Was Jesus Christ born on April 6th? What do LDS Church leaders say about this topic? Doctrine and Covenants 20:1 appears to indicate that the Savior was born on April 6th, 1,830 years to the day before the Church was organized, but is this verse to be read literally?
The following quotes from Church leaders, official Church publications, and other Church members in official magazines discuss this subject.
Quotes from Latter-day Church Leaders
President Gordon B. Hinckley:
“In a few days comes the promise that spring will come again and summer will return, as it has through all the millennia that men have been upon the earth. It is no wonder that in ancient times Christmas, commemorating the birth of the Christ child, was celebrated at this solstice season. Men had no knowledge of the time of His birth, and so they came to bond the celebration of Christmas with the celebration of the return of the sun. While we now know through revelation the time of the Savior’s birth [April 6], we observe the 25th of December with the rest of the Christian world.”
(“Christmas Devotional with First Presidency,” Ensign, Feb. 1998, 74–75)
President Harold B. Lee:
"This is the annual conference of the Church. April 6, 1973, is a particularly significant date because it commemorates not only the anniversary of the organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in this dispensation, but also the anniversary of the birth of the Savior, our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ. Joseph Smith wrote this, preceding a revelation given at that same date:
“The rise of the Church of Christ in these last days, being one thousand eight hundred and thirty years since the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the flesh, it being regularly organized and established agreeable to the laws of our country, by the will and commandments of God, in the fourth month, and on the sixth day of the month which is called April.” (D&C 20:1.) (Harold B. Lee, “Strengthen the Stakes of Zion,” Ensign, Jul 1973, 2; Address delivered Friday morning, April 6, 1973)
President Spencer W. Kimball:
"My brothers and sisters, today we not only celebrate the Sesquicentennial of the organization of the Church, but also the greatest event in human history since the birth of Christ on this day 1,980 years ago. Today is Easter Sunday."
(Spencer W. Kimball, “Remarks and Dedication of the Fayette, New York, Buildings,” Ensign, May 1980, 54)
Elder Bruce R. McConkie:
"On the false assumption that Christianity had its beginning with our Lord's mortal ministry, his birth was chosen to mark the beginning of the so-called Christian Era. Though there is considerable controversy and uncertainty among scholars of the world as to the actual year of Christ's birth, the revelation given on the day the Church was organized in this dispensation apparently intends to convey the thought that he was born April 6, B.C. 1. (D&C 20:1)."
(Mormon Doctrine, p.131)
Elder Bruce R. McConkie:
“Apparently Christ was born on the day corresponding to April 6 (D&C 20:1), but the saints nevertheless join in the wholesome portions of the Christmas celebration. Christmas becomes to them an ideal opportunity to renew their search for the true spirit of Christ and to center their attentions again on the true doctrine of his birth as the Son of an Immortal Father.”
(Mormon Doctrine, pp.132-33)
Elder Bruce R. McConkie:
"We do not believe it is possible with the present state of our knowledge—including that which is known both in and out of the Church—to state with finality when the natal day of the Lord Jesus actually occurred."
(Mortal Messiah, Vol. 1, p. 349, n. 2)
Elder N. Eldon Tanner:
"April is truly a historic month in which we commemorate two of the most important events in the history of mankind: the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and the reestablishment of his church and kingdom here upon the earth in these, the latter days. Members of the Church also believe that Christ was born on April 6 in the year 1 b.c. (See D&C 20:1.)"
(N. Eldon Tanner, “Resurrection and Restoration,” Ensign, Apr 1971, 2)
Quotes from Other Church Publications
Doctrine and Covenants and Church History Seminary Manual:
"Doctrine and Covenants 20:1—Why the Sixth of April? The Lord gave 6 April 1830 as the day to formerly organize His Church. President Harold B. Lee spoke of the significance of this date: “April 6, 1973 is a particularly significant date because it commemorates not only the anniversary of the organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints in this dispensation, but also the anniversary of the birth of the Savior, our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1973, 4; or Ensign, July 1973, 2).
(Doctrine and Covenants and Church History: Seminary Student Study Guide, Page 32)
Quotes from Other Church members
Richard O. Cowan, Professor of Church History and Doctrine, Brigham Young University:
"First let us review how we know the Savior was born in April. As directed by revelation, the Church was organized on April 6, 1830 (a Tuesday), which was “eighteen hundred and thirty years since the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the flesh.” (D&C 20:1.) Thus we schedule general conference sessions on April 6 each year; we are not only marking the anniversary of the Church’s organization, but we are commemorating the Lord’s birth as well."
(Richard O. Cowan, “Q&A: Questions and Answers,” New Era, Dec. 1974, 10–11)
John P. Pratt, (see entire article; here's an excerpt):
"The Savior’s Birth Date
"Since the organization of the Church on 6 April 1830, many members have believed that Jesus was born on 6 April 1 b.c. This belief is based on a revelation stating that the Church was organized “one thousand eight hundred and thirty years since the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the flesh, it being regularly organized and established agreeable to the laws of our country, by the will and commandments of God, in the fourth month, and on the sixth day of the month which is called April.” (D&C 20:1.)
