Evolution and the premortal spirit of man, part 2: The spirits of all men are literally the sons and daughters of Deity.
There is power in the words of the song, "I Am a Child of God." As Dallin H. Oaks explains: "Here is the answer to one of life’s great questions, ‘Who am I?’ I am a child of God with a spirit lineage to heavenly parents. That parentage defines our eternal potential.” (Ensign, Jan. 2010.) Indeed, it is an official teaching of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that the spirits of all men are literally the sons and daughters of Deity: Bible Dictionary: "God. Although God created all things and is the ruler of the universe, being omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent (through his Spirit), mankind has a special relationship to him that differentiates man from all other created things: man is literally God’s offspring, made in his image, whereas all other things are but the work of his hands (cf. Acts 17:28–29)."
Bible Dictionary: "Spirit. Every person is literally a son or a daughter of God, having been born as a spirit to Heavenly Parents previous to being born to mortal parents on the earth (cf. Heb. 12:9). Thus each one of us is a dual being: an immortal spirit body, clothed with a body of flesh and bone."
Guide to the Scriptures: "Man, Men. Refers to all mankind, both male and female. All men and women are the literal, spiritual offspring of a Heavenly Father. When they are born into mortality, they receive physical, mortal bodies."
Guide to the Scriptures: "Spirit. Every person is literally a son or a daughter of God, having been born as a spirit to Heavenly Parents before being born to mortal parents on the earth (Heb. 12:9). Each person on earth has an immortal spirit body in addition to a body of flesh and bone."
1909 First Presidency statement: "All men and women are in the similitude of the universal Father and Mother and are literally the sons and daughters of Deity.... Man, as a spirit, was begotten and born of heavenly parents and reared to maturity in the eternal mansions of the Father, prior to coming upon the earth in a temporal body to undergo an experience in mortality." (Ensign, Feb. 2002.) According to recent and current apostles and prophets, the spirits of all men are literally the sons and daughters of Deity:
1995 First Presidency and Twelve: “All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents.” (Ensign, Nov. 1995.)
Thomas S. Monson: "The Apostle Paul told the Athenians on Mars’ Hill that ‘we are the offspring of God.’ (Acts 17:29.) Since we know that our physical bodies are the offspring of our mortal parents, we must probe for the meaning of Paul’s statement. The Lord has declared that ‘the spirit and the body are the soul of man.’ (D&C 88:15.) Thus it is the spirit which is the offspring of God. The writer of Hebrews refers to Him as ‘the Father of spirits.’ (Hebrews 12:9.) The spirits of all men are literally His ‘begotten sons and daughters.’ (D&C 76:24.)" (Ensign, May 2012.)
Dieter F. Uchtdorf: “You are no ordinary beings, my beloved young friends all around the world. You are glorious and eternal.... It is my prayer and blessing that when you look at your reflection, you will be able to see beyond imperfections and self-doubts and recognize who you truly are: glorious sons and daughters of the Almighty God.” (New Era, April 2011.) It is an official teaching of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that the spirits of all men are literally the sons and daughters of Deity.
posted by R. Gary on 9/12/2012 11:26:00 PM
4 Comments:
Undoubtedly, the concept that we are sons and daughters (even "literal" sons and daughters) is consistently taught. What does "literal" mean? Is there an analogous process of spiritual conception, pregnancy, labor and delivery? Is there a consistent teaching on that? Or is that one of the mysteries?
DavidH: When my wife and I were young and only had three of our nine children, Marion G. Romney talked about this in general conference. I recommend the entire talk, but here are two small excerpts:
“We mortals are in very deed the literal offspring of God.... God is the father of man’s spirit, even as his earthly father is the father of his mortal body.” (Ensign, Jul. 1973, p. 11.)
That still seems like a pretty straightforward explanation to me. A few years later, Spencer W. Kimball seemed to confirm Romney's teachings:
“God is your father. He loves you. He and your mother in heaven value you beyond any measure. They gave your eternal intelligence spirit form, just as your earthly mother and father have given you a mortal body.” (Ensign, Nov. 1978, p. 105.)
I remember a grade school rumor that kissing could cause pregnancy. Since then I’ve learned about the celestial power of procreation, that the body is a temple and sex is its holy of holies. But if someone prefers to believe our spirits came into existence through some sort of a celestial kiss or medical procedure, that’s fine with me. I don't think the Church has taken an official position on it one way or the other.
For my wife's sake (and my own), I hope that there is some other process besides the pregnancy that we know of now. I don't know if being pregnant for all eternity would be considered a reward by many women...
But yes, we are the spiritual offspring of God, whatever that entails.
Stanton: I'm certain that if pregnancy is a problem for someone, that won't be an issue because I'm sure there is a kingdom of glory that does not include pregnancy. On the other hand, you might consider the possibility that celestial pregnancy is different from and more desirable to women than the pregnancy that we know of now.
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