The Adam-God theory (also called the Adam-God doctrine) was a theory or doctrine taught by Brigham Young, an early leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its Mormon fundamentalist offshoots. The details, meaning, and reporting of the theory are disputed. However, as it appears in the official transcript of Young's sermon at the church's 1852 General Conference, the theory includes the ideas that Adam (1) entered the Garden of Eden "with a celestial body, and brought Eve, one of his wives, with him", (2) that Adam "is our FATHER and our GOD, and the only God with whom WE have to do" (emphasis in original), and (3) that Jesus was conceived, not by the Holy Spirit, but by "the Father", i.e., "the first of the human family" (Young 1852, p. 50). Image File history File links Please see the file description page for further information. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Adam-God_theory. ... See also, Brigham Young University Brigham Young (June 1, 1801 – August 29, 1877) was the second prophet and president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... The Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the largest attraction in the citys Temple Square. ... Teens From Polygamous Families protested on August 19, 2006 In Salt Lake City Mormon fundamentalism most often describes splinter movements of Mormonism that believe or practice what its adherents consider the fundamental aspects of Mormonism. ... The LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City In Mormonism, a General Conference is a meeting meant for instruction of all members of the Latter Day Saint faith. ... The Fall of Man by Lucas Cranach, a 16th century German depiction of Eden The Garden of Eden (from Hebrew גַּן עֵדֶן  ; Arabic جنة عدن  ; in Greek Οὐρανός [uƔɑNÉ’s] Starry Sky : גןַֹ֗ [אְוּגַ֗ןוֹסַ֗ ]) is described in the Book of Genesis as being the place where the first man, Adam, and the first woman, Eve, lived... In Christian religions that trace their roots to belief in the Nicene Creed, the Holy Spirit (Hebrew: Ruah haqodesh; Greek: ; Latin: ; also called the Holy Ghost) is the third consubstantial Person of the Holy Trinity or the Godhead. ...

Whatever the precise meaning of the Adam-God theory, elements of the theory were taught in church meetings, sung in church hymns, and included in the church's Endowment ceremony, until after the death of Brigham Young in 1877, when the theory gradually lost prominence. However, the theory was controversial even during Young's lifetime, and was rejected by some contemporary Mormon apostles such as Orson Pratt and Amasa M. Lyman. In 1976, the most common interpretation of the theory was rejected by the church as false doctrine, although that interpretation has enthusiastic acceptance among several small Mormon fundamentalist sects that broke from the church on this and other issues where they feel The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has strayed from Young's teachings. In the Latter Day Saint movement, the Endowment is a gift of power from on high that has several meanings in various contexts of Latter Day Saint theology. ... The current Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the LDS Church. ... Orson Pratt Orson Pratt (September 19, 1811 – October 3, 1881) was a leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and an original member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. ... Amasa Mason Lyman (March 30, 1813–February 4, 1877) (commonly known as Amasa M. Lyman) was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement. ... Teens From Polygamous Families protested on August 19, 2006 In Salt Lake City Mormon fundamentalism most often describes splinter movements of Mormonism that believe or practice what its adherents consider the fundamental aspects of Mormonism. ... The Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the largest attraction in the citys Temple Square. ...

Early formulation of the theory by Brigham Young

The Adam-God theory originated in a sermon given by Brigham Young given at the church's spring General Conference on April 9, 1852. This sermon was recorded by Elder George D. Watt, Young's private secretary, who was an expert in Pitman shorthand (Watt 1977). Watt published the sermon in 1854 in the British periodical Journal of Discourses, in a volume endorsed by Young and the church's First Presidency (Young, Kimball & Richards 1853). See also, Brigham Young University Brigham Young (June 1, 1801 – August 29, 1877) was the second prophet and president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... The LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City In Mormonism, a General Conference is a meeting meant for instruction of all members of the Latter Day Saint faith. ... April 9 is the 99th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (100th in leap years). ... 1852 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Pitman Shorthand is a system of shorthand for the English language developed by Sir Isaac Pitman (1813–1897), who first presented it in 1837. ... The Journal of Discourses (often abbreviated J.D.) is a 26-volume collection of public sermons by early leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... In Mormonism, the First Presidency (or the Quorum of the Presidency of the Church) is one of the governing bodies in the church hierarchy of several Latter Day Saint denominations. ...

In Watt's transcript of the sermon, Young said he intended to discuss "who it was that begat the Son of the Virgin Mary", a subject which he said "has remained a mystery in this kingdom up to this day" (Young 1852, p. 50). The transcript reads:

"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 (Young 1852, p. 50).

The transcript then reads: "When the Virgin Mary conceived the child Jesus, the Father had begotten him in his own likeness. He was not begotten by the Holy Ghost. And who is the Father? He is the first of the human family" (Young 1852, p. 50). Young explained that Adam "was begotten by his Father in heaven" in the same way that Adam begat his own sons and daughters, and that there were "three distinct characters, namely, Eloheim, Yahovah, and Michael" (Young 1852, pp. 50–51). Then, reiterating, he said that "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." (Young 1852, p. 51).^[1]

From the beginning, Young understood that his doctrine would be controversial. He said, "I could tell you much more about this; but were I to tell you the whole truth, blasphemy would be nothing to it, in the estimation of the superstitious and overrighteous mankind.... 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." (Young 1852, p. 51).

