Adam-God Doctrine
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L.D.S. Scripture:
“And also with
Michael, or Adam, the father of all, the prince of all,
the ancient of days...”
- Doctrine
and
Covenants
27:11; online at http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/27
“Wherefore teach
it unto your children, that all men, everywhere,
must repent, or they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God, for no
unclean thing can dwell there, or dwell in his presence; for, in the
language of Adam, Man of Holiness is his name, and the name of his Only
Begotten is the Son of Man, even Jesus Christ, a righteous Judge, who
shall come in the meridian of time.”
- Pearl of Great Price, Moses 6:57; online at
http://scriptures.lds.org/moses/6
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
L.D.S. Hymns
Sons of Michael, He Approaches
Sons of Michael,
he approaches! Rise, the ancient father greet.
Bow, ye thousands, low
before him; Minister before his feet.
Hail the patriarch's
glad reign, Spreading over sea and main.
Sons of Michael, 'tis
his chariot Rolls its burning wheels along!
Raise aloft your
voices million In a torrent pow'r of song.
Hail our head with
music soft! Raise sweet melodies aloft!
Mother of our
generations, Glorious by great Michael's side,
Take thy children's
adoration; Endless with they seed abide.
Lo! to greet thee now
advance Thousands in the glorious dance!
Raise a chorus, sons
of Michael, Like old ocean's roaring swell,
Till the mighty
acclamation Thru rebounding space doth tell
That the ancient one
doth reign In his Father's house again!
- Current LDS hymnal;
online at http://www.timesandseasons.org/archives/000813.html
Sons of Michael, He Approaches
Sons of Michael,
he approaches! Rise, the ancient Father greet;
Bow ye thousands, low
before him; Minister before his feet;
Hail, hail the
Patriarch’s glad reign, Hail, hail the Patriarch’s glad
reign
Spreading over sea and
main.
Sons of Michael, ‘tis
his chariot Rolls its burning wheels along!
Raise aloft your
voices million In a torrent power of song;
Hail, hail our Head
with music soft! Hail, hail our Head with music
soft!
Raise week melodies
aloft!
Mother of our
generations, Glorious by Great Michael’s side,
Take thy children’s
adoration; Endless with thy Lord preside;
Lo, lo, to greet thee
now advance, Lo, lo, to greet thee now advance
Thousands in the
glorious dance!
Raise a chorus, sons
of Michael, Like old Ocean’s roaring swell,
Till the mighty
acclamation Through rebounding space doth tell
That, that the Ancient
One doth reign, That, that the Ancient One may
reign
In his Paradise again!
- 1948 LDS hymnal;
online at http://www.timesandseasons.org/archives/000813.html
We Believe in Our God
We believe in our God,
the Prince of his race,
The archangel Michael,
the Ancient of Days
Our own Father Adam,
earth’s Lord as is plain,
Who’ll counsel and
fight for His children again.
- Sacred Hymns and
Spiritual Songs for the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Sainsts, 11th edition, 1856, by
Franklin D. Richards, Apostle, p. 375; online at http://www.utlm.org/onlinebooks/changech8.htm
Michael, Is the Eternal Father
Sons of Michael, he
approaches!
Rise; the Eternal
Father greet;
Bow, ye thousands, low
before him;
Minister before his
feet;
Hail the Patriarch’s
reign,
‘Stablished now o’er
sea and main!
- Sacred Hymns and Spiritual
Songs for the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 11th edition, 1856, by
Franklin D. Richards, Apostle, p. 375; online at http://www.ldshistory.net/adam-god/ag2.html
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Adam is God
Prophet Joseph Smith, Jr. (1805-1844):
“Everlasting covenant
was made between three personages before the
organization of this earth, and relates to their dispensation of things
to men on the earth; these personages, according to Abraham's record,
are called God the first, the Creator; God the second, the Redeemer;
and God the third, the witness or Testator.”
-
Prophet Joseph Smith, Jr., Teachings of the
Prophet Joseph Smith,
p. 190; online at http://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/basic/godhead/holy_ghost/Overview_EOM.htm
“He [Adam] is the
father of the human family, and presides over the
spirits of all men, and all tha have had the keys must stand before him
in this grand council. This may take place before some of us
leave this stage of action. The Son of Man stands before him, and
there is given him glory and dominion. Adam delivers up his
stewardship to Christ, that which was delivered to him as holding the
keys of the universe, but retains his standing as head of the human
family.”
-
Prophet Joseph Smith, Jr., Messages of the
First Presidency,
v. 1, p. 113, July 1839. See also History
of the Church, v. 3, pp. 386-387; online at http://www.mormonfundamentalism.com/Adam-God6.html
Prophet Brigham Young
(1801-1877):
“Now hear it, O
inhabitants of the earth, Jew and Gentile, Saint and
sinner! When our father Adam came into the garden of Eden, he
came into it with a celestial body, and brought Eve, one of his wives,
with him. He helped to make and organize this world. He is
MICHAEL, the Archangel, the ANCIENT OF DAYS! about whom holy men have
written and spoken – He is our FATHER and our GOD, and the only God
with whom WE have to do. Every man upon the earth, professing
Christians or non-professing, must hear it, and will know it sooner or
later!”
-
Prophet Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses,
v. 1, p. 51; online at http://journals.mormonfundamentalism.org/Vol_01/refJDvol1-10.html
“Here let me state to
all philosophers of every class upon earth, When
you tell me that father Adam was made as we make adobies from the
earth, you tell me what I deem an idle tale. When you tell me
that the beasts of the field were produced in that manner, you are
speaking idle words devoid of meaning. There is no such thing in
all the eternities where the Gods dwell.... Adam and Eve are the
parents of all pertaining to the flesh, and I would not say that they
are not also the parents of our spirits.”
