"our Elder Brother"

[DispensatorMysteriorum]

Is it disrespectful to refer to Jesus as our "elder brother"?

Have the brethren ever said anything about the term or its use (especially in prayer)?

[Olavarria]

Nope cuz He is.

[annewandering]

is referring to God as our Heavenly Father irreverent?

[Pandorian]

Have the brethren ever said anything about the term or its use (especially in prayer)?

[DispensatorMysteriorum]

The only reason I ask is that I know some people are bothered by it and it seems I have a faint memory of hearing someone saying something authoritative about it.

?

[Hamba Tuhan]

Though I believe it, it's something I very seldom say. I think I tend to use titles that emphasise whatever the context at the time demands, and for me that mostly means titles which focus on Lordship and Redeemership. Occasionally, though, Christ's love and example can be emphasised by remembering--and expressing--this particular famililal connection.

[Truth]

For me it is, I never use it. OTOH, I am not offended when others use it, whatever it takes for someone to be closer.

[TrespassersW]

Is it disrespectful to refer to Jesus as our "elder brother"?

Have the brethren ever said anything about the term or its use (especially in prayer)?

I wouldn't say I'm bothered by it, but I think it downplays our full relationship with Christ. Yes, he is our Elder Brother, and yes, he may be one's Best Friend, but the aspect of our relationship with Christ that I think it's most important to keep foremost in our minds is that He is our Lord and Master and we are His servants. As such, it seems to me that a little decorum in the way we refer to Him would be appropriate.

As for official statements, I don't know of any, though I do recall a talk given by Bruce R. McConckie once on the topic. I don't remember the details, though. Sorry.

[Phinehas]

Jesus is many things and has many names

ADVOCATE, LAMB OF GOD, THE RESURRECTION &THE LIFE, SHEPHERD & BISHOP OF SOULS

JUDGE, LORD OF LORDS, MAN OF SORROWS, HEAD OF THE CHURCH, MASTER,

FAITHFUL AND TRUE WITNESS, ROCK, HIGH PRIEST, THE DOOR, LIVING WATER,

BREAD OF LIFE, ROSE OF SHARON, ALPHA & OMEGA, TRUE VINE, MESSIAH, TEACHER,

HOLY ONE, MEDIATOR, THE BELOVED, BRANCH, CARPENTER, GOOD SHEPHERD,

LIGHT OF THE WORLD, IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD, THE WORD, CHIEF CORNERSTONE,

SAVIOR, SERVANT, AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH, THE ALMIGHTY, EVERLASTING FATHER,

SHILOH, LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH, I AM, KING OF KINGS, PRINCE OF PEACE, BRIDEGROOM, ONLY BEGOTTEN SON,

WONDERFUL COUNSELOR, IMMANUEL, SON OF MAN, DAYSPRING, THE AMEN, KING OF THE JEWS, PROPHET, REDEEMER,

ANCHOR, BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR, THE WAY THE TRUTH & THE LIFE

JESUS CHRIST!

I dont' think the phrase "elder brother" is in the bible.n pertaining to Christ that is.

[LifeOnaPlate]

You may be interested in this article, though it is missing one or two citations imo:

http://byustudies.byu.edu/shop/pdfsrc/45.2Volluz.pdf

[Sargon]

I have similar feelings to those expressed by others here. I recognize the technical accuracy of the title, but I think it conveys an inaccurate picture of my relationship to Jesus. Therefore, I never use it and I do cringe a bit when others do.

After all, Satan is my brother too.

Sargon

[LifeOnaPlate]

Also some good stuff here:

http://en.fairmormon.org/Jesus_Christ_is_t...rother_of_Satan

[LifeOnaPlate]

Matt. 12: 50

For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

…Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. (John 20:17)

[LifeOnaPlate]

I have similar feelings to those expressed by others here. I recognize the technical accuracy of the title, but I think it conveys an inaccurate picture of my relationship to Jesus. Therefore, I never use it and I do cringe a bit when others do.

After all, Satan is my brother too.

