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Was a Mormon for over 30 years but now I am free.

Sunday, February 26, 2006

The Mormon Story of Adam!

Hugh Nibley stating, "This futile quarrel should be no concern of ours. For one thing, we have a story to tell before Adam. Religion and science have none, absolutely none", is very bold and deserves further investigation. Here is some interesting information that I found browsing church documents and archives to help tell this bold story of Adam:

"I have been found fault with a great many times for casting reflections upon men of science, and especially upon theologians, because of the little knowledge they possess about man being on the earth, about the earth itself, about our Father in heaven, his Son Jesus Christ, the order of heavenly things, the laws by which angels exist, by which the worlds were created and are held in existence, &c. How pleased we would be to place these things before the people if they would receive them! How much unbelief exists in the minds of Latter-day Saints in regard to one particular doctrine which God revealed to me--namely that Adam is our father and God."
Brigham Young, Deseret News, Page 308, June 18, 1873

If you ask me, to state that Adam is our God and Father is a quite a beginning to this bold story. Brigham has gotten my attention to say the least. The following are further details regarding the nature of God/Adam and the ways of his creations that Brigham claims God revealed to him:

"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...
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; and when he took a tabernacle, it was begotten by his Father in heaven, after the same manner as the tabernacles of Cain, Abel, and the rest of the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve."
Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Volume 1, Page 50, April 6, 1852

Here is something interesting that Brigham said regarding how Adam and other life came about on Earth:

"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 in the Bible. Adam was made from the dust of an earth, but not from the dust of this earth."
Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Volume 3, Page 319, 1856

Brigham then expands upon the role Adams and Eves have on other worlds and who they might be:

"After men have got their exaltations and their crowns--have become Gods, even the sons of God--are made Kings of kings and Lords of lords, they have the power then of propagating their species in spirit; and that is the first of their operations with regard to organizing a world. Power is then given to them to organize the elements, and then commence the organization of tabernacles. How can they do it? Have they to go to that earth? Yes, an Adam will have to go there, and he cannot do without Eve to commence the work of generation, and they will go into the garden, and continue to eat and drink of the fruits of the corporeal world, until this grosser matter is diffused sufficiently through their celestial bodies to enable them, according to the established laws, to produce mortal tabernacles for their spiritual children."
Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Volume 6, Page 275, 1852

"Adam came here and got it up in a shape that would suit him to commence business. What is the great mystery about it? None, that I have seen. The mystery in this, as with miracles, or anything else, is only to those who are ignorant. Father Adam came here, and then they brought his wife. 'Well,' says one, 'Why was Adam called Adam'? He was the first man on the earth, and its framer and maker. He, with the help of his brethern, brought it into existence. 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 have the priviledge of extending my work, and to its increase there will be no end. 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 or dwelling place as mine has, and where is the mystery?"
Brigham Young, Desert News, Page 308, June 18, 1873

So Brigham says that mortals who become exalted Gods will create worlds, have spirit children, come down to one of their Earths to eat some fruit from a garden until it turns them into mortals again so that they can produce bodies for their previously created spirit children...

Brigham further elaborates on this continous cycle of immortality to mortality and then to start over again with all the worlds that are to be created:

"Many of the sisters grieve because they are not blessed with offspring. You will see the time when you will have millions of children around you. If you are faithful to your covenants, you will be mothers of nations. You will become Eves to earths like this; and when you have assisted in peopling one earth, there are millions of earths still in the course of creation."
Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Volume 8, Page 208, 1860

Brigham gives some counsel to the Future Adams and Eves in the church:

"If you are not sanctified and prepared, you ought to be sanctifying and preparing yourselves for the blessings in store for you when it will be said of you, this is Eve. Why? Because you are the mother of all living. You might as well prepare first as last. If you wish to be Eves and mothers of human families you ought to bear the burden. But you say this is cruel. No, it is not cruel at all. Is there a passion in man that he cannot subdue for the sake of the gospel of salvation, that he may be crowned with glory, immortality, and eternal lives? Shame on the elder who, if duty calls, cannot go and preach the gospel until he winds up his earthly career and never permit a female to kiss him. I do not wish to say much upon this subject, but I say, woe to you Eves if you proclaim or entertain feelings against this doctrine."
Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Volume 12, Page 97, 1867

Brigham exposes the true Father of Jesus and pronounces damnation upon those who can not handle the news:

"What a learned idea! 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."
Brigham Young, Millennial Star, Volume 15, Page 770, 1853

What did other church leaders and members have to say about the revelations from Brigham about Adam?

"Adam is our Father and God. He is the God of the Earth. So says Brigham Young. 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 spirits as well as the tabernacles of the sons and daughters of man. Adam!"
Edward Tullidge, Women of Mormondom, Page 179, 1877

"ADAM, THE FATHER AND GOD OF THE HUMAN FAMILY.
The above sentiment appeared in the 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 not doubt given rise to some serious reflections with the more candid and comprehensize mind.
Then Adam is really God! And why not? If there are Lords many and Gods many, as the Scriptures inform us, why should not our Father Adam be one of them? Did he not prove himself as worthy of that high apellation as any other being that ever lived upon the earth?"
EDITORIAL, Millennial Star, Volume 15, Page 801, 1853

"President Young followed & made many good remarks he said.. 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."
Wilford Woodruff, Private Journal MSS, February 19, 1854

"Michael (Adam) was a resurrected being and he left Elohim and came to the earth with an immortal body, and continued so till he partook of earthly food & begat children who were mortal (keep this to yourselves) and then they died."
Wilford Woodruff, Private Journal MSS, January 27, 1860

"At meeting of School of the Prophets. 'Presidt Young said Adam was Michael the Arkangel & he was the Father of Jesus Christ & was our God & that Joseph taught this Principle."
Wilford Woodruff, Private Journal MSS, December 16, 1867

"Father Adam's oldest son [Jesus the Savior] who is the heir of the family, is Father Adam's first begotten in the spirit world. Who according to the flesh is the only begotten as it is written.
In his divinity. he [Adam] having gone back into the spirit world, and came in the spirit 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."
L. John Nuttal (the Church Recorder under Brigham), Private Journal MSS, Volume 1, Page 21, February 7, 1877



The teachings and revelations of Brigham Young mentioned above started from the pulpit in 1852 and continued for some time after his death in 1877. As you might guess, this is only a sampling of the amazing story he told of Adam our God and Father.

Could this be what Hugh Nibley is referring to when he stated, "For one thing, we have a story to tell before Adam. Religion and science have none, absolutely none."

Based on the following statement I came upon by Spencer W. Kimball, I am left with deeper questions and really wonder what Hugh Nibley was trying to say:

"We warn you against the dissemination of doctrines 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."
Spencer W. Kimball, Church News, October 9, 1976








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1 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

It is amazing how so many people could fall for such strange teachings and still believe it in this day and age. Poor misguided souls

12:46 PM  

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