DIFFERENTTHOUGHTS#7

ADAMGOD
EldenWatson

May1998

[UpdatedMay2002]

Introduction

BrighamYoungwasordainedanApostleonFeb14,1835atthedirectionoftheProphetJoseph
Smith,underthehandsofthethreewitnesses.Thisordinationwasthenconfirmedbythelaying
onofhandsbytheFirstPresidencyoftheChurch.LaterhebecamepresidentoftheChurchof
JesusChristofLatterdaySaintsandheldthatofficefornearlythirtyyears,whichisalonger
periodthanthatofanyotherchurchpresident.Reports,synopsesandreviewsofover1500of
histalksareonrecord(bycomparison,theJournalofDiscoursescontains324ofthesetalks).

PresidentYounghadsomuchtosayonsomanytopicsoversuchalongperiodoftimethatis
hasbecomecommontodismissmanyofhisconceptsandstatementswiththeexplanationthat
hefrequentlycontradictedhimself,orthatmanyofhisteachingswereinconsistent.Thiscould
notbefurtherfromthetruth.IncommentingonthistopicDr.HughNibleyhadthefollowingto
sayaboutBrighamYoung'steachings:

Nomaneverspokehismindmorefranklyonallsubjectsallhisdayshestrovetocommunicatehis
inmostfeelings,unburdeninghimselfwithouttheaidofnotesorpreparationinavigorousand
forthrightprosethatwasthepurestantirhetoric.Ithasbeencommonpracticetodismissanysaying
ofhisofwhichonedisapproves(andhemakesnoefforttoplease)byobservingthathesaidso
muchonsomanythingsthathewasboundtocontradicthimself,andthereforeneednotbetaken
tooseriouslyallthetime.Noviewcouldbemoreilladvised,forthereneverwasamanmore
undeviatinglyconsistentandrationalinthoughtandutterance....GrantedthatBrighamwould
admonishtheSaintstowearovercoatsoneday,sotospeak,andthenextdayturnaroundand
adviseshirtsleeves,theelementofscandalandconfusionvanishesifweonlygetthemainidea,
whichis,thatitisnottherulebookortheAdministrationbuttheweatherthatprescribesthe
properdressfortheday.AlltheotherapparentcontradictionsinBrotherBrigham'steachings
likewisevanishwhenwegraspthemainideabehindthem.[HughNibley,BYUStudies,Vol.11,
No.1,Autumn1970,p.6162]

OfallBrighamYoung'steachings,certainlythemostmaligned,controversialand
misunderstoodiscalledtheAdamGoddoctrine,ortheAdamGodtheory.Theonlydifference
betweentheAdamGoddoctrineandtheAdamGodtheoryisthatiftheindividualspeaking
believesit,hecallsittheAdamGoddoctrine,whileiftheindividualdoesnotbelieveit,thenhe
referstoitastheAdamGodtheory.

OfficialStatementbytheChurch

TherehasbeenanofficialstatementmadeonthissubjectbyPresidentSpencerW.Kimball,
madeinthePriesthoodsessionofOctoberconference1976.
Wehopethatyouwhoteachinthevariousorganizations,whetheronthecampusesorinour
Chapels,willalwaysteachtheorthodoxtruth.Wewarnyouagainstthedisseminationofdoctrines
whicharenotaccordingtotheScripturesandwhichareallegedtohavebeentaughtbysomeofthe
GeneralAuthoritiesofpastgenerations.such,forinstance,istheAdamGodtheory.Wedenounce
thattheoryandhopethateveryonewillbecautionedagainstthisandotherkindsoffalsedoctrine.
(SeeEnsign,November1976p.77)

SeveralimportantthingscanbegleanedfromthisbriefstatementbyPresidentKimball:
 TheAdamGodtheoryisnotorthodoxtruth.
TheAdamGodtheoryisadoctrinewhichisnotinaccordancewithscripture.
TheAdamGodtheoryisallegedtohavebeentaughtbysomeoftheGeneralAuthorities
ofpastgenerations.
TheAdamGodtheoryisfalsedoctrine.

Atthetimethisstatementwasmadeinthe1976Priesthoodconference,Iwasservingona
priesthoodcommitteeunderthedirectionofElderMarkE.Petersen.Wewereatthattime
workingwithanumberofpeoplewhobelievedtheAdamGodtheory,andourcommittee
wantedtoknowmorepreciselywhatPresidentKimballmeantbyhisstatement,sothrough
ElderPetersenwemadeanappointmentwithhimandaskedhim.Inaprivateinterview
PresidentKimballmadethefollowingclarifications:HesaidthathedidnotsaythatPresident
BrighamYoungdidnotmakethestatementswhichareattributedtohim,nordidheclaimthat
theywerefalselyreported.NeitherdidhesaythatBrighamYoungtaughtfalsedoctrine.What
hedidsayandwhathemeantisthattheAdamGodtheoryisfalse,andtheAdamGodtheoryis
thatinterpretationwhichisplacedonBrighamYoung'swordsbypresentdayapostatesand
fundamentaliststheirunderstandingofwhatBrighamYoungmeantisfalse.

ConsideringbothPresidentKimball'soriginalstatementandhissubsequentclarification,what
weneedisanunderstandingofwhatBrighamYoungmeantbyhisstatementswhichisin
accordancewithscripture.ThisisreasonableevenwithoutPresidentKimball'sstatements,
becauseanyofPresidentYoung'steachingswhicharenotinharmonywithscripturewould
simplybewronganyway.

InterpretationasaGuidetoUnderstanding

IthasbeenallegedbysomethatwearenotallowedtointerpretBrighamYoung'sstatementsat
all,butwemusttaketheminthemostdirectandstraightforwardunderstandingofhiswordsas
theyappear,andallowthemtothusinterpretthemselves.Tothis,Ianswer"Why?"Thisisnot
thewayweapproachanyotherdoctrineorteachingoftheChurch.Whymustwemakea
specialexceptionforBrighamYoung'sstatementsaboutAdamGod?

InIsaiahwhenweread"Aboveitstoodtheseraphims:eachonehadsixwingswithtwainhe
coveredhisface,andwithtwainhecoveredhisfeet,andwithtwainhedidfly."[Isaiah6:2],we
donotletthisstandfreeofinterpretation,butweinterpretitinviewofJosephSmith's
declarationthat"AnangelofGodneverhaswings."[TPJSp162],thusrequiringafigurative
ratherthanaliteralinterpretationofthepassageinIsaiah.

Similarly,wedonotrequirethemoststraightforwardinterpretationofJohn4:24"God[is]a
Spirit:andtheythatworshiphimmustworship[him]inspiritandintruth."butweinterpretit
inlightofD&C130:22"TheFatherhasabodyoffleshandbonesastangibleasman'stheSon
alsobuttheHolyGhosthasnotabodyoffleshandbones,butisapersonageofSpirit.Wereit
notso,theHolyGhostcouldnotdwellinus."

TheBookofMormonsaysthattheFather,theSonandtheHolyGhostareoneGod.Arewe
requiredtoacceptthatinitsmostdirectandstraightforwardinterpretation?Notatall.Weknow
fromthePearlofGreatPricethattwoseparatepersonagesappearedtoJosephSmithintheFirst
Vision,sowegothroughsometheologicalgyrationsinordertomakeitpossibleforthetwo
seeminglydissonantpassagestoagree.Inordertodothat,weinterpretandexplainthe
"oneness"ofGod,andtosomethatappearstobeaninvalidinterpretation.

Godsaysthatsinnerswillsuffereternaldamnation,butfromD&C19:1012weknowthatwe
mustinterpreteternaldamnationasGod'sdamnation,notaneverendingtormentoffireand
brimstone.Mypointisthatweinterpretscriptureandstatementsoftheprophetsinamannerin
whichtheywillharmonizewithotherscriptureandotherstatementsoftheprophetsallthetime
withalmosteverydoctrineandconceptwebelieve.Whythenmustweacceptonlythemost
directunderstandingofBrighamYoung'sstatementsandnotinterpretthemtofitwithtruththat
isknownfromothersources?ArewetomakeBrighamYoung'steachingsonthisonesubjecta
rareexceptiontothegeneralwaywecometoacorrectunderstandingofallotherdoctrines?
 InterpretingBrighamYoung'sDiscourses

ItismybeliefthatinordertounderstandAdamGodcorrectly,wemusttakeBrighamYoung's
statementsandinterpretandunderstandtheminsuchamannerthattheyharmonizewithother
knownstatementsofBrighamYoungaswellaswithwhatisknowntobetruefromother
reliablesourcessuchasthefourStandardWorks,teachingsofJosephSmith,thetemple
ceremonyetc.Ifwedonotdothis,thenwearealternativelyassumingbydefaultthatBrigham
Youngwasincapableoflogicalthought,thathewasinconsistent,andthathedidnotunderstand
thefourStandardWorks,thetempleendowmentortheteachingsofJosephSmithetc.,noneof
whichisacceptabletome.

Itisimportanttonotethatofthemorethan1500recordeddiscoursesofBrighamYoung,only
20ofthosediscoursescanbeassociatedwiththetopicofAdamGod,andevenmostofthose
20areorthodoxwhennotimproperlyinsertedintoanAdamGodcontextinwhichtheydonot
belong.WeareconsideringateachingofBrighamYoungwhichwasbroughtupinlessthan1%
ofhisrecordeddiscourses.

InordertocorrectlyunderstandBrighamYoung'sviewsonthetopicofAdam,itismost
practicaltofirstreviewcertainscripturalaccountspertainingtoAdam,Eveandthecreation.
Oncethescripturalaccountsarecorrectlyunderstood,theviewspresentedbyPresident
BrighamYoungbecomemucheasiertointerpret.IfwemaketheassumptionthatBrigham
Youngwouldnotintentionallycontradictconsistentscripturalteachings,thencorrectly
interpretingmanyofhiscontroversialandevenapparentlycontradictorystatementsbecomes
mucheasier.

Adamwasnotaresurrectedbeing

Oneoftheworstmisconceptionswhichhasbeencausedbyincorrectlyinterpretingsomeof
BrighamYoung'sstatementsisthatAdamandEvewereresurrectedbeingswhentheyentered
thegardenofEden.Correctdoctrinerespectingthistopicismosteasilydemonstratedby
reviewingsomeofAmulek'steachingsinthe11thchapteroftheBookofAlmaintheBookof
Mormon.Inverse45,Amulekstates:
Alma11:45

Now,behold,Ihavespokenuntoyouconcerningthedeathofthemortalbody,and
alsoconcerningtheresurrectionofthemortalbody.Isayuntoyouthatthismortal
bodyisraisedtoanimmortalbody,thatisfromdeath,evenfromthefirstdeath
untolife,thattheycandienomoretheirspiritsunitingwiththeirbodies,neverto
bedividedthusthewholebecomingspiritualandimmortal,thattheycannomore
seecorruption.

Fromthisverseitisevidentthatonceanindividualisresurrected,hecanneverdieagain,
becausethespiritandbodyareinseparablyconnectedthroughtheresurrection.Notonlycan
resurrectedbeingsneverdie,theycanneverevenbecomemortalagain,becausemortalityis
corruption,andaftertheresurrectiontheycannomoreexperiencecorruption.ThatAdamdid
dieisuniversallyacknowledgedthroughoutthefourstandardworks:

Adamdied

BookofMormon:InAlma,chapter12verse23,Almastates

Andnowbehold,IsayuntoyouthatifithadbeenpossibleforAdamtohavepartakenofthefruit
ofthetreeoflifeatthattime,therewouldhavebeennodeath,andthewordwouldhavebeenvoid,
makingGodaliar,forhesaid:Ifthoueatthoushaltsurelydie.

Now,weknowGodtoldAdamthatifheweretopartakeoftheforbiddenfruit,hewouldsurely
die.WealsoknowthatAdamdidpartakeoftheforbiddenfruit,thereforeeitherAdamdied,or
Godisaliar.
Bible:InGenesis,chapter5,verse5weread:
5AndallthedaysthatAdamlivedwereninehundredandthirtyyears:andhedied.

Threeverseslater,MosesusesnearlyidenticalwordingtoindicatethatSethdied.

8AndallthedaysofSethwereninehundredandtwelveyears:andhedied.

ItisclearthattheintentoftheauthorwastoinformthereaderthatAdamdiedinthesamesense
inwhichSethdied,andnotinsomefigurativeorrepresentativemanner.

PearlofGreatPrice:Moses6:12andMoses6:16arevirtuallyidenticaltotheversesquoted
aboveinGenesis5:

12AndallthedaysthatAdamlivedwereninehundredandthirtyyears,andhedied....

16AllthedaysofSethwereninehundredandtwelveyears,andhedied.

DoctrineandCovenants:InD&C107,verses42and53bothspeakofthedeathofAdam:

42FromAdamtoSeth,whowasordainedbyAdamattheageofsixtynineyears,andwasblessed
byhimthreeyearsprevioustohis(Adam's)death,andreceivedthepromiseofGodbyhisfather,
thathisposterityshouldbethechosenoftheLord,andthattheyshouldbepreserveduntotheend
oftheearth

53ThreeyearsprevioustothedeathofAdam,hecalledSeth,Enos,Cainan,Mahalaleel,Jared,
Enoch,andMethuselah,whowereallhighpriests,withtheresidueofhisposteritywhowere
righteous,intothevalleyofAdamondiAhman,andtherebestoweduponthemhislastblessing.

