What Are Adam-God Teachings?
Adam-God theory/ teachings/doctrine are names given
to an alleged teaching by Brigham Young, the second president and
prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (hereafter
called Mormons or LDS). He allegedly taught that Adam of the Garden
of Eden is the Father of the spirit of Jesus Christ, is the Father
of our spirits, is the literal father of the body of Jesus Christ,
and is our God, i.e., God the Father. It is also alleged that the
fourth and fifth Presidents and Prophets Wilford Woodruff and Joseph
F. Smith, supported this teaching.
Adam-God is not now taught by the Mormon Church
and the twelfth Mormon President and Prophet Spencer W. Kimball,
denounced it strongly in 1976 when he said:
We warn you against the dissemination of doctrine
which are not according to the scriptures and which are alleged
to have been taught by some of the General Authorities of past
generations. Such, for instance is the Adam-God theory.
We denounce that theory and hope that everyone
will be cautioned against this and other kinds of false doctrine.
(1) (Deseret News, Church News Section, p. 11, Oct. 9,
1976)
Is President Kimball correct that it was "alleged
to have been taught by some of the General Authorities of past generations?"
Was it false doctrine according to Brigham Young and others?
These questions will be answered below.
What Mormons Say
Some Mormons know little or nothing about the Adam-God
teachings of Brigham Young. Some say the Adam-God charge is made
because of one talk by Brigham Young as recorded in Journal of
Discourses 1:50-51, April 9, 1852. They go on to say this talk
is an isolated example, is not clear and may have been recorded
incorrectly. There is strong evidence that these ideas are wrong.
Formal Vote Always Needed?
Some Mormons know Adam-God was taught, but say
it was never accepted by a vote of the Mormon Church membership
(D&C 26:2, 28:13, 104:21 - "all things shall be done by
common consent in the Church..."), hence is not church doctrine.
Because there was no vote Adam-God teachings were just Brigham Young's
personal opinion and not official doctrine. But those who
say this must not be aware of the many examples where the lack of
a revelation and/or vote did not stop the practice/teaching of other
unique Mormon Church doctrine. Examples are:
- The practice of polygamy by Mormon Church leaders
from roughly 1835-1880 took place without a Mormon Church membership
vote. And during part of this time there was not even an un-approved
revelation to fall back on. The alleged revelation (D&C 132)
to allow the practice of polygamy was written in 1843, well after
the start of the actual practice. It was first publicly announced
August 29, 1852, (A Comprehensive History of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4:55, 56), but was not
put into Scriptures until 1876. This "revelation" along
with 26 or 27 others were not voted on until October 1880; (Ensign,
December 1984, pp 38, 39). Even while polygamy was being practiced,
through the full period of 1835-1876, Section 101, page 261 of
the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants condemned having more than one
living wife/husband at the same time.
- There is no accepted revelation that there is
a Mother in Heaven, i.e., God (Elohim) has a wife (Gospel Principles,
page 9; Mormon hymn #270: "O My Father", LDS Hymns,
1973 edition).
- That Jesus Christ is "Jehovah" and
"Elohim" is God the Father (The Articles of Faith,
by James E. Talmage, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,
missionary edition, pp 466, 467).
- That Jesus Christ was the first spirit child
of God the Father and his wife and was raised to maturity in the
pre-existence (Gospel Principles, p. 9).
- That Jesus Christ and Lucifer are spirit brothers
(Gospel Through the Ages, Milton R. Hunter, page 15).
- That God the Father was once a man like us and
progressed to become God (Search These Commandments, Melchizedek
Priesthood Study Guide, 1985 pages 151-153).
- The very sacred Mormon Temple ceremonies are
not in any Mormon Scripture. The April 1990 changes in the temple
ceremonies attest to the fact that these very sacred temple ordinances
are not governed by "common consent."
- Most Mormons, when asked about the references
in the Book of Mormon that say there is only one God (The
Testimony of Three Witnesses in the front of the Book of Mormon;
Alma 11:28, 29, 44; Mormon 7:7), usually say: "Well that
means one in purpose." There is no Mormon canonized
scripture that says one in purpose.
Note that all the references used in the above
eight items are published by the Mormon Church.
How Important Is It To Know God?
Brigham Young said:
It is one of the first principles of the doctrine
of salvation to become acquainted with our Father and our God.
(Journal of Discourses, 4:215, Feb. 8, 1857)
Brigham Young then quotes from John 17:3 about
knowing the only true God and Jesus whom he sent. He then
says,
...this is as much to say that no man can
enjoy or be prepared for eternal life without that knowledge.