-
Prophet Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses,
v. 7, pp. 285, 290; online at http://journals.mormonfundamentalism.org/Vol_07/refJDvol7-44.html
“Some have grumbled
because I believe our God to be so near to us as
Father Adam. There are many who know that doctrine to be true.”
-
Prophet Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses,
v. 5, p. 331; online at http://journals.mormonfundamentalism.org/Vol_05/refJDvol5-57.html
“Though we have it in
history that our father Adam was made of the dust
of this earth, and that he knew nothing about his God previous to being
made here, yet it is not so; and when we learn the truth we shall see
and understand that he helped to make this world, and was the chief
manager in that operation. He was the person who brought the
animals and the seeds from other planets to this world, and brought a
wife with him and stayed here. You may read and believe what you
please as to what is found written in the Bible. Adam was made
from the dust of an earth, but not from the dust of this earth. He was
made as you and I are made, and no person was ever made upon any other
principle.”
-
Prophet Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses,
v. 3, pp. 319-320; online at http://journals.mormonfundamentalism.org/Vol_03/refJDvol3-47.html
“I tell you, when you
see your Father in the Heavens, you will see
Adam; when you see your Mother that bear your spirit, you will see
Mother Eve.”
-
Prophet Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses,
v. 1, p. 50; online at http://journals.mormonfundamentalism.org/Vol_01/refJDvol1-10.html
“Some may think what I
have said concerning Adam strange, but the
period will come when the people will be willing to adopt Joseph Smith
as their Prophet, Seer, and Revelator and God! but not the Father of
their spirits, for that was our Father Adam.”
-
Prophet Brigham Young, Journal History, p. 131,
December 11, 1869; online at http://www.ldshistory.net/adam-god/ag3.html
“Before me I see a
house full of Eves. What a crowd of
reflections the word Eve is calculated to bring up! Eve was the
name or title conferred upon our first mother, because she was actually
to be the mother of all human beings who should live upon this
earth. I am looking upon a congregation designed to be just such
beings.”
-
Prophet Brigham Young, Millennial Star, v.
31, p. 267; online at http://www.ldshistory.net/adam-god/ag3.html
“How much unbelief
exists in the minds of the Latter-day Saints in
regard to one particular doctrine which I revealed to them, and which
God revleaed to me – namely that Adam is our father and God – I do not
know, I do not inquire, I care nothing about it. Our Father Adam
helped to make this earth, it was created expressly for him, and after
it was made he and his companions came here. He brought one of
his wives with him, and she was called Eve, because she was the first
woman upon the earth. Our Father Adam is the man who stands at
the gate and holds the keys of everlasting life and salvation to all
his children who have or who ever will come upon the earth. I
have been found fault with by the ministers of religion because I have
said that they were ignorant. But I could not find any man on the
earth who cold tell me this, although it is one of the simplest things
in the world, until I met and talked with Joseph Smith.”
-
Prophet Brigham Young, Deseret News, v. 22,
no. 308, June 8, 1873; online at http://www.helpingmormons.org/The_Prophets_Have_Spoken.htm
“You believe Adam was
made of the dust of this earth. This I do
not believe, though it is supposed that it is so written in the Bible;
but it is not to my understanding. You can write that information to
the States, if you please – that I have publicly declared that I do not
believe that portion of the Bible as the Christian world do. I never
did, and I never want to. What is the reason I do not? Because I have
come to understanding, and banished from my mind all the baby stories
my mother taught me when I was a child.”
-
Prophet Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses,
v. 2, p. 6; online at http://journals.mormonfundamentalism.org/Vol_02/refJDvol2-2.html
“Jesus, our elder
brother, was begotten in the flesh by the same
character that was in the garden of Eden, and who is our Father in
Heaven. Now, let all who may hear these doctrines, pause before
they make light of them, or treat them with indifference, for they will
prove their salvation or damnation.”
-
Prophet Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses,
v. 1, p. 51; online at http://journals.mormonfundamentalism.org/Vol_01/refJDvol1-10.html
“Our Father begot all
the spirits that were before any tabernacle was
made. When our Father came into the Garden He came with his
Celestial body and brought one of his wives with him and ate of the
fruit of the Garden until He could beget a Tabernacle. And Adam
is Michael God and all the God that we have anything to do with.
They ate of this fruit and formed the first Tabernacle that was
formed. And when the Virgin Mary was begotten with Child it was
by the Father and in no other way only as we were begotten. I
will tell you the truth as it is in God. The world don’t know
that Jesus Christ our Elder Brother was begotten by our Father in
Heaven. Handle it was you please, it will either seal the
damnation or salvation of man. He was begotten by the Father and
not by the Holy Ghost.”
-
Prophet Brigham Young, as quoted in the Wilford
Woodruff's Journal,
April 9, 1852; online at http://www.lds-mormon.com/veilworker/ag3.shtml
“... I believe the
Father came down from heaven, as the Apostles said
he did, and begat the Saviour of the world; for he is the ONLY-begotten
of the Father, which could not be if the Father did not actually beget
him in person.... I believe the Father came down in His tabernacle and
begat Jesus Christ.”
-
Prophet Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses,
v. 1, p. 238; online at http://journals.mormonfundamentalism.org/Vol_01/refJDvol1-38.html
Apostle Heber C. Kimball (1801 - 1874):
“This brings to my
mind the vision that Joseph Smith had, when he saw
Adam open the gate of the Celestial City and admit the people one by
one. He then saw Father Adam conduct them to the throne one by one,
when they were crowned Kings and Priests of God. I merely bring this up
to impress upon your mind the principles of order, but it will
nevertheless apply to every member of the Church.”
-
Apostle Heber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses,
v. 9, p. 40; online at http://journals.mormonfundamentalism.org/Vol_09/refJDvol9-9.html
“I have learned by
experience that there is but one God that pertains
to this people, and He is the God that pertains to this earth – the
first man. That first man sent his own Son to redeem the world,
to redeem his brethren; his life was taken, his blood shed, that our
sins might be remitted.”
