No. Mormons do not believe any such thing. This is a myth perpetuated by anti-Mormons in order to make the Mormon church look like a bunch of crazy lunatics. We believe that Mary was a virgin before and after she gave birth to Jesus as stated in the Book of Mormon in 1 Nephi 11:18-20:
And he said unto me: Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is the mother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh. And it came to pass that I beheld that she was carried away in the Spirit; and after she had been carried away in the Spirit for the space of a time the angel spake unto me, saying: Look! And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms.
Mormons do believe is that Christ is literally the Son of God, but there is no official statement nor any common belief as to the means by which the conception of Christ was effected, although the above statement would seem to make it clear that God did not have sex with Mary seeing as how she is referred to as still being a virgin even after the birth of Christ.
So why do people say that Mormons believe that God had sex with Mary? By taking statements by LDS Church members out of context, as usual. None of these statements say that God had sex with Mary nor did those from whom the quotes are taken intend to communicate such a concept. The full intent of their statements is to declare that Jesus is literally the Son of God. None of them make statements as to how Mary got to be pregnant, other than that it was of God and not of man. What they do affirm is that God is literally the father of Jesus Christ. That Christ had a mortal mother and an immortal father. That Christ is God incarnate, or the offspring of God in the flesh.
For more information read Does the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Teach that God had Sex with Mary? and a letter from Harold B. Lee, President of the LDS Church, on the matter.
You said, “No. Mormons do not believe any such thing. This is a myth perpetuated by anti-Mormons…”
CORRECTION: Actually, I have talke to several Mormons who believe that Mary was married to the LDS Heavenly Father and that he had sexual relations with the Virgin Mary, (at the time). There is an LDS doctrine taught by Joseph Smith that mater cannot be created from nothing. If the Virgin Mary gave her unfertilzed egg to make the body of Jesus, what did the Heavenly Father provide and how did it happen? LDS Leaders do not discuss it. Harold B. Lee was asked about the Immaculate Conception and he said, “Never have I talked about ‘sexual intercourse’ between Deity and the mother of the Savior.”
Notice he did not say, “That’s obsurd. Mormons do not ever teach this!”
The LDS Apostle Lee said, “If teachers were wise in speaking of this matter about which the Lord has said but very little, they would rest their discussion on this subject with merely the words which are recorded on this subject by Luke 1:34-35: Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” Remember that that being who brought about the Immaculate Conception was a divine personage. We need not question his method to accomplish his purposes.”
Do you see the problem? The “little” said is about a “divine personage” who came from heaven and did something to impregnate the Virgin Mary. What did the Heavenly Father do??? Mormons can only speculate that there was a mysterious insemination. That sexual transmission of semen is Mormonism.
On the other hand there is the ex-nihilo teaching of the Immaculate Conception. Mormons cannot say that the male DNA or chromosomes came from nothing. However, Christians can say this and really believe the words of Isaiah 7:14 which says “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
Come to the reall Jesus of the Bible. The real Jesus was conceived in a miracle by ex-nihilo through the Holy Spirit.
I hope and pray you, your wife and your daughter learn this.
In Jesus’ name,
Matt
Matt, your reply completely missed the mark. You argue against the absurd with the equally absurd and a scripture from Isaiah completely taken out of context. By now, an elementary inquiry into the word “virgin” cleary indicates the correct translation of the hebrew word to be “young woman.” Moreover, the prophecy has nothing to do with a Messiah in the far off future, but in contemporary time with the prophecy. And finally, Immanuel was never the name of Yesuha. So Matt, like the author of the gospel that cited this scripture was being completely dishonest by using this scripture to prove the divinity of Jesus. It is almost made from whole cloth to assert an entrenched conclusion. Apparently, even early Christians used apologists to distort facts to fit beliefs.
Joshua, seems to fit in fine with such dishonest practices. He may be able to say the current church does not teach that God had sex with Mary, but he cannot make the claim that it is a myth and that it was never taught nor that all mormons do not believe it. He can try to split hairs by saying some leaders were just speaking as men but did not really know. And that since it was never officially canonized by whatever standard chosen*, it was never offical teachings. But again, there are no offical canonized versions for most of uniquely Mormon practices(ie temple ceremonies, tithing, application of the word of wisdom, priesthood ban, polygamy, number of children, swearing, appropriate dress, nature of Native Americans, masturbation, roles of women, and so on). But as this explaination stirs up confusion and more questions, it is easier to just falsely deride it as a myth and move on.
*There is no official standard for determining what is doctrine and what is speculation, as the official standard does not meet the official standard. Nor do most of the core established doctrines. As far as I have researched.
James
I think you miss the point. We believe Jesus was part man (“son of man”) and part god (“son of god”) both referenced in the NT. The key aspect of our faith is that this genetic makeup is literal. However this does not mean that here was copulation. With artificial insemination, test-tube babies and cloning just being discovered by man, you would think Heavenly Father would have a way.
Excellent link to see how this is viewed by those of the faith.
http://www.fairlds.org/FAIR_Brochures/Did_God_have_Sex_with_Mary.pdf