By Aaron Shafovaloff
October 26, 2024
LDS leaders often use D&C 76:24 to promote the notion that humans on this earth are “literal” spirit children of heavenly parents. Thomas Monson references the passage when saying, “The spirits of all men are literally His ‘begotten sons and daughters’.” (Monson)
This 1832 revelation, whoever, is clearly referring to redemptive sonship, not pre-mortal “literal” sonship via Heavenly Mother(s). Just a little context and historical awareness brings it to light:
“For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father— That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God.” (D&C 76:23-24)
Does this refer to being “literally” begotten via a pre-mortal conception, gestation, and birth? Or does this refer to being spiritually born as sons and daughters though Jesus? Again, context clarifies:
“[Those] who overcome by faith, and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, which the Father sheds forth upon all those who are just and true… they are gods, even the sons of God.” (53, 58)
LDS apologist Val Hale concedes,
“The context of this passage is that the inhabitants of the worlds are begotten sons and daughters unto God through Jesus Christ. The reference to sons and daughters clearly means “adopted” spiritual children—not spirit children—and does not refer to the idea of literal procreation by God.” (Hale, 116)
Such late Nauvoo theology, Hale admits, cannot be found in early LDS scripture:
“The doctrine clearly did not originate in scripture. This should not be surprising since most LDS scripture was produced while Mormon theology was in its infancy, and there is little in LDS canon from the theologically productive Nauvoo, Illinois, period of the early to mid-1840s.” (Hale, 116)
References
- Hale, Van. “The Doctrinal Impact of the King Follett Discourse.” In Line Upon Line: Essays on Mormon Doctrine, edited by Gary James Bergera, 115–26. Salt Lake City, UT: Signature Books, 1989. Archived online copy. Google Books link. Kindle link.
- Monson, Thomas S. “An Invitation to Exaltation.” General Conference, April 1988, 53-36. Published in Ensign, May 1988. Link 1. Link 2.
See also
- Divine begetting in Mormonism, by Aaron Shafovaloff