"The wording used does not make it clear whether this verse was intended to mean that the day 6 April 1830 was precisely 1,830 years since the birth of Jesus, or whether it was simply a formal way of stating that the year was called 1830. Some Church leaders have argued for the literal interpretation that Jesus was born on 6 April 1 b.c. 37 They often note that the Lord pointed out “the precise day … to organize His Church.” (D&C 20, section heading.) Other Church leaders have not felt bound to accept Doctrine and Covenants 20:1 as accurate to the very day because “the Church has made no official declaration on the matter.” 38 (D&C 20:1)
"Recently, two Presidents of the Church affirmed their belief that this verse does imply that April 6 (on our calendar) is the anniversary of the Lord’s birth. On 6 April 1973, President Harold B. Lee noted that that day was “the anniversary of the birth of the Savior” and then quoted Doctrine and Covenants 20:1 as a reference. (Ensign, July 1973, p. 2.) Then on 6 April 1980, President Spencer W. Kimball stated that Jesus was born on “this day 1,980 years ago.” (Ensign, May 1980, p. 54.)
"While these statements may not have been intended as declarations of doctrine, they do add to the impression that the literal interpretation of Doctrine and Covenants 20:1 is generally accepted in the Church, favoring the acceptance of 6 April 1 b.c. as the Savior’s birthdate, consistent with Option C above.
(John P. Pratt, “The Restoration of Priesthood Keys on Easter 1836, Part 1: Dating the First Easter,” Ensign, Jun 1985, 59)
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6 comments:
I have been a member for 17 years and never heard this idea. It makes sense to me and make the commercial christmas easier to tolerate. Happy Brithday Jesus.
Very interesting. I celebrate Christmas in December, and Christ's birth, death, resurrection and reorganization of His church in April.
It may be of great interest to find the exact date, but does it really matter? Calendars have changed. One day seem to float into another (especially after one gets to be an octogenarian) and if one day is as a thousand years to the Lord, why quibble? Knowing or not knowing the exact dat has almost nothing to do with my life nor my worship.
Nevertheless, it is fun to research and wonder.
I was born on April 6, 1985 (Black Saturday). I was also named after Jesus. It's an honor to be named after him but sometimes I feel like I am not worhty of his name.
J.T.P.
Since 3 Nephi 8:5 in the Book of Mormon states the sign of the death of Christ came 33 years and three days after the sign of his birth (the assumption is that Nephi years are the same as ours) a simple look at when the passover was celebrated in the past would be helpful. In 27 C.E. passover was on 10 April. Christ was crucified the day before Passover. Going back 33 years and four days, Christ was born on 6 April 6 BCE which is consistant with historical data.
Bob Evans
bobevans01@sbcglobal.net
Allen, Texas
AS with most members, they often take heresay and myths as revelations. Just because one general authority gives an opinion, does not make it revelation nor anything to back it up. As well people trying to back up a belief tend to pull from history only the quotes that support their belief, even though some of the people quoted here actually said the opposite.
Those who knew Joseph Smith persnoally would have known the actual date, although quotes from people who knew Joseph personally do not place it on April 6.
Also April 6 was known among the occult, of which Joseph's family was known to practice, was a day for gathering and new foundations, this day was chosen to found the church because it was considered good luck, and had nothing to do with the birth of Christ.
If I were to celebrate Christmas, or the birthday of Christ, I should go back a little less than thirty-three years from his crucifixion, and it would bring it to Thursday, the 11th day of April, as the first day of the first year of the true Christian era…. The first day of the year of the true Christian era should be the day of the Savior's birth -- the 11th day of April. (Journal of Discourses, 15: 261.)
Not all recent General Authorities have accepted April 6 as the Christ’s birth day. Bruce R. McConkie, for example, wrote:
We do not believe it is possible with the present state of our knowledge-including that which is known both in and out of the Church-to state with finality when the natal day of the Lord Jesus actually occurred. (McConkie, 1:349, n.2.)
3) In order for D&C 20:1 to refer to the literal date of Jesus’ birth, it would require that He was born in the year 1 B.C. This is problematic. While April may possibly be the month of Jesus’ birth, most scholars date the year to between 4 B.C. to 7 B.C. As LDS scholars, Brown, Griggs, and Hansen note: “The impossibility of dating Jesus’ birth in 1 B.C. arises from the date of Herod’s death. ...Herod died in 4 B.C. Try as one might, one cannot escape this fact.”(Brown, Griggs, and Hansen, 255.) These three LDS scholars (two of whom are professors of ancient scripture and one of whom is a professor of physics and astronomy) have shown that those a 1 B.C. dating for Jesus’ birth cannot be supported by history, astronomy, or ancient calendrical systems. (Brown, Griggs, and Hansen, 375-83.)
I have been informed by the Holy Spirit of God, Our Heavenly Father, that the 6th of April is indeed the Birth date of His divine Son, it was also chosen to be the Date for the True church to be formally restored upon the earth, 6th April 1830....I leave my Testamony of the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, in these latter days.
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