Every reader of the Bible knows that Jesus is the Son of God. But how is that sonship to be understood, exactly?

Mainstream Christians believe that “Jesus is not God’s Son in the sense of a human father and a son. God did not get married and have a son. God did not mate with Mary and, together with her, produce a son. Jesus is God’s Son in the sense that He is God made manifest in human form (John 1:1, 14). Jesus is God’s Son in that He was conceived in Mary by the Holy Spirit.”

Latter-day Saints understand that Jesus is the Son of God in at least two senses. First, he is the firstborn child of the Father and Mother’s (see #59 A Mother in Heaven) spirit children. Second, he is the only begotten son of God in the flesh. This means that, in some way, God is literally Jesus’ earthly father. Latter-day Saints do not affirm that God had sexual intercourse with Mary. Whether that is true is unknown and may be known at a later time. What Latter-day Saints do affirm is God’s literal parentage of Christ in both the spirit and flesh (2 Nephi 25:12; Doctrine & Covenants 93:11). As Ezra Taft Benson retorted, “I am bold to say to you, … Jesus Christ is the Son of God in the most literal sense. The body in which He performed His mission in the flesh was sired by that same Holy Being we worship as God, our Eternal Father. He was not the son of Joseph, nor was He begotten by the Holy Ghost. He is the Son of the Eternal Father!” How Jesus’ conception occurred will be understood by revelation in the future (Articles of Faith 1:9).

In whatever way Jesus’ conception is understood, it certainly should not ever be interpreted to mean that Mary was not a virgin at the time of Jesus’ conception. Latter-day Saints affirm that Mary was a virgin when she conceived Jesus (1 Nephi 11:13–20). Whether she remained a virgin after Jesus’ conception and birth is not known.

Beginning with God’s embodiment (see #50 HEAVENLY FATHER HAS A BODY OF FLESH AND BONES), Latter-day Saints have continued to radically alter the currently-prevailing religious understanding of God and Jesus in profound and meaningful ways that redefine our human potential and further endear us to a knowable God.