Joseph Smith agreed when he said:
It is the first principle of the Gospel to know
for a certainty the Character of God.... (Teachings of the
Prophet Joseph Smith, page 345; HC 6:305; Journal of Discourses
6:3).
He also said,
...three things are necessary, in order that any
rational and intelligent being may exercise faith in God unto
life and salvation...Secondly, A correct idea of his character,
perfections and attributes. (Lecture Third of Faith, 1835
Doctrine and Covenants, page 36, verses 2-4)
Is it important to know the character, perfections
and attributes of God? It certainly is according to Brigham Young
and Joseph Smith. Now let us look at what Brigham Young said we
should know about God.
Adam-God Taught, Called Doctrine and Revelation
Mormons who say Adam-God doctrine was not taught
must not be aware of the following.
How much unbelief exists in the minds of Latter-day
Saints in regard to one particular doctrine which I revealed
to them, and which God revealed to me - namely that Adam
is our father and God ..Then he said, 'I want my children
who are in the spirit world to come and live here. I once dwelt
upon an earth something like this, in a mortal state. I was faithful.
I received my crown and exaltation...I want my children that
were born to me in the spirit world to come here and take
tabernacles of flesh that their spirits may have a house, a tabernacle...'
(Brigham Young, Deseret Weekly News, June 18, 1873, page
308; Deseret Evening News, June 14, 1873)
Who was the Savior begotten by?....Who
did beget him? His Father, and his father is our God, and the
Father of our spirits, and he is the framer of the body, the God
and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Who is he? He is Father
Adam; Michael; the Ancient of Days. (President Brigham Young,
Feb. 19, 1854, Brigham Young Collection, LDS Archives;
; Brigham Young Addresses, 1850-1854, Vol. 2, by Elden
J. Watson, sheet 179 (in chronological order), Historical Dept.
Church, Ms d 1234, Box 48 Fd. 11; also in Adam Is God???,
pp. 9-10; Adam-God Maze, p.101)
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. (Brigham Young, October 7, 1857,
Journal of Discourses 5:331).
Some years ago I advanced a doctrine with
regard to Adam being our Father and God...It is one of the
most glorious revealments of the economy of heaven... (President
Brigham Young, in the Tabernacle, General Conference, October
8, 1861, 10:30 a.m.; Brigham Young Addresses, 1860-1864,
Vol. 4, by Elden J. Watson, sheet 134 (in chronological order),
Historical Dept. Church, Ms d 1234, Box 49 fd 8)
I tell you more: Adam is the father of our
spirits. He lived upon an earth, he did abide his creation
and did honor to his calling and priesthood and obeyed his master
or lord, and probably many of his wives did the same, and they
lived and died upon an earth and then were resurrected again
to immortality and eternal life. (Brigham Young, October 8,
1854, Brigham Young Addresses, 18509-1854, Vol. 2, by Elden
J. Watson, sheet 221 (in chronological order), Historical Dept.
Church, Box 49 fd 12)
The following is that part of the Lecture at the
Veil which was delivered by President Young at his home in St. George,
Utah, on the evening of February 7th, 1877:...
16. Adam was an immortal being when he
came on this earth;
17. He had lived on an earth similiar [sic] to ours; he
had received the Priesthood and the keys thereof,
18. And had been faithful in all things and gained his resurrection
and his exaltation, and was crowned with glory, immortality and
eternal lives, and was numbered with the Gods for such he
became through his faithfulness,
19.And had begotten all the spirits that was to come to this
earth. (Unpublished Revelations of the Prophets and
Presidents of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,
complied by Fred C. Collier, Vol 1, pp. 116-117, Collier's Publishing
Co. P.O. Box 1866, Salt Lake City, UT 84110, 2nd edition 1981)
It is reported that this part of the Lecture was
removed some time between 1902 and 1905. This next quotation, by
Brigham Young, is the one many LDS say is not clear and/or not recorded
correctly. But notice, it is just one of many that say the same
thing. Are they all recorded incorrectly?
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 [see
footnote 2 for more on 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 spokenHE is our
FATHER and our GOD, and the only God with whom WE have to do.
Every man upon the earth, professing Christians or nonprofessing,
must hear it, and will know it sooner or later... 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. (Journal of Discourses,
1:5051, Brigham Young, April 9, 1852).
Brigham Young thought what he was talking about
was very important, note the words "will know it sooner
or later" and "will prove their salvation or damnation."