D&C138givesadditionalinformationaboutthefactthatAdamdied:InthisVisionofthe
RedemptionoftheDead,PresidentJosephF.Smithstates:
11AsIponderedoverthesethingswhicharewritten,theeyesofmyunderstandingwereopened,
andtheSpiritoftheLordresteduponme,andIsawthehostsofthedead,bothsmallandgreat.

12Andthereweregatheredtogetherinoneplaceaninnumerablecompanyofthespiritsofthejust,
whohadbeenfaithfulinthetestimonyofJesuswhiletheylivedinmortality

13AndwhohadofferedsacrificeinthesimilitudeofthegreatsacrificeoftheSonofGod,andhad
sufferedtribulationintheirRedeemer'sname.

14Allthesehaddepartedthemortallife,firminthehopeofagloriousresurrection,throughthe
graceofGodtheFatherandhisOnlyBegottenSon,JesusChrist.

15Ibeheldthattheywerefilledwithjoyandgladness,andwererejoicingtogetherbecausethe
dayoftheirdeliverancewasathand.

16TheywereassembledawaitingtheadventoftheSonofGodintothespiritworld,todeclare
theirredemptionfromthebandsofdeath.

17Theirsleepingdustwastoberestoreduntoitsperfectframe,bonetohisbone,andthesinews
andthefleshuponthem,thespiritandthebodytobeunitedneveragaintobedivided,thatthey
mightreceiveafulnessofjoy.

Notethatinverse17theassuranceisreiteratedthatonceresurrected,thespiritandthebody
willneveragainbeseparated.Then,inverse38,beginsadescriptionofthosewhowereinthis
vastcongregationoftherighteousdeadwhowereeagerlyawaitingtheirresurrectionasChrist
enteredthespiritworldtobreakthebandsofdeath:
38Amongthegreatandmightyoneswhowereassembledinthisvastcongregationofthe
righteouswereFatherAdam,theAncientofDaysandfatherofall,
 39AndourgloriousMotherEve,withmanyofherfaithfuldaughterswhohadlivedthroughthe
agesandworshipedthetrueandlivingGod.

ThereisnoquestionthatAdamandEvediedinthenormalsenseoftheword,andthatthey
remainedinthespiritworldawaitingtheirresurrectionuntilthemeridianoftime.Itistherefore
beyondanyquestionthatAdamandEvewerenotresurrectedbeingsinthegardenofEden.

AdamisnotGod

SomeofBrighamYoung'sdiscourseshavebeeninterpretedtomeanthatBrighamYoung
believedthatAdamisGod,theEternalFather.Theseinterpretationsalldirectlycontradict
scripture,andarethereforefalseandmustbediscardedbyeveryrationalbelieverofscripture.
PresidentSpencerW.KimballinhisclosingaddressattheOctober1976GeneralPriesthood
Sessionstated:
Wehopethatyouwhoteachinthevariousorganizations,whetheronthecampusesorinour
Chapelswillalwaysteachtheorthodoxtruth.Wewarnyouagainstthedisseminationofdoctrines
whicharenotaccordingtotheScripturesandwhichareallegedtohavebeentaughtbysomeofthe
GeneralAuthoritiesofpastgenerations.Such,forinstance,istheAdamGodtheory.Wedenounce
thattheoryandhopethateveryonewillbecautionedagainstthisandotherkindsoffalsedoctrine.
[Ensign,November1976,p77]

ThefirstandmostobviousreasonthatAdamisnotGodisthatgivenabove.IntheGardenof
Eden,Godwasaresurrectedbeing,butAdamwasnot.Itisthereforeimpossiblethattheycould
bethesamebeing.Infact,thescripturesinformusquiteexplicitlythatwhileAdamwasin
mortality,GodtheFathercalleduponhimwithhisownvoice.
50ButGodhathmadeknownuntoourfathersthatallmenmustrepent.

51Andhe[i.e.God]calleduponAdambyhisownvoice,saying:IamGodImadetheworld,and
menbeforetheywereintheflesh.[Moses6:5152]

Thereferencehereto"God"cannotrefertoJesusChristbecauseitwasnotChristwhomadethe
spiritsofmen.

AdamissubordinatetoJesusChrist

AnotherreasonthatAdamcannotbeGod,theFather,isbecauseAdamissubordinatetoJesus
Christ.ThisisaffirmedinJude,verse9inwhichMichael(whoisAdam)darednotbringa
railingaccusationagainstthedevil,butsaid,"TheLordrebuketheeSatan."
9YetMichaelthearchangel,whencontendingwiththedevilhedisputedaboutthebodyof
Moses,durstnotbringagainsthimarailingaccusation,butsaid,TheLordrebukethee.

Ithasbeenclaimedthattheword"durst"isnotproperlytranslated,oratleastdoesnotcarrythe
meaning"darednot,"buttheProphetJosephSmithcertainlyinterpreteditthatway:
Behonestbemenoftruthandintegrityletyourwordbeyourbondbediligent,beprayerful
prayforandwithyourfamiliestrainupyourchildreninthefearoftheLordcultivateameek,a
quietspiritclothethenaked,feedthehungry,helpthedestitute,bemercifultothewidowand
orphan,bemercifultoyourbrethren,andtoallmenbearwithoneanother'sinfirmities,
consideringyourownweaknessbringnorailingaccusationsagainstyourbrethren,especiallytake
carethatyoudonotagainsttheauthoritiesorEldersoftheChurch,forthatprincipleisofthedevil
heiscalledtheaccuserofthebrethrenandMichael,thearchangel,darednotbringarailing
accusationagainstthedevil,butsaid,"TheLordrebukethee,Satan"andanymanwhopursues
thiscourseofaccusationandmurmuring,willfallintothesnareofthedevil,andapostatize,except
herepent.[HistoryoftheChurch,Vol.3,Ch.27,p.394]

ThesubordinationofAdamtoChristisfurtherevidencedbysection78oftheDoctrineand
Covenants,inwhichtheindividualspeaking:

AppointedMichaeltobeourprince.
 EstablishedMichael'sfeet.
SetMichaeluponhigh.
GaveuntoMichaelthekeysofsalvationunderthecounselanddirectionoftheHolyOne.
13Behold,thisisthepreparationwherewithIprepareyou,andthefoundation,andtheensample
whichIgiveuntoyou,wherebyyoumayaccomplishthecommandmentswhicharegivenyou...

15Thatyoumaycomeupuntothecrownpreparedforyou,andbemaderulersovermany
kingdoms,saiththeLordGod,theHolyOneofZion,whohathestablishedthefoundationof
AdamondiAhman

16WhohathappointedMichaelyourprince,andestablishedhisfeet,andsethimuponhigh,and
givenuntohimthekeysofsalvationunderthecounselanddirectionoftheHolyOne,whois
withoutbeginningofdaysorendoflife.[D&C78:13,1516]

Theindividualspeakingidentifieshimselfinverse20asour"Redeemer,eventheSonAhman."

20Wherefore,dothethingswhichIhavecommandedyou,saithyourRedeemer,eventheSon
Ahman,whopreparethallthingsbeforehetakethyou[D&C78:20]

InanarticleonPriesthood,preparedinJulyof1839,theProphetJosephSmithrigidly
bracketedthepositionofAdaminthepriesthoodhierarchy.Onpage158ofTeachingsofthe
ProphetJosephSmith,Josephiscitedasstating:

HowhavewecomeatthePriesthoodinthelastdays?Itcamedown,down,inregularsuccession.
Peter,James,andJohnhaditgiventothemandtheygaveittoothers.ChrististheGreatHigh
PriestAdamnext.[TPJS158]

Somehavepointedoutthatthisstatementisambiguous,andcouldeithermeanthatChristis
superiortoAdam,orthatChristissubordinatetoAdam,dependinguponwhether"next"is
interpretedas"nexthigher"or"nextlower."Thisstatementthereforeonlyrequiresthatthe
hierarchyofpriesthoodauthorityberepresentedinoneofthefollowingtwoways,

JesusChrist Adam(Michael)
| or |
Adam(Michael) JesusChrist

However,inthesamearticle,just5paragraphsearlier,JosephSmithmadethefollowing
statement:

ThePriesthoodwasfirstgiventoAdamheobtainedtheFirstPresidency,andheldthekeysofit
fromgenerationtogeneration.HeobtaineditintheCreation,beforetheworldwasformed,asin
Genesis1:26,27,28.Hehaddominiongivenhimovereverylivingcreature.HeisMichaelthe
Archangel,spokenofintheScriptures.ThentoNoah,whoisGabrielhestandsnextinauthority
toAdaminthePriesthoodhewascalledofGodtothisoffice,andwasthefatherofalllivingin
hisday,andtohimwasgiventhedominion.Thesemenheldkeysfirstonearth,andthenin
heaven.[TPJS157]

Therefore,NoahalsostandsnexttoAdaminpriesthoodauthority.WithJesusChristandNoah,
eachstandingnexttoAdaminpriesthoodauthority(onehigher,andonelower),Adamis
bracketedwithChristononeside,andNoahontheother,whichmeansthatourrepresentation
ofthehierarchyofpriesthoodauthoritymustextendtooneofthefollowing:

JesusChrist Noah(Gabriel)
Adam(Michael) or Adam(Michael)
Noah(Gabriel) JesusChrist

SincenoonewillcontendthatNoahissuperiortoJesusChrist,thesecondcolumnis
demonstratedinvalidandthesubordinationofAdamtoJesusChristasshowninthefirst
columnisestablished.ThisisasimpledemonstrationthattheProphetJosephSmithunderstood
thesescripturesinthesamewayweunderstandthem.

AdamandEvewereUnmarriedwhentheycameintotheGardenofEden

InKirtland,onNovember24,1835,whileperformingthemarriageforNewelKnightandLydia
Goldthwaite,theProphetJosephSmithstatedthatmarriageisaninstitutionofheaven,which
wasinstitutedinthegardenofEden:

IhadaninvitationtoattendaweddingatBrotherHyrumSmith'sintheeveningalsotosolemnize
thematrimonialceremonybetweenNewelKnightandLydiaGoldthwaite.Mywifeaccompanied
me.Onourarrivalaconsiderablecompanyhadcollected.Thebridegroomandbridecamein,and
tooktheirseats,whichgavemetounderstandthattheywereready.Afterprayers,Irequestedthem
torise,andjoinhands.Ithenremarkedthatmarriagewasaninstitutionofheaven,institutedinthe
gardenofEdenthatitwasnecessaryitshouldbesolemnizedbytheauthorityoftheeverlasting
Priesthood.Theceremonywasoriginalwithme,andinsubstanceasfollowsYoucovenanttobe
eachother'scompanionsthroughlife,anddischargethedutiesofhusbandandwifeinevery
respecttowhichtheyassented.IthenpronouncedthemhusbandandwifeinthenameofGod,and
alsopronounceduponthemtheblessingsthattheLordconferreduponAdamandEveinthe
gardenofEden,thatis,tomultiplyandreplenishtheearth,withtheadditionoflonglifeand
prosperity.Dismissedthemandreturnedhome.Freezingcold,somesnowontheground.[History
oftheChurch,2:320]

ThatmarriagewasinstitutedinthegardenofEdenmeansthatthefirstmarriagewasperformed
inthegardenofEden.TheonlypeoplewhocouldhavebeenmarriedinthegardenwereAdam
andEve.Thefactthattheirmarriagewasperformedinthegardenmeansthattheywerenot
marriedwhentheyfirstenteredthegarden.Beingunmarriedpriortolivinginthegardenof
Eden,AdamandEvecouldnotpossiblybeourHeavenlyParents.

AdamisasonofGod

Another,andevenmorepositivereasonthatAdamisnotGod,TheEternalFather,isbecause
Adam,physically,isasonofGod,TheEternalFather.Thisprofounddoctrineisscripturaland
hasbeentaughtbymanygeneralauthoritiesoftheChurchfromJosephSmith,downtothe
presentday.IthasneverbeenemphasizedasadoctrineoftheChurchbecauseknowledgeof
thisprincipleisgenerallynotessentialtooursalvation.Toanindividual,however,whohas
beenmisleadbyfalseinterpretationsofsomeofBrighamYoung'sdiscoursestothepointwhere
theyhavefallenawayorarereadytofallawayfromtheChurch,aproperunderstandingofthis
principlebecomessingularlyimportant.

Inunderstandingthisprinciple,itisappropriatetofirstturntoMoses,chapter6,whereMoses
givesagenealogyofthesonsofAdam.Notethatthisiscalledagenealogyof"thechildrenof
God,"andthattheywerecreated"intheimageofhisownbody."
8NowthisprophecyAdamspake,ashewasmoveduponbytheHolyGhost,andagenealogywas
keptofthechildrenofGod.AndthiswasthebookofthegenerationsofAdam,saying:Intheday
thatGodcreatedman,inthelikenessofGodmadehehim

9Intheimageofhisownbody,maleandfemale,createdhethem,andblessedthem,andcalled
theirnameAdam,inthedaywhentheywerecreatedandbecamelivingsoulsinthelanduponthe
footstoolofGod.