Initial reactions to the doctrine

The reaction to Young's sermon within the Mormon community was mixed. Many regarded Young's statements as prophetic. For example, the Clerk of the Conference Thomas Bullock recorded that during Young's sermon, "the Holy Ghost rest[ed] upon him with great power".^[2] In a session of General Converence the next day, Young's counselor stated his agreement that "the God and Father of Jesus Christ was Adam".^[3] Another apostle, Franklin D. Richards, accepted the doctrine "that Adam is our Father and our God" as well, stating that "THE PROPHET AND APOSTLE BRIGHAM HAS DECLARED IT, AND THAT IS THE WORD OF THE LORD" (emphasis in original).^[4] Franklin Dewey Richards (1821–1899) (commonly known as Franklin D. Richards) was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from February 12, 1849 until his death, December 9, 1899. ...

However, some other prominent members of the church took issue with the doctrine. Most significantly, apostle and philosopher Orson Pratt disagreed with the doctrine, and expressed that disagreement publicly^[5] and in private meetings with other apostles.^[6] Pratt also published his disagreement in his East-coast publication The Seer.^[7] Pratt continued to debate the issue in public forums for months, despite being rebuked privately and publicly by Brigham Young on more than one occasion (Bergera 1980, pp. 13–16), until 1860, when faced with possible disfellowshipment, he agreed to the language of a public confession as negotiated during a series of meeting among the church hierarchy (Bergera 1980). Orson Pratt Orson Pratt (September 19, 1811 – October 3, 1881) was a leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and an original member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. ...

Despite the controversy, Young was adamant about the doctrine. On February 19, 1854, he reiterated it in a sermon.^[8] He also reiterated the doctrine at the October 1854 General Conference,^[9] in a sermon that was reported to have "held the vast audience as it were spellbound"^[10] In the October conference, Young is reported as clarifying that Adam and Eve were "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."^[11] February 19 is the 50th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1854 (MDCCCLIV) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Michelangelos Creation of Adam, from the Sistine Chapel. ...

Young's first counselor Heber C. Kimball adopted Young's views enthusiastically, and preached on June 29, 1856 that "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 redeim the world."^[12]. Heber C. Kimball Heber Chase Kimball (June 14, 1801 – June 22, 1868) (commonly known as Heber C. Kimball) was a leader in the early Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... June 29 is the 180th day of the year (181st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 185 days remaining. ... 1856 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ...

Adam-God in Young's later administration

After the public debates between Brigham Young and Orson Pratt subsided in 1860, Young continued to maintain his belief in the doctrine, but may have been somewhat bitter that the doctrine did not gain immediate acceptance. In 1861, he stated:

"Some years ago, I advanced a doctrine with regard to Adam being our father and God, that will be a curse to many of the Elders of Israel because of their folly. With regard to it they yet grovel in darkness and will. It is one of the most glorious revealments of the economy of heaven, yet the world hold derision. Had I revealed the doctrine of baptism from [sic.] the dead instead Joseph Smith there are men around me who would have ridiculed the idea until dooms day. But they are ignorant and stupid like the dumb ass." ^[13]

He also may be viewed as having backed away from his earlier statements regarding the necessity of the doctrine as a matter of salvation:

"Whether Adam is the personage that we should consider Our Heavenly Father, or not, is considerable of a mystery to a good many. I do not care for one moment how that is; it is no matter whether we are to consider Him our God, or whether His Father, or his Grandfather, for in either case we are of one species of one family and Jesus Christ is also of our species."^[14].

Just before his death, Young took steps to ensure that the Adam-God theory was taught in LDS temples as part of the Endowment ceremony. In his personal journal William Clayton recorded the teachings of Brigham Young given in the Nauvoo Temple on 28 December 1845. In these teachings Brigham Young clearly states that there are at least two persons named Adam. In the Latter Day Saint movement, the Endowment is a gift of power from on high that has several meanings in various contexts of Latter Day Saint theology. ... December 28 is the 362nd day of the year (363rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 3 days remaining. ...

Meeting at half past 10 o clock this day in the attic Story of the Temple, for those who could clothe themselves in the garments of the Priesthood. A very large congregation was present, the side rooms were some of them filled, a curtain was withdrawn and the other rooms besides the east room were filled. About 200 persons were present, clothed in preistly garments. President Young addressed the meeting, it having been opened by prayer by P. P. Pratt, and singing the songs of Zion, “The morning breaks the shadows flee” and “Come to me &c. President Young came into the room at 1/4 before 12 M. He said he supposed those present were a part of those who had received their endowment, that they were those who desired to be wise and do honor to the cause they have espoused, and bring no reproach upon the character of him who has given us of the things of his Kingdom liberally. The keys or signs of the Priesthood are for the purpose of impressing on the mind the order of the Creation. In the first place the name of the man is given, a new name, Adam, signifying the first man, or Eve, the first Woman. Adam’s name was more ancient than he was. It was the name of a man long before him, who enjoyed the Priesthood. The new name should be after some ancient man. Thus with your ancient name, your modern name and the name that was last given you, you enquire concerning things past present and future. (Brigham Young, Intimate Chronicle 238-239 (William Clayton Journal) (28 December 1845))

If, as Brigham Young teaches here, Adam was named after “some ancient man” who held the priesthood and lived long before Adam did, then the identity of that more ancient Adam might help us understand better Brigham Young's teachings concerning Adam. If that more ancient Adam is God the Father, then all the mystery of Brigham Young’s teachings relative to Adam disappear.

