Is Lucifer a Son of God?

by Robert Rosskopf

Many other Christian sects have accused Mormons of believing that Jesus is the brother of Satan. This sounds outrageous on the surface, and makes a good sound bite, but it doesn't really describe any lesson one is likely to be taught in a Mormon church. The idea comes from the notion that we are all the spirit children of God, and lived with God before we came to Earth to receive physical bodies. Mormons do believe that Jesus was the only begotten Son of God in the flesh.

Most of the time when the Bible or Book of Mormon refers to the children of God, they are referring to the righteous.

"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God."
Matthew 5:9

"For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus."
Galations 3:26

"In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother."
1 John 3:10

"By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments."
1 John 5:2

"And thus he commanded them to preach. And thus they became the children of God."
Mosiah 18:22, The Book of Mormon

"Nevertheless the children of God were commanded that they should gather themselves together oft, and join in fasting and mighty prayer in behalf of the welfare of the souls of those who knew not God."
Alma 6:6, The Book of Mormon

It is even described the same way in latter-day revelations given to the Prophet Joseph Smith:

"And all these gifts come from God, for the benefit of the children of God."
The Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 46:26

The phrase "sons of God" is used in much the same way.

"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."
Romans 8:14

"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not."
1 John 3:1

"And after that he came men also were saved by faith in his name; and by faith, they become the sons of God."
Moroni 7:26, The Book of Mormon

"But verily, verily, I say unto you, that as many as receive me, to them will I give power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on my name. Amen."
D & C 11:30

This isn't always the case. In some of the oldest Jewish literature, all men are referred to as the sons of God.

"Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them."
Job 1:6

"And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose."
Genesis 6:1-2

"When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?"
Job 38:7

"I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High."
Psalms 82:6

There is also the idea that Satan or Lucifer was once an angel in heaven, i.e. a son of God.

"How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!"
Isaiah 14:12

"And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born."
Revelations 12:4

"And it came to pass that Adam, being tempted of the devil—for, behold, the devil was before Adam, for he rebelled against me, saying, Give me thine honor, which is my power; and also a third part of the hosts of heaven turned he away from me because of their agency;"
D & C 29:36

"And the Lord said: Whom shall I send? And one answered like unto the Son of Man: Here am I, send me. And another answered and said: Here am I, send me. And the Lord said: I will send the first. And the second was angry, and kept not his first estate; and, at that day, many followed after him."
Abraham 3: 26-27, The Pearl of Great Price

Paul referred to God as the "father of all".

"One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."
Ephesians 4:6

The scriptures, even latter-day scriptures, do not come right out and say that Lucifer was a son of God, but it is inferred in multiple places, as I have shown. It could be that this is an error in our thinking, but it really isn't foundational to our beliefs. If we discover some day the exact relationship of God to Lucifer, I am convinced that it won't be far afield from what we already know.