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Adam–God doctrine
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Adam–God doctrine
The Adam–God doctrine (or Adam–God theory) was a theological idea taught in mid-19th century Mormonism by Brigham Young, a president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Although the doctrine is rejected by the LDS Church today, it is still an accepted part of the modern theology of some Mormon fundamentalists.
According to Young, he was taught by Joseph Smith that Adam is "our Father and our God, and the only God with whom we have to do."
According to the doctrine, Adam was once a mortal man who became resurrected and exalted. From another planet, he then came as Michael to form Earth. Adam then was given a physical body and a spouse, Eve, where they became mortal by eating the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. After bearing mortal children and establishing the human race, Adam and Eve returned to their heavenly thrones, where Adam serves as God and is the Heavenly Father of humankind. Later, Adam returned to the Earth to the ancient prophets and to become the literal biological father of Jesus.
During the 19th century and the early 20th century, the Adam–God doctrine was featured as part of the church's endowment ceremony. However, the notion was startling to many people when it was introduced and remained controversial, even within the Church. Many Latter Day Saints and some breakoff groups, the most notable being apostle Orson Pratt, rejected the doctrine in favor of more traditional understanding of Adam and Eve. Both he and other members, such as the Bunker family, would face the prospect of ecclesiastical punishment for their public opposition. Despite the objection of many, the doctrine persisted even after the administration of Brigham Young. His successor, John Taylor, privately affirmed his belief in the idea prior to his death in 1887. It wasn’t until about 1905 that the Adam-God doctrine was fully removed from the endowment ceremony. By this time, the doctrine fell out of favor within the LDS Church and was replaced by a theology more similar to Orson Pratt's, as expounded by turn-of-the century Latter Day Saint theologians James E. Talmage, B. H. Roberts, and John A. Widtsoe. In 1976, church president Spencer W. Kimball stated the LDS Church does not support the doctrine. Most Latter Day Saints accept Adam as "the Ancient of Days," "father of all," and Michael the Archangel but do not recognize him as being God the Father.
In contrast, many Mormon Fundamentalists have retained this doctrine as a chief principle of their faith. Several Fundamentalist authors, such as Ogden Kraut and Joseph W. Musser have written books on the subject highlighting the prominent role of Adam continues to play.[citation needed]
It is debated whether or not Brigham Young did actually teach this theory as doctrine. There are some instances where it was written that he taught it during a sermon, but it could have been the result of misinterpretations or clerical errors. In Wilford Woodruff’s May 14, 1876 journal entry he recorded Brigham teaching “Adam was Michael the archangel, and was the father of Jesus Christ in the flesh.”[citation needed]
Though Joseph Smith, the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, never used the term "Adam–God" in any of his recorded public statements, he provided several teachings from which the doctrine's adherents draw support. For example, Smith taught in an 1839 sermon that Adam was actually the archangel Michael, who held the First Presidency in the premortal life. In the same sermon, Smith taught that Adam holds "the keys of the universe," and so it is through his authority that all priesthood "keys," the abilities to unlock particular priesthood powers, are revealed from heaven. In 1840, Smith taught that Adam is the one "through whom Christ has been revealed from heaven, and will continue to be revealed from henceforth." Finally, Smith taught in his 1844 King Follett discourse that God was once a man "like one of us."
Young and other adherents of the doctrine claim that Smith was its originator and that Smith privately taught it to them before his death, in 1844. However, the prevailing academic view is that the doctrine taught by Young and others was an elaboration of Smith's vague references to Adam's unique role in Latter Day Saint doctrine. Although Young is generally credited with originating the doctrine, the original source may also have been Young's counselor in the First Presidency, Heber C. Kimball.
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Adam–God doctrine
The Adam–God doctrine (or Adam–God theory) was a theological idea taught in mid-19th century Mormonism by Brigham Young, a president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Although the doctrine is rejected by the LDS Church today, it is still an accepted part of the modern theology of some Mormon fundamentalists.
According to Young, he was taught by Joseph Smith that Adam is "our Father and our God, and the only God with whom we have to do."
According to the doctrine, Adam was once a mortal man who became resurrected and exalted. From another planet, he then came as Michael to form Earth. Adam then was given a physical body and a spouse, Eve, where they became mortal by eating the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. After bearing mortal children and establishing the human race, Adam and Eve returned to their heavenly thrones, where Adam serves as God and is the Heavenly Father of humankind. Later, Adam returned to the Earth to the ancient prophets and to become the literal biological father of Jesus.
During the 19th century and the early 20th century, the Adam–God doctrine was featured as part of the church's endowment ceremony. However, the notion was startling to many people when it was introduced and remained controversial, even within the Church. Many Latter Day Saints and some breakoff groups, the most notable being apostle Orson Pratt, rejected the doctrine in favor of more traditional understanding of Adam and Eve. Both he and other members, such as the Bunker family, would face the prospect of ecclesiastical punishment for their public opposition. Despite the objection of many, the doctrine persisted even after the administration of Brigham Young. His successor, John Taylor, privately affirmed his belief in the idea prior to his death in 1887. It wasn’t until about 1905 that the Adam-God doctrine was fully removed from the endowment ceremony. By this time, the doctrine fell out of favor within the LDS Church and was replaced by a theology more similar to Orson Pratt's, as expounded by turn-of-the century Latter Day Saint theologians James E. Talmage, B. H. Roberts, and John A. Widtsoe. In 1976, church president Spencer W. Kimball stated the LDS Church does not support the doctrine. Most Latter Day Saints accept Adam as "the Ancient of Days," "father of all," and Michael the Archangel but do not recognize him as being God the Father.
In contrast, many Mormon Fundamentalists have retained this doctrine as a chief principle of their faith. Several Fundamentalist authors, such as Ogden Kraut and Joseph W. Musser have written books on the subject highlighting the prominent role of Adam continues to play.[citation needed]
It is debated whether or not Brigham Young did actually teach this theory as doctrine. There are some instances where it was written that he taught it during a sermon, but it could have been the result of misinterpretations or clerical errors. In Wilford Woodruff’s May 14, 1876 journal entry he recorded Brigham teaching “Adam was Michael the archangel, and was the father of Jesus Christ in the flesh.”[citation needed]
Though Joseph Smith, the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, never used the term "Adam–God" in any of his recorded public statements, he provided several teachings from which the doctrine's adherents draw support. For example, Smith taught in an 1839 sermon that Adam was actually the archangel Michael, who held the First Presidency in the premortal life. In the same sermon, Smith taught that Adam holds "the keys of the universe," and so it is through his authority that all priesthood "keys," the abilities to unlock particular priesthood powers, are revealed from heaven. In 1840, Smith taught that Adam is the one "through whom Christ has been revealed from heaven, and will continue to be revealed from henceforth." Finally, Smith taught in his 1844 King Follett discourse that God was once a man "like one of us."
Young and other adherents of the doctrine claim that Smith was its originator and that Smith privately taught it to them before his death, in 1844. However, the prevailing academic view is that the doctrine taught by Young and others was an elaboration of Smith's vague references to Adam's unique role in Latter Day Saint doctrine. Although Young is generally credited with originating the doctrine, the original source may also have been Young's counselor in the First Presidency, Heber C. Kimball.
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