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by Eleanor Colton

Mary, mother of Jesus Christ, was a virgin at the time of Jesus' birth. Of Old Testament prophets, Isaiah alone foretold this circumstance (Isaiah 7:14), but Book of Mormon prophets also foresaw the virgin birth. Nephi described Mary as "a virgin, most beautiful and fair" and "mother of the son of God, after the manner of the flesh" (1 Ne. 11:15, 18). Alma declared that Christ "shall be born of Mary…a virgin…who shall…conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God" (Alma 7:10).

In fulfillment of these prophecies, Gabriel "was sent from God…to a virgin…and the virgin's name was Mary," and Gabriel announced to her that she would "bring forth a son, and…call his name Jesus." To her question, "How shall this be?" Gabriel answered, "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee…therefore [the child]…born of thee shall be called the Son of God" (Luke 1:26-35). Thereafter, Joseph married Mary but "knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son" (Matt. 1:25). Thus, Jesus was born of a mortal mother who was a virgin.

(See Mary, Mother of Jesus; Was Mary a Virgin?; Birth of Christ; Immaculate Conception; Basic Beliefs home page; Teachings About Jesus Christ home page)

Bibliography

McConkie, Bruce R. The Promised Messiah, pp. 465-66. Salt Lake City, 1978.

Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Vol. 4, Virgin Birth

Copyright © 1992 by Macmillan Publishing Company