-
Apostle Heber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses,
v. 4, p. 1; online at http://journals.mormonfundamentalism.org/Vol_04/refJDvol4-1.html
“The Lord told me that
Jesus Christ was the son of Adam.”
-
Apostle Heber C. Kimball, Journal of Heber C.
Kimball, v. 20, p.
17; see also Deseret
News, March 11,
1857; online at http://www.ldshistory.net/adam-god/ag2.html
"Some have said that I
was very presumptuous to say that Brother
Brigham was my God and Savior. Brother Joseph was his God. The one that
gave Joseph the keys of the Kingdom was his God, which was Peter. Jesus
Christ was his God and the God and Father of Jesus Christ was Adam."
- Apostle Heber C.
Kimball, as quoted by Wilford Woodruff, in the
Journal of Wilford Woodruff, April 10, 1852; online at http://www.lds-mormon.com/veilworker/ag3.shtml
Apostle Orson Pratt (1801-1881):
“I have heard brother
Brigham say that Adam is the Father of our
spirits, and he came here with his resurrected body, to fall for his
own children; and I said to him, it leads to an endless number of
falls, which leads to sorrow and death: that is revolting to my
feelings, even if it were not sustained by revelation.”
-
Apostle Orson Pratt, "Minutes of the Meeting of the
Council of the Twelve in Historian’s Upper Room," April 5, 1860, 10
a.m.; online at http://www.ldshistory.net/adam-god/ag2.html
Prophet Wilford
Woodruff (1807-1898):
“I presented before
the meeting the case of O[rson]. Pratt who did not
believe in some of the teachings of President Young [Adam-God]and
thought President Young reproved him unjustly.”
-
Prophet Wilford Woodruff, Journal of Wilford
Woodruff, March 24, 1858; online at http://www.ldshistory.net/adam-god/ag2.html
“I met with the
Presidency and Twelve in the prayer-circle after
prayer....
"Brother G.A. Smith
spoke in plainness his feelings concerning some
problems of Elder O Pratt’s wherein he differed from President Young
concerning the creation of Adam out of the dust of the earth and the
final consummation of knowledge and many other things.”
-
Prophet Wilford Woodruff, Journal of Wilford
Woodruff, April 20, 1856; online at http://www.nhfelt.org/NHFELT/Woodruff_Wilford.pdf
“President Young
followed & made many good remarks . . . He said
that our God was Father Adam. He was the Father of the Savior Jesus
Christ--Our God was no more or less than Adam . . . Michael the
Archangel.”
-
Prophet Wilford Woodruff, Journal of Wilford
Woodruff, February 19, 1854; online at http://www.helpingmormons.org/TLC_Manti/GospelDiscussionsFolder/AdamGod/ref-mission-id-Adam.htm
“At meeting of school
of the prophets, President Young said Adam was
Michael the Archangel and he was the father of Jesus Christ and was our
God, and Joseph taught this principle.”
-
Prophet Wilford Woodruff, Journal of Wilford
Woodruff, December 16, 1867; online at http://www.ldshistory.net/adam-god/ag3.html
“Then the subject was
brought up concerning Adam being made of the dust
of the earth, and Elder Orson Pratt pursued a course of stubbornness
and unbelief in what President young said that will destroy him if he
does not repent and turn from his evil ways.”
-
Prophet Wilford Woodruff, Journal of Wilford
Woodruff, March 11, 1856; online at http://www.ldshistory.net/adam-god/ag2.html
“I wish to refer to
the first doctrine preached that Adam was our
Father and God. In the revelation called the Olive Leaf it says that
the Devil gathered together the hosts of Hell, and Michael the
Archangel gathered together the hosts of Heaven and he overcame the
Devil and his angels, and this is the battle of the great God. Who is
this Michael the Archangel? It is Adam who was Michael in the creation
of the world....”
-
Prophet Wilford Woodruff, Journal of Wilford
Woodruff, January 24, 1868; online at http://www.helpingmormons.org/TLC_Manti/GospelDiscussionsFolder/AdamGod/ref-mission-id-Adam.htm
“The following is a
synopsis of President Young's remarks: Some have
thought it strange what I have said concerning Adam, but the period
will come when this people of [the] faithful will be willing to adopt
Joseph Smith as their Prophet, Seer, Revelator and God, but not the
father of their spirits for that was our Father Adam.”
-
Prophet Wilford Woodruff, Journal of Wilford
Woodruff, December 11, 1869; online at http://www.helpingmormons.org/TLC_Manti/GospelDiscussionsFolder/AdamGod/ref-mission-id-Adam.htm
“Who begat the Son of
God? Infidels say that Jesus was a bastard, but
let me tell you the truth concerning that matter. Our Father begat all
the spirits that were, before any tabernacles were made. When our
Father came into the garden, He came with His celestial body and
brought one of His wives with Him and ate of the fruit of the garden
until He could beget a tabernacle, and Adam is Michael or God and all
the God that we have anything to do with. They eat of this fruit and
formed the first tabernacle that was formed. And when the Virgin Mary
was begotten with child, it was by the Father and in no other way, in
no other way, only as we were begotten. I will tell you the truth as it
is in God. The world don't know that Jesus Christ our elder brother was
begotten by our Father in Heaven. Handle it as you please, it will
either seal the damnation or salvation of man. He was begotten by the
Father and not by the Holy Ghost.”
-
Prophet Wilford Woodruff, Wilford Woodruff’s
Journal, April 9,
1852; online at http://www.helpingmormons.org/TLC_Manti/GospelDiscussionsFolder/AdamGod/refAdam-God.htm
“He [Brigham Young]
said that our God was Father Adam. He was the
Father of the Savior Jesus Christ – Our God was no more or less than
ADAM, Michael the Archangel.”