Adam Made From Dust of Another Earth
Consistent with Brigham Young's Adam-God teachings
is his teaching that Adam was made from the dust of another earth,
not of this earth, and came into the Garden of Eden with a celestial
body.
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.... (President Brigham Young, October 23, 1853, Journal
of Discourses 2:6).
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.
(President Brigham Young, April 20, 1856, Journal of Discourses
3:319).
Mankind are here because they are the offspring
of parents who were first brought here from another planet,
and power was given them to propagate their species...(Brigham
Young, October 9, 1859, Journal of Discourses, 7:285286)
Adam, therefore, was resurrected by some
one [sic] who had been resurrected. (Brigham Young, Oct.
8, 1854; Brigham Young Addresses, 1850-1854, Vol. 2, by
Elden J. Watson, sheet 213 (in chronological order), Unpublished,
Box 48 fd 12)
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. (Brigham Young, April 9, 1852. Journal
of Discourses 1:50)
Some LDS think this last quotation is in error
- perhaps recorded incorrectly. What is evident is that this is
the only reference I could find in which Brigham Young explicitly
states that Adam came to this earth with a celestial body.
However, he is saying the same thing when he says, as shown above,
that Adam had gained his resurrection and exaltation, is the father
of our spirits, the father of the spirit of Jesus Christ and is
God the Father. Only resurrected exalted men can do this, those
with celestial bodies (Gospel Principles, p. 9, 290; 1986
or older editions; and footnote 2 of this booklet).
The sampling of references above demonstrates that
Brigham Young, on many occasions, over 20 years, did teach Adam-God
and he called it doctrine and revelation. See page
15 of this booklet for sources of more detailed examples.
Adam-God Doctrine Important?
Perhaps the following will help us understand why
Brigham Young did not teach Adam-God doctrine more often.
When we can see that very character [Michael/Ancient
of Days in context] and talk and live with him in our tabernacles,
if we are so fortunate as to get there into his society, then
we can say that to us there is but one living and true God,
and he is the father of our Lord Jesus Christ and of our spirits.
And when we get back to him and learn that he is actually our
father, we shall not feel any anxiety to call upon anybody else
for the blessings we are in need of. It is a subject I am aware
that does not appear so close to our understandings at present
as we could wish it or as it will be some day, and it is one
that should not trouble us at all, all such things will
become more clear to your minds bye and bye. I tell you this
as my belief about that personage who is called the Ancient of
Days [Adam] so on, but I do not tell it because that I wish
it established in the minds of others; though to me this is
as clear as the sun, it is as plain as my alphabet. I understand
it as I do the path to go home. I did not understand so until
my mind became enlightened with the spirit and by revelation
of God; neither will you understand until our Father in
Heaven reveals all things unto you. To my mind and to my feelings
those matters are all plain and easy to be understood. (Brigham
Young, April 25, 1855 at the Deseret Theological Institute; Church
Archives/Manuscript Addresses of Brigham Young; Brigham Young
Addresses, 1855-1859, Vol. 3; by Elden J. Watson; sheet 12
(in chronological order); The Adam-God Maze, p. 110)
Note how BrighamYoung said that God would reveal
it to the listener "bye and bye." This is why he said,
"should not trouble us at all," it was up to God and it
would be revealed soon! Adam-God doctrine was very important to
Brigham Young and he expected it to "become more clear to your
minds bye and bye....until our Father in Heaven reveals all things
unto you."
Did Brigham Young Teach Normal LDS Doctrine About
God?
Some Mormons use comments from Mormon Apostle John
A. Widtsoe. He admonishes the anti-Mormons for using "only
a half dozen statements" in support of Adam-God teachings and
for ignoring the hundreds that seemed to teach "the true nature
of both God our Heavenly Father and Adam." The source of this
quotation usually is Widtsoe's book, Evidences and Reconciliations,
1987 edition. What is missed is that Apostle Widtsoe died in 1952
and first made his statements about Adam-God in the 1943 edition
of his book, pages 287-290. A great deal more about Adam-God has
been made public since 1943, more than 50 years ago.
On page 289 of his 1943 book Apostle Widtsoe provides
several statements by Brigham Young which he thinks show how Brigham
Young did teach correct doctrine about the Father. These quotations
are as follows:
I believe the Father came down from heaven, as
the Apostles said he did, and begat the Savior of the World; for
He is the Only Begotten of the Father, which could not have been
if the Father did not actually beget him in person. (Journal
of Discourses 1:238)
And what shall we say of our Heavenly Father:
He is also a man in perfection, and the Father of the man Jesus
Christ, and the Father of our spirits. (Journal of Discourses
2:42) [correction - this quote is really found at 11:42. The 2:42
is an error by Widtsoe.]
