The December (2013) Visiting Teaching Message found in Ensign magazine focuses on Jesus Christ as God’s only begotten Son. The message begins,
“Our Savior, Jesus Christ, is called the Only Begotten Son because He is the only person on earth to be born of a mortal mother and an immortal Father…Modern prophets have testified: [Jesus Christ] was…the Only Begotten Son in the flesh, the Redeemer of the world.” (“The Divine Mission of Jesus Christ: The Only Begotten Son,” Ensign, 7)
The Ensign article also states,
“As we come to understand more fully what it means for Jesus to be the Only Begotten Son of the Father, our faith in Christ will increase.”
Therefore, in an effort to more fully understand what this Mormon doctrine is, consider a lesson titled, “Whom Say Ye That I Am?” that was provided by the Church in an older edition of its Family Home Evening manual:
This home evening is to help you and your children understand that Jesus is God’s Only Begotten Son…
In What Way is Jesus God’s Only Son?
Read or tell the following story.
JENNY’S QUESTION
The Markham family had been to Sunday School and was driving home…When Jenny was asked what she had learned, she replied, “Daddy, I’m confused. The teacher talked about Jesus’ being God’s only son. I thought all of us were God’s children.”
Ask, Have you ever wondered about this question? How would you answer Jenny? Discuss this with your family, letting each have a chance to express himself.
Now read to the family how a modern prophet answered Jenny’s question.
A MODERN PROPHET’S ANSWER
…I want the little folks to hear what I am going to tell you. I am going to tell you a simple truth, yet it is one of the greatest truths and one of the most simple facts ever revealed to the children of men.
You all know that your fathers are indeed your fathers and that your mothers are indeed your mothers – you all know that don’t you? You cannot deny it. 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…
We must come down to the simple fact that God Almighty was the Father of His Son Jesus Christ. Mary, the virgin girl, who had never known mortal man, was his mother. God by her begot His son Jesus Christ…
Now, my little friends, I will repeat again in words as simple as I can, and you talk to your parents about it, that God, the Eternal Father, is literally the father of Jesus Christ. (Joseph F. Smith [6th Prophet and President of the Mormon Church], Box Elder Stake Conference Dec. 20, 1914 as quoted in Brigham City Box Elder News, 28 Jan. 1915, pp. 1-2)
An Illustration and Discussion to Help Further Answer Jenny’s Question:
At this point, discuss in your own words how Jesus was the only begotten Son of God. You might do this by using the following illustration on a chalkboard or piece of paper.
All boys and girls have a mother and father on earth. Your mother and father, of course, are mother and I. Jesus is the only person ever born on this earth that is different. Jesus had a mother on earth. What was her name? (Mary.) But who was his real father? (Heavenly Father.) So you see, Jesus is the only person who had our Heavenly Father as the father of his body. (Family Home Evening manual, 1972, 125-126)
There you have it. To learn more about this Mormon doctrine, check out Bill and Aaron’s article at mrm.org, “Redefining the Virgin Birth: Mormonism on the Natural Conception of Jesus.”