-
Prophet Wilford Woodruff, Journal of Wilford
Woodruff, Feb. 19, 1854; online at http://www.irr.org/MIT/byadamgd.html
“Brother Cannon said
there was a learned Doctor that wanted to be
baptized.... He [the doctor] is satisfied that the doctrine of the
plurality of God and that Adam is our Father is a true doctrine
revealed from God to Joseph and Brigham. For this same doctrine
is taught in some of the old Jewish records which have never been in
print and I know Joseph Smtih nor Brigham Young have had access to, and
the Lord has revealed this doctrine unto them or they could not have
taught it. President Young said if all that God had revealed was
in fine print it would more than fill this room but very little is
written or printed which the Lord has revealed.”
-
Prophet Wilford Woodruff, Journal of Wilford
Woodruff, Sept. 4, 1860; online at http://www.ldshistory.net/adam-god/ag2.html
“At meeting of School
of Prophets: President Young said Adam was
Michael the Archangel, and he was the Father of Jesus Christ and was
our God and that Joseph taught this principle.”
-
Prophet Wilford Woodruff, Journal of Wilford
Woodruff, Dec. 16, 1867
“... I feel thankful
for the privilege of speaking a few words to this
school. I wish to refer to the first doctrine preached that Adam
was our Father and God in the revelation called the olive leaf it says
that ‘the devil gathered together the hosts of hell and Michael the ark
angel gathered together the hosts of heaven and he overcame the devil
and his angel and this is the battle of the great God’ who is this
Michael the ark angel it is Adam who was Michael in the creation of the
world...”
-
Prophet Wilford Woodruff, “Minutes of the School of
Prophets,” Jan. 24, 1868; online at http://www.ldshistory.net/adam-god/ag3.html
"I have a request to
make of my family & that is that they,
especially old people omit calling me their Father. Call me Brother
Brigham--I shall feel better when you do for I do not consider that I
am worthy of that appellation-- Father in the Priesthood implies the
great head, the term would be proper to Father Adam. Jesus had
reference to the same thing when he told his disciples not to call any
man Father on earth for their Father was in heaven."
- Prophet Wilford
Woodruff, Journal of Wilford Woodruff, February 16,
1847; online at http://messenger.mormonfundamentalism.org/230_Quotes.htm
Apostle Abraham H.
Cannon (1859-1896):
“He [George Q. Cannon]
believes that Jesus Christ is Jehovah, and that
Adam is His father and our God: that under certain unknown conditions
the benefits of the Savior’s atonement extend to our entire solar
system.... He asked me what I understood concerning Mary conceiving the
Savior; and as I found no answer, he asked what was to prevent Father
Adam from visiting and overshadowing the mother of Jesus. Then I
said: ‘he must have been a resurrected Being.’ ‘Yes,’ he said,
‘and though Christ is said to have been the first fruits of them that
slept, yet the Savior said he did nothing but what He had seen His
Father do, for He had power to lay down his life and take it up
again. Adam, though made of dust, was made, as President Young
said, of the dust of another planet than this.’ I was very much
instructed by the conversation and this days services.”
-
Apostle Abraham H. Cannon relating Apostle George
Q. Cannon’s sentiments, in Journal of Abraham H. Cannon, June 23, 1889,
BYU Library Special Collections; online at http://www.lds-mormon.com/veilworker/adamgod.shtml
“At two-o’clock I was
at my Quorum meeting where were present all the
Presidency and myself, as also Bro. Lyman; Geo. Gibbs, clerk.
Bro. Jos. F. Smith was mouth in prayer. Thereafter some
conversations followed as to whether Adam is our God or not.
There are some in the Church who do not accept of the statement of
Pres. Young that such is the case, but to me it seems reasonable to
think that Adam has at least much to do with our present condition, and
will control greatly our future destiny.”
-
Apostle Abraham H. Cannon, Journal of Abraham H.
Cannon, May 26, 1892, BYU Library Special Collections
Eliza R. Snow (1804 -
1887), plural wife of Joseph Smith, Jr. and
later to Brigham Young:
"Brightest among these
spirits, and nearest in the circle to our Father
and Mother in heaven (the Father being Adam), were Seth, Enoch, Noah,
and Abraham, Moses, David, and Jesus Christ-
"These are the sons
and daughters of Adam-the Ancient of Days-the
Father and God of the whole human family. These are the sons and
daughters of Michael, who is Adam, the father of the spirits of all our
race. These are the sons and daughters of Eve, the Mother of a world."
-
Eliza R. Snow, Women of Mormondom, p. 19;
online at http://www.helpingmormons.org/TLC_Manti/GospelDiscussionsFolder/AdamGod/refElizaSnowAdamQuotes.htm
"When Brigham Young
proclaimed to the nations that Adam was our Father
and God, and Eve, his partner, the Mother of a world-both in a mortal
and celestial sense-he made the most important revelation ever oracled
to the race since the days of Adam himself.
This grand patriarchal
revelation is the very key-stone of the 'New
Creation' of the heavens and the earth. It gives new meaning to the
whole system of theology-"
-
Eliza R. Snow, Women of Mormondom, p. 196;
online at http://www.helpingmormons.org/TLC_Manti/GospelDiscussionsFolder/AdamGod/refElizaSnowAdamQuotes.htm
“Adam is our Father
and God. He is the God of the earth."
"Adam is the great
Archangel of this creation. He is Michael. He is the
Ancient of Days. He is the father of our elder brother, Jesus
Christ--the father of him who shall also come as Messiah to reign. He
is the father of the spirits as well as the tabernacles of the sons and
daughters of man-Adam!"
"Michael is one of the
grand mystical names in the works of creations;
redemptions and resurrections."
"Michael was a
celestial, resurrected being, of another world."
“‘In the beginning,'
the Gods created the heavens and the earths. In
their councils they said, ‘Let us make man in our own image.' So, in
the likeness of the Fathers, and the Mothers--the Gods--created they
man-male and female. When this earth was prepared for mankind, Michael,
as Adam, came down. He brought with him one of his wives, and he called
her name Eve."