These statements do not contradict or nullify the
very many clear statements by Brigham Young that Adam is the father
of our spirits and the literal father of Jesus Christ. They easily
fit within the statements where Young did say that Adam is Heavenly
Father.
What Did Other LDS Leaders Say About Adam-God
The following two items were said at a special
general council meeting in London, England:
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. (Millennial Star, Vol. 16,
Saturday, August 26, 1854, President F.D. Richards, page 334)
...some of the officers have not met in council
for three years. They are lacking faith on one principle - the
last "cat that was let out of the bag." Polygamy has
been got over pretty well, that cloud has vanished away, but they
are troubled about Adam being our Father and God. There is
a very intelligent person investigating our principles, and who
has been a great help to the Saints; he has all the works, and
can get along very well with everything else but the last "cat,"and
as soon as he can see that clearly, he will become a "Mormon."
I instructed him to write to Liverpool upon it...Relative to the
principles recently revealed [this last word is not clear], we
have not the least difficulty. If Adam's being our Father and
God cannot be proved by the Bible, it is all right. (Millennial
Star, Vol. 16, Saturday, August 5, 1854, pp. 482-483)
LDS Adam-God Opposition - Disciplinary Action
Disciplinary activity was held at high levels in
the church for those who did not agree with Adam-God doctrine. Two
examples are:
- Orson Pratt, an apostle, was almost excommunicated
for opposing Adam-God Doctrine. Details are covered in Minutes
of Meeting of Council of the Twelve, Church Historian's Office;
Brigham Young Collection, Church Historian's office; details are
found in Adam Is God???, pp. 16-20.
- In late 1890 and 1891-1892, Bishop Edward Bunker,
Jr. and his father, Edward Bunker Sr. (of Bunkerville, Utah) and
his counselor Myron Abbott, were before church courts. The Bunkers
denied Adam-God Doctrine; Abbott accepted it. The final High Council
Court was held June 11, 1892 and was attended by President Wilford
Woodruff and his first counselor, George Q Cannon. In summary,
the Bunkers had their hands slapped for advancing false doctrine
and "indulging in mysteries." Bunker Sr. was advised
"to let these things alone." Abbott, who supported Adam-God
doctrine, was cautioned to not become "puffed up in pride"
over the victory. See Adam-God Maze, pp. 215-238 for the
sources covering the above. Also found in Unpublished Revelations
of the Prophets and Presidents of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, Vol 1, pp. 168-175; and Adam-God, pp.
145-158.
What Some General Authorities Thought
Some LDS say: "Adam-God theory was not considered
Church doctrine by other General Authorities." The disciplinary
cases above refutes this statement. Three other examples are:
- A letter from President Joseph F. Smith to Bishop
Edward Bunker (who was anti-Adam-God), February 27, 1902; Adam-God
Maze, p. 236.
- "... 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" (Journal of Wilford Woodruff,
December 11, 1869; Brigham Young Addresses, 1865-1869,
Vol 5, by Elden J. Watson, Feb. 1982, page 361).
- For several others see pages 114-118 in the Adam-God
Maze.
Adam-God Doctrine Found In Journals
One way to test if the record keeping (transcription)
during Brigham Young's talks were accurate is to examine the journals
kept by those in attendance. What do they say? Here is one example
of the several that may be found in the major references given on
page 15.
Sunday afternoon [Oct. 8, 1854]...There are Lords
many and there are Gods many, & the Father of our Spirits
is the Father of Jesus Christ: He is the Father of Jesus Christ,
Spirit & Body and he is the beginner of the bodies of all
men...there have always been an Adam and an Eve - the first
man and woman, and their oldest son is heir, and should be our
Savior...Michael had his body from the dust of the planet
he was begotten on...died and was resurrected ...When Jesus
has completed his work, Adam shall have a fulness... Adam &
Eve had children in the spirit - and their children married -
brother & sister - then the bodies followed...(Journal
notes by Thomas D. Brown, from Brigham Young's October 8, 1854
talk, Journal of The Southern Indian Mission, Diary of Thomas
D. Brown, edited by Juanita Brooks, Utah State University Press,
Western Text Society Number 4, Logan, Utah, pp. 88-89)
Adam-God Doctrine Found In LDS Hymns and Poems
Some LDS hymns and poems of the mid-1800s also
exhibited Adam-God doctrine. Author Douglas Campbell in his article
"Changes In LDS Hymns: Implications and Opportunities,"
Dialogue, A Journal of Mormon Thought, Vol. 28, #3, fall
1995, speaks about a poem that was changed before inserting it into
the 1927 hymnal. On page 71 he says:
On 13 April 1861 the Latter-day Saints' Millennial
Star published a poem about Adam, "Sons of Michael,"
with the opening lines: "Sons of Michael, he approaches!/
Rise; the Eternal Father greet."