MosesthenrecitesagenealogyofthesonsofAdam,fromwhichthefollowingexcerptsare
significant:

10AndAdamlivedonehundredandthirtyyears,andbegatasoninhisownlikeness,afterhis
ownimage,andcalledhisnameSeth....

13Sethlivedonehundredandfiveyears,andbegatEnos,...

17AndEnoslivedninetyyears,andbegatCainan....
 19AndCainanlivedseventyyearsandbegatMahalaleel...

20AndMahalaleellivedsixtyfiveyearsandbegatJared...

21AndJaredlivedonehundredandsixtytwoyears,andbegatEnochandJaredlived,afterhe
begatEnoch,eighthundredyears,andbegatsonsanddaughters.AndJaredtaughtEnochinallthe
waysofGod.

22AndthisisthegenealogyofthesonsofAdam,whowasthesonofGod,withwhomGod,
himself,conversed.[Moses6:10,13,17,19,20,2122]

ThisstatementthatAdamwasthesonofGod,referstoareal,literal,physicalrelationship.
Adamwasphysicallybornonthisearth,toourHeavenlyFatherandhisspouse,ourHeavenly
Mother.Adam'sparentswerebothresurrectedbeings,hencetherewerenoseedsofdeathin
Adam'sphysicalbody,andhewouldhavelivedforeverhaditnotbeenforthefall.Agood
understandingofAdam'srelationshiptoourHeavenlyFatherisessentialtoaproper
understandingofmanyofBrighamYoung'scontroversialdiscourses,soitbecomesimperative
toestablishagoodfoundationbyaprovidinganumberofsolidquotations,bothfromscripture
andfromavarietyofauthoritiesthroughoutthehistoryoftheChurch.Boththecitationsand
theirsequencehavebeencarefullyselectedfromalargerassortmentinordertopreempta
numberofquestionswhichtypicallyariseduringexplanationsofhowAdamandEvewere
physicallyborntoourheavenlyparents.

ThefoundationalaccountoftheCreationofAdamandEveisfoundinGenesis1:2627:

26AndGodsaid,Letusmakemaninourimage,afterourlikeness:andletthemhavedominion
overthefishofthesea,andoverthefowloftheair,andoverthecattle,andoveralltheearth,and
overeverycreepingthingthatcreepethupontheearth.

27SoGodcreatedmaninhis[own]image,intheimageofGodcreatedhehimmaleandfemale
createdhethem.

Verse27wouldbemoreproperlytranslatedfromtheHebrewas:

27SoGodbegatmaninhisownimage,intheimageofGodbegathehim,maleandfemalebegat
hethem.

[footnote:1.IntheoriginalHebrew,thewordtranslated"man"is{adam}(thereisnoupper
case/lowercasedistinctioninHebrew).Thewordtranslated"made"is{bara}andtheword
translated"God"is{eloheim}.InGenesistheword{adam}maybetranslatedas"Adam"when
contextimpliesthespecificindividualor"man,""mankind"oreven"husband"asthecontext
requires.{bara}isatechnologicaltermwhichmeanstocreatefrompreexistingmaterial,butits
rootmeaningistocutorhew.Ifastatueorfigurinewerebeingcreateditcouldbetranslated
"carve,"butwhenchildrenarebeingcreatedthepropertranslationis"beget."Wearemorefamiliar
withitintheNewTestamentAramaicform"bar"asinSimonbarJonah(SimonbegottenofJonah).
{eloheim}isapluralword,butisnormallyusedasifitweresingular.Itshouldperhapsbe
translated"Gods"inthiscontextasindicatedbythe"us,"and"our"ofverse26.]

IncommentingonGenesis1:2627BrighamYoungleftusnodoubtsastohisunderstanding
thatitwasthenormalbirthprocesswhichwasbeingdescribed

"AndGodsaid,letusmakemaninourimage,afterourlikenessandletthemhavedominionover
thefishofthesea,andoverthefowloftheair,andoverthecattle,andoveralltheearth,andover
everycreepingthingthatcreepethupontheearth.SoGodcreatedmaninhisownimage,inthe
imageofGodcreatedhehimmaleandfemalecreatedhethem."

Ibelievethatthedeclarationmadeinthesetwoscripturesisliterallytrue.GodhasmadeHis
childrenlikeHimselftostanderect,andhasendowedthemwithintelligenceandpowerand
dominionoverallHisworks,andgiventhemthesameattributeswhichHehimselfpossesses.He
createdman,aswecreateourchildrenforthereisnootherprocessofcreationinheaven,onthe
earth,intheearth,orundertheearth,orinalltheeternities,thatis,thatwere,orthateverwillbe.
[JD11:122123,June18,1865]
ItistruethatinGenesis,chapter3Adamisspokenofashavingbeenformedofthedustofthe
ground:
7AndtheLordGodformedmanofthedustoftheground,andbreathedintohisnostrilsthebreath
oflifeandmanbecamealivingsoul.[Ge3:7]

ButinMoses,chapter6,theLordspecificallydefineswhatitmeanstobeformedfromthedust
ofthegroundtobecomealivingsoul:
59...andinasmuchasyewerebornintotheworld,bywater,andbloodandthespirit,whichIhave
made,andsobecameofdustalivingsoul,evenso...[Moses6:59]

InLuke,chapter3,agenealogyofJesusChristisgiven,beginninginverse23:

23AndJesushimselfbegantobeaboutthirtyyearsofage,beingaswassupposed,thesonof
Joseph,whichwasthesonofHeli,

24WhichwasthesonofMatthat,whichwasthesonofLevi,whichwasthesoofMelchiwhich
wasthesonofJanna,whichwasthesonofJoseph,...

Lukecontinuesthroughatotalof70generationsofliteralfather/sonrelationships,endingin
verses37and38with:
37WhichwasthesonofMathusala,whichwasthesonofEnoch,whichwasthesonofJared,
whichwasthesonofMaleleel,whichwasthesonofCainan.

38WhichwasthesonofEnos,whichwasthesonofSeth,whichwasthesonofAdam,whichwas
thesonofGod.

InhisinspiredrevisionoftheBible,JosephSmithmodifiedverse38toread"...Adam,who
wasformedofGod,andthefirstmanontheearth,"butthisdoesnotdetractfromtheargument
ofAdamhavingbeenphysicallybegottenbyGod.JosephSmithdidnotbelievethatanyman
evercameintoexistencewithoutafather.InTeachingsheisrecordedassaying:

IfAbrahamreasonedthusIfJesusChristwastheSonofGod,andJohndiscoveredthatGodthe
FatherofJesusChristhadaFather,youmaysupposethathehadaFatheralso.Wherewasthere
everasonwithoutafather?Andwherewasthereeverafatherwithoutfirstbeingason?Whenever
didatreeoranythingspringintoexistencewithoutaprogenitor?Andeverythingcomesinthis
way.[TPJS373]

AndBrighamYoungwasjustasclearinspecifyingthatthefatherofAdamandEvewasnone
otherthanourHeavenlyFather.

Theworldmayinvainaskthequestion,"Whoarewe?"ButtheGospeltellsusthatwearethesons
anddaughtersofthatGodwhomweserve.Somesay,"wearethechildrenofAdamandEve."So
weare,andtheyarethechildrenofourHeavenlyFather.WeareallthechildrenofAdamandEve,
andtheyandwearetheoffspringofHimwhodwellsintheheavens,thehighestIntelligencethat
dwellsanywherethatwehaveanyknowledgeof.[JD13:311312,April17,1870]

PresidentJohnTayloralsoclearlyunderstoodandtaughttheseprinciples:

Inregardtotheearth,isittheLord's?Yes.Wearetoldthathemadeit,thathecreatedallthings,
visibleandinvisible,whetherpertainingtotheearthortheheavens.Andwheredidmanoriginate?
Aswereadit,heoriginatedalsofromGod.WhoformedmanaccordingtotheBiblerecord?The
Lord.Whencecameourspirits?WearetoldthatGodistheGodandFatherofthespiritsofall
flesh.ThenHeofcourseisinterestedinthewelfareofallfleshandallpeopleofalllanguages,of
tongues,ofeverycolor,andofeveryclime.ThatisthewaythatIunderstandthesethings.Our
spiritsareeternalandemanatefromGod.Sowe,asapeople,havealwaysunderstoodanddo
understandtoday.Wepossessourbodiesalso,andtheyalsoemanatedfromGod.TheBibletells
ussomethinginrelationtothesemattersintracingoutgenealogies.WhowasSeth?Hewastheson
ofAdam.WhowasAdam?ThesonofGod.Inanotherplacewearetoldthat"allweareHis
offspring"thatis,accordingtothat,wearealltheoffspringofGod.[JD26:34,Dec14,1884]
 MessageoftheFirstPresidency

In1909,theFirstPresidencyoftheChurch(JosephF.Smith,JohnR.WinderandAntonH.
Lund)issuedanofficialdeclarationonthe"OriginofMan"inthepagesoftheImprovement
Era.Itwillbenoticedbyreadingtheintroductoryparagraphofthisdeclaration,thatitwas
writteninresponsetoaninquiry,andalthoughtheFirstPresidencydidnotconsiderthetopicto
bedoctrinally"vital,"itwasneverthelessconsideredtobeanimportantsubjectcloselyrelated
tothefundamentalprinciplesofthegospel.

THEORIGINOFMAN

ByTheFirstPresidencyoftheChurch

"Godcreatedmaninhisownimage."

InquiriesarisefromtimetotimerespectingtheattitudeoftheChurchofJesusChristofLatterday
Saintsuponquestionswhich,thoughnotvitalfromadoctrinalstandpoint,arecloselyconnected
withthefundamentalprinciplesofsalvation.Thelatestinquiryofthiskindthathasreachedusis
inrelationtotheoriginofman.ItisbelievedthatastatementofthepositionheldbytheChurch
uponthisimportantsubjectwillbetimelyandproductiveofgood.

Themajoremphasisofthedeclarationseemstobethetruthfulnessandreliabilityofthe
scripturalaccountsofthecreation.Ofparticularinteresttous,onthetopicofAdambeingborn,
arethefollowingparagraphs.
Adam,ourprogenitor,"thefirstman,"was,likeChrist,apreexistentspirit,andlikeChristhetook
uponhimanappropriatebody,thebodyofaman,andsobecamea"livingsoul."Thedoctrineof
thepreexistence,revealedsoplainly,particularlyinlatterdays,poursawonderfulfloodoflight
upontheotherwisemysteriousproblemofman'sorigin.Itshowsthatman,asaspirit,wasbegotten
andbornofheavenlyparents,andrearedtomaturityintheeternalmansionsoftheFather,priorto
comingupontheearthinatemporalbodytoundergoanexperienceinmortality.Itteachesthatall
menexistedinthespiritbeforeanymanexistedintheflesh,andthatallwhohaveinhabitedthe
earthsinceAdamhavetakenbodiesandbecomesoulsinlikemanner.

ItisheldbysomethatAdamwasnotthefirstmanuponthisearth,andthatthe
originalhumanbeingwasadevelopmentfromlowerordersoftheanimalcreation.
These,however,arethetheoriesofmen.ThewordoftheLorddeclaresthatAdam
was"thefirstmanofallmen"(Moses1:34),andwearethereforeindutyboundto
regardhimastheprimalparentofourrace.ItwasshowntothebrotherofJared
thatallmenwerecreatedinthebeginningaftertheimageofGodandwhetherwe
takethistomeanthespiritorthebody,orboth,itcommitsustothesame
conclusion:Manbeganlifeasahumanbeing,inthelikenessofourheavenly
Father.

Trueitisthatthebodyofmanentersuponitscareerasatinygermembryo,which
becomesaninfant,quickenedatacertainstagebythespiritwhosetabernacleitis,
andthechild,afterbeingborn,developsintoaman.Thereisnothinginthis,
however,toindicatethattheoriginalman,thefirstofourrace,beganlifeas
anythinglessthanaman,orlessthanthehumangermorembryothatbecomesa
man.[JamesR.Clark,MessagesoftheFirstPresidency,4:200201,206,
November1909]

Somehavefeltthatthisdeclarationwasleftintentionallyambiguous,andisthereforenot
sufficientlyclear,butoneneedonlyreadthefollowingcommentsbyPresidentJosephF.Smith
toknowhowhebelievedthestatementshouldbeunderstood.

ManAChildOfGod

 ThatmanasadescendantofAdam,is,inamostliteralsense,achildofGodisemphatically
explainedinthefollowinggroupofbriefexcerptsfromChurchrecords:

THECREATIONOFADAM

BY

PRES.JOSEPHF.SMITH,

AtStakeConferenceofMaricopaStake

PresidentSmithclosedtheconferencewithhisusualbrilliant,thoughtfulremarks.Heboreastrong
testimonyofthetruthfulnessofthegospelandsaidinpart:"IknowthatJosephSmithwasa
prophetofGodIknowthatGodisabeingwithbody,partsandpassionsandthatHisSonisin
Hisownlikeness,andthatmaniscreatedintheimageofGod.TheSon,JesusChrist,grewand
developedintomanhoodthesameasyouorI,aslikewisedidGod,HisFather,growanddevelop
totheSupremeBeingthatHenowis.ManwasbornofwomanChrist,theSavior,wasbornof
womanandGod,theFather,wasbornofwoman.Adam,ourearthlyparentwasalsobornof
womanintothisworld,thesameasJesusandyouandI."

JOSEPHE.NOBLE,

StakeClerk.