"Adam and Eve are the
names of the fathers and mothers of worlds."
-
Eliza R. Snow, Women of Mormondom, p. 179;
online at http://www.helpingmormons.org/TLC_Manti/GospelDiscussionsFolder/AdamGod/refElizaSnowAdamQuotes.htm
"The grand patriarchal
economy, with Adam, as a resurrected being, who
brought his wife Eve from another world has been very finely elaborated
by Brigham from the patriarchal genesis which Joseph conceived."
-
Eliza R. Snow, plural wife of Joseph Smith, Women
of Mormondom, p.
180; online at http://www.helpingmormons.org/TLC_Manti/GospelDiscussionsFolder/AdamGod/refElizaSnowAdamQuotes.htm
Other Primary Source
Quotations:
“Brother Orson Pratt
preached on the subject of the resurrection of the
dead, that they are to come out of their graves, but said that he did
not know how the power of God would operate to raise them up from their
graves. Also he did not believe that Father Adam had flesh and
bones, when he came to the garden of Eden, but he and his wife Eve were
spirits, and that God formed their bodies out of the dust of the
ground, and the [sic] became a living souls. He also said that he
believed that Jesus Christ and Adam are brothers in the Spirit, and
that Adam is not the God that he is praying unto.”
-
Elder Thomas Evans Jeremy, Sr., Thomas Evans Jeremy
Sr. Journal, Church Historical Department, Sept. 30, 1852; online at http://www.lds-mormon.com/veilworker/ag3.shtml
“I believe in the
principle of obedience; and if I am told that Adam is
our Father and our God, I just believe it.”
-
Elder James A. Little, Millennial Star, v.
16, p. 530; online at http://www.utlm.org/onlinebooks/changech8.htm
“Upon seeing Brigham
Young for the first time and while yet some
distance away the Prophet Joseph stopped his chopping on a beech log,
straightened up, studied Brigham for a moment, then remarked: ‘There
comes the greatest man who ever lived to teach the identity of God to
the world, and he will yet lead this people.’”
-
Elder Charles L. Walker, The Diary of Charles
L. Walker, Sept.
1832, p. 134; online at http://messenger.mormonfundamentalism.org/recollections.htm
“Another meeting this
evening. President B. Young taught that
Adam was the father of Jesus and the only God to us. That he came
to this world in a resurrected body, etc. More hereafter.”
-
Elder Hosea Stout, Hosea Stout Journal, v. 2, p.
435, Friday, April 9, 1852; online at http://www.fact-index.com/a/ad/adam_god_theory.html
“Friday 9th April
1852. Stormy morning. Attended conference. House much
crowded, did not stay in the house long. Afternoon was not in because
of the crowd. Another meeting this evening. President Brigham Young
taught that Adam was the father of Jesus and the only God to us. That
he came to this world in a resurrected body and etc. more hereafter.”
-
Elder Hosea Stout, Hosea Stout Journal, v. 2, p.
436, April 9, 1852; online at http://www.helpingmormons.org/TLC_Manti/GospelDiscussionsFolder/AdamGod/refAdam-God.htm
“I think these two
quotations from such a reliable authority fully
solve the question as to the relationship existing between Father Adam
and the Savior of the world, and prove beyond question the power that
Adam possessed in regard to taking his body again after laying it
down--which power he never could have attained unless he had received
first a resurrection from the grave to a condition of immortality. We
further say that this power was not forfeited when as a celestial being
he voluntarily partook of the forbidden fruit, and thereby rendered his
body mortal in order that he might become the father of mortal
tabernacles, as he was already the father of immortal spirits--thus
giving opportunity to the offspring of his own begetting to pass
through the ordeals necessary to prepare them for a resurrection from
the dead, a celestial glory.
“All that Father Adam
did upon this earth, from the time that he took
up his abode in the Garden of Eden, was done for his posterity's sake
and the success of his former mission as the savior of a world, and
afterwards, or now, as the father of a world only added to the glory
which he already possessed. If, as the savior of a world, he had the
power to lay down his life and take it up again, therefore, as the
father of a world which is altogether an advanced condition, we
necessarily conclude that the grave was powerless to hold him after
that mission was completed...”
-
Elder Joseph E. Taylor, Collected Discourses,
v. 1, June 2, 1888; online at http://www.helpingmormons.org/TLC_Manti/GospelDiscussionsFolder/AdamGod/refAdam-God.htm
“Friday 9th
April 1852. Stormy morning. Attended conference.
House much crowded, did not stay in the house long. Afternoon was not
in because of the crowd. Another meeting this evening. President
Brigham Young taught that Adam was the father of Jesus and the only God
to us. That he came to this world in a resurrected body and etc. more
hereafter.”
-
Elder Hosea Stout, Hosea Stout Journal, v. 2, p.
436, April 9, 1852; online at http://www.helpingmormons.org/TLC_Manti/GospelDiscussionsFolder/AdamGod/refAdam-God.htm
“Relative to the
principles recently revealed, we have not the least
difficulty. If Adam’s being our Father cannot be proved by the
Bible, it is all right.”
-
Elder Joseph Hall, Millennial Star, June
1854, v. 16, p. 483; online at http://messenger.mormonfundamentalism.org/Adam-Buerger.htm
"Attended
conference, a very interesting conference, for at this
meeting President Brigham Young said thus, that Adam and Eve were the
names of the first man and woman of every earth that was ever organized
and that Adam and Eve were the natural father and mother of every
spirit that comes to this planet, or that receives tabernacles on this
planet, consequently we are brother and sisters, and that Adam was God,
our Eternal Father. This as Brother Heber remarked, was letting the cat
out of the bag, and it came to pass, I believed every word, for I
remembered saying to the Brethren at a meeting of High Priests in
Nauvoo, while I was speaking to them under the influence of the Spirit,
I remarked thus, that our Father Adam had many wives, and that Eve was
only one of them, and that she was our mother, and that she was the
mother of the inhabitants of this earth, and I believe that also, but
behold ye there were some that did not believe these sayings of the
Prophet Brigham, even our Beloved Brother Orson Pratt told me he did
not believe it. He said he could prove by the scriptures it was not
correct. I felt very sorry to hear Professor Orson Pratt say that. I
feared least he should apostatize, but I prayed for him that he might
endure unto the end, for I knew verily it was possible that great men
might fall. I remembered Apostle John E. Page. I saw him take from his
pocket a plug of tobacco and bite a mouthful and put it back. It
surprised me. I said old chap you will apostatize, but still I really
hoped he would not, but he is gone, and I am very sorry for the poor
man."
