THE JESUS WAS MARRIED MORMON HERESY
Note: Mormon scholars have taught that Jesus was
a polygamist and was married to Mary past and present.
Because
Jesus interacted freely with Mary, Martha, Mary Magdalene, and many
other women in a manner that the Jews of his day would have considered
improper and highly unbecoming unless he were married, there are those
who speculate that Mary Magdalene was his wife. Nothing in scripture
refutes that idea, but neither is it supported. In the scriptures she
is portrayed as a close friend of the Savior's, a woman of great
fortitude. Her love never faltered, and her faith carried her through
the dark hours of the Crucifixion. When others fled, she remained. When
the two apostles left the tomb, she lingered. Where others' eyes saw
emptiness, she saw angels, and it was she who first discerned the risen
Christ. Her reward was not only a crown of glory but a closer knowledge
of things divine and a sacred commission. She who had been carrying
spices to a tomb now threw aside her useless ointments and carried the
glorious news: "I have seen the Lord." (Jerrie W. Hurd, Our Sisters in the Bible [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1983], 129.)
As
to the doctrine of Deity, the "Address" declares: "We believe in the
God-head, comprising the three individual personages, Father, Son and
Holy Ghost." As this declaration stands here, it will not perhaps
suggest Tritheism or Materialism to Christians unfamiliar with Mormon
theological terms. But when the full doctrine of the Deity, as taught
in Mormon congregations, is known, it will at once be seen that no
Christian can accept it. In fact, the Mormon Church teaches that God
the Father has a material body of flesh and bone's; that Adam is the
God of the human race; that this Adam-God was physically begotten by
another God; that the Gods were once as we are now; that there is a
great multiplicity of Gods; that Jesus Christ was physically begotten
by the Heavenly Father of Mary, His wife; that, as we have a Heavenly
Father, so also we have a Heavenly Mother; that Jesus Himself was
married, and was probably a polygamist—at least so it has been printed
in their publications and taught among their people; and that the Holy
Spirit is of material substance, capable of actual transmission from
one person to another. (B. H. Roberts, Defense of the Faith and the Saints, 2 vols. [Salt Lake City: Deseret News, 1907], 2: 268.)
How
was it with Mary and Martha, and other women that followed him? In old
times, and it is common in this day, the women, even as Sarah, called
their husbands Lord; the word Lord is tantamount to husband in some
languages, master, lord, husband, are about synonymous. In England we
frequently hear the wife say, "Where is my master?" She does not mean a
tyrant, but as Sarah called her husband Lord, she designates hers by
the word master. When Mary of old came to the sepulcher on the first
day of the week, instead of finding Jesus she saw two angels in white,
"And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She said unto them,
Because they have taken away my Lord," or husband, "and I know not
where they have laid him. And when she had thus said, she turned
herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She,
supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have
borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him
away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto
him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master." Is there not here manifested
the affections of a wife. These words speak the kindred ties and
sympathies that are common to that relation of husband and wife. Where
will you find a family so nearly allied by the ties of common religion?
"Well," you say, "that appears rather plausible, but I want a little
more evidence, I want you to find where it says the Savior was actually
married." (Journal of Discourses, 26 vols. [London: Latter-day Saints' Book Depot, 1854-1886], 2: 81 - 82.)
Gentlemen, that is as plain as the translators, or
different councils over this Scripture, dare allow it to go to the
world, but the thing is there; it is told; Jesus was the bridegroom at
the marriage of Cana of Galilee, and he told them what to do. Now there
was actually a marriage; and if Jesus was not the bridegroom on that
occasion, please tell who was. If any man can show this and prove that
it was not the Savior of the world, then I will acknowledge I am in
error. We say it was Jesus Christ who was married, to be brought into
the relation whereby he could see his seed before he was crucified.
(Journal of Discourses; Orson Hyde October 6, 1854, page 82)
Mormon Scholars
Write Book On 'The Da Vinci Code'
SALT LAKE CITY
The astronomical success of “The Da Vinci Code” has prompted a high number of
diverse religious critiques. Now three Mormon scholars are weighing in on the
debate.
