Gospel Principles
Unit 1: Our Premortal Life with God
Chapter 2: Our Heavenly Family
Concept 1: We Are Children of Our Heavenly Father
"God is not only our ruler and creator; he is also our Heavenly Father. "All men and women are ... literally the sons and daughters of Deity... Man, as a spirit, was begotten and born of heavenly parents, and reared to maturity in the eternal mansions of the Father, prior to coming upon the earth in a temporal [physical] body" (Joseph F. Smith, "The Origin of Man," Improvement Era, Nov. 1909, pp. 78, 80).
Every person who was ever born on earth was our spirit brother or sister in heaven. The first spirit born to our heavenly parents was Jesus Christ (D&C 93:21 "And now, verily I say unto you, I was in the beginning with the Father, and am the Firstborn;"), so he is literally our elder brother (see Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 26). Because we are the spiritual children of our heavenly parents, we have inherited the potential to develop their divine qualities. If we choose to do so, we can become perfect, just as they are.
Discussion
Who is the Father of our spirits?
Where did we live before we were born on earth?
What is our relationship to God and to each other?
Hebrews 12:9 "Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?"
Who was the first spirit born to our heavenly parents?
How are we like our heavenly parents?"