-
Elder Joseph Lee Robinson, Journal of Joseph Lee
Robinson, October 6, 1854; online at http://www.spires.net/Historical/230_quotations/230_1.html
“The doctrine
preached by Pres. Young for a few years back, wherein
he says that Adam is our God – the God we worship – that most of the
people believe this – some believe it because the President says so –
others because they can find testimony in the Book of Mormon and the
Book of Doctrine and Covenants. Amasa Lyman stumbled on this, he
did not believe it – he did not believe in the atonement of Jesus –
Orson Pratt has also told the President that he does not believe
it. This is not the way to act. We should not suffer
ourselves to entertain one doubt. We are not accountable on
points of doctrine if the President makes a statement. It is not
our prerogative to dispute it. He is only accountable in points
of doctrine. I have heard President Young avow the truth of Adam
being our Father and God but have never heard him argue the question at
all.”
-
Elder Abraham B. Smoot, “Minutes of the School of
the Prophets,” pp. 37-42, June 8, 1868; online at http://www.ldshistory.net/adam-god/ag3.html
“I thought I would
speak briefly in relation to Adam being our
God. Since the year 1852 when the President first spoke on this
subject. I have frequently endeavored to reconcile what I have
read with regard to this matter. I believe what the President
says on the subject although it comes in contract with all our
tradition. I have not any doubt in my mind but that Adam is our
God. Who his God and Father may be, I have no knowledge.
President Kimball spoke on this question recently and very plainly
illustrated the character and relationship of our Father and God.”
-
Elder A.F. McDonald, “Minutes of the School of the
Prophets,” pp. 37-42, June 8, 1868; online at http://www.ldshistory.net/adam-god/ag3.html
“I am not disposed to
question the discrepancies on the question of
doctrine; if we live faithful all will become clear to us. We
cannot become united only as we get united in understanding. When
I first heard the doctrine of Adam being our Father and God, I was
favorably impressed – enjoyed, and hailed it as a new revelation.
It appeared reasonable to me, as the Father of our spirits that he
should introduce us here. And what we do not see is only evidence
that we have not the light necessary.”
-
Elder George G. Bywater, “Minutes of the School of
Prophets,” pp. 37-42, June 8, 1868
“At Manti, Wednesday
25. I attended meeting, Orson Hyde preached
to us, and he told us that what we heard before that Adam is our God,
we had a splendid good meeting.
“At Manti, Jan. 25th
Orson Hyde preached to us here in Manti, that,
Adam is our God for this planet.”
-
Elder Jan Christian Anderson Weibye, Jan
Christian Anderson Weibye Daybooks, Daybook 1st, p. 131, Jan.
25,
1871; online at http://www.ldshistory.net/adam-god/ag3.html
“Brother Allred
preaches at Manti on Adam as God, with the following
remarks in part:
“Adam was buried by
God and was only dead like a twinkling of a eye,
and his God exalted him immediately. Mary was sealed to Adam; and
unless we have two wives, we can never be Gods.
“Adam will worship his
god and we will worship Adam, and our children
will worship us.”
-
Elder Jan Christian Anderson Weibye, Jan
Christian Anderson Weibye Daybooks, Daybook 5th, pp. 20-22
“President Joseph
Fielding Smith said: The Lord did not give us the
complete story of the creation of Adam and Eve because He knew the
world would not accept it.”
-
Elder John A. Tvedtnes, Journal of John A.
Tvedtnes, Friday,
June 30, 1961
"Our Father Adam---The
Extract from the Journal of Discourses (vol.
1:50) may startle some of our readers, but we would wish them to
recollect that in this last dispensation God will send forth, by his
servants, things new as well as old, until man is perfected in the
truth."
- Mission
President Samuel W. Richards, Millennial Star,
v. 15, p. 780; online at http://www.spires.net/Historical/230_quotations/230_1.html
"Conference commenced
on the 6 and continued until the 11, it was heled
in the new tabernacle, adjourned until the 6 of next October We had the
best Conference that I ever attended during the time of the Conference
President Brigham Young said that our spirits ware begotten before that
Adam came to the Earth and that Adam helped to make the Earth, that he
had a Celestial boddy when he came to the Earth and that he brought his
wife or one of his wives with him, and that Eave was allso a Celestial
being, that they eat of the fruit of the ground until they begat
children from the Earth, he said that Adam was the onley God that we
would have, and that Christ was not begotten of the Holy Gost, but of
the Father Adam, that Christ, was our elder brother. The argument that
he used to shoe that Christ was not begotten by the holy gost, was a
caution to the Elders that when they should go to preach the Gospel, to
be careful how they laid their hands on the sisters, for the reseption
of the holy Gost, lest the holy Gost should get them with Child and
that it would be laid to them."
- Elder Samuel
H. Rodgers, Journal of Samuel H. Rodgers, v. 1,
p. 179; BYU Special Collections; online at http://www.spires.net/Historical/230_quotations/230_1.html
“At Special Priesthood
meeting at which the official statement of the
First Presidency regarding the teachings of Adam-God is presented,
Prest. Jos. F. Smith then said that he was in full accord with what
Prest. Penrose had said and that Prest. Brigham Young when he delivered
that sermon only expressed his own views and that they were not
corroborated by the word of the Lord in the stand works of the
Church. The Bible, Book of Mormon, Pearl of Great Price and
Doctrine and Covenants were voted upon by the Church convened in a
Conference and organized in various Quorums of the Priesthood who voted
by Quorums after which the body of the Church were asked to vote to
sustain the above books as the Standards of the Church....