In 1877, while Young was standardizing the Endowment ceremony for use in the Saint George temple, Young introduced as part of the Endowment the “Lecture at the Veil.” The final draft of the Lecture, made after Young’s death, is kept private in the St. George Temple. There are those who believe that Young’s personal secretary recorded Young’s dictation of the lecture in his personal journal. A portion of that journal entry reads as follows: 1877 (MDCCCLXXVII) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... In Mormonism, the Endowment is a heavenly gift of priesthood power, connected with the construction and use of the Mormon temple. ... The Salt Lake Temple is the most well-known Mormon Temple. ...

“Adam was an immortal being when he came. on this earth he had lived on an earth similar to ours… and had begotten all the spirit that was to come to this earth. and Eve our common Mother who is the mother of all living bore those spirits in the celestial world…. Father Adam’s oldest son (Jesus the Saviour) who is the heir of the family is Father Adams first begotten in the spirit World. who according to the flesh is the only begotten as it is written. In his divinity he having gone back into the spirit World. and come in the spirit [glory] to Mary and she conceived for when Adam and Eve got through with their Work in this earth. they did not lay their bodies down in the dust, but returned to the spirit World from whence they came.” (Journal of L. John Nuttall, personal secretary of Brigham Young, Feb. 7, 1877 in BYU Special Collections).

If we apply Young’s 1845 teachings in the Nauvoo Temple to this paragraph, then the “Adam” spoken of in this paragraph may actually be the more ancient Adam, our Father in Heaven. In that case, there is no mystery in these teachings.

Prefacing the paragraph quoted, L. John Nuttall records in his private journal for Wednesday 7 February 1877 that after serving that day in the St. George Temple and after taking his evening meal, he attended a meeting with President Brigham Young, Wilford Woodruff, Erastus Snow, Brigham Young Jr, I.G. Bleak, and E. M. Greene. (See paragraphs 1A and 1B below.) This meeting was held in President Young’s private winter home in St. George, Utah. During the course of the meeting, President Young gave some teachings which Nuttall later recorded in his personal journal. February 7 is the 38th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

It appears that Nuttall recorded President Young’s instructions on the 8th, not on the 7th when they were delivered. The claim that Nuttall did not record President Young’s instructions on the same night they were delivered is made by Fred Collier. Collier notes that, after Nuttall had written the first sentence of paragraph 1B, “[a]t this point Nuttal stopped writing for the ink beginning the next sentence is much lighter and the same as that used for his diary entry of February 8th.” Collier notes that Nuttall resumed his entry for February 7th with the word “Works” and continues with the rest of his journal entry as set forth in this section. It would appear that Nuttall wrote the majority of that entry on the following day, the 8th.

Six days before this private evening meeting, President Young had also given some instructions in the St. George Temple. Nuttall, who was serving at that time as the temple’s recorder, wrote down those instructions for safe keeping. (According to Nuttall’s journal entry for 1 February 1877 “President Young was present and gave some instructions not previously given, which I wrote for safe keeping and reference hereafter.”) It is claimed by some that the instructions recorded by Nuttall on 1 February 1877 included what has come to be called “the lecture at the veil” and that Nuttall and John Daniel Thomas McAllister had been specifically requested to record that particular lecture. It is further claimed that the teachings recorded six days later in Nuttall’s journal entry for 7 February 1877 are actually Nuttall’s record of the 1 February 1877 lecture. (E.g., G. Bergera, Conflict in the Quorum 258-260 (2002) Bergera states that President Young “dictated [the lecture] to one of his secretaries” and then sets out the text of Nuttall’s 7 February 1877 journal entry.) Below we will see why this last claim is most likely not true. February 1 is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... February 1 is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... February 7 is the 38th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... February 1 is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... February 7 is the 38th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Nuttall’s 7 February 1877 journal entry begins as follows: February 7 is the 38th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

{1A} In the sealing room, in anointing where Josiah Guile Hardy and his wife Ann Lenston Hardy had their 2 anointings, also Matthew Clayton, also Sarah Johnson Macdonald anointed to A. F. Macdonald. His wife Elizabeth Graham Mc D. as proxy, Ranny Van Cott Macdonald was also anointed to A. F. Mcdonald, W. Woodruff anointing.

