What is your toughest challenge in presenting the Gospel? Atheist, Agnostic, Mormon, Jehovah’s Witness, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Scientology? We want to be able to help all of them believe the Gospel and be saved. During the next several studies, we’ll see how 10 different religions look at the Virgin Birth of Jesus Christ and how we can share the Truth with them. All of the quotes about their beliefs are from their own writings.
Charge – Mormons
“Christ was begotten by an immortal Father in the same way that mortal men are begotten by mortal fathers” … “There is nothing figurative about his paternity; he was begotten, conceived and born in the normal and natural course of events” (Mormon Doctrine, 1966, p. 547 & 742, Bruce McConkie, LDS First Council of the Seventy)
“Christ was begotten by an immortal Father in the same way that mortal men are begotten by mortal fathers” … “There is nothing figurative about his paternity; he was begotten, conceived and born in the normal and natural course of events” (Mormon Doctrine, 1966, p. 547 & 742, Bruce McConkie, LDS First Council of the Seventy)
“Our Father in heaven, according to the Prophet, had a Father, and since there has been a condition of this kind through all eternity, each Father had a Father” (Doctrines of Salvation, 2:47, LDS President Joseph Fielding Smith)
“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” (Mormon Doctrine, 1979, p. 742, under Son of God).
“The birth of the Savior was a natural occurrence unattended with any degree of mysticism, and the Father God was the literal parent of Jesus in the flesh as well as in the spirit” (Religious Truths Defined, p. 44, quoting LDS President Joseph Fielding Smith)
“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, v.8, p. 115, LDS President Brigham Young)
“Now, remember from this time forth, and for ever, that Jesus Christ was not begotten by the Holy Ghost” (Journal of Discourses, vol. 1, p. 51, LDS President Brigham Young)
“The first spirit born to our heavenly parents was Jesus Christ (see D&C 93:21). He is thus our elder brother (see Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 26). Our spirits resemble our heavenly parents although they have resurrected bodies. We have inherited the potential to develop their divine qualities. If we choose to do so, we can become perfect, just as they are” (Gospel Principles, 1978, p. 9)
“Jesus became a God and reached His great state of understanding through consistent effort and continuous obedience to all the Gospel truths and universal laws” (The Gospel Through the Ages, General Authority, Milton R. Hunter, p. 15).
Mormon doctrine teaches that God the Father “has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s” (Doctrine & Covenants 130:22, LDS scripture)
“The appointment of Jesus to be the Savior of the world was contested by one of the other sons of God. He was called Lucifer, son of the morning. Haughty, ambitious, and covetous of power and glory, this spirit-brother of Jesus desperately tried to become the Savior of mankind” (The Gospel Through the Ages, 1945, p. 15)
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How do we respond to those charges? Begin by asking a question – Why do you believe that?
Their answer may be – That’s what our Scriptures teach?
Ask another question – What Scriptures do you mean?
Mormons believe in the Bible (their take on it since they believe the Christian Bible has been corrupted), the Book of Mormon, Doctrines and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. It helps to know where they get their information so you can respond knowingly to it. Mormons believe that every god came from a father and mother who used be flesh and blood on other worlds and became gods. When a man does the right things in his life, he can become a god and get his own universe. Then, he can have spirit children through sexual relations with his wife (a goddess) and start his own world. Mormons believe that God the Father is a man of flesh and blood and that Jesus was His first spirit child. Lucifer was second. Mormons believe God wanted to save His spiritual children being born on earth, so He had sex with the virgin Mary and she gave birth to Jesus. Mormons do not believe in the same Jesus Christians do, so don’t be fooled when they say they do.
Once you’ve asked enough questions to understand their thinking about, begin to make your defense (apologia).
Defense – The birth of Jesus Christ was a miracle. God the Father did not have sexual relations with the virgin Mary. She would not have been a virgin if a flesh and blood man had sex with her. God the Father does not have a body and is not flesh and blood. He was never a man. God is Eternal and Self-Existent. The Holy Spirit came upon the young virgin Mary and the power of the Highest overshadowed her and she became pregnant, as a virgin, with the Eternal/Self-Existent Son of God, Who is equal with God the Father and God the Spirit.
Evidence – The evidence is clear in the Bible, but remember that Mormons are taught the Christian Bible has been corrupted. They believe it is fallible. They believe the Book of Mormon, Doctrines and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price are infallible. They also believe the words spoken by LDS presidents are also infallible. As you present evidence for the Eternal Nature and Essence of God the Father and God the Son, you will most likely have to demonstrate to them that their scriptures are wrong.
In the next part of our study, we’ll look at some of the evidence you can present to Mormons and ways to help them see the Truth about Jesus.
In Christ’s Love and Grace,
Mark McGee
Faith Defense
Building Confidence Through Evidence
“Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”
Faith & Self Defense 