“Now all doctrine if
it can’t be established by these standards is not
to be taught or promulgated by members. That those Patriarchs who
persisted in teaching these things and did not stop when told to do so
should be handled by their Bishops and their names sent up to the High
Councils for further action and be cut off.”
-
Elder Thomas A. Clawson, Journal of Thomas A.
Clawson, 1912-1917
Book, pp. 69-70, April 8, 1912; online at http://www.ldshistory.net/adam-god/ag5.html
“Brother Horne and I
chatted again tonight about the Gospel and the
Adam-God Doctrine, as we have done many times before. Brother
Horne, who grew up in Salt Lake City and was the son of Richard Horne
and grandson of Joseph Horne said, in reference to the Adam-God
Doctrine, that when he first went through the Temple for his Endowment
in 1902 before going on his mission he was surprised to hear the
teachings during the Temple ceremony in the sermon before the veil,
that ‘Adam was our God’ and that ‘he came here with Eve, one of his
wives.’ Also it was taught that ‘Eve bore our spirits’ (i.e. the
spirits of all men). He asked his father about it but he declined
to give any opinion about it. After Brother Horne returned from
his mission a few years later, in 1905, he noted these teachings had
been removed from the Temple ceremony. He feels that they were
left over from Brigham Young’s influence, but that the himself couldn’t
believe such doctrine. He thinks perhaps Brigham just got off in
his speculation.”
-
Patriarch J. Arthur Horne, The Elder’s Journal,
v. 1, by C. Jess Groesbeck, p. 291; online at http://www.helpingmormons.org/TLC_Manti/GospelDiscussionsFolder/AdamGod/ref-mission-id-Adam.htm
“Pres. Jensen referred
to the condition of some of the High Priests in
the Malad Ward who were contending one with another concerning some
point of doctrine, which they did not understand. The point in
dispute being, was Adam was God, some taking the affirmation and some
the negative of the question. That was not right. We ought
to allow these matters to rest until our minds were better informed
regarding them.”
-
“Minutes of the High Priests Quorum,” Feb. 24,
1880, p. 86 (Box Elder Stake); online at http://www.ldshistory.net/adam-god/ag4.html
"ADAM, THE FATHER AND
GOD OF THE HUMAN FAMILY
"The above sentiment
appeared in Star No. 48, a little to the surprise
of some of its readers; and while the sentiment may have appeared
blasphemous to the ignorant, it has no doubt given rise to some serious
reflections with the more candid and comprehensive mind. A few
reasonable and scriptural ideas upon this subject may be profitable at
the present time.
"Then Adam is really
God! And why not? If there are Lords many and Gods
many, as the scriptures inform us, why not our Father Adam be one of
them?"
- Mission
President Samuel W. Richards, Millennial Star,
v. 15, p. 801; online at http://messenger.mormonfundamentalism.org/Adam-Buerger.htm
"It has been said that
Adam is the God and Father of the human family,
and persons are perhaps in fear and great trouble of mind, lest they
have to acknowledge him as such in some future day. For our part we
would much rather acknowledge Adam to be our Father than hunt for
another and take up with the devil. Whoever is acknowledged Father must
have the rights and honor that belong to him. No man may ever expect to
attain to more than he is willing others should enjoy. If these things
have power to disturb the pure mind, we apprehend that even greater
troubles than these may arise before mankind learn all the particulars
of Christ's incarnation---Whatever may prove to be the facts in the
case it certainly would exhibit a great degree of weakness on the part
of anyone to indulge in fears and anxieties about that which he has no
power to control. Facts still remain facts whether kept or revealed. If
there is a way pointed out by which all beings who come into this world
can lay the foundation for rule, and a never-ending increase of
kingdoms and dominions, by which they can become Gods, we are all
willing the Lord Jesus Christ should enjoy them all as any other being,
ascribing honor and power to him as their God. The Apostle informs us
that those who are redeemed shall be like Jesus; not to say, however,
that they shall be wifeless and childless, and without eternal
affections. It should be borne in mind that these wonderful mysteries,
as they are supposed to be, are only mysteries because of the ignorance
of men; and when men and women are troubled in spirit over these things
which come to light through the proper channel of intelligence, they
only betray their weakness, ignorance, and folly."
- Mission
President Samuel W. Richards, Millennial Star,
v. 15, p. 842; online at http://www.spires.net/Historical/230_quotations/230_1.html
“It has been said
that Adam is the God and Father of the human
family, and persons are perhaps in fear and great trouble of mind, lest
they have to acknowledge him as such in some future day. For our
part we would much rather acknowledge Adam to be our Father, than hunt
for another, and take up with the devil.”
- Millennial Star, v. 15, p. 825; online at http://www.irr.org/mit/WDIST/wdist-adam-god.html
“… every Knee shall
bow, and every tongue confess that he [Adam] is the
God of the whole earth. Then will the words of the Prophet
Brigham, when speaking of Adam, be fully realized..."
- Millennial Star, v. 17, p. 195; online at http://www.utlm.org/onlinebooks/changech8.htm
“... some of the
officers have not met in council for three
years. They are lacking faith on one principle – the looast ‘cat
that was let out of the bag.’ Polygamy had been gotten over
pretty well, that cloud had vanished away, but they are troubled about
Adam being our Father and God.”
- Millennial Star, v. 16, p. 482; online at http://www.frontiernet.net/~bcmmin/adamgod.htm
"Concerning the item
of doctrine alluded to by Elder Caffall and
others, viz., that Adam is our Father and God, I have to say do not
trouble yourselves...If, as Elder Caffall remarked, there are those who
are waiting at the door of the Church for this objection to be removed,
tell such, the Prophet and Apostle Brigham has declared it, and that it
is the word of the Lord."