Although the church did not officially accept Young's teachings
on this matter, the idea died slowly The 1927 hymnal converted
the 1861 poem "Sons of Michael" to hymn 334. The
line with Adam as the Eternal Father was replaced by "Sons
of Michael, He approaches!/ Rise; the ancient Father greet."
The Adam-God Maze, page 118, has another
example:
Adam-God Reflected through Mormon Hymns
Hymns, sung in praise to God, depict the degree
of Adam-God indoctrination. They also reveal the God to whom those
praises were being sung. "We Believe in Our God" appeared
in an 1856 British hymn book:
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.
We believe in His Son, Jesus Christ, who in love
To His brothers and sisters came down from above,
To die, to redeem them from death, and to teach
To mortals and spirits the gospel we preach.
More examples may be found in the books Adam-God
121-136 and The Adam-God Maze, pp. 118-120.
Adam-God Doctrine Is Found In LDS Scriptures
One last point to be made is that Brigham Young
did not have to submit Adam-God teachings to a Mormon Church membership
vote because it was already in Mormon Scriptures!
And also with Michael or Adam, the father of
all, the prince of all, the ancient of days. (D&C
27:11, August 1830)
...Adam shall come to visit his people,
or the Ancient of Days shall sit, as spoken of by Daniel
the prophet. (D&C 116, May 19, 1838)
A more recent "revelation" in D&C
138:38 says:
Among the great and mighty ones who were assembled
in this vast congregation of the righteous were Father Adam,
the Ancient of Days and father of all. (October 3,1918)
From these we learn:
- Adam/Michael is the Ancient of Days and the father
referred to by Daniel the prophet (see Daniel 7:9, 22 shown below).
- Adam is the father of all, the prince of all.
- Adam has the title Father - Father Adam (from
the 1918 revelation)
From Daniel 7:9, 13, 14, 22 we find:
9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and
the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as
snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne
was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one
like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and
came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near
before him.
14 And there was given him dominion, and glory,
and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should
serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which
shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
22 Until the Ancient of days came, and
judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time
came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
From these and the Doctrine and Covenants references
we have:
a. From Daniel 7:9: Father Adam has a throne (as
does God the Father).
b. From Daniel 7:13-14- The "Son of Man,"
Jesus Christ , will come to and will be brought before Father
Adam and Father Adam will give Jesus Christ dominion, and glory,
and a Kingdom, that all people, nations, and language, should serve
him.(3) Only God the Father would have the authority to do this.
Summary
It has been demonstrated that Brigham Young did
teach Adam-God doctrine over a 20 year period and in a variety of
public meetings. He obviously was expressing more than personal
opinion as it was taught at General Conference and other public
meetings. He, and others, called it doctrine and did not
consider it a theory, it was a revelation from God. He was
not concerned about its acceptance when he presented it because
"...all such things will be clear to your minds bye and bye"
and "...neither wi11 you understand until our Father in Heaven
reveals all things unto you." (April 25, 1855 talk ) It was
shown that other General Authorities of the Mormon Church accepted
Adam-God doctrine.
Both Brigham Young and Joseph Smith said the first
principle of the Gospel and doctrine of salvation was to become
acquainted with our Father and God, and to know for a certainty
his character, perfections and attributes. It was then, and still
is important to know if Adam is God. It was also shown that disciplinary
activity was taken at a high level in the Mormon Church against
lower level leaders that rejected Adam-God doctrine.
Conclusions
Brigham Young and those who followed his Adam-God
doctrine could not have "faith in God unto life and salvation."
They were in gross error about the "character, perfections
and attributes of God." They violated the first principle taught
by Joseph Smith (see page 4 of this booklet, "How Important
Is It To Know God?")
Because of this Brigham Young must have become
a fallen prophet (if he was ever a prophet). In this fallen and
apostate condition he could not possibly have any priesthood authority
to use and to hand on to others. The priesthood can only be exercised
with righteousness. The same idea applies to all those who accepted
Adam-God doctrine. Can you think of a sin that God hates more than
breaking the first commandment (Exodus 20:3).