It’s an interesting prospect given that former leaders of The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints have at times agreed with one of author Dan Brown’s
biggest leaps – that it’s possible Jesus Christ was married. (and current
leaders)
Barraged by questions from friends, family, even people seated next to them on
airplanes, authors Richard Neitzel Holzapfel, Andrew C. Skinner and Thomas A.
Wayment – all professors of church history or ancient scripture at the Mormon
church-owned Brigham Young University – co-wrote “What Da Vinci Didn’t Know: An
LDS Perspective.”
The book, published by Deseret Book, which is affiliated with the business arm
of the LDS church, was released May 3 and joins what has become a cacophony of
religious historians attacking flaws in the theories presented in “The Da Vinci
Code.”
Holzapfel said the number of questions wasn’t surprising given the popularity of
the novel. It’s sold tens of millions of copies, and the book has found a unique
appeal among Mormon readers, he said.
“I think some Mormons like the book because it says Jesus was married,”
Holzapfel said. “But I say to them, ‘Don’t you get that the Jesus at the end of
the book is not the Jesus you worship?”‘
One of the primary criticisms of the professors’ book is that in Brown’s novel
the assumption is, Jesus was married, Jesus had a child, therefore, Jesus was
human and not divine, Holzapfel said.
It’s a question that is of particular interest to Latter-day Saints, in part,
because marriage and family have an exalted place in Mormon theology but also
because many LDS leaders, beginning with founder Joseph Smith, have implied or
believed that Jesus was married.
“Whether or not he was married or not is not the issue here,” Holzapfel said.
“We’re saying the text is silent and, if you argue he was married or wasn’t
married, you’re arguing from silence and that’s the weakest argument.”
A belief that Jesus was married has never been official doctrine in the LDS
church, said church spokeswoman Kim Farah.
“While it is true that a few church leaders in the mid-1800s expressed their
opinions on the matter, it was not then and is not now church doctrine,” she
said.
A movie version of “The Da Vinci Code” makes its debut Wednesday at the Cannes
Film Festival.
The book follows two main characters as a murder mystery forces them to decipher
clues throughout France and England, where they uncover a centuries-old secret
and the true Holy Grail – that Jesus Christ was married to Mary Magdalene and
they had a child.
It’s become a worldwide best-seller.
As the film’s debut nears, a senior Vatican official has called for a boycott
and Christian groups from South Korea, Thailand, Greece and India have planned
boycotts, hunger strikes and attempts to block or shorten screenings.
Like many of the book’s critics, the BYU professors say they would have little
problem with the work of fiction if it didn’t have the following statement on
the first page:
“All descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents and secret rituals in this
novel are accurate.”
Critics dispute much of the what the book labels as fact and contend, at best,
some of them require much qualification. Others go so far as to accuse Brown of
blasphemy.
“My initial reaction was a little bit of resentment that the author of the novel
had elevated the ideas he was presenting to the status of factual truth,” said
co-author Skinner.
“There’s nothing wrong in asking the kinds of questions that people want to ask
about Jesus’ personal life,” he said. “We just don’t have a lot of information.
I’m a little distressed, I suppose, to see some folks accept the ideas presented
in ‘The Da Vinci Code’ without any kind of critical thought.”
In addition to the marriage question, “What Da Vinci Didn’t Know” in about 120
pages concisely discusses other disputed points in “The Da Vinci Code,”
commenting on the history of the search for the Holy Grail, the suppression of
early Christian texts and women in early Christianity. But what Holzapfel and
Skinner think is their book’s greatest value is a chapter on how readers should
approach historical novels and movies. They’ve come to terms with the fact the
reading public isn’t likely to pick up a doctoral thesis.
“People are going to access history through
popular media. We’re saying, ‘Can we help them to make that a profitable
experience?”‘ Holzapfel said.
“When I can join in the conversation I’m
delighted,” Skinner added. “I want to be of some use to people.”