“And As Many As Have Received Me, to Them Have I Given to Become the Sons of God”
All of humanity, whether they accept Jesus as their Savior or not, are literally spirit sons and daughters of heavenly parents. It is not this relationship of which Jesus is speaking in this passage. He is referring to the way whereby men and women become his spiritual sons and daughters through receiving him by faith in his name and his atoning sacrifice, and by accepting his gospel teaching and ordinances. (See Mosiah 5:7; Mosiah 27:25; D&C 341-3; D&C 39:1, 4; +>Commentary 2:169-73; see also New Witness, pp. 284-87.)
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