(DeseretNews,Dec.27,1913,Sec.III,p.7)

[DeseretNewsChurchSection,Sept19,1936pp23]

Possiblythemostclearanddefinitivestatementavailableonthesubjectisonewhichwas
writtenbyReedC.DurhamafteratelephoneconversationwithBruceR.McConkiein1966.I
personallypresentedacopyofthisstatementtoBrotherMcConkieinDecof1982andaskedif
hewouldverifyit.Afterreviewingit,Br.McConkiesaidthatitaccuratelyexpressedhis
understanding.

AdamGodStatement
IphonedB.R.McConkieonFridayafternoon,April29th1966,athishomeinregardtohis
commentaryofLuke3:38inhisnewtextontheNewTestament.

HeansweredthathehadpurposelyleftthedooropenedonthatPoint.Hesaidit
wasatruedoctrinethatGodtheFather,Eloheim,adivineresurrectedbeingcame
downtothisearthafteritscreation,withawifeandproducedinthenaturalwayof
sexualintercourse,achildwhogrewupandbecameknownasADAM.Theydid
thesameandbroughtforthagirlwhogrewupandbecameEVE.Theyhadbodies
offleshandboneetc.,butwerenotmortal(nottilltheyfell).They(AdamandEve)
werenotresurrectedandnottranslatedbeings.Godreallydidcreatetheirbodieson
thisearth.Theywerenottransportedhere(onlytheirspirits).

Hethensaidthathisfatherinlawtoldhimthatwasatruedoctrinethatithadbeen
taughtagreatdealbyPresidentJ.F.Smith(6thpresident).Healsoaddedthat
PresidentJosephFieldingSmithsaiditwastoodeepnowformostsaintsthat'sthe
reasonforsayingaboutthecreationofAdamandEveinthetemple,"It'sonly
figurative..."

ReedC.Durham,Jr.

Accordingtothisaccount,PresidentJosephF.Smith,PresidentJosephFieldingSmithand
BruceR.McConkieallunderstoodthatAdamandEvewerebornonthisearth,,toour
HeavenlyFather,andourHeavenlyMother,andthenplacedinthegardenofEden.Thisisone
ofthereasonsthatthesethreebrethrenwerealwaysopposedtothetheoryoftheorganic
evolutionofman.They,andmanyotherswhobelieveastheydid,believethatmandidnot
evolvefromanylowerorderofcreation,butthatmandevolvedfromthehighestorderof
creationfromGodhimself.
Manyweresoopenaboutteachingthisprinciplethatthedoctrinecannotbeconsideredsecret,
orevenhidden.Itwasmerelynotemphasized.Thefollowingexampleisfromaresponseby
JohnA.WidtsoetoaquestionaboutBrighamYoung'sAdamGodsermon.Thearticleisoneof
aserieswhichwasentitled"EvidencesandReconciliations."Theserieswaspublishedmonthly
intheImprovementEra.ThisarticlewasfirstpublishedintheDecember1943issueoftheEra,
andwaslaterrepublishedinvolume1ofathreevolumesetwhichwasacollectionofthe
"EvidencesandReconciliations"articles.Itappearedagaininaonevolumereprintofthethree
volumesetpublishedin1960.
BrighamYoung'smuchdiscussedsermonsaysthat"Jesuswasbegotteninthefleshbythesame
characterthatwasintheGardenofEden,andwhoisourFatherinheaven.EnemiesoftheChurch,
orstupidpeople,readingalsothatAdamis"ourfatherandourGod."haveheraldedfarandwide
thattheMormonsbelievethatJesusChristwasbegottenofAdam.Yet,therationalreadingofthe
wholesermonrevealsthefalsityofsuchadoctrine.ItisexplainedthatGodtheFatherwasinthe
GardenofEden,beforeAdam,thathewastheFatherofAdam,andthatthissamepersonage,God
theFather,whowasintheGardenofEdenbeforeAdam,wastheFatherofJesusChrist,whenthe
Sontookuponhimselfamortalbody.Thatis,thesamepersonagewastheFatherofAdamandof
JesusChrist.InthenumerouspublishedsermonsofBrighamYoung,thisisthedoctrinethat
appears,noneother.TheassertionisrepeatedlymadethatJesusChristwasbegottenbyGod,the
Father,distinctbyanystretchofimaginationfromAdam.ThisisawellestablishedLatterday
Saintdoctrine.[JohnA.Widtsoe,EvidencesandReconciliationspp5657alsoImprovementEra
46:769]

OnequestionwhichfrequentlyarisesishowAdamcanbeasonofGod,whenJesusChristis
describedinscriptureastheOnlyBegottenSon.Thisquestionisansweredinanotherwidely
referencedandreadilyavailablebook,MormonDoctrine,byBruceR.McConkieunder"Son
OfGod."

2.FatherAdam,thefirstman,isalsoasonofGod(Luke3:38Moses6:22,59),afactthatdoesnot
changethegreattruththatChrististheOnlyBegottenintheflesh,forAdam'sentranceintothis
worldwasinimmortality.Hecameherebeforedeathhaditsbeginning,withitsconsequentmortal
orfleshstatusofexistence.MormonDoctrine,p742]

Anotherquestionfrequentlyaskedis,ifresurrectedbeingshavespiritchildren,thenhowcan
resurrectedbeingsproducephysicalchildren?Apparentlythetypeofbodyproducedbyan
exaltedbeingdependsuponwhattypeofmaterialsareavailabletothebodyofthemotheras
sheformsthechildwithinher.Ifonlyspiritmatterisavailable,thenaspiritbodywillbe
produced,butiftheyplantagardenonanearth,andliveinandpartakeofthephysicalfruitsof
thatgardenuntiltheirbodiesarechargedwiththephysicalparticlesofthatearth,thenthebody
formedwillbeaphysicalbody,andtheparticlesconstitutingthebodythusformedwillbelong
tothatearth.

AdamCreatedFromDustofThisEarth.

TheBookofMormon,theDoctrineandCovenants,andthePearlofGreatPricealldeclarethat
Adam'sbodywascreatedfromthedustoftheground,thatis,fromthedustofthisground,this
earth.Moreover,theLordsaidtoAdam,thatifhepartookofthefruitofthetreeofthe
knowledgeofgoodandevil,heshouldsurelydie."Bythesweatofthyfaceshaltthoueat
bread,untilthoushaltreturnuntothegroundforthoushaltsurelydieforoutofit[i.e,the
ground]wastthoutaken:fordustthouwast,anduntodustshaltthoureturn."Nowhowcould
hereturntothedustoftheearth,ifhisbodywasnottakenfromit?[JosephFieldingSmithJr.,
DoctrinesofSalvation1:9091]

Weorganizeaccordingtomenintheflesh.Bycombiningtheelementsandplantingtheseed,we
causevegetables,trees,grains,&c.,tocomeforth.Weareorganizingakingdomhereaccordingto
thepatternthattheLordhasgivenforpeopleintheflesh,butnotforthosewhohavereceivedthe
resurrection,althoughitisasimilitude.Anotheritem:Wehavenotthepowerinthefleshtocreate
andbringforthorproduceaspiritbutwehavethepowertoproduceatemporalbody.Thegermof
this,Godhasplacedwithinus.Andwhenourspiritsreceiveourbodies,andthroughour
faithfulnessweareworthytobecrowned,wewillthenreceiveauthoritytoproducebothspiritand
body.Butthesekeyswecannotreceiveintheflesh.[JD15:137,BrighamYoung,August24,1872]
 Evewasnotcreatedfromarib

Itwillbeappropriatetoansweronemorequestionbeforeproceeding.Thequestionis
sometimesasked,ifEvewasborn,thenwhydothescripturessaythatshewascreatedfrom
Adam'srib?First,PresidentSpencerW.KimballassuredthesistersatReliefSocietygeneral
conferenceinOctober1975thatthecreationofEvefromtheribofAdamwasfigurative.

Theroleofwomanwasfixedevenbeforeshewascreated,andGodisthesameyesterday,today,
andforever.Itiswritten:

"AndI,God,createdmaninmineownimage,intheimageofmineOnlyBegottencreatedIthem.
[thestoryoftherib,ofcourse,isfigurative.]

"AndI,God,blessedthem[Manhereisalwaysintheplural.Itwaspluralfromthebeginning.]and
saiduntothem:Befruitful,andmultiply,andreplenishtheearth,andsubdueit,andhave
dominionover[it]."(Moses2:2728)[Ensign,vol.6,March1976,p71]

BrighamYoung,however,wentfurtherandexplainedthebasicmeaningbehindthefigure.

ItissaidbyMosesthehistorianthattheLordcausedadeepsleeptocomeuponAdamandtook
fromhissidearibandformedthewomanthatAdamcalledEvethisshouldbeinterpretedthatthe
ManAdamlikeallothermenhadtheseedwithinhimtopropagatehisspecies.Butnotthe
womansheconceivestheseedbutshedoesnotproduceitconsequentlyshewastakenfromthe
sideorbowelsofherfather.ThisexplainsthemysteryofMoses'darksayingsinregardtoAdam
andEve.[BrighamYoung,"LectureattheVeil,"St.GeorgeTemple,Feb1,1877]

MeaningofthewordAdam

AnotherconceptwhichisimportanttothecorrectunderstandingofBrighamYoung'sdark
sayingsinregardtoAdamandEveisaparticularmeaningoftheword"Adam."Adaminthe
Hebrewcanhaveseveralmeanings.Aswasmentionedabove,inGenesisAdamhasbeen
translatedas"man"(ormankind)andalso"husband."Itcanalsohavethemeaningof"ruddy"
(areddishhue),and"oneblood."IntheBookofMosesthereisanothermeaningwhichis
alludedto.

34AndthefirstmanofallmenhaveIcalledAdam,whichismany.[Moses1:34]

Now,thewordAdamdoesnotmean"many,"sotheintentofthisverseisthattherearemany
menwhohavebeennamedAdam.Incontext,theimplicationisthatthefirstmanofeachearth
isalwayscalledAdam.BrighamYoungverifiesthisinoneofhisdiscourses.

EveryworldhashadanAdamandanEve,namedsosimplybecausethefirstmanisalwayscalled
AdamandthefirstwomanEve.[BrighamYoung"ForthisisLifeEternal,"Oct8,1854p7]

OneofthemeaningsofAdamistherefore"thefirstman,"ormorespecifically,astheBookof
Abrahamrendersit,"firstfather."Speakingofthepriesthood,Abrahamstates
3Itwasconferreduponmefromthefathersitcamedownfromthefathers,fromthebeginningof
time,yea,evenfromthebeginning,orbeforethefoundationoftheearth,downtothepresenttime,
eventherightofthefirstborn,orthefirstman,whoisAdam,orfirstfather,throughthefathersunto
me.[Abraham1:3]

Inachurchwidesatellitefireside,"UsingtheScriptures,"telecaston10May,1985,Elder
BruceR.McConkiecommentedonsomechangeswhichhadbeenmadeintheneweditionof
theBookofAbraham,emphasizingasignificantchangemadeinverse3.

OneminortextualchangeinAbrahamissignificant.Asingleletterischangedandawholenew
doctrinalmeaningisrevealed.Heretoforethetextread,"thefirstman,whoisAdam,ourfirst
father,"whichisasimplerecitationofthefact,alsosetforthinotherscriptures,thatAdam,thefirst
man,isalsoourfirstfather.Ifheisthefirstmanheisobviouslythefirstfatherofothermen.The
newrendition,accordingwiththeancientmanuscript,reads,"Adam,orfirstfather,"makingthe
wordAdam,asynonymfor"firstFather."Thatis,thenameAdammeansfirstfather.(SeeAbr.1:3.)
[Ensign,Vol15,December1985,p59]
Now,ifthenameAdammeans"firstfather,"thenthatnameiscertainlyapplicabletoGod,our
HeavenlyFather,becausehewasthefatherofthephysicalbodiesofAdamandEve,andthe
onewhoplacedtheminthegardenofEden.Hewasinthatsense,thefirstfatherofeveryone
whohaseverreceivedaphysicalbodyonthisearth.BrighamYoungbelievedthatoneofthe
namesofourHeavenlyFatheris"Adam."Recognitionofthissimplefactwillresolvethelarge
majorityofthedifficultiespeopleencounterinsomeofBrighamYoung'sdiscoursesonthe
subject.

JosephSmith'sbirthdate:Anexample

JosephSmithwasbornJuly12,1771.Althoughsimple,straightforwardandunobtrusive,this
statementisalmostuniversallymetwithanattitudeofresistanceanddisbelief.Whenfollowed
byanassurancethatthestatementiscorrect,thereisoftenabrieffeelingofconfusionandeven
slightdisorientation.ThosewhoarestudentsofChurchhistorywillassureyouthatyouare
wrong,andwillgenerallyevensupplythecorrectbirthdate.The1771birthdateiscorrectasit
stands.ThedifficultyisthatJosephSmithissuchawellknownnamethatwhenthewords
"JosephSmith"areheard,themindclicksintoautopilotanddesignatestheProphetJoseph
Smith.Itwashisfather,JosephSmithSr.whowasbornonJuly12,1771.