Apostle John A. Widtsoe said it this way:
Loss by Incorrect Living. The Priesthood
is received by man, but the use of it determines whether it remains
with him. The right to use it vanishes under the cloud of unrighteous
living, for nothing so grieves our Heavenly Father as to have
those who have received great knowledge, deny it and return
to untruth. (Priesthood and Church Government, p.66)
Then Apostle Wilford Woodruff, who became the fourth
president of the Mormon Church, had this to say:
...everlasting priesthood is bestowed...If we
attempt to use it for unrighteous purposes, like lightning from
heaven, our power, sooner or later, falls, and we fail to accomplish
the designs of God.-MS, 49:546, August, 1887. (The Discourses
of Wilford Woodruff, Edited by G. Homer Durham, Book Craft,
Salt Lake City, 1946, 1990, p.6970
A Mormon scripture says:
That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably
connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven
cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of
righteousness...but when we undertake to cover our sins, or
to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control
or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men,
in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw
themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is
withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man.
(Doctrine and Covenants 121:36-37)
Was Brigham Young unrighteous when he taught Adam-God
and called it doctrine and revelation? Mormon President Spencer
W. Kimball seemed to think so when he denounced the teaching and
called it false doctrine (see page 2 of this booklet for
the quotation).
There is another consideration. If the top leaders
of the Mormon Church could make such a gross error with Adam-God
doctrine then all their teachings should be in question, such as
those shown on pages 5-6 of this booklet. Don't place your faith
in a church or a worldly man. There is only one person we all need,
Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 3:11, 15:22; Heb. 1:1-2; John 3:16; Rom. 10:9-11).
Detailed Adam-God References
- Adam-God, by Craig L. Tholson, Payson
UT, Publishment, 1991, 378 pages.
- "Adam-God Doctrine, The"; by David
John Buerger; Dialogue, A Journal of Mormon Thought, Vol.
15, #1, Spring 1982, pages 14-58.
- Adam Is God???, booklet by Chris A. Vlachos,
published by Utah Lighthouse Ministries, Salt Lake City, 27 pages
- Adam-God Maze, by Culley K. Christensen,
Independent Publishers, 1981, 333 pages.
- Brigham Young Addresses, covering 1836-1869,
5 Vol., by Elden J. Watson; volumes 2-5 have Adam-God information.
- Michael Our Father And Our God, by Joseph
W. Musser, Truth Publishing Co., Salt Lake City, UT, 1963, 139
pages.
- Mormonism - Shadow or Reality, by Jerald
and Sandra Tanner; Salt Lake City, pp. 173-178-D.
- Notes, The, compiled by Robert R. Openshaw,
The Bitterroot Publishing Co., P.O. Box 1187 Hamilton, MT 59840.
On pp. 1-61 218 sources on and related to Adam-God teachings are
given in summary.
- Unpublished Adam-God Discourses of Brigham
Young, 1852-1877; Doctrine of the Priesthood, September 1974,
Vol. 2, No.1, Collier's Publishing Co., 74 pages.
- Unpublished Revelations of the Prophets
and Presidents of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,
complied by Fred C. Collier, Vol 1, Collier's Publishing Co.,
P.O. Box 1866, Salt Lake City, UT 84110, 2nd edition 1981.
Endnotes
- Bold face type and words in brackets in quotes
are by this author, John Farkas.
- Charles Penrose, an early LDS leader said: "
Jesus Christ's body was put in the sepulcher a natural body; it
was raised a spiritual body....it was in the fashion and likeness
of the glorious body of His Eternal Father. It was a celestial
body quickened by the celestial glory...." (November
16, 1884, Journal of Discourses, 26:2223). Bruce
R. McConkie in A New Witness for the Articles of Faith
said: "Truly baptism prepares us for a glorious resurrection!
'For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his [Christ's]
death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection. (Rom.
6:3-6) As he came forth in the resurrectin with a celestial body,
a body free from sin, a body prepared todwell everlastingly in
a celestial kingdom, so shall it be with us.
- The 1979 edition of the Mormon Church's King
James Bible also supports this statement in note 13a at the bottom
of page 1112 of the text of this Bible. It has: "Rev. 11:15,
TG [Topical Guide - notes in the back of the Bible] Jesus Christ,
Second Coming of; Jesus Christ, Son of Man."
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