Scripture calls us “the children of men.” The phrase humbles us — reminding us of our mortal nature, shared fragility, and dependence on divine mercy. Yet, woven through that same sacred record is another invitation — to awaken as “the children of God.” Between these two truths lies the story of our spiritual ascent: from earth to heaven, from ignorance to light, from mere existence to divine awareness.
Children of Men — The Mortal Condition
The phrase “children of men” echoes through ancient and modern scripture alike.
In Psalm 14:2, “The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men.”
In 1 Nephi 6:5, Nephi writes, “The things which are of worth unto the children of men.”
These passages anchor our humanity — we are born of the dust, bound by weakness, and shaped by experience. The “children of men” phrase reveals our shared identity as part of a vast family of mortality. It calls us to humility and compassion, recognizing that all walk the same road of learning, failure, and grace.
The Gospel of Mary deepens this image. Mary speaks of the soul’s descent into form and its eventual return to its spiritual root:
“All nature, every modeled form, all creature exist in and with each other, and they will be resolved again into their own roots.” (Mary 8:10–18)
Her words remind us that to be “children of men” is not shameful — it is the necessary starting point of every soul’s journey. Matter is not the enemy of spirit; it is its temporary home.
Children of God — The Divine Invitation
Through Christ, we are invited to rise.
Paul writes: “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” (Romans 8:16)
And John declares: “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.” (1 John 3:1)
The Book of Mormon echoes this covenantal identity: “Because of the covenant which ye have made, ye shall be called the children of Christ.” (Mosiah 5:7)
The Gospel of Thomas captures this same spiritual awakening in language both mystical and luminous:
“The Kingdom is inside of you and it is outside of you. When you come to know yourselves, then you will be known, and you will realize that you are the sons of the living Father.” (Thomas 3)
This is the turning point — when awareness pierces the veil of mortality.
To know ourselves as divine creations is to remember that we came from light.
As Thomas continues:
“If they say to you, ‘Where do you come from?’ say, ‘We came from the light, the place where the light came into being by itself.’” (Thomas 50)
The invitation is clear: to live as children of God is not to escape the world, but to illuminate it.
“There is light within a person of light, and it shines on the whole world.” (Thomas 24)
The Bridge — Awakening Through Grace
The bridge between children of men and children of God is not built of effort alone, but of revelation. It is the Spirit that whispers our true identity, just as it whispered to Mary that the soul, once freed from ignorance, proclaims:
“What binds me has been slain, what surrounds me has been overcome, desire has been ended, and ignorance is dead.” (Mary 9:15–20)
The child of man, awakened by grace, discovers that nothing mortal can define what is eternal. Each act of love, repentance, or service restores a piece of our original light.
Closing Reflection
We are all born as children of men, but heaven calls us to remember our first home.
To live as children of God is to see the divine light within every person — and to live in such a way that others might see it too.
“We came from the light, and to the light we shall return.”
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