Inasimilarmanner,thenameAdamimmediatelyandautomaticallydesignatestomostpeople,
thatindividualwhopartookoftheforbiddenfruitinthegardenofEdenandbecamethefather
oftheraceofmortalswhoinhabitthisearth.Thisisespeciallytrueofthosewhoareunaware
thatthereisanotherAdam.MembersoftheChurchshouldnothavedifficultyinrecognizing
bothafatherandhissonashavingthesamename.WehaveJosephSmithandJosephSmithSr.,
andevenJosephSmithIII.WehaveBrighamYoungandBrighamYoungJr.,JohnTaylorand
JohnTaylorJr.,andWilfordWoodruffandWilfordWoodruffJr,tomentionjustafewofthose
whoaremoreprominent.

TwoAdams

BrighamYoungbelievedthatoneofthenamesofGod,ourHeavenlyFatherisAdam,andin
manyofPresidentYoung'sdiscourseshereferredtoGodtheFatherusingthatname.Thereare
thereforetwoAdams,andalthoughPresidentYoungdidnotusethedesignation,itwillbe
simplerforusinthefollowingdiscussiontodistinguishbetweenthetwoindividualsby
referringtothemasAdamSr.(WhenreferringtoGod,ourHeavenlyFather)andAdamJr.
(Whenreferringtotheembodiedarchangel,Michael,whopartookoftheforbiddenfruit,fell,
andbecamethefatherofCain,AbleandSethetc.).ItfollowsthattherearealsotwoEves,and
althoughinEnglishthedesignationisneverusedwithwomen,weshalldistinguishbetween
themasEveSr.andEveJr.Thisunderstandingallowsusforthefirsttimetocorrectlyinterpret
awellknownbiblicalpassage.

20AndAdamcalledhiswife'snameEvebecauseshewasthemotherofallliving.[Genesis3:20,
(seealsoMoses4:26)]

Towhomdoesthepronoun"she",whowasthemotherofallliving,refer?ItcannotrefertoEve
Jr.,becausealthoughshewasAdam'swife,shewasnotthemotherofanyoneatthetime.She
hadneverhadachild,norwouldshebeabletohaveoneuntilafterthefall.

22Andnow,behold,ifAdamhadnottransgressedhewouldnothavefallen,buthewouldhave
remainedinthegardenofEden.Andallthingswhichwerecreatedmusthaveremainedinthesame
stateinwhichtheywereaftertheywerecreatedandtheymusthaveremainedforever,andhadno
end.

23Andtheywouldhavehadnochildrenwhereforetheywouldhaveremainedinastateof
innocence,havingnojoy,fortheyknewnomiserydoingnogood,fortheyknewnosin.[2Ne
2:2223]

ItwasEveSr.towhomAdamwasreferringwhowasthemotherofallliving.Adamwas
saying:Iwillnameheraftermymother,justasIwasnamedaftermyfather.Thisexplanation
allowsasimpleunderstandingofoneofBrighamYoung'smostdifficultstatements,foundin
theWilfordWoodruffJournals.WilfordWoodruffrecordedBrighamYoungassaying:

"MotherEvewasthedaughterofAdam."[WWJ7:152,Aug31,1873]

NotehoweasilythiscorrelateswiththestatementquotedabovebyBrighamYoungthatEve
wastakenfromthesideorbowelsofherfather.

Similarly,onewouldexpectthemotherofalllivingtobethespouseofthefatherofallliving.
Andwhoisthefatherofallliving?ThefollowingisfromtheLecturesonFaith.

2.Letushereobserve,thatthreethingsarenecessaryinorderthatanyrationalandintelligent
beingmayexercisefaithinGoduntolifeandsalvation.

3.First,theideathatheactuallyexists.

4.Secondly,acorrectideaofhischaracter,perfections,andattributes.

5.Thirdly,anactualknowledgethatthecourseoflifewhichheispursuingisaccordingtohiswill.
Forwithoutanacquaintancewiththesethreeimportantfacts,thefaithofeveryrationalbeingmust
beimperfectandunproductivebutwiththisunderstandingitcanbecomeperfectandfruitful,
aboundinginrighteousness,untothepraiseandgloryofGodtheFather,andtheLordJesusChrist.

6.Havingpreviouslybeenmadeacquaintedwiththewaytheideaofhisexistencecameintothe
world,aswellasthefactofhisexistence,weshallproceedtoexaminehischaracter,perfections,
andattributes,inorderthatthisclassmaysee,notonlythejustgroundswhichtheyhaveforthe
exerciseoffaithinhimforlifeandsalvation,butthereasonsthatalltheworld,also,asfarasthe
ideaofhisexistenceextends,mayhavetoexercisefaithinhim,theFatherofallliving.[Lectures
onFaith,Lecture3,p.33,emphasisadded]

ThealmostuniversalquestionaskedbythosehearingoftwoAdamsforthefirsttimeis:"If
therearetwoAdams,whydidn'tBrighamYoungjustsaysoinsteadofleavinghistalksso
confusing?"Therearetwodistinctanswerstothisquestion,andwewillpresentoneofthem
now,andsavetheothertoamoreappropriateplacewhichwillbetreatedlater.

ActuallyBrighamYoungandothersdidonmanyoccasionsdistinguish,oratleasttryto
distinguish,betweenAdamSr.andAdamJr.Hedidnotusethoseparticulardesignations,but
thatisbecauseitwasnotthevernacularofthetime.ThetermsJr.andSr.werelegalterms,and
werefrequentlyusedinwriting,buttheywerenotcommontermsemployedwhilespeaking.
BrighamYoungdidonoccasionrefertotheProphetasJosephSmithJun.,butheneverdid
refertothefatheroftheProphetasJosephSmithSen.Ineveryinstanceinspeakingofthe
fatheroftheProphet,heusedthemorecommonterm,"FatherSmith."Thefollowingparagraph
isagoodexampleofthewayinwhichsuchdesignationswereusedatthattime.

IhavereflectedmuchconcerningthefamilyofthegrandfatherandfatherofJosephtheProphet.
Theirfamilyconnectionswereveryextensiveandithasbeenasubjectofdeepregrettomethat
thereweresofewinthatlargecirclewhohavebeenvaliantforthetruthsincethedeathofthe
Prophet.StillIdonotknowbutthatJosephhadquiteasmanyofhisconnectionsvaliantforthe
truth,inproportiontotheirnumber,asJesushadforJesushadmanybrothersandsisters,andthe
mostofthemwereopposedtohim,andcontinuedsoduringthegreaterpartoftheirlives.Iusedto
think,whileJosephwasliving,thathislifecomparedwellwiththehistoryoftheSaviourthough
themostoffatherJosephSmith'sfamilyhavebelievedandobeyedtheGospel,andhavelived
theirreligioninagooddegree.Manyofthemarenothere.SomeofthemIhaveknowninthe
EasternStatesthatneverhavegatheredwithus.Buttheoldstockareprettymuchdead,andIdo
notknowbutwhatallofthemare.FatherJohnSmithwasthelastone,inthisChurch,ofthe
brothersoffatherJosephSmithandhedied,andisburiedhere.GrandmotherSmithlivedin
Kirtlandashorttimeaftershegathered.[JournalofDiscourses,Vol.5,p.97,BrighamYoung,
August2,1857,emphasisadded]

BrighamYoungwasnotconsistentinusingthewords"FatherAdam"torefertoAdamSr.and
"Adam"or"ourfatherAdam"torefertoAdamJr.,butinmostinstancesinwhichherefersto
bothAdamsinthesamediscourse,hedoesattempttomakethatdistinction.Itisinconsistentto
complainthatBrighamYoungdidnotspecifythatthereweretwoAdams,andatthesametime
refusetounderstandthewordswhichBrighamYoungchosetotellusjustthat.Othersofthe
generalauthoritiesalsousedthetermFatherAdamtorefertoAdamSr.Noteinthefollowing
thatOrsonHydeisdiscussingtheinstructiongiven"of"FatherAdam,not"to"FatherAdam.

Thereishardlyeveracommandmentgiventoanypersonorpersonsbeforewhomatemptationis
notplacedtodecoythem,ifpossible,fromanobediencetothatcommandment.Ourparentsinthe
gardenofEdenhadhadbutlittleexperienceinthisworldanditseemedthattheymusthaveatrial
correspondingwiththeexperienceandknowledgetheyhadofthingsastheywere.Theinstruction
ofFatherAdamwas,"ofallthetreesinthegardenthoumayesteat,exceptingoneandintheday
thoueatestofthat,thoushaltsurelydie."TheLordsaid,AdamandEve,youmayenjoyyourselves
butthereisonetreeIcommandyouthatyeshallnoteatofforinthedaythatyedo,yeshallsurely
die."[JD5:16,OrsonHyde,June14,1857]

ThereisanotherscriptureintheDoctrineandCovenantswhichinitsoriginalform
distinguishesbetweenthetwoAdams.WhenthisaccountofJosephSmith'svisionwasfirst
publishedintheDeseretNewsonSeptember4,1852,someone,knowingthatMichaelwas
Adam,feltthatthesentencedidnotmakesenseandmodifiedit.Subsequentpublicationsin
MillennialStarandHistoryoftheChurchhaveretainedthemodification.Theaccounthassince
beenincorporatedintoSection137oftheDoctrineandCovenantsinitsmodifiedform.Inthe
currenteditionoftheDoctrineandCovenantsitreads

5IsawFatherAdamandAbrahamandmyfatherandmymothermybrotherAlvin,thathaslong
sinceslept[D&C137:5]

Initsoriginalform,however,itread

IsawFatherAdam,andAbrahamandMichaelandmyfatherandmother,mybrotherAlvinthathas
longsinceslept,[DeanJessee,ThePapersofJosephSmith,vol2,p157.]

In1861inspeakingofthissamevisionofJosephSmith's,HeberC.Kimballmaintainedthe
distinctionbetweenAdamandFatherAdamasherelatedwhatJosephSmithsaw.Hesaidthat
itwasAdamwhoopenedthegateoftheCelestialCity,butitwasFatherAdamwholedthemto
thethronetobecrowned

ThisbringstomymindthevisionthatJosephSmithhad,whenhesawAdamopenthegateofthe
CelestialCityandadmitthepeopleonebyone.HethensawFatherAdamconductthemtothe
throneonebyone,whentheywerecrownedKingsandPriestsofGod.Imerelybringthisupto
impressuponyourmindtheprinciplesoforder,butitwillneverthelessapplytoeverymemberof
theChurch.[JD9:41,HeberC.Kimball,March17,1861]

InterpretationofBrighamYoung

IninterpretingBrighamYoung'scomments,onemustthereforedeterminebythecontextofthe
discoursewhetherhewasspeakingofAdamSr.orAdamJr.Thissimpleprocesswillrelieve
98%ofthedifficultiesencounteredinunderstandingBrighamYoung'sdiscoursesonthetopic
ofAdam.Thesameprocessappliestoaninterpretationofthestatementsofmanyofhisclose
contemporariessuchasHeberC.KimballandOrsonHyde.

WhensomeonecitesBrighamYoung'snotoriousstatement:"He[Adam]isourfatherandour
GodandtheonlyGodwithwhomwehavetodo,"thereisnorealproblem.BrighamYoungis
notsayingthatAdamJr.isGod,insteadheissayingthatthenameofGodisAdamSr.

WhenHeberC.Kimall'sJournalisreferencedassaying:"TheLordtoldmethatJesusChrist
wasthesonofAdam,"wemustunderstandthatPresidentKimballwasspeakingofAdamSr.

NinetyeightpercentofallofBrighamYoung'sproblematicdiscoursesonAdamGodcanbe
correctlyunderstoodbyascertainingfromthecontextwhetherheisspeakingofAdamSr.orof
AdamJr.

TheRemainingTwoPercent
ThoseproblematicdiscoursesofBrighamYoungwhicharenotsosimplyresolvedareall
causedbyeitherincompleteorinaccuratereporting,butmaybeeasilydiscussedbygiving
examplesillustrativeoffourbroadcategories:

1.Interpreting,ratherthanquoting,BrighamYoung.
2.Grammaticaldifficulties.
3.BrighamYoung'schoiceofwords.
4.IncorrectReporting.

Interpreting,RatherthanQuoting,BrighamYoung

InmanyinstancespeoplehavereportedBrighamYoung'sviewsonAdamGod,butratherthan
reportwhatBrighamYoungactuallysaid,theyreportwhattheythoughttheyheard,orwhat
theyunderstoodBrighamYoungtohavesaid,andtheyarefrequentlyverywrong.Agood
exampleofthistypeofproblemisEdwardTullidgeinchapter18ofhis1877book,Womenof
Mormondom,publishedafterBrighamYoung'sdeath,withjustafewsubtlechanges,makes
someveryerroneousstatements:
"AdamisourFatherandGod.HeistheGodoftheearth."

SosaysBrighamYoung.

Adamisthegreatarchangelofthiscreation.HeisMichael.HeistheAncientof
days.Heisthefatherofourelderbrother,JesusChristthefatherofhimwhoshall
alsocomeasmessiahtoreign.Heisthefatherofthespiritsaswellasthe
tabernaclesofthesonsanddaughtersofAdam!

Michaelisoneofthegrandmysticalnamesintheworksofcreations,redemptions,
andresurrections.Jehovahisthesecondandthehighername.Eloheimsignifying
theGodsisthefirstnameofthecelestialtrinity.

Michaelwasacelestial,resurrectedbeing,ofanotherworld.

