April 6th

The subject was brought up in Church today about the date of April 6^th and its significance.  We know that on April 6, 1830 the Church was organized as stated in revelation: “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).  This is an important day for us to commemorate, and each year we have general conference around that date.  We celebrate the message of the Restoration that the heavens are open, the keys of the Priesthood are on the earth again, and that the Savior’s Church has been reestablished on the earth.  In that spirit on April 6, 1980—exactly 150 years from the date of the organization—the Church officially issued a Proclamation affirming “that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is in fact a restoration of the Church established by the Son of God, when in mortality he organized his work upon the earth” (see here).  Surely we will continue to honor the day as we cherish the meaning of the Restoration in our lives.    

                I have often heard as well that April 6^th was the exact birth date of the Savior as one might infer from D&C 20 if it is taken literally to the day.  James E. Talmage took that interpretation in Jesus the Christ.  He said, referring to D&C 20:1, “We believe April 6th to be the birthday of Jesus Christ as indicated in a revelation of the present dispensation already cited, in which that day is made without qualification the completion of the one thousand eight hundred and thirtieth year since the coming of the Lord in the flesh….  We believe that Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem of Judea, April 6, B.C. 1” (see here).  President Harold B. Lee agreed with Elder Talmage’s conclusion in general conference while he was the prophet when he said, “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” (see here).  President Kimball said, also in a general conference, “The name Jesus Christ and what it represents has been plowed deep into the history of the world, never to be uprooted. Christ was born on the sixth of April.  Being one of the sons of God and His Only Begotten, his birth is of supreme importance” (see here).  Given that these were both spoken in general conference by a prophet and future prophet, I think we can safely say that this is the official doctrine of the Church.  But of course, the date is not that important and it’s no wonder why we don’t talk about it that much.  The fact that He was born as a mortal; that He did live, perform the atonement, die, and was resurrected; and that in the latter days He did indeed appear to the prophet Joseph and restore His Church is the knowledge that really counts.