LDS Learning
Gaining knowledge about the Latter-day Saints

Jesus at Christmas time

In times of Christmas, I'm always curious to see what and if The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints writes specifically about Him.

I found two such articles. One current and the other old.

Ensign - 2010 - December, Jesus Christ Is the Only Begotten Son of God

The online version in the Gospel Library - Magazines section is slightly different from the version seen at https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2010/12/jesus-christ-is-the-only-begotten-son-of-god?lang=eng. The pdf version here contains imbedded pictures.

"Jesus was the only person to be born of a mortal mother, Mary, and an immortal father, God the Father. That is why Jesus is called the Only Begotten Son of God. From His Father, He inherited divine powers (see John 10:17-18). From His mother, He inherited mortality and became subject to hunger, thirst, fatigue, pain, and death."

For more information, see Gospel Principles (2009), 52-53; True to the Faith (2004), 87-89; and Richard C. Edgley, "The Condescension of God," Ensign, Dec. 2001, 16-21.

What is mentioned above is found in the 2009 version of Gospel Principles, but something extra and interesting is seen when you view the 2001 article below.

Ensign - 2001 - December, The Condescension of God

at https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2001/12/the-condescension-of-god?lang=eng

"As the angel taught Nephi, he may have been speaking of two condescensions—one of God the Father and one of the Son, Jesus Christ. Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915–85) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles elaborates, " ‘The condescension of God,’ of which the scriptures speak, means that the Immortal Father—the glorified, exalted, enthroned ruler of the universe—came down from his station of dominion and power to become the Father of a Son who would be born of Mary, ‘after the manner of the flesh.’ " God the Father also condescended by sending His Only Begotten Son to suffer the sins of the world. The Savior is God’s gift to us."

"While God the Father’s condescension reflects His great love for all mankind by permitting His Only Begotten to be sacrificed for even the humblest and lowliest of His children, Christ’s condescension was more personal and visible—for He was the sacrifice. His condescension was manifest by who He was and the way He lived. His condescension can be seen in almost every recorded act of His 33 years of mortality. In this article we will focus on the condescension of the Savior of the world as the Creator/Redeemer and Exemplar."
(local copy)


This seems to strongly imply (if not in fact teach) that the LDS version of Heavenly Father needed to come down from heaven to earth so that Jesus could be born to Mary as other children are born to their fathers. The Religion 430-431 - Doctrines of the Gospel Student Manual refers to this as a "celestial Sireship" in chapter 4 - https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/doctrines-of-the-gospel-student-manual/4-jesus-christ?lang=eng

Did you know that 3 LDS Presidents and one member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the LDS Church have taught Jesus was born on April 6?

In April 1973, then President Harold Lee said, "This is the annual conference of the Church. April 6, 1973, is a particularly significant date because it commemorates not only the anniversary of the organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in this dispensation, but also the anniversary of the birth of the Savior, our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ. Joseph Smith wrote this, preceding a revelation given at that same date: The rise of the Church of Christ in these last days, being one thousand eight hundred and thirty years since the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the flesh, it being regularly organized and established agreeable to the laws of our country, by the will and commandments of God, in the fourth month, and on the sixth day of the month which is called April (D&C 20:1)" (Strengthen the Stakes of Zion, Ensign, July 1973, local copy).

In April 1980, then President Kimball said, "My brothers and sisters, today we not only celebrate the Sesquicentennial of the organization of the Church, but also the greatest event in human history since the birth of Christ on this day 1,980 years ago. Today is Easter Sunday" (Remarks and Dedication of the Fayette, New York, Buildings, Ensign, May 1980, local copy).

This is repeated yet again in the April 1997 General Conference by Richard G. Scott (of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles). He said, "It is April 6th. Modern scripture records that Jesus Christ was born on this day." This particular scripture is a revelation supposed given to Joseph Smith - Doctrine and Covenants 20:1 - "The rise of the Church of Christ in these last days, being one thousand eight hundred and thirty years since the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the flesh, it being regularly organized and established agreeable to the laws of our country, by the will and commandments of God, in the fourth month, and on the sixth day of the month which is called April" (Jesus Christ Our Redeemer, Ensign, April 1997, local copy).

But I never see any Christmas-like celebrations in April in the Mormon Church. Do you?