"Inthebeginning"theGodscreatedtheheavensandtheearths.

Intheircouncilstheysaid,letusmakemaninourownimage.So,inthelikenessof
theFathers,andtheMotherstheGodscreatedtheymanmaleandfemale.

Whenthisearthwaspreparedformankind,Michael,asAdam,camedown.He
broughtwithhimoneofhiswives,andhecalledhernameEve.

AdamandEvearethenamesofthefathersandmothersofworlds.

Adamwasnotmadeoutofalumpofclay,aswemakeabrick,norwasEvetaken
asaribabonefromhisside.Theycamebygeneration.Butwoman,asthewifeor
mateofman,wasaribofman.Shewastakenfromhissideintheirglorifiedworld,
andbroughtbyhmtoearthtobethemotherofarace.

Thesewerefatherandmotherofaworldofspiritswhohadbeenborntothemin
heaven.Thesespiritshadbeenwaitingforthegrandperiodoftheirprobation,
whentheyshouldhavebodiesortabernacles,sothattheymightbecome,inthe
resurrection,likeGods.

Whenthisearthhadbecomeanabodeformankind,withitsGardenofEden,thenit
wasthatthemorningstarssangtogether,andthesonsanddaughtersofGod
shoutedforjoy.Theywerecomingdowntoearth.

Thechildrenofthesun,atleast,knewwhatthegrandschemeoftheeverlasting
FathersandtheeverlastingMothersmeant,andthey,bothsonsanddaughters,
 shoutedforjoy.Thetempleoftheeternitiesshookwiththeirhosannas,and
trembledwithdivineemotions.

ThefatherandmotherwereatlengthintheirGardenofEden.Theycameon
purposetofall.Theyfell"thatmanmightbeandmanis,thathe"mighthavejoy."
Theyateofthetreeofmortallife,partookoftheelementsofthisearththatthey
mightagainbecomemortalfortheirchildren'ssake.Theyfellthatanotherworld
mighthaveaprobation,redemptionandresurrection.

Thegrandpatriarchaleconomy,withAdam,asaresurrectedbeing,whobrought
hiswifeEvefromanotherworld,hasbeenveryfinelyelaborated,byBrigham,
fromthepatriarchalgenesiswhichJosephconceived.[Tullidge,Womenof
Mormondom,179181]

Therearenoreferencescited,Tullidgeisnotquotingfromanydocumentedsource,heis
explainingwhatheheard,orrather,whathethoughtheheard,andheissimplywrong.Not
understandingtheprincipleshimself,hehasmisunderstood,andputbackintoBrighamYoung's
mouththingswhichBrighamYoungneveractuallysaid.Errorsofthiskindarefrequentin
diariesandjournalsaspeoplerecord(sometimesadayortwoaftertheevent)theirimpressions
ofwhattheysaworheard.

AnotherexampleofanabusiveinterpretationofoneofBrighamYoung'sstatementscomes
fromhisdiscourseofJanuary12,1862.BrighamYoung'scommentsonthisoccasionwereas
follows:

Howhasittranspiredthattheologicaltruthisthussowidelydisseminated?ItisbecauseGodwas
onceknownontheearthamonghischildrenofmankind,asweknowoneanother.Adamwasas
conversantwithhisFatherwhoplacedhimuponthisearthasweareconversantwithourearthly
parents.TheFatherfrequentlycametovisithissonAdam,andtalkedandwalkedwithhimand
thechildrenofAdamweremoreorlessacquaintedwiththeirGrandfather,andtheirchildrenwere
moreorlessacquaintedwiththeirGreatGrandfatherandthethingsthatpertaintoGodandto
heavenwereasfamiliaramongmankind,inthefirstagesoftheirexistenceontheearth,asthese
mountainsaretoourmountainboys,asourgardensaretoourwivesandchildren,orastheroadto
theWesternOceanistotheexperiencedtraveller.[JD9:149]

ThisstatementhasbeencitedtodemonstratethesupposedexistenceoffatherGods,grandfather
Gods,andgreatgrandfatherGods,butitneithersaysnorimpliesanythingofthesort.Brigham
Young'sstatementsaysthatAdam[Jr.]wasacquaintedwithhisfather[AdamSr.]andthathis
[AdamJr.'s]children[Cain,Abel,Sethetc.]weremoreorlessacquaintedwiththeirgrandfather
[AdamSr.],andthattheirchildren[i.e.thechildrenofCainandSeth]weremoreorless
acquaintedwiththeirgreatgrandfather[AdamSr.].

God[AdamSr.]is Fatherto grandfatherto greatgrandfatherto

AdamJr. X
Cain,Abel,Sethetc X
Theirchildren X

InattemptingtounderstandBrighamYoungitisimportanttodistinguishbetweenwhathe
actuallysaid,andpeople'simpressions,understandingsorinsinuationsofwhattheythoughthe
meant.

PunctuationDifficulties.

InPitmanshorthandofthe1850's,therewasnomeansprovidedforpunctuationtherewere
paragraphmarkersatbest.Althoughthisisnotusuallyaproblem,thereareinstanceswhere
incorrectpunctuationduringthetranscriptionoftheshorthandreporthasleadtomajor
differencesinintendedmeaning.Aclassicexampleofthisoccursinamanuscriptdiscourseof
BrighamYoungwhichwasrecordedonFebruary19,1854.Astranscribedbythereporter,
BrighamYoungsaid:

Whowasitthatspokefromtheheavenandsaid"thisismybelovedson,hearhim,"?WasitGod
theFather?Itwas.TheApostlesbeartestimonythatsuchavoicewasactuallyheard.Thisismy
belovedson,andifitistruetheHolyGhostbegathimIwouldadd,whichwasbegottenbyoneof
myneighbors,hearyehim.WhowastheSaviorbegottenby?O,byhisfatherorhisbrother,or
someotherperson.SotheHolyGhostbegettingtheSaviorlookstome.Itmakesmethinkofa
storyIheardinadramaticalperformanceonce,thatacertainindividualwasbornofoneofhis
Aunts,buthehadnomother.Itappearsasreasonabletometosayacousinorafellowlaborerof
theSavior'sbegathim,astosaytheHolyGhostbegathim.Whodidbegethim?HisFather,andhis
fatherisourGod,andtheFatherofourspirits,andheistheframerofthebody,theGodandFather
ofourLordJesusChrist.Whoishe?HeisFatherAdamMichaeltheAncientofDays.Hashea
father?Hehas.Hasheamother?Hehas.NowtosaythattheSonofGodwasbegottenbytheHoly
Ghost,istosaytheHolyGhostisGodtheFather,whichisinconsistent,andcontrarytoallthe
revelationsofGodbothmodernandancient.[Watson,BrighamYoungAddresses,19Feb.1854.]

Butwithonlyslightmodificationinpunctuation,amoreconventionalunderstandingin
completeharmonywithBrighamYoung'srecordedviewsonthesubjectappears.

Whowasitthatspokefromtheheavenandsaid"thisismybelovedson,hearhim,"?WasitGod
theFather?Itwas.TheApostlesbeartestimonythatsuchavoicewasactuallyheard.Thisismy
belovedson,andifitistruetheHolyGhostbegathimIwouldadd,whichwasbegottenbyoneof
myneighbors,hearyehim.WhowastheSaviorbegottenby?O,byhisfatherorhisbrother,or
someotherperson.SotheHolyGhostbegettingtheSaviorlookstome.Itmakesmethinkofa
storyIheardinadramaticalperformanceonce,thatacertainindividualwasbornofoneofhis
Aunts,buthehadnomother.Itappearsasreasonabletometosayacousinorafellowlaborerof
theSavior'sbegathim,astosaytheHolyGhostbegathim.Whodidbegethim?HisFather,andhis
fatherisourGod,andtheFatherofourspirits,andheistheframerofthebody,theGodandFather
ofourLordJesusChrist.Whoishe?HeisFatherAdam.Michael,theAncientofDays,hashea
father?Hehas.Hasheamother?Hehas.NowtosaythattheSonofGodwasbegottenbytheHoly
Ghost,istosaytheHolyGhostisGodtheFather,whichisinconsistent,andcontrarytoallthe
revelationsofGodbothmodernandancient.[Watson,BrighamYoungAddresses,19Feb.1854.]

BrighamYoung'schoiceofwords.

ThereweretimeswhenBrighamYoung'swords,althoughproperlyrecorded,werenot
technicallyaccuratewhenscrutinizedbycritics.Therewereinstanceswhenhecouldhavemade
abetterchoiceofhiswords.Takethefollowingparagraphasanexample:
AftermenhavegottheirexaltationsandtheircrownshavebecomeGods,eventhesonsofGod
aremadeKingsofkingsandLordsoflords,theyhavethepowerthenofpropagatingtheirspecies
inspiritandthatisthefirstoftheiroperationswithregardtoorganizingaworld.Poweristhen
giventothemtoorganizetheelements,andthencommencetheorganizationoftabernacles.How
cantheydoit?Havetheytogotothatearth?Yes,anAdamwillhavetogothere,andhecannotdo
withoutEvehemusthaveEvetocommencetheworkofgeneration,andtheywillgointothe
garden,andcontinuetoeatanddrinkofthefruitsofthecorporealworld,untilthisgrossermatteris
diffusedsufficientlythroughtheircelestialbodiestoenablethem,accordingtotheestablished
laws,toproducemortaltabernaclesfortheirspiritualchildren.[JD6:275,BrighamYoung,August
28,1852.]

Aspublished,BrighamYoungstatedthatGod[AdamSr.]created"mortal"tabernaclesforhis
spiritualchildren,buttheterm"mortal"isnotcompletelycorrectfordescribingthatstatein
whichAdamJr.andEveJr.(i.e.thespiritualchildren)foundthemselvesbeforetheirfall.
Hindsightwouldallowustouse"physicaltabernacles"asmoreappropriatewordingthan
"mortaltabernacles."ItisalsopossiblethatBrighamYoungwasdescribingtheentireprocessof
theirbirthfollowedincourseoftimebytheirfallascomprisingthe"establishedlaws"bywhich
theirtabernaclesweremade.Ineitherevent,BrighamYoungisspeakingofAdamSr.andEve
Sr.asresurrectedbeingscreatingphysicalbodiesforAdamJr.andEveJr.,andnotAdamand
Eveasfallenresurrectedbeings(fallenGodshavingreturnedtoastateofmortality)creating
themortaltabernaclesforCain,Abel,Sethetc.,ashasbeenclaimedbysomewhoadvocate
apostateinterpretationsoftheAdamGodtheory.InunderstandingBrighamYoung,itis
importantthatwenotacceptunreasonableinterpretationswhichhavehimcontradicting
scriptureaswellasotherstatementsmadebyhimself.

TheApril9,1852Discourse

Probablymorethananyother,thediscoursewhichhasgivenrisetothemostwidespreadand
incorrectinterpretationsofBrighamYoung'sviewsonAdamGodishisApril9,1852
discourse.IthassincebeencalledBrighamYoung'sAdamGodsermon.

Overtheyearsthisparticulardiscoursereceivedsufficientattentionthatitwarrantedaresponse
bytheFirstPresidencyoftheChurchwhichwaspublishedbyJamesR.ClarkinMessagesof
theFirstPresidency.Thisresponse,whichmaybeconsideredanofficialinterpretation,willbe
presentedfirst,inordertofacilitateaproperunderstandingofthereportofthediscourse,which
willthenbepresented.Writtenin1912toSamuelO.Bennion,thenpresidentofthe
IndependenceMissouriMission,thismessagestates:
SaltLakeCity,Utah

February20,1912

Prest.SamuelO.Bennion

Independence,

DearBrother:

YourquestionconcerningAdamhasnotbeenansweredbeforebecauseofpressure
ofimportantbusiness.Wenowrespondbriefly,but,wehope,plainly.Youspeakof
"theassertionmadebyBrighamYoungthatJesuswasbegottenoftheFatherinthe
fleshbyourfatherAdam,andthatAdamisthefatherofJesusChristandnotthe
HolyGhost,"andyousaythatEldersarechallengedbycertaincriticstoprovethis.

Ifyouwillcarefullyexaminethesermontowhichyourefer,intheJournalof
Discourses,Vol.1,youwilldiscoverthat,whilePresidentYoungdeniedthatJesus
was"begottenoftheHolyGhost,"hedidnotaffirm,insomanywords,that"Adam
isthefatherofJesusChristintheflesh."Hesaid,"Jesus,ourelderbrother,was
begotteninthefleshbythesamecharacterthatwasinthegardenofEdenandwho
isourFatherinHeaven.Whoisour"FatherinHeaven"?HereiswhatPresident
Youngsaidabouthim"OurFatherinheavenbegatallthespiritsthateverwereor
everwillbeuponthisearthandtheywerebornspiritsintheeternalworld.Then
theLordbyhispowerandwisdomorganizedthemortaltabernacleofman."Was
HeintheGardenofEden?SurelyHegavecommandmentstoAdamandEveHe
wastheirFatherinHeaventheyworshipedHimandtaughttheirchildrenafterthe
falltoworshipandobeyHiminthenameoftheSonwhowastocome.