- President F.D. Richards, Millennial Star,
v. 16, August 26, 1854, p. 334; online at http://www.frontiernet.net/~bcmmin/adamgod.htm
“The introduction of
the Law of Celestial Marriage, which in its
operations, will revolutionize all our political, religious, and
domestic arrangements; and the announcement of the position of Adam,
our great progenitor, occupies among the Gods; have marked your
Presidency as a special epoch in the history of the British Mission.”
- Millennial Star, June 1854, v. 16, p. 629;
online at http://messenger.mormonfundamentalism.org/Turner_Adam.htm
“The Seer, the ‘Great
First Cause,” and certain articles by Orson Pratt
on the Holy Spirit were disowned by the Church. The people of the
Church were asked to destroy his questionable writings.”
- Millennial Star, v. 27, p. 698, Nov. 1865;
online at http://www.ldshistory.net/adam-god/ag3.html
A Voice of Dissent:
“President John Taylor
Sir,
Duty imperatively
demands that as I am about to withdraw from the
Church over which you preside I make known to you and to all whom it
may concern the reasons which have compelled me to take this step.
When I joined the
Mormon Church a little over 5 years ago I believed
implicitly as I do now that the Bible was the word of God and the Rule
of Faith and while the ‘Book of Mormon’ and ‘Doctrine and Covenants’
were referred to as additional revelation they no where contradicted
the Bible but rather established it.
Before joining the
Church I became acquainted with Elders Wm. Budge,
John Nicholson, Francis Cope, james L. Bunting, and others. Elder
Nicholson preached from the Bible only and almost entirely dwelt on
what is known as the first principles claiming that these principles
were what had been introduced by our Savior and preached by his
immediate apostles but that men had wandered away from them and had
fallen into darkness and superstition. I had heard a great many
things about the Mormons that were nothing to their credit consequently
the eminent social qualities and gentlemanly conduct of Elder Cope won
my admiration and esteem. I was greatly pleased to find him a
monogamist for while I could not deny that many good men in the past
had had more wives than one, I never for one moment assented to the
idea that there was any virtue in such a proceeding or that it merited
or would receive any reward.
I joined your Church
on the 20th of May 1879 and during the first 2
years of my membership I faithfully adhered to it and would have given
my life to defend it, during all this time I never heard of Adam being
God, never heard of Blood Atonement, never heard of polygamy being
required of all men before they could attain to highest glory.
Never dreamed that Brigham Young or any one else coolly threw the Bible
overboard and preached whatever they pleased which I was bound to
accept as revelations of God. I do not and cannot cease these men
of having told me anything absolutely false, but they certainly
withheld the horrible. I was in the Church some five years before
I heard or knew anything about those things – doctrines against which
my soul revolts...
I imagined that I had
come to the kingdom of God to help build it
up! What did I find? I found that God, the God of the Bible
is not even worshipped by the Church over which you preside, the God
you worship is Adam. Brigham Young teaches I quote his words,
‘When our Father Adam came into the Garden of Eden, he came into it
with a celestial body and brought Eve one of his wives with him.
He is our Father and our God and the ONLY God with whom we have to
do.’ At first I could not bring myself to believe that this
doctrine was accepted by the Church, but on careful inquiry found to my
horror and astonishment that it was really so. It is true a great
many know nothing about it and are simply in ignorance. Those who
do not know accept it as far more to be relied on than any portion of
the Bible, for say they the Bible has been translated over and over
again and may be wrong but this is the direct teaching of a Great
Prophet.
I reject this as
abominable and horrible idolatry and give it as one
reason why I cannot remain in your Church.”
-
“Letter to Pres. John Talyor from Scott Anderson,”
Sept. 22, 1884
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Adam is Not God
B.H. Roberts, Seventy
and LDS Church Historian (1869 – 1965):
“As a matter of fact,
the ‘Mormon’ church does not teach that doctrine
[Adam-God].”
-
B.H. Roberts, Quorum of the Seventy, LDS Church
Historian, Deseret
News, July 23,
1921; online at http://www.fairlds.org/pubs/tagm/tagm23.html
“Some of the sectarian
ministers are saying that we ‘Mormons’ are
ashamed of the doctrine announced by President Brigham Young to the
effect that Adam will thus be God of this world. No, friends, it
is not that we are ashamed of that doctrine. If you see any
change come over our countenances when this doctrine is named, it is
surprise, astonishment, that anyone at all capable of grasping the
largeness and extent of the universe – the grandeur of existence and
the possibilities in man for growth, for progress, should be lean of
intellect, should have such a paucity of understanding, as to call it
in question at all. That is what our change of countenance means
– not shame – for the doctrine Brigham Young taught.”
-
B.H. Roberts, LDS Church Historian, Mormon
Doctrine on Deity,
pp. 42-43; online at http://www.helpingmormons.org/Adam_God3.htm
Apostle LeGrand
Richards (1886 - 1983):
“Your third question:
‘Is the Adam-God Doctrine, as taught in the
Journal of Discourses, true?’ Answer: No.”
-
Apostle LeGrand Richards, Letter, dated May 11,
1966; online at http://www.utlm.org/onlinebooks/changech8.htm
Apostle Bruce R.
McConkie (1915 - 1985):
“Yes, President Young
did teach that Adam was the Father of our
spirits, and all the related things that the cultists ascribe to
him. This however, is not true. He expressed views that are
out of harmony with the gospel.... Wise gospel students do not build
their philosophies of life on the quotations of individuals, even
though those quotations come from presidents of the Church.”
-
Apostle Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Apostle, “Letter
to Mr. Eugene England,” dated Feb. 19, 1981; online at http://home.teleport.com/~packham/contra.htm
