Virgin Birth (Defined)

Virgin Birth: The literal siring of Jesus via the agency of Heavenly Father and Mary.

Sixth President Joseph F. Smith explained,

“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. The difference between Jesus Christ and other men is this: Our fathers in the flesh are mortal men, who are subject unto death: but the Father of Jesus Christ in the flesh is the God of Heaven. …So you see Jesus is the only person who had our Heavenly Father as the father of his body” (Joseph F. Smith, Family Home Evening manual, 1972, pp. 125,126. Ellipses mine).

Below is an illustration used in that 1972 church manual to depict how the Virgin Birth could be understood to children.

For much more information on this important topic, see here.

Return to dictionary here.