ButPresidentYoungwentontoshowthatourfatherAdam,thatis,ourearthly
father,theprogenitoroftheraceofman,standsatourhead,being"Michaelthe
Archangel,theAncientofDays,"andthathewasnotfashionedfromearthlikean
adobe,but"begottenbyhisFatherinHeaven."AdamiscalledintheBible"theson
ofGod"(Luke3:38).ItwasourFatherinHeavenwhobegatthespiritofhimwho
was"theFirstborn"ofallthespiritsthatcometothisearth,andwhowas,alsohis
FatherbytheVirginMary,makinghim"theonlybegottenintheflesh."ReadLuke
1:2635.WhereisJesuscalled"theonlybegottenoftheHolyGhost?"Heisalways
singledoutas"theonlybegottenoftheFather."(John1:143:16,18,&c)TheHoly
GhostcameuponMary,andherconceptionwasunderthatinfluence,evenofthe
spiritoflifeourFatherinHeavenwastheFatheroftheSonofMary,towhomthe
Saviorprayed,asdidourearthlyfatherAdam.
 WhenPresidentYoungasked,"whoistheFather?"hewasspeakingofAdamas
thefatherofourearthlybodies,whoisatourhead,asrevealedinDoctrineand
Covenants,Section107,verses5356.Inthatsenseheisoneofthegodsreferredto
innumerousscriptures,andparticularlybyChrist(John10:3436).Heisthegreat
Patriarch,theAncientofDays,whowillstandinhisplaceas"aprinceoverus
forever,"andwithwhomweshall"havetodo,"aseachfamilywillhavetodowith
itshead,accordingtotheholypatriarchalorder.Ourfather,Adam,perfectedand
glorifiedasaGod,willbethebeingwhowillcarryoutthebehestsofthegreat
Elohiminrelationtohisposterity.(SeeDaniel7:914.)

While,asPaulputsit,"therebegodsmanyandLordsmany(whetherinheavenor
inearth),untousthereisbutoneGodtheFather,ofwhomareallthings,andone
LordJesusChristbywhomareallthings."TheChurchofJesusChristofLatter
daySaintsworshipsHim,andHimalone,whoistheFatherofJesusChrist,whom
Heworshiped,whomAdamworshiped,andwhoisGodtheEternalFatherofus
all.

Yourbrethren,

(signed)

JOSEPHF.SMITH,

ANTHONH.LUND,

CHARLESW.PENROSE,

FirstPresidency.

[JamesR.Clark,MessagesoftheFirstPresidency,4:266267]

InafundamentalistpublicationMichael,OurFatherandOurGod,JosephW.Musser
documentedaletterwrittenbyJosephfieldingSmithonApril9,1935.Eightythreeyearsafter
theoriginaldiscourse,andaspresidentoftheQuorumoftheTwelve,PresidentSmithsaid:

"DearBrother:

Ihavebeforemeyourletterofyesterdayinwhichyousaythatthequestionofthe
GodheadhascausedconsiderablediscussionamongsomeoftheEldersbecauseof
certainthingspublishedinearlydayspurportingtocomefromPresidentBrigham
Youngandothers.

Firstletmesay,thediscoursefromwhichyouquotepurportingtohavebeen
deliveredbyPresidentBrighamYoung,isonewhich,forsomereasoniswidely
circulatedandeverybodyseemstoknowaboutitandhaveplaceduponintheir
interpretationtotheeffectthatAdamisourgod,theonlyGodwithwhichwehave
todo,andthatheistheFatherofJesusChristbuttheydonotseemtoknowthat
PresidentBrighamYoungspokeperhapsathousandtimesinwhichhedeclaredthat
JesusChrististheSonofGodtheFatherwhocreatedAdam,andthatAdamisthe
Sonofgod.Theremarkablethingisthatthisonething,whichperhapsoughttobe
forgotten,isremembered,andallelse,whichshouldberemembered,isforgottenor
neverconsidered.IwillsayfranklythatIbelievePresidentBrighamYoungwasnot
properlyquotedinthisdiscourse.Hedidnotseeitbeforeitwaspublishedin
England.Ifirmlybelievethisfortheimplicationinthediscourseisforeigntoall
thatPresidentBrighamYoungtaught.ForproofofthisseeBrighamYoung's
discourses.

Now,itisafactthatAdamisourgodweareandwillbesubjecttohimhewill
presideoverallofhisposterityandwillbetheimmediatepersonageuntowhom
 theywilllookforcounselanddirection.Adamholdsthekeysofsalvationforthis
earth,undertheHolyOneofIsrael.TheHolyOneis,ofcourse,JesusChrist.See
D.&C.78:16.Adam,asMichael,willstandattheheadofhisposterity,justaseach
fatherwilloverhisimmediatefamily,butallunderthedirectionofJesusChrist.
WhatPresidentsYoungandKimballhadinmindwasthisverything.

IamenclosinganarticleOFFICIALwhichwill,Ibelieve,explainallofthis
apparentmysterytoyou.

SincerelyyourBrother,

(Sig.)JosephFieldingSmith."

[JosephW.Musser,Michael,OurFatherandOurGod,4thEdition1963,page5.]

IntheMusserbook,PresidentJosephFieldingSmithwasridiculedforexpressinghisbeliefthat
thediscoursewasnotproperlyrecorded.Aswillbeshownbelow,itcannowbedemonstrated
thatnotonlywasthetalknotproperlyrecorded,butthemajordiscrepancyinthetalkoccurs
justatthemostcriticaljunctureforcausingthepopularmisunderstanding.

BrighamYoung'sdiscoursewasdeliveredbeforeapproximately2500Eldersandbrethren
assembledinthenewadobetabernaclewhichwaslocatedatthesiteofthepresentAssembly
Hall.Itwasinaneveningpriesthoodsession,whichbeganat6:00p.m.,Friday,April9,1852,
onthefourthdayofgeneralconference.BishopEdwardHunterwasthefirstspeakerinthat
session,andhespokeabouthisconversiontotheChurch.HewasfollowedbyPresidentYoung,
whospokebrieflyonthevalueofpreachinggooddoctrineandpracticesfollowedbyashort
sermonontithing.Itwouldhavebeenabout7:30or8:00p.m.whenhebeganhissermonon
AdamGod.Thesermonisreproducedhereindoublecolumns.Theleftcolumnisfromthe
WilfordWoodruffJournal,asherecordeditlonghand,andtherightcolumnisfromtheJournal
ofDiscourses

ComparisonTable

WilfordWoodruff JournalofDiscourses1:5051
Journal4:129130
Iwillnowpreachto MynextsermonwillbetobothSaintandSinner.
youanothersermon
Thereisonegreat
masterandheadin
allkingdomsand
governments,So
withus.
Onethinghasremainedamysteryinthiskingdomuptothisday.Itisin
regardtothecharacterofthewellbelovedSonofGod,uponwhich
subjecttheEldersofIsraelhaveconflictingviews.
OurFatherin OurGodandFatherinHeavenisabeingofTabernacle,or,inother
Heavenisa words,hehasabody,withpartsthesameasyouandIhaveandis
tabernacle.He capableofshowingforthHisworkstoorganizedbeings,as,forinstance,
createdusinthe intheworldinwhichwelive,itistheresultoftheknowledgeand
likenessofhisown infinitewisdomthatdwellinHisorganizedbody.
image.
TheSonhasalsoa HissonJesusChristhasbecomeapersonageoftabernacle,andhasa
tabernaclelikethe bodylikehisfather.
Father&
theHolyGhost TheHolyGhostistheSpiritoftheLord,andissuesforthfromHimself,
andmayproperlybecalled
isaministertothe God'sministertoexecuteHiswillinimmensitybeingcalledtogovern
people byHisinfluenceandpower
butnotatabernacle. butHeisnotapersonoftabernacleasweare,andasourfatherin
HeavenandJesusChristare.Thequestionhasbeen,andisoftenasked,
WhobegattheSon whoitwasthatbegattheSonoftheVirginMary.Theinfidelworldhave
ofGod? concludedthatifwhattheApostleswroteabouthisfatherandmotherbe
true,andthepresentmarriagedisciplineacknowledgedbyChristendom
betrue,thenChristiansmustbelievethatGodisthefather
Infidelssaythat ofanillegitimateson,inthepersonofJesusChrist!Theinfidelfraternity
Jesuswasabastard teachthattotheirdisciples.
butletmetellyou Iwilltellyouhowitis.OurFatherinHeavenbegatallthespiritsthat
thetruthconcerning everwere,oreverwillbe,uponthisearthandtheywerebornspiritsin
thematter.Our theeternalworld.ThentheLordbyHispowerandwisdomorganizedthe
Fatherbegatallthe mortaltabernaclesofman.Weweremadefirstspiritual,andafterwise
spiritsthatwere temporal.Nowhearit,Oinhabitantsoftheearth,JewandGentile,Saint
beforeany andSinner!
tabernacleswere
made.
WhenourFather WhenourfatherAdamcameintothegardenofEden,hecameintoit
cameintothe withacelestialbody,andbroughtEve,oneofhiswiveswithhim.
gardenhecamewith
hiscelestialbody
&broughtoneofhis
wiveswithhim
andeatofthefruit
ofthegardenuntil
hecouldbegeta
tabernacle,
Hehelpedtomakeandorganizethisworld.He
andAdamis isMICHAEL,theArchangel,theANCIENTOFDAYS!Aboutwhom
Michael holymenhavewrittenandspokenHeisourFATHER
ourGodandallthe andourGOD,andtheonlyGodwithwhomwehavetodo.Everyman
godthatwehave upontheearth,professingChristiansornonprofessing,musthearit,and
anythingtodowith willknowitsoonerorlater.Theycamehere,organizedtherawmaterial,
andarrangedintheirordertheherbsofthefield,thetrees,theapple,the
peach,theplum,thepear,andeveryotherfruitthatisdesirableandgood
formantheseedwasbroughtfromanothersphere,andplantedinthis
earth.Thethistle,thethorn,thebrierandtheobnoxiousweeddidnot
appearuntilaftertheearthwascursed.
Theyeatofthisfruit WhenAdamandEvehadeatenoftheforbiddenfruit,theirbodies
&formedthefirst becamemortalfromitseffects,andthereforetheiroffspringwere
tabernaclethatwas mortal.
formed
andwhentheVirgin WhentheVirginMaryconceivedthechildJesus,theFatherhad
Marywasbegotten begottenhiminhisownlikeness.HewasnotbegottenbytheHoly
withchilditwasby Ghost.AndwhoistheFather?Heisthefirstofthehumanfamilyand
theFatherandinno whenhetookatabernacle,itwasbegottenbyhisFatherinheaven,
otherway
onlyaswewere afterthesamemannerasthetabernaclesofCain,Abel,andtherestof
begotten thesonsanddaughtersofAdamandEvefromthefruitsoftheearth,the
firstearthlytabernacleswereoriginatedbytheFather,andsoonin
succession.IcouldtellyoumuchmoreaboutthisbutwereItotellyou
thewholetruth,blasphemywouldbenothingtoit,intheestimationof
thesuperstitiousandoverrighteousofmankind.However,Ihavetold
 youthetruthasfarasIhavegone.Ihaveheardmenpreachuponthe
divinityofChrist,andexhaustallthewisdomtheypossessed.All
Scripturalists,andapprovedtheologianswhowereconsidered
exemplaryforpietyandeducation,haveundertakentoexpoundonthis
subject,ineveryageoftheChristianEraandaftertheyhave
Theworlddon't doneall,theyareobligedtoconcludebyexclaiming"greatisthe
knowthatJesus mysteryofgodliness,"andtellnothing.
Christ,ourelder
brother,was Itistruethattheearthwasorganizedbythreedistinctcharacters,
begottenbyour namely,Eloheim,Yahovah,andMichael,thesethreeformingaquorum,
FatherinHeaven. asinallheavenlybodies,andinorganizingelement,perfectly
representedintheDeity,asFather,Son,andHolyGhost.

Again,theywilltrytotellhowthedivinityofJesusisjoinedtohis
humanity,andexhaustalltheirmentalfaculties,andwindupwiththis
profound
[BenE.Rich,who language,asdescribingthesoulofman,"itisanimmaterialsubstance!"
wasnotpresent, Whatalearnedidea!Jesus,ourelderbrother,wasbegottenintheflesh
saidBrighamYoung bythesamecharacterthatwasinthegardenofEden,andwhoisour
saidhere:Jesus,our FatherinHeaven.
elderbrotherwas
begottenintheflesh
bythesame
character,who
talkedwithAdamin
theGardenofEden,
andwhoisour
FatherinHeaven]
Handleitasyou Now,letallwhomayhearthesedoctrines,pausebeforetheymakelight
please,itwilleither ofthem,ortreatthemwithindifference,fortheywillprovetheir
sealthesalvationor salvationordamnation.
damnationofman.
Ihavegivenyouafewleadingitemsuponthissubject,butagreatdeal
moreremainstobetold.Nowrememberfromthistimeforth,and
forever,thatJesusChristwasnotbegottenbytheHolyGhost.Iwill
repeatalittleanecdote.Iwasinconversationwithacertainlearned
professoruponthissubject,whenI
Whenyougoto replied,tothisidea"iftheSonwasbegottenbytheHolyGhost,it
preach&believe wouldbeverydangeroustobaptizeandconfirmfemales,andgivethe
thatJesusChrist HolyGhosttothem,lestheshouldbegetchildren,tobepalmeduponthe
wasbegottenbythe Eldersbythepeople,bringingtheEldersintogreatdifficulties."Treasure
HolyGhost,don't upthesethingsinyourhearts.
layhandsuponthe
headsoffemalesfor
thereceptionofthe
HolyGhostlestit
begetthemwith
childandyoube
accused.
Ihavetoldyou IntheBible,youhavereadthethingsIhavetoldyoutonightbutyou
nothinginthisthing havenotknownwhatyoudidread.Ihavetoldyounomorethanyouare
butwhatyouhave conversantwithbutwhatdothepeopleinChristendom,withtheBible
readintheBible,I intheirhands,knowaboutthissubject?Comparativelynothing.
donotframeit.

