Do Mormons believe in the Virgin Mary?

Answer 1

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (commonly called "Mormons") believe that Mary was the mother of Jesus Christ. They do not worship her or pray to her, but consider her a virtuous woman of humble obedience and faith, and a "precious and chosen vessel" (Book of Mormon, Alma 7:10).

The Encyclopedia of Mormonism says, "Doctrinally, Latter Day Saints do not view Mary as the intercessor with her son in behalf of those who pray, and they do not pray to her. They affirm the Virgin Birth but reject the traditions of the Immaculate Conception, of Mary's perpetual virginity, and of her "assumption". Mary, like all mortals, returns to God the Father only through the atonement of her son, Jesus Christ."

To see further information from the Church regarding it's teachings about Mary the mother of Jesus, see the "Related Links" below.

Answer 2

Yes, depending on who you speak to and how you interpret various teachings. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the "Mormon" church) refer to Mary the mother of Jesus as the 'Virgin Mary' and do not actively preach that she was somehow not a virgin following the conception of the Savior. However, they do believe that Jesus is the 'only Begotten' of God and that He was conceived by God the Father - no description as to how this was done, one can only infer.

Here is what some modern Mormon church leaders have said:

"He was the Only Begotten Son of our Heavenly Father in the flesh-the only child whose mortal body was begotten by our Heavenly Father. His mortal mother, Mary, was called a virgin, both before and after she gave birth" -President Ezra Taft Benson, April 1986 New Era

"Nonbelievers find it hard to accept the Savior's virgin birth and Resurrection." -Apostle Quentin L. Cook, April 2009 General Conference

"Begotten of God, He was born of the virgin Mary, conquered death, atoned for the sins of the world, and brought salvation to both the living and dead." - Bishop Keith B. McMullin, October 2008 General Conference

"He came to this earth as the Son of God, the Eternal Father, and the mortal virgin Mary." - Apostle Joseph B. Wirthlin, October 1996 General Conference

Another viewpoint: Absolutely she was a virgin! To Mormons, there is no question or equivocation on God's fatherhood of Jesus Christ. Whether or not she remained celibate throughout her life is neither important doctrinally, nor possible to determine. Some of the fuzziness presented above may be because The Bible itself refers to siblings of Jesus (Mark 6:3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James [author of the Epistle of James], and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.) This would suggest that Mary had subsequent children.

Answer 3

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (commonly called "Mormons") believe that Mary was the mother of Jesus, and that she concieved him of God, not man. They do not pray to her or have statues of her as many Catholics do, however.