Sargon

I like this, from Elder M. Russell Ballard:

We occasionally hear some members refer to Jesus as our Elder Brother, which is a true concept based on our understanding of the premortal life with our Father in Heaven. But like many points of gospel doctrine, that simple truth doesn't go far enough in terms of describing the Savior's role in our present lives and His great position as a member of the Godhead. Thus, some non-LDS Christians are uncomfortable with what they perceive as a secondary role for Christ in our theology. They feel that we view Jesus as a spiritual peer. They believe that we view Christ as an implementor for God, if you will, but that we don't view Him as God to us and to all mankind, which, of course, is counter to biblical testimony about Christ's divinityâ?¦

Now we can understand why some Latter-day Saints have tended to focus on Christ's Sonship as opposed to His Godhood. As members of earthly families, we can relate to Him as a child, as a Son, and as a Brother because we know how that feels. We can personalize that relationship because we ourselves are children, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters. For some it may be more difficult to relate to Him as a God. And so in an attempt to draw closer to Christ and to cultivate warm and personal feelings toward Him, some tend to humanize Him, sometimes at the expense of acknowledging His Divinity. So let us be very clear on this point: it is true that Jesus was our Elder Brother in the premortal life, but we believe that in this life it is crucial that we become "born again" as His sons and daughters in the gospel covenant.

[Hamba Tuhan]

I dont' think the phrase "elder brother" is in the bible.n pertaining to Christ that is.

You are absolutely right, Phinehas, though the Lord repeatedly identified Himself as a brother. One example:

Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

(New Testament | John 20:17, emphasis added)

[charity's child]

I wouldn't say I'm bothered by it, but I think it downplays our full relationship with Christ. Yes, he is our Elder Brother, and yes, he may be one's Best Friend, but the aspect of our relationship with Christ that I think it's most important to keep foremost in our minds is that He is our Lord and Master and we are His servants. As such, it seems to me that a little decorum in the way we refer to Him would be appropriate.

As for official statements, I don't know of any, though I do recall a talk given by Bruce R. McConckie once on the topic. I don't remember the details, though. Sorry.

our full relationship is that he is our Savior.

How I refer to him depends on the moment. Sometimes it is very important for me to remember the familial relationship, because it reminds me that I matter to him. That's when I would refer to him as my brother.

[Hamba Tuhan]

[T]he aspect of our relationship with Christ that I think it's most important to keep foremost in our minds is that He is our Lord and Master and we are His servants.

Amen!

And a double amen to Elder Ballard's comments!!

I am literally hamba Tuhan. That's the only relationship I desire.

[Heartleap]

I like this, from Elder M. Russell Ballard:

Why are the LDS "born again" (in the next life) into son and daughters of Christ. How come Heavenly Father did not let Jesus populate this planet for himself? How come the LDS do not pray to Jesus if you are going to be "born again" as his children. Where is your official doctrine on this? If I were Mormon and had the promise of my own spirit Children I would not want my Dad and Mom to have them for me.

Heartleap...

[Hamba Tuhan]

Why are the LDS "born again" (in the next life) into son and daughters of Christ. How come Heavenly Father did not let Jesus populate this planet for himself? How come the LDS do not pray to Jesus if you are going to be "born again" as his children. Where is your official doctrine on this? If I were Mormon and had the promise of my own spirit Children I would not want my Dad and Mom to have them for me.

Heartleap...

Elder Ballard is referring to spiritual rebirth, the process by which a person who places his faith in Christ is made a new creature through the Saviour's transforming power.

On another thread you claim that you ran 'out of Mormonism and into the arms of God.' No offence intended, but I'm left wondering what this 'Mormonism' you ran out of was if you are unfamiliar with the core doctrine of spiritual rebirth through Christ.

[Heartleap]

Elder Ballard is referring to spiritual rebirth, the process by which a person who places his faith in Christ is made a new creature through the Saviour's transforming power.