In this initial paragraph, Nuttall summarizes his activities of the day (performing various anointings in the St. George Temple) before he attended the evening meeting at President Young’s residence. Most writers who discuss “the lecture at the veil” do not quote paragraph 1A of Nuttall’s journal at all.

{1B} After supper went to President Young's. Present Prest. Young, W. Woodruff, E. Snow, B. Young, Jr., I. G. Bleak, E. M. Greene and myself. Works in the temple being under consideration, Prest. Young was filled with the spirit of God and revelation, and said when we got our washings and anointings under the hands of the Prophet Joseph at Nauvoo we had only one room to work in, with the exception of a little side room or office were we were washed and anointed, had our garments placed upon us and received our new name.

Not only do most writers who discuss “the lecture at the veil” fail to quote paragraph 1A, they also rarely quote the first two or three sentences of paragraph 1B. Instead, they most often begin to quote the Nuttall journal starting with the third sentence. Unfortunately, by omitting the initial portions of Nuttall’s journal entry, such writers obscure the fact that the words Nuttall records here was actually delivered at an evening meeting held in Brigham Young’s private residence and not in the St. George Temple. In any case, it was in the midst of these discussions concerning the temple that President Young was filled with the spirit of revelation and began to speak concerning the first endowment ceremony presented by the Prophet Joseph Smith at Nauvoo.

Because Nuttall also notes that at this private evening meeting several matters or “Works” concerning the temple were considered by those present, many writers have assumed that this journal entry contains the “lecture at the veil.” For example, Theorists Robert Black and Fred Collier both assume that Nuttall’s reference to the “Works” in the temple refers to what Black chooses to call “the sermon before the Veil.” Unfortunately, they give no reasons for this assumption. Similarly, most other writers simply assume, without discussion, that the text of this journal entry represents President Young’s 1 February 1877 lecture delivered in the St. George Temple, despite the fact that Nuttall plainly states in the often omitted introductory sentences of his journal entry that this text was delivered on 7 February 1877 at the residence of President Young. This unquestioned assumption that this journal entry contains the text of Brigham Young’s 1 February 1877 lecture at the veil is very surprising because there are several reasons to question that assumption. February 1 is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... February 7 is the 38th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... February 1 is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Adam-God_theory. ...

It therefore appears highly unlikely that the text delivered by President Young at his own residence on 7 February 1877 and penned by L. John Nuttall in his private journal represents the same lecture at the veil delivered by Brigham Young six days earlier (1 February) in the St. George Temple. February 7 is the 38th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Interpretations of the doctrine

Adam as the father of Jesus Christ

Many^{[citation needed]} who accept the Adam-God doctrine believe that it includes the idea that Adam was the father of Jesus Christ through the Virgin Mary, or perhaps God the Father (Elohim), although Young seemed particularly exact not to confuse the identity of Elohim and Adam. Many^{[citation needed]} also believe that Eve was a wife from a previous planet or earth. Young's statements on this subject are somewhat ambiguous, and some^{[citation needed]} have rejected this interpretation. Our Lady redirects here. ... In many religions, the supreme God is given the title and attributions of Father. ... Elohim (אֱלוֹהִים , אלהים) is a Hebrew word which expresses concepts of divinity. ...

The distinction between Father Adam and Father Elohim

Though Young referred to Adam as the “Father” in his 1852 sermon and thereafter, it is clear that Young did not equate Adam with “Elohim” (who modern Mormons usually identify as God the Father) for he stated in his sermon that “Eloheim, Yahovah, and Michael” were “three distinct characters”. Moreover, in 1873 he stated: Elohim (אֱלוֹהִים , אלהים) is a Hebrew word which expresses concepts of divinity. ... The term Mormon is a colloquial name, most-often used to refer to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). ... In many religions, the supreme God is given the title and attributions of Father. ...

“We say that Father Adam came here and helped make the earth. Who is he? He is Michael, a great prince, and it was said to him by Eloheim, ‘Go ye and make an earth’…. Adam came here, and then they brought his wife…. 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.’” (Deseret News, p. 308 (June 18, 1873)).

Brigham Youngs statements in light of Joseph Smith teachings

The Prophet Joseph Smith explained that the title Eloheim is actually plural meaning Gods. "I will teach on the plurality of Gods.....Eloheim is from the word Eloi, God, in the singular number; and by adding the word heim it renders it Gods. It read first - "In the begining the Head of the Gods brought forth the Gods" or as others have translated it "The Head of the Gods called the Gods together...."(Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith pp.370-372) In light of this teaching there is no contradiction in Brigham Youngs statements. Eloheim or the Gods along with Jehovah and Michael created the earth. The title Elohim could be applied to God the Father or God the Fathers Father etc.