BrighamYoungthenconcludedhiscommentswithafewmoreremarksonthetopicoftithing.
Ascanbeseenbycomparingthetwoaccounts,WilfordWoodruffwasagoodreporter.He
capturedinbriefnearlyeverymajorconceptwhichBrighamYoungpresentedthroughoutthe
discourse.Hiscommentsareshortandsuccinct.BrighamYoung'sdrawnoutstatement"The
infidelworldhaveconcludedthatifwhattheApostleswroteabouthisfatherandmotherbe
true,andthepresentmarriagedisciplineacknowledgedbyChristendombecorrect,then
ChristiansmustbelievethatGodisthefatherofanillegitimatesoninthepersonofJesus
Christ!"becomessimply:"infidelssaythatJesuswasabastard."Whatismostinteresting,
however,aboutWilfordWoodruff'ssynopsisaccountisthatintwoplacesthesynopsiscontains
moreinformationthanexistsintheshorthand"verbatim"account.Thesehavebeenrepresented
abovebyleavingagapinthepublishedreportacrossfromtheadditionalinformationprovided
byWilfordWoodruff.Sinceitisimpossibleforasynopsistocontainmoreinformationthana
fullstenographicreport,thismeansthatthestenographicreportisincomplete.

ThefirstomissionoccursrightatthebeginningofBrighamYoung'ssermon:

"Thereisonegreatmasterandheadinallkingdomsandgovernments.Sowithus."

Thisappearstobeanintroductorystatementtoexplainthatheispreparingtotellussomething
aboutGod,whoisourgreatmasterandhead.Itisnotuncommonforimpromptuspeakersto
thrasharoundalittleatthebeginningofanewtopicbeforetheysettleinontheirtrainof
thought,norisituncommonforreporterstoomitinthetranscriptionoftheirreportsome
introductorythoughtswhichdonotblendreadilywiththediscoursetheyarereporting.This
maywellhavebeenthecasehere.

Thesecondomissionisofamorecriticalnature.BrighamYoungwasmakinganimportant
declarationtoallinhabitantsoftheearth:

Nowhearit,Oinhabitantsoftheearth,JewandGentile,SaintandSinner!WhenourfatherAdam
cameintothegardenofEden,hecameintoitwithacelestialbody,andbroughtEve,oneofhis
wiveswithhim.

Averyunconventionalstatementbyitself,andanythingbutayawner.Withourpresent
understanding,wemustpresumethatheisspeakingofGodtheFather(AdamSr.)andour
HeavenlyMother(EveSr.),butinthepublishedreportthenextsentencesdisallowthis
interpretation:

Hehelpedtomakeandorganizethisworld.HeisMICHAEL,theArchangel,theANCIENTOF
DAYS!Aboutwhomholymenhavewrittenandspoken

Butbetweenthesetwostatements,theWilfordWoodruffjournaldocumentsasignificant
bridge.AfterstatingthatourFather(i.e.AdamSr.)cameintothegardenwithacelestialbody
andbroughtEve(i.e.EveSr.),withhim,BrighamYoungmadeastatementtotheeffectthat
theythenpartookofthefruitofthegardenuntiltheycouldbegetatabernacle.Ifthesubsequent
twosentencesrefertothe"tabernacle"(i.e.AdamJr.)whowasbegotten,thencertainly

Hehelpedtomakeandorganizethisworld.HeisMICHAEL,theArchangel,theANCIENTOF
DAYS!AboutwhomholymenhavewrittenandspokenHeisourFATHERandourGOD,and
theonlyGodwithwhomwehavetodo.

Itisapparentthatthereportofthediscoursehasbeencorruptedrightatthiscriticaljuncture,
andwehaveneitheranaccuratenoracompleteaccountofwhatwassaid.Itisimportanttonote
thattheWilfordWoodruffaccountsuccessfullybrigdesthegapbetweentalkingaboutAdamSr.
andtalkingaboutAdamJr.,whichthepublishedaccountdoesnot.Thereisadditionalsupport
forthisbridgeinthejournalaccountofSamuelHollisterRogers,whowasalsopresentatthis
meeting.SamuelRogersrecordsthefollowing:

April16,1852.Conferencecommencedonthe6andcontinueduntilthe11,itwasheldinthenew
tabernacle,adjourneduntilthe7ofnextOctober.WehadthebestconferencethatIeverattended
duringthetimeoftheConferencePresidentBrighamYoungsaidthatourspiritswerebegotten
beforethatAdamcametotheEarth,andthatAdamhelpedtomaketheearth,thathehada
 Celestialbodywhenhecametotheearth,andthathebroughthiswifeoroneofhiswiveswith
him,andthatEvewasalsoaCelestialbeing,thattheyeatofthefruitofthegrounduntiltheybegat
childrenfromtheEarth,hesaidthatAdamwastheonlyGodthatwewouldhave,andthatChrist
wasnotbegottenbytheHolyGhost,butoftheFatherAdam,thatChristwasourElderbrother.The
argumentthatheusedtoshowthatChristwasnotbegottenbytheholyghostwasacautiontothe
EldersthatwhentheyshouldgotopreachtheGospel,tobecarefulhowtheylaidtheirhandson
thesisters,forthereceptionoftheholyghost,lesttheHolyGhostshouldgetthemwithchildand
thatitwouldbelaidtothem.

[SamuelHollisterRogersJournal(typescript),MSd1910CHDpage145]

NotethatElderRogersalsoincludesthesametransitionasdoesWilfordWoodruff,atthesame
pointinthediscourse.AfterAdamandEvecametotheearthwithcelestialbodies.

"thattheyeatofthefruitofthegrounduntiltheybegatchildrenfromtheEarth,"

ThisisimmediatelyfollowedbytheinformationthatAdamwastheonlyGodwithwhomwe
havetodo.Wethereforehaveasecondwitnessthatthediscourseasoriginallypublishedis
corruptedandcannotbereliedupontodeterminewhatBrighamYoungwasattemptingto
express.

Wordcountsofthetworeportscangiveusanapproximationofhowmuchmaterialwas
omitted.ThefollowingtablecomparestherelativesizesoftheJournalofDiscoursesaccount
andtheWilfordWoodruffaccount:

WilfordWoodruffJournal JournalofDiscourses
JDpar1 008words Paragraph1 010words
015words [Paragraph2] [missing]
JDpar3 077words Paragraph3 195words
JDpar4 021words Paragraph4 041words
JDpar5 014words [Paragraph5] [missing]
JDpar6 072words Paragraph6 190words
JDpar7 000words Paragraph7 044words
JDpar8 068words Paragraph8 099words
JDpar9 021words Paragraph9 060words
TOTAL 293words TOTAL 1061words

Subtracting015(thenumberofparagraph2words)and014(thenumberofparagraph5words)
oftheWilfordWoodruffaccountwhicharenotincludedintheJournalofDiscourses,wehave
1061wordsinJDreportedin264wordsbyWoodruff.Thisrepresentsapproximately3.6times
asmanywordsinJDasareinWW.Multiplyingparagraphs2and5oftheWilfordWoodruff
accountbackintotheequation,weseethateachparagraphcouldrepresentanomissionof
approximately50words.

Otherdifficulties

ThereareafewotherproblemsamongtheBrighamYoungmaterials,buttheyallrelatetoan
inaccuratereportingortransmissionofthetext.Asanotherexample,amongthemanuscript
papersofBrighamYoungisthereportofasermondeliveredbeforetheDeseretTheological
InstituteonApril25,1855relativetoAdamGod.Aninitialreadingofthisreportwouldlead
onetoconcludethatBrighamYoung'ssentimentsonthisoccasionwerenotcompletely
consistentwiththeinterpretationsgiveninthispaper.Acloserreading,however,revealssome
interestingaspectsofthisreport.First,thereportisunsigned,givingusnoindicationofwhoit
waswhoreportedthediscourse.Second,thediscoursedoesnotflowcoherently.Thereare
pointsinthediscoursewherethethoughtshiftsabruptly,withoutameaningfultransition,which
isatypicalofBrighamYoung'sdiscourses.Aftercarefulconsideration,Ibelievethereportto
havebeenmadebysomeoneinexperiencedinreportingdiscoursesofthisnature,whowasnot
abletokeepupwiththespeaker.Therearerecurrencesofparagraphswhichappeartotrailoff
intoaquicksummaryratherthanaquotation,followedbyajumpinthought.Itappearsas
thoughsomeonehurriedlyreportedasmuchastheywereable,butoftenfellbehindthespeaker,
andthenoccasionallyomittedaportionofthetalkinordertocatchup.Whatremainsdoesnot
representanaccurateportrayalofBrighamYoung'sfeelingsonthesubjectofAdamGod.

TheEugeneEnglandLetter

InOctoberof1982aletterwasmadepublicwhichhadbeenwrittenonFebruary19,1981by
BruceR.McConkieinresponsetosomequestionswhichhadbeenaskedhimbyEugene
England.InthisresponseBr.McConkietoldBrotherEnglandthatBrighamYounghad
apparentlytaughtthatAdam[Jr.]wasGod,butthathewassimplywrong.Whenthisletterwas
printedanddistributedbyanantiMormongroup,wewenttoBr.McConkieandtoldhimthat
wehadbeenteachingdifferentlythanhim,andwedidnotwanttobeteachinganythingthat
wasincorrect.WetoldBr.McConkiethatifwewerewrong,wewantedtoknow,andwewould
quitteachingit.AfterconsiderablediscussionBr.McConkietoldustokeepteachingwhatwe
hadbeenteaching,becauseitwashethatwaswrong.Hesaidifhehadknownofourviews,he
neverwouldhavesaidwhathedidinhislettertoEugeneEngland,andwehadhispermission
totellanyonewewantedthatBr.McConkiehadsaidhewaswronginsayingthatBrigham
YounghadtaughtthatAdamwasGod.

Whydidn'tBrighamYoungjustsayso?

Wereturnnowtothequestionraisedearlier:Ifitisthissimple,whydidn'tBrighamYoungjust
sayso?Aswaspointedoutpreviously,thereissomeindicationthathedidtrytomakethe
distinctionbetweenAdamSr.andAdamJr.,butthatdoesn'tsufficientlyanswerthequestion.
AfteryearsofworkingwithBrighamYoung'sdiscourses,ithasbecomeapparentthatBrigham
YoungavoidedthetopicofAdamGodunlesshewasproddedinthatdirection.Therewere
brethrenamongtheGeneralAuthoritiesofthechurchwhooccasionallytaughtwrongdoctrine
onthesubject,andBrighamYoungseldombroachedthetopicexceptinthoseinstanceswhen
therehadbeensomeincorrectinformationtaught,eitherindiscoursesorinwritingsbythe
Churchleaders.Onthoseoccasions,BrighamYounggenerallygotup,saidwhathehadtosay
inordertocorrectthefalseinformation,andtheneitherquitspeakingorswitchedtoanother
topic.Hedidnottrytomaketheconceptcrystalclear,nordidheeverattempttoestablishitasa
Churchdoctrine.

BrighamYoung'sconceptsofAdamandGoddonotappeartohavegonethroughagrowth,or
learningprocess.Insteadtheyemergefullblown,earlyinthe1850's,whichwouldindicatethat
hedidnotdeveloptheknowledgebyhimself,butwastaughtitbysomeoneelse,eitherdirectly
orthroughrevelation.HecreditsmuchofhisunderstandingaboutGodandMichaeletc.tothe
ProphetJosephSmith.

DidIeverseeamanwhocouldinstructmeinthesematters,untilIsawJosephSmith?Ineverdid.
AndafterIhadmadeaprofessionofreligion,Iwouldaskthemostpowerfulpreacherswhether
theyknewanythingaboutGodwhereHeislocated,whereHeavenis,andwhereHellis,whois
theFather,whoistheSon,andwhatthedistinctionisbetweenthem,whoisMichaelthe
archangel,whoisGabriel,andsoon.Couldtheytellathingaboutit?No:andIamawitnessthat
nomaninChristendomknewanythingaboutit,unlessitwasrevealedbytheSpirittohim.[JD
5:124]

AlthoughIcannotciteanythingtosupporttheidea,Icanthinkofnoreasonwhichbetter
explainstheexistinghistoricaldatathantosuggestthattheProphetJosephSmithtoldBrigham
Youngnottoteachtheconcepttothepeopleuntiltheywerereadytounderstandit.Itwould
appearthatoutofrespecttoJosephSmith,BrighamYoungnevertaughtthesacredprinciples
behindAdamGodintheirsimplicity,butonlytaughtwhathefelthemusttoinsurethatthe
Saintswerenotmisleadbyfalsedoctrinetaughtbyafewoftheirpriesthoodleaders.