On another thread you claim that you ran 'out of Mormonism and into the arms of God.' No offence intended, but I'm left wondering what this 'Mormonism' you ran out of was if you are unfamiliar with the core doctrine of spiritual rebirth through Christ.

I have been out of Mormonism a long time (17 years ) and have forgotten a lot about it. LDS terminoligy is different than what I am used to now. I had to unlearn a lot of Mormonism to understand Christianity. I read that Ballard said that you would be reborn as son and daughters of Christ. My belief now is that by being "reborn" Christ lives in me now. My husband was an lnactive LDS and so I never took out any endowments or got married in the Temple so I did not get beyond doing baptisms for the dead and so I do not know or remember some of your core doctrines. Where is the official doctrine located of Spiritual rebirth through Christ that says he will be your father? Or I guess you will be his sons and daughters. Is this a Temple covenant? I was born Mormon and took alot of it's doctrine for granted, not really paying much attention to details because I had a Testimony that it was true and the details did not really matter to me then...

Heartleap...

[Hamba Tuhan]

Where is the official doctrine located of Spiritual rebirth through Christ that says he will be your father? Or I guess you will be his sons and daughters. Is this a Temple covenant?

Hi, Heartleap. One needn't have been endowed to encounter the concept of being born again through Christ. We simply take it from the scriptures, beginning with the witness in the New Testament but solidly confirmed by the witness in the Book of Mormon. Since Jesus is the one who spiritually 'begets' us through His sacrifice and grace, we understand Him to be our Father, we to be His children. He is the Father of our salvation:

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

(John 3:3)

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

(2 Corinthians 5:17)

And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters.

And under this head ye are made free, and there is no other head whereby ye can be made free. There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ, all you that have entered into the covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto the end of your lives.

(Mosiah 5:7 - 8 )

[thesometimesaint]

I don't use it, but have no real objections to those that do.

[consiglieri]

You may be interested in this article, though it is missing one or two citations imo:

http://byustudies.byu.edu/shop/pdfsrc/45.2Volluz.pdf

Thanks for the link, LOAP! Wow, that was a really interesting article. Reading it opened my eyes to a lot of things I had not considered before.

Back to the question in the OP, however, I doubt it is intentionally disrespectful for Mormons to refer to Jesus as their Elder Brother. But when Mormons call Jesus their "Big Brother," I do tend to squirm.

Based upon the amazingly insightful article you linked to, LOAP, I would also suggest that it is quite likely not even true that Jesus is our elder brother.

But I still don't think it is disrespectful.

All the Best!

--Consiglieri

[Lightbearer]

Not disrespectful in the least, just as saying God the Father is the Father of our spirits is not disrespectful, just as saying that Jesus was the Firstborn spirit son of God the Father is not disrespectful, just as saying that those who overcome the world through the grace and mercy of Christ and are cleansed and made holy have the potential to become as God is is not disrespectful. Now making light-minded remarks like calling Jesus our "big brother" (that is a new one for me) or being too casual in our approach to deity (by omitting formalities in our prayers or dressing shabbily when we are performing our priesthood duties) now that is disrespectful and is not sanctioned by the Church. Jesus is my elder brother, He loves all of us unconditionally, and wants to bless us with all that He and the Father hath, if we will let Him. Christ our savior is the prototype the pattern of the perfect son, and He will make us all sons and daughters if we will let Him through His glorious Gospel:

(Romans 8:14-19) "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God."

We are the sons of God if we follow the prototype who is Christ the Lord. Our spirits came from God and we are here in the flesh to work out our salvation, just as Christ overcame the world and worked out His own salvation. He will not be alone:

(Romans 8:29) "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren."

We were foreordained to become as Christ is, whether we do so will depend on our choices in this life, whether we choose to follow Christ or not. So referring to Christ as our "elder brother" is not disrespectful in any way, the office of "elder" was named after Him.

[Scott Lloyd]

The term is contained in my patriarchal blessing, so I hope there is never a directive prohibiting it.

Whatever scriptural or doctrinal authority may or may not be attached to the appellation, I don't think it is worth getting in a tizzy over.