The theory as a doctrine

There is some controversy as to whether or not Young considered the Adam-God theory to be official church doctrine. At the end of his 1852 sermon, he stated, "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." (1 J.D. 51). Nevertheless, in 1854, after a great deal of controversy concerning the doctrine, Young minimized the importance of the doctrine, stating that the "subject ... does not immediately concern yours or my welfare... I do not pretend to say that the items of doctrine and ideas I shall advance are necessary for the people to know" (October 8, 1854, Historical Department of the Church [HDC]). 1852 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The Journal of Discourses (often abbreviated J.D.) is a 26-volume collection of public sermons by early leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... 1854 (MDCCCLIV) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

After 1854, Young also generally declined requests to elaborate on the doctrine. In 1860, the First Presidency issued a statement, entitled "Instructions to the Saints", regarding various disagreements between Young and apostle Orson Pratt on many doctrinal issues. The statement was meant to clear up any questions concerning the official position of the Church on these various doctrinal disagreements. Contrary to the opinions of many, this official did not address the Adam-God theory. Instead, concerning Adam the statement said only that, "It is deemed wisest to let that subject remain without further explanation at present." (2 Messages of the First Presidency 222). 1854 (MDCCCLIV) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1860 is the leap year starting on Sunday. ... In Mormonism, the First Presidency (or the Quorum of the Presidency of the Church) is one of the governing bodies in the church hierarchy of several Latter Day Saint denominations. ... This is the current Mormon collaboration of the month! Please help improve it to meet the ideal article standard. ... Orson Pratt Orson Pratt (September 19, 1811 – October 3, 1881) was a leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and an original member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. ...

Although Brigham Young minimized the importance of this doctrine and declined to elaborate on the doctrine much further, there are those who contend that he continued to assert the doctrine until his death. They point out that in 1870, Young claimed that he had "never yet preached a sermon and sent it out to the children of men, that they may not call Scripture. Let me have the privilege of correcting a sermon, and it is as good Scripture as they deserve." (13 J.D. 95.) Unfortunately they fail to also point out that Young did not have the opportunity to review and correct all his sermons concerning Adam. Nevertheless, in 1873, Young lamented, "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 revealed to me—namely that Adam is our Father and God." (Deseret News, June 18, 1873). No one before or since can claim to have fully understood Young's teachings on these matters. 1870 (MDCCCLXX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... The Journal of Discourses (often abbreviated J.D.) is a 26-volume collection of public sermons by early leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... 1873 (MDCCCLXXIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... The Deseret Morning News is a newspaper published in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Utahs oldest continually published daily newspaper. ...

After the death of Brigham Young, church leaders began to cast the various interpretations of this theory as mere speculation and denied that any particular interpretation was binding on the Church. In 1897, Wilford Woodruff, then President of the Church, wrote a private letter concerning Young's teachings on Adam, stating: 1897 (MDCCCXCVII) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Wilford Woodruff (March 1, 1807 – September 2, 1898) was the fourth President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), from 1889 until his death in 1898. ... In the Latter Day Saint movement, the President of the Church is generally considered to be the highest office of the church. ...

The doctrine was never submitted to the councils of the Priesthood nor to the church for approval or ratification, and was never formally or otherwise accepted by the church. It is therefore in no sense binding upon the Church. Brigham Young's ‘bare mention’ was ‘without indubitable evidence and authority being given of its truth.’ Only the scripture, the ‘accepted word of God,’ is the Church's standard (Letter to A. Saxey, January 7, 1897, HDC).

Contemporary interpretations

Evidence for Adam is God interpretation

During the life of Brigham Young and for some time later, many devout Latter-day Saints believed and taught that Adam was the father of Jesus Christ. For example, Heber C. Kimball, a member of the First Presidency under Brigham Young, stated 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..." (4 J.D., p.1). However, it is not clear that Adam is the "first man" to whom Kimball makes reference. Adam's father Elohim would also have been "the God that pertains to this earth" and existed before Adam, making Elohim the "first man" who sent his Son to redeem the world. George Q. Cannon, another member of the First Presidency, when asked by his son about the conception of Jesus by Mary, asked "what was to prevent Father Adam from visiting and overshadowing the mother of Jesus." (March 10, 1888, Daily Journal of Abraham H. Cannon) (at Brigham Young University). Again, Cannon could have been referring to Elohim by the title Adam because Elohim was the first man in relation to this earth. A Latter-day Saint is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). ... Heber C. Kimball Heber Chase Kimball (June 14, 1801 – June 22, 1868) (commonly known as Heber C. Kimball) was a leader in the early Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... In Mormonism, the First Presidency (or the Quorum of the Presidency of the Church) is one of the governing bodies in the church hierarchy of several Latter Day Saint denominations. ... The Journal of Discourses (often abbreviated J.D.) is a 26-volume collection of public sermons by early leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... George Quayle Cannon (January 11, 1827–April 21, 1901) was an early member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. ... In Mormonism, the First Presidency (or the Quorum of the Presidency of the Church) is one of the governing bodies in the church hierarchy of several Latter Day Saint denominations. ...

There was also a Mormon hymn published in 1856 entitled "We Believe in Our God", that stated: It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Mormonism. ... 1856 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ...

We believe in our God the great 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..." (Sacred Hymns and Spiritual Songs for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints p. 375) (Liverpool, 1856).

Evidence against Adam is God interpretation

It is evident, however that most contemporaries believed in yet another interpretation not widely referred to by modern Mormon apologists.

