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We believe our Heavenly Father is the Father of all Spirits on this earth, including Jesus Christ, Satan, and each of us. We believe Jesus Christ is the only begotten of the father. Or the only one who's biological parent is Heavenly Father. Some LDS authors have interpreted this to mean that Heavenly Father physically impregnated Mary, but this is not supported by scriptural references or church doctrine.

I am confused.

Didn't Mormon President Brigham Young state: "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).

Didn't Mormon President Joseph Fielding Smith state: "They tell us the Book of Mormon states that Jesus was begotten of the Holy Ghost I challenge that statement. The Book of Mormon teaches no such thing! Neither does the Bible" (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 1, p.19).

Didn't Mormon Apostle Bruce R. McConkie state: "These name-titles 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" (Mormon Doctrine, 1966, pp.546-47).

Didn't Mormon Apostle Bruce R. McConkie also state: "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 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, ... Christ is the Son of Man, meaning that his Father (the Eternal God!) is a Holy Man" (Mormon Doctrine, 1966, p.742).

It seems the idea that "Heavenly Father physically impregnated Mary" is indeed clearly supported by both statements from church leaders and by church doctrine.

Zakeet's post	esarlls3's response
Didn't Mormon President Brigham Young state: "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). Didn't Mormon President Joseph Fielding Smith state: "They tell us the Book of Mormon states that Jesus was begotten of the Holy Ghost I challenge that statement. The Book of Mormon teaches no such thing! Neither does the Bible" (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 1, p.19).	Jesus Christ was begotten of the Father. Since we believe the Holy Ghost is a different being, Christ can't be begotten of both of them. Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, [so Mary can stand the presence of Heavenly Father] and the power of the Highest [Heavenly Father] shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. Alma 7:10 And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem 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 [meaning the Holy Ghost was required for the conception to take place], and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God [meaning his biological father is our Heavenly Father]. The scriptures don't indicate the details about how it took place, just that it happened. Mary being "overshadowed by the power of the Holy Ghost" may not have remembered what took place. If she did, there is no record of her sacred experience being transferred to others, but rather kept private to ponder in her heart.
Didn't Mormon Apostle Bruce R. McConkie state: "These name-titles 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" (Mormon Doctrine, 1966, pp.546-47). Didn't Mormon Apostle Bruce R. McConkie also state: "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 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, ... Christ is the Son of Man, meaning that his Father (the Eternal God!) is a Holy Man" (Mormon Doctrine, 1966, p.742). It seems the idea that "Heavenly Father physically impregnated Mary" is indeed clearly supported by both statements from church leaders and by church doctrine.	1) When Bruce R. McConkie wrote Mormon Doctrine he was not an Apostle. 2) The book Mormon Doctrine is not published by the LDS church. While it is useful for reference, it represents the views of one person and is not an official doctrinal reference. 3) You will not find this doctrine taught anywhere on LDS.org, which includes all LDS scriptures, LDS teaching materials, talks by LDS leaders in General Conferences, and LDS church magazines. Certainly Bruce R. McConkie believed there was physical contact between Heavenly Father and Mary. There is no scriptural evidence to support or refute this belief. It is an unanswered question. I don't believe the church has a position one way or the other. Does virgin mean simply that she was a virgin before conception or that she remained a virgin after conception? Personally, I think it was the latter and that Bruce R. McConkie was wrong on this. I believe he was wrong about some other things in Mormon Doctrine, too.

Zakeet's post

esarlls3's response

Didn't Mormon President Brigham Young state: "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).

Jesus Christ was begotten of the Father. Since we believe the Holy Ghost is a different being, Christ can't be begotten of both of them.

Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, [so Mary can stand the presence of Heavenly Father] and the power of the Highest [Heavenly Father] shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Alma 7:10 And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem 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 [meaning the Holy Ghost was required for the conception to take place], and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God [meaning his biological father is our Heavenly Father].

The scriptures don't indicate the details about how it took place, just that it happened. Mary being "overshadowed by the power of the Holy Ghost" may not have remembered what took place. If she did, there is no record of her sacred experience being transferred to others, but rather kept private to ponder in her heart.

It seems the idea that "Heavenly Father physically impregnated Mary" is indeed clearly supported by both statements from church leaders and by church doctrine.

1) When Bruce R. McConkie wrote Mormon Doctrine he was not an Apostle.
2) The book Mormon Doctrine is not published by the LDS church. While it is useful for reference, it represents the views of one person and is not an official doctrinal reference.
3) You will not find this doctrine taught anywhere on LDS.org, which includes all LDS scriptures, LDS teaching materials, talks by LDS leaders in General Conferences, and LDS church magazines.

Certainly Bruce R. McConkie believed there was physical contact between Heavenly Father and Mary. There is no scriptural evidence to support or refute this belief. It is an unanswered question. I don't believe the church has a position one way or the other. Does virgin mean simply that she was a virgin before conception or that she remained a virgin after conception?

Personally, I think it was the latter and that Bruce R. McConkie was wrong on this. I believe he was wrong about some other things in Mormon Doctrine, too.