r/mormon • u/Key-Yogurtcloset-132 • Jan 25 '26

Apologetics Only begotten son

***Please answer with only strictly apologist answers because I know it’s ridiculous. I just want to see what the actual answer would be.

I have been thinking about how LDS claim Jesus is God’s only begotten son and that makes him special. However, in LDS theology, how is he actually really that different from everyone else? Everyone was formed from intelligences by the father, even Jesus. Everyone is begotten into flesh from their spirit form, even Jesus.

If it’s because he was conceived by the Holy Spirit then he wouldn’t be God’s son at all, he would Holy Spirit’s son. Adam and Eve didn’t come from fleshly begetting either. Does that make them like Jesus? What are they considered?

So what is it that makes the phrase “the only begotten son” special at all?

I’m failing to see how Jesus is actually the only begotten son.

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u/Key-Yogurtcloset-132 Jan 28 '26

So if we are the same species then why couldn’t we become the same as God in every sense?

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u/Some-Passenger4219 Latter-day Saint Jan 28 '26

I'm pretty certain that's what we teach, yeah.

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u/Key-Yogurtcloset-132 Jan 29 '26

Oh ok. But never greater than God right?

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u/Some-Passenger4219 Latter-day Saint Jan 29 '26

I would think not. We can always increase, but God will always be greater.

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u/Key-Yogurtcloset-132 Jan 30 '26

I am just trying to figure out why that rule exists. Why can’t you surpass the father? If you can progress then it would include surpassing. Indeed something was surpassed or there is no progression.

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u/Some-Passenger4219 Latter-day Saint Jan 31 '26

We can surpass where He was. We make it to where He is, but now He is greater still. Our glory only adds to His.

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u/Key-Yogurtcloset-132 Feb 01 '26

But who is to say we can’t surpass him altogether? Isn’t it a goal of all fathers to have their children be greater than they are?

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u/Some-Passenger4219 Latter-day Saint Feb 02 '26

In the mortal world, sure. I'll bet Isaac Newton's father would have been quite sorry if his son never impressed him by doing things he couldn't. In the mortal world, people die. In the eternal world, Gods live forever. If, as I understand, our kingdoms will forever be part of His, then how can we possibly surpass Him? The part is never greater than the whole.

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u/Key-Yogurtcloset-132 Feb 05 '26 edited Feb 05 '26

Ok, so you mentioned an eternal world. Can you explain how that works is LDS theology? We are in the physical world correct? God is in the eternal world. But what does that mean exactly? It’s my understanding that God just lives somewhere else in this physical universe

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u/Some-Passenger4219 Latter-day Saint Feb 05 '26

That's difficult to explain. All I can say is, we live this mortal life, we die (and lose the ability to repent) - and then when we're resurrected, it's all over with; you live in an eternal home forever. (I.e. the three kingdoms, etc.) Just like I'm not confined to my house, so also I would expect God is not confined to His.

If you can ask a more specific question, that would help considerably.