This theory states that as Adam stands at the head of the human family, he has become our god. For instance, "the Lord made Moses a god to Pharaoh" (Exodus 7:1) and as Paul was "as Christ Jesus" to the Galatians (4:14). In this way, Adam as our great progenitor, will preside over the human family as "father and God."

According to some researchers, "this was the interpretation of Brigham Young's statement advocated in 1853 by Samuel W. Richards, who, as editor of the Millennial Star and President of the Church in the British Isles, first published President Young's initial sermon on the subject (Millennial Star, December 10, 1853)."

Franklin D. Richards who took Samuel W. Richards place also promoted this interpretation (see MS, March 31, 1855).

Other presidents of the Church have also taught this interpretation.

Furthermore, the Hebrew word "Adam" has as one of its meanings "Man" and may have been used by Young, as in his 28 December 1845 speech in the Temple, to refer to God the Father (who in the Doctrine & Covenants is described as possessing the name-title "Man of Holiness"). December 28 is the 362nd day of the year (363rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 3 days remaining. ...

No further clarification by Young

In any case, Young seems to have decided to let the issue rest and not to explain more. He stated:

Whether Adam is the personage that we should consider our heavenly Father, or not, is considerable of a mystery to a good many. I do not care of one moment how that is; it is no matter whether we are to consider Him our God, or whether His Father, or His Grandfather, for in either case we are of one species. (JD 4:217; see also JD4:271; 7:238; 7:285; 11:43, 268).

The world may in vain ask the question: "Who are we?" But the Gospel tells us that we are the sons and daughters of that God who we serve. Some say, "We are the children of Adam and Eve." So we are, and they are the children of our Heavenly Father. We are all the children of Adam and Eve, and they and we are the offspring of Him who dwells in the heavens, the highest Intelligence that dwells anywhere that we have any knowledge of. (JD 13:311. See also JD 1:238; 10:231; 13:309).

Modern interpretations

Denounced as false doctrine

After Young's death, the Adam-God theory, as popularly understood, was slowly disregarded by most Mormons, and was never formally adopted by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as canon. As early as 1902, apostle Charles W. Penrose stated, "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has never formulated or adopted any theory concerning the subject treated upon by President Young as to Adam."^[15] Eventually, the doctrine was denounced as false. Latter-day Saint president Spencer W. Kimball stated, "We denounce [the Adam-God] theory and hope that everyone will be cautioned against this and other kinds of false doctrine."^[16] The Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the largest attraction in the citys Temple Square. ... 1902 (MCMII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Categories: LDS stubs ... A Latter-day Saint is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). ... Spencer Woolley Kimball (March 28, 1895 – November 5, 1985) was the twelfth President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1973-1985). ...

In 1980, Latter-day Saint apostle Bruce R. McConkie gave a talk elaborating upon the Adam-God theory: A Latter-day Saint is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). ... The Twelve Apostles (in Koine Greek απόστολος apostolos [1], someone sent forth/sent out, an emissary) were probably Galilean Jewish men (10 names are Aramaic, 4 names are Greek) chosen from among the disciples, who were sent forth by Jesus of Nazareth to preach the Gospel to both Jews and Gentiles... Bruce R. McConkie Bruce Redd McConkie (July 29, 1915–April 19, 1985) was an influential theologian and apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ...

"There are those who believe or say they believe that Adam is our father and our god, that he is the father of our spirits and our bodies, and that he is the one we worship.

"The devil keeps this heresy alive as a means of obtaining converts to cultism. It is contrary to the whole plan of salvation set forth in the scriptures, and anyone who has read the Book of Moses, and anyone who has received the temple endowment and who yet believes the Adam-God theory does not deserve to be saved.* Those who are so ensnared reject the living prophet and close their ears to the apostles of their day. 'We will follow those who went before,' they say. And having so determined, they soon are ready to enter polygamous relationships that destroy their souls.

"We worship the Father, in the name of the Son, by the power of the Holy Ghost; and Adam is their foremost servant, by whom the peopling of our planet was commenced."^[17]

*This is what Elder McConkie said in the audio recording of this sermon. The print version has subsequently been changed to "has no excuse whatever for being led astray by it." http://speeches.byu.edu/index.php?act=viewitem&id=658 Compare PDF text with MP3 audio at 26:48. In Mormonism, the Endowment is a heavenly gift of priesthood power, connected with the construction and use of the Mormon temple. ...

Controversy arises again

As both Kimball and Young are revered as prophets, some apologists and devout Mormons believe that two prophets cannot disagree on a matter of doctrinal interpretations and have interpreted Kimball's statement not as a denunciation of Young's teachings, but as a denunciation of how some of Young's contemporaries interpreted his teachings. The term Mormon is a colloquial name, most-often used to refer to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). ...

Some have argued that the LDS church leadership does not openly discuss the historical evidences of Adam-God being taught because it may undermine their claim that the President of the church will never be allowed by God to lead the church astray. If Young could be wrong about this matter, then the church President today could also be wrong in his teachings etc.; in fact, he could be wrong about President Young being wrong. Those who believe this feel that to avoid this inevitable conclusion, the LDS church leadership have chosen to ignore the matter as much as possible.

