughout the history of Christianity there has been some debate over the meaning of Christ being the begotten (or "only begotten," monogenes [3302][8]) Son of the Father. Orthodox Christianity has always declared that Jesus was born (or begotten) of the virgin Mary (Matthew 1: 16); however, the debate has centered around Christ being begotten of the Father. Some, such as Arius in the Fourth Century, believed this meant Christ was born or created at a point in time, implying that there was a time when He did not exist.[9] Thus, Christ's preexistence as the second person of the Trinity was called into question.

The debate over Christ having been begotten of the Father partially resulted in several major Councils of the ancient Christian church (e.g., Nicea, A.D. 325; Chalcedon, A.D. 451). At these gatherings of church leaders, orthodox parties affirmed that because Christ is "begotten" does not necessitate His having been "created." In this sense, "begotten" refers to the eternal Father-Son relationship and that the Father sent forth the Son into the world. Thus, the great creeds of the Church affirm that the Son is "begotten, not made." Actually, however, monogenes means "only" in the sense of "unique, one of a kind."[10]

Forms of gennao are often used in the New Testament in both a literal and metaphoric way. It appears frequently to denote a biological birth. It is often used metaphorically to describe being "born again" or "born of the Spirit" (cf. John 3:3-8; 1 John 3:9; 4:7; 5:18). Strong 1080, Bauer 155, Moulton-Milligan 124, Kittel 1:665-72, Liddell-Scott 344, Colin Brown 1:176-79. ("The New Testament Greek-English Dictionary", 1-1131, ibid, p. 605)

Thus we see that the terms "only begotten" and "begotten" do not necessarily mean a biological relationship between our Lord and His Father. Note that those who teach this are guilty of the heresy know as Arianism.

The Apostle Paul explained the fulfillment of Psalms 2:7 in Acts 13:32-34 which is in the context of our Lord's resurrection. He confirmed this thought in Romans 1:4.

I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. (Psalms 2:7)

32 And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, 33 God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. 34 And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David. (Acts 13:32-34)

And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. (Romans 1:4)

Note the bold face type in Acts 13:34, "concerning that he raised him up from the dead." Begotten as it relates to the Father and Son is about the resurrection of the Son. Now let us look at another verse, note the bold face phrase.

And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, (Revelation 1:5)

The following provides a similar view.

And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:18)

Thus we see that from these verses that the words begotten and firstborn are about the resurrection of Jesus Christ and not about our Lord's biological relationship with the Father.

Our Lord Has Always Been God

Reinforcing this idea are the following verses that make it clear that the Son, as God, has always existed. But first you must understand who the LORD is in these verses. The King James edition of the Old Testament, as others, follows the tradition that the Hebrew word "Yahweh" (YHWH), frequently given as Jehovah, is shown as LORD, in small capital letters (The Holy Bible, New Revised Standard Version, Holman Bible Publishers, 1989, in the preface called "To The Reader," p. 3). Mormon teachings say this is the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ, the Lord before he came to earth (The Holy Bible, published by the Mormon Church, at the back is the Bible Dictionary, p. 710-711 under "Jehovah" and Mormon Doctrine, p. 392 under "Jehovah"). This should be kept in mind as you read the Old Testament verses. Now let us look at who the creator is and how long He has existed.

For by him [Jesus Christ] were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (Colossians 1:16)

Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he [Jesus Christ] made the worlds; (Hebrews 1:2)

Also see John 1:3; Acts 4:24 and Isaiah 44:24. From these verses we learn that our Lord Jesus Christ is the creator. From the following we also learn that our LORD, as given in the Old Testament, is also the creator and is from everlasting to everlasting. The only conclusion is that Jesus Christ is our LORD and God and has been so from eternity and will be to eternity.

Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee. (Nehemiah 9:6)

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.[11] (Psalms 90:2)

But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting ... (Psalms 103:17)

The net result is that our Lord Jesus Christ, as God, has always existed. His body (and spirit) was not created by a biological act.

How Might Mormons Respond To This Information?

My experience in discussing this information with LDS is that about 50% or so are not aware of it, will even deny it, and vigorously argue for what the Bible and Book of Mormon teaches about the virgin birth of our Lord. It also seem that women are the most offended by what the Mormon Church teaches. It can be a useful tool in witnessing to the ignorant.

Summary

In summary, the top leaders of the Mormon Church, and in its teaching manuals, have taught that the body of Jesus Christ was procreated in the same way we men and women were procreated by our parents - by a physical biological act of a man and wife. Thelma "Granny" Geer, author of Mormonism, Mama & Me frequently summarized it this way: "The Mormon God has a body of parts...and he uses them... ALL of them!"

Now go back to the start of this paper and read again what the Bible says - "for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost." and "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee." Isaiah 7:14 says "a virgin shall conceive" and Luke 1:31 says "thou shalt conceive in thy womb." According to the Bible the best that can be said it was a miraculous event. Nothing is said about a physical act. Who do you want to believe? The Bible (and the Book of Mormon if you accept it as scripture) or the Mormon Church's top leaders and its teaching manuals?

ENDNOTES

1) Within quotes, bold face type, underlining and words in brackets are by this author, John Farkas

2) Yes, according to the Book of Mormon Jesus Christ was born in Jerusalem, not Bethlehem as the Bible says (Matt 2:1; Lk 2:4).

3) All references are from Mormon Scriptures or talks by top Mormon leaders or teaching manuals published by the Mormon Church.

4) Elder Monson is now First Counselor in the First Presidency (2-27-97).

5) This idea "I believe the Father came down from heaven, as the Apostles said he did," is not found in the Bible or the Book of Mormon.

6) The brackets with Christ are in the quote.

7) Calling Mary a virgin even after her "consummated marriage" to God the Father is an anomaly. Another Mormon leader said the same thing.

He was the Only Begotten Son of our Heavenly Father in the flesh-the only child whose mortal body was begotten by our Heavenly Father. His mortal mother, Mary, was called a virgin, both before and after she gave birth... (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p.7, March 1986)

But how could this be seeing Mary had physical relations with the Father? Perhaps, to these men, a virgin is a woman who has not had a physical biological relationship with a mortal man, but with an immortal God doesn't matter.

8) The brackets, with 3302 are in the quote.

9) This is the teaching of the Mormon Church. When the Mormon God the Father was progressing to become a God his Son's body and spirit did not exist. The Son was not God then. He also had to progress to become a God under the Father. For more on this see my booklet An Introduction to Mormonism, For Christians, p. 14-16.

10) The Mormon Church teaches that men, angels, the devil and his demons are all of the same nature as God, but just at different levels of progression toward becoming a God.

11) The Hebrew word Elohim, which to Mormons is the name of the Father, is here translated as God. In other words, in Mormon terms, the Son is the Father.

John Farkas
Berean Christian Ministries; P.O. Box 1091; Webster, NY 14580

 

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