There is also the viewpoint that certain doctrines and teachings are sacred and although might be revealed as appropriate at certain times and places they can also be withdrawn from an apostate and unworthy people. President Young felt inspired to reveal this doctrine which he claimed he had received from the Prophet Joseph Smith but later withdrew his statements after witnessing the controversy it had caused.

The Adam-God doctrine, in various forms, however, is still accepted by many post-Utah-migration period Latter Day Saint splinter organizations. The term Latter Day Saint most commonly refers to (but is not limited to) members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints which, its members believe, was founded under the direction of Jesus Christ by the prophet Joseph Smith, Jr. ...

Apologetics revisited

A god – two Adams (1)

Many apologetic and devout Mormon scholars have debated Young's precise meaning. Some think he meant that Adam was an eternal God-like being who was placed on this earth with a celestial body and the literal (physical) father of the human race (because of his parentage and immortal body Adam would thus be a god, and a literal Son of Eloheim born with an immortal body without blood—as opposed to Christ who was born "in the flesh" as a mortal being), who chose to partake of the forbidden fruit, Fall and mortality. Elohim (אלהים) is a Hebrew word related to deity, but whose exact significance is often disputed. ... The fall refers to the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, as recorded in the biblical book of Genesis, and the consequences of that expulsion. ...

In Mormon theology, Christ is the only begotten Son of God "in the flesh." (5 Brigham Young Addresses, ¶12 (7 October 1866)) But Adam is also considered a Son of God, and therefore a "god" in his own right, due to his actions in premortality and in the Garden of Eden. Because Adam, an immortal being, partook of the forbidden fruit he became the "first flesh" or first mortal on earth, just as God had planned. And as the "first flesh", he is considered the mortal father of all mankind, including Jesus.

Many Latter Day Saints believe this is what Paul meant by his teaching of two Adams—that it took one "god" to bring mortality into the world (Adam), and a God (Christ) to make immortality possible. "For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive... And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit" (1 Cor. 15, see also Romans 5:19, Luke 3:38). In essence the second Adam undid what the first Adam did - one was the father of us through mortality, and the second the Father of us all through his atonement and resurrection. Paul of Tarsus (b. ...

Because his actions are believed to be in accordance with the Will of God in the garden of Eden, Adam is revered in Mormonism rather than scorned for the Fall, as is prevalent today in mainstream Christianity. It has been explained that the fall had to be the result of a transgression of mankind, rather than the result of an act of God, so that mankind could not blame an unjust God for their fallen state.

Our father – two Adams (2)

To complement the above view, some Mormons also claim that Brigham Young used the name "Adam" for two distinct entities. It is argued that Brigham Young often distinguished between "Father Adam", referring to the God of the Universe, and "Adam" or "our father Adam", referring to Adam, the first mortal man. In many of Brigham Young's controversial discourses, including the alleged "Adam-God" discourse, he attempted to make that distinction that there were two Adams. For example, on 28 December 1845 Brigham Young made an explicit reference to a "more ancient" Adam after whom Michael received the name Adam. "Adam’s name was more ancient than he was. It was the name of a man long before him, who enjoyed the Priesthood." (Intimate Chronicle (William Clayton Journal) 238-239 (28 December 1845)). On 25 April 1855 Brigham Young spoke of Adam (Michael) as having lived for a long time with another Being whom Brigham Young explicitly calls "father Adam." "Well, you see from this that when you and I have been with and lived with the Lord, we shall know his voice. If father Adam were to come into this house and you were to see him go back and forth, would you know him? No, you would [ever] mistrust it was him unless he revealed himself. But by the time that you have lived with him [father Adam] as long as Adam had before he came here, you will know him and recognize his footsteps, but reading the history will not teach you these things." (3 Brigham Young Addresses ¶7 (25 April 1855)) December 28 is the 362nd day of the year (363rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 3 days remaining. ... April 25 is the 115th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (116th in leap years). ...

Other Latter Day Saint sect positions

Apostolic United Brethren

The Apostolic United Brethren (sometimes nicknamed the AUB), A Fundamentalist Mormon group accepts the Adam-God teaching, and one of their leaders Joseph W. Musser was the first to write a book on it (called "Michael, Our Father and Our God") in the 1930s. The Apostolic United Brethren (hereafter AUB) is a polygamous fundamentalist sect not affiliated with the well-known The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ...

FLDS

The Adam-God teaching is widely accepted as doctrine by members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The FLDS Temple near Eldorado, Texas The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) is a group of Mormon fundamentalists. ...

School of the Prophets brotherhood

Robert Crossfield (also known as the Prophet Onias) claims to have received revelations that go into more depth about the Adam-God doctrine. These revelations, and many others, are to be found in the "Second Book of Commandments". This collection of revelations was first published in 1969 as the "Book of Onias". The few members and supporters of the "School of the Prophets", set up by the authority of these revelations, are the only ones who accept Robert Crossfield as a prophet. Other Mormonism groups, Latter Day Saints in general, and the current LDS church authorities do not accept his claims. Prophet Onias is a pseudonym used by Robert Crossfield [1], born in 1929 in Canada. ... Mormonism is a term to describe religious, ideological, and cultural aspects of the various denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement, and specifically the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). ...

See also

• Controversies regarding Mormonism

General note about critical analyses of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Though The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church; see also Mormon) does not usually respond to criticisms directly, some LDS Church members have made an effort to catalogue criticisms and have...

Notes

Photograph of Hosea Stout, taken in the 1850s. ... Wilford Woodruff (March 1, 1807 – September 2, 1898) was the fourth President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), from 1889 until his death in 1898. ... The Fall of Man by Lucas Cranach, a 16th century German depiction of Eden The Garden of Eden (from Hebrew גַּן עֵדֶן  ; Arabic جنة عدن  ; in Greek Οὐρανός [uƔɑNÉ’s] Starry Sky : גןַֹ֗ [אְוּגַ֗ןוֹסַ֗ ]) is described in the Book of Genesis as being the place where the first man, Adam, and the first woman, Eve, lived...

References

1. Bergera, Gary James (1980), "The Orson Pratt-Brigham Young Controversies: Conflict Within the Quorums, 1853 to 1868", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 13 (2): 7–49 .
2. Young, Brigham (April 9, 1852), "Self-Government—Mysteries—Recreation and Amusements, not in Themselves Sinful—Tighing—Adam, Our Father and Our God", in Watt, G.D., Journal of Discourses by Brigham Young, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, His Two Counsellors, the Twelve Apostles, and Others, vol. 1, Liverpool: F.D. & S.W. Richards, 1854, at 46–53 .
3. Young, Brigham; Heber C. Kimball & Willard Richards (June 1, 1853), "Letter from the First Presidency", in Watt, G.D., Journal of Discourses by Brigham Young, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, His Two Counsellors, the Twelve Apostles, and Others, vol. 1, Liverpool: F.D. & S.W. Richards, 1854, at 6 .
4. Watt, Ronald G. (1977), "Sailing the Old Ship Zion: The Life of George D. Watt", BYU Studies 18: 48–65 .

Other sources: See also, Brigham Young University Brigham Young (June 1, 1801 – August 29, 1877) was the second prophet and president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... April 9 is the 99th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (100th in leap years). ... 1852 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... See also, Brigham Young University Brigham Young (June 1, 1801 – August 29, 1877) was the second prophet and president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... Heber C. Kimball Heber Chase Kimball (June 14, 1801 – June 22, 1868) (commonly known as Heber C. Kimball) was a leader in the early Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... Willard Richards (June 24, 1804 – March 11, 1854) was born in Hopkinton, Massachusetts to Joseph and Rhoda Howe Richards on June 24, 1804. ... June 1 is the 152nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (153rd in leap years), with 213 days remaining. ... 1853 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...

• Journal of Discourses (public domain), 1854-1886.
• Manuscript Addresses of Brigham Young (covering 1839-1877), Eldon Watson, 1984.
• Joseph W. Musser, Michael, Our Father and Our God, Truth Publishing, 1938.
• Rodney Turner, The Position of Adam (B.Y.U. Masters Thesis), 1953.
• Ogden Kraut, Michael-Adam, Pioneer Press, 1972.
• Mark E. Petersen, Adam - Who Is He?, Bookcraft, 1976, ISBN 0-87747-592-X.
• Elwood G. Norris, Be Not Deceived, 1978, ISBN 0-88290-101-X.
• Chris A. Vlachos, Adam is God?, 1979.
• Culley K. Christensen, The Adam-God Maze, 1981, ISBN 0-9608134-0-3.
• David J. Buerger, "The Adam-God Doctrine", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought (Spring 1982).
• Van Hale, What About the Adam-God Theory, Mormon Miscellaneous, 1983.
• Carl Broderick, "Another Look at Adam-God", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought (Summer 1983).
• John Farkas, Adam-God Teaching - A Theory or a Doctrine?, 1991.
• Craig L. Tholson, Adam-God, 1991, Publishment, ASIN B0006F6490.
• Nate Allred, The Unknown God, Messenger Publications, 1997.
• Drew Briney, Understanding Adam God Teachings, Privately published hardback book, 2005.

• Robert J. Matthews, Origin of Man: the Doctrinal Framework.
• Scanned images of various 19th century LDS publications with statements on Adam-god from Brigham Young and other LDS General Authorities

The Journal of Discourses (often abbreviated J.D.) is a 26-volume collection of public sermons by early leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ...

External links

• "Adam-God" article at FairWiki.org.
• Adam-God (MormonWiki.org, an evangelical encyclopedia on Mormonism)
• Long list of Adam-God historical quotations
• Another long list of Adam-God historical quotations
• Journal of Discourses
• First Presidency Letter regarding the theory
• Apologetic response
• Apologetic reconciliation distinguishing "Father Adam" (God the Father) from Adam, the first man
• Articles about how Latter-day Saints view Adam
• A critical view of the theory
• Second Book of Commandments