THE TRUTH ABOUT ADAM-GOD
by Larry Hall
"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created
he him; male and female created he them."(Genesis 1:27)

Speaking the truth is not always a good feeling! And hearing biblical truth is often perceived as brutal and unloving to those who have been following the path of deception and darkness. I often feel uncomfortable as I discuss doctrine with them. Like most people, I don't like to make enemies. The person's salvation, however, is more important to me than my personal comfort.

Whether the person is a cultist or not, he may never meet Jesus unless I have the courage to confess Him. However, as I expose the darkness and proclaim the Gospel, I run the risk of making enemies of the very people I want to become saved! I believe that risk is one that any worthy bondservant of Christ should be willing to take!

The subject of this newsletter concerns a topic of embarrassment that most Mormons do not want to discuss, and they become very defensive about it. When I ask a Mormon to share with me his views of Brigham Young's "Adam-God" doctrine, I am usually either met with a snicker or a frown. The response to my inquiry is usually along this line, "We don't believe that! The Adam-God theory by Brigham Young has been taken out of context and is used by enemies of the church to make it appear that Mormons worship Adam as their only god."

This opinion of the Adam-God doctrine by present-day Mormons is a simple parroting of the late Mormon Apostle Bruce R. McConkie. In his book Mormon Doctrine, he states, "Cultists and other enemies of the restored truth, for their own peculiar purposes, sometimes try to make it appear that Latter-day Saints worship Adam as their Father in heaven. In support of their false accusations, they quote such statements as that of President Brigham Young to the effect that Adam is our father and our god and the only god with whom we have to do." ¹

Over the past 20 years, I have discovered that most Mormons (including many missionaries) do not know the real doctrines of the Mormon church. This does not surprise me, because many Christians do not know Christian doctrines either! Many people will accept, without question or verification, the first proposal that hits their front door.

Many others have itching ears and will gladly attach themselves to any doctrine that makes them feel good. This self-gratifying theology was prophesied by the Apostle Paul in his letter to Timothy, "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

It is quite understandable why modern Mormons will do anything in their power to support their second president. Brigham Young, after all, professed to be God's mouthpiece as "Prophet, Seer and Revelator." He presided over the church for 30 years, longer than any other man.

During his lifetime, Young professed total infallibility in his inspiration from God and his ability to teach Scripture, "What man or woman on the earth, what spirit in the spirit-world can say truthfully that I ever gave a wrong word of counsel, or a word of advice that could not be sanctioned by the heavens." ² "It is my duty to see that correct doctrine is taught and to guard the Church from error, it is my calling." ³

But is it possible that the Journal entries were made in error? Not hardly! Young explains, "I say now, when they [the discourses] are copied and approved by me they are as good Scripture as is couched in this Bible, and if you want to read revelation read the sayings of him who knows the mind of God." ⁴

On the basis of these statements, Mormons find themselves in a very tight spot! They regard themselves as "the only true church." ⁵ They claim exclusive authority to act on behalf of God, ⁶ and they view all other churches as being in a state of apostasy. ⁷

Consider this for a moment: If Brigham Young was a false prophet all along, then the claims of those who have derived their priesthood authority from him are empty and void. That premise alone destroys Mormonism's claim of latter-day restoration, and the church is not divinely led! Many Mormon authorities agree. Apostle Orson Pratt stated, "To acknowledge that this is the Kingdom of God, and that there is a presiding power, and to admit that he [Brigham Young] can advance incorrect doctrine is to lay the axe at the foot of the tree." ⁸

John Taylor, 3rd Mormon President adds, "If that mouthpiece [Brigham Young] has not the power to dictate I would throw all Mormonism away." ⁹

For once, I agree with a Mormon President! Let's examine the evidence!

Adam-God First Proclaimed...

What exactly is the Adam-God doctrine, and why has it become such an embarrassment to the Mormon Church? Is it possible that the doctrine, as explained by President Brigham Young, was really taken out of context? Are the accusations false? Was Bruce McConkie right, or was Adam really Brigham's concept of Father God? Is Adam really Michael the Archangel? Is Adam really the "Ancient of Days"?

In response to the protests by Mormon authorities that we have misinterpreted poor misguided Brigham, it is necessary that we examine the facts. Let's start at the beginning and look at the historical record.

In spite of a heavy storm, the Salt Lake City LDS Tabernacle was filled to capacity on April 9, 1852. Brigham Young stepped to the lectern to address the waiting crowd. He would use this opportunity at the Spring LDS Conference to silence all opposing views concerning a hot topic of the day: Who begat Jesus Christ in the flesh?

He repeated the fundamental Mormon doctrine that the Father and the Son both have bodies of flesh and bones. He then added that the Father, in a preexistent spirit world, begat every spirit that would come to this earth. Brigham's next statement was destined to cause him grief for the rest of his life:

"Now hear it, O inhabitants of the earth, Jew and Gentile, Saint and sinner! When our father Adam came into the garden of Eden, he came into it with a celestial body, and brought Eve, one of his wives, with him. He helped to make and organize this world. He is MICHAEL, the Archangel, the ANCIENT OF DAYS! about whom holy men have written and spoken - HE is our FATHER and our GOD, and the only God with whom WE have to do. Every man upon the earth, professing Christians or non-professing, must hear it, and will know it sooner or later.

"When the Virgin Mary conceived the child Jesus, the Father had begotten him in his own likeness. He was not begotten by the Holy Ghost. And who is the Father? He is the first of the human family;

Brigham Young continued, "I could tell you much more about this; but were I to tell you the whole truth, blasphemy would be nothing to it, in the estimation of the superstitious and over-righteous of mankind.

"What a learned idea! Jesus, our elder brother, was begotten in the flesh by the same character that was in the garden of Eden, and who is our Father in Heaven. Now, let all who hear these doctrines, pause before they make light of them, or treat them with indifference, for they will prove their salvation or damnation." ¹⁰

How Was Brigham Understood?

Historical documents, recorded from the very evening of Young's sermon, show clearly the interpretation of his message. Mormon pioneer Hosea Stout recorded in his daily journal, "Friday 9th April 1852. - Stormy morning. Attended conference House much crowded, did not stay in House long. After noon was not in because of the crowd. - Another meeting this evening. President B. Young taught that Adam was the father of Jesus Christ and the only God to us. That he came to this world in a resurected body &c more hereafter." ¹¹ [original typographical mistakes not edited]

Samuel Rogers, who was also present at the conference wrote, "April 16 1852, Conference commenced on the 6 and continued untill the 11, it was heled in the new tabernicle, adjourned untill the 6 of next October We had the best conference that I ever attended during the time of the conference President Brigham Young said that our spirits ware begotten before that Adam came to the Earth, and that Adam helped to make the Earth, that he had a Celestial boddy when he came to the Earth, and that he brought his wife or one of his wives with him, and that Eave was allso a Celestial being, that they eat of the fruit of the ground untill they begat children from the Earth, he said that Adam was the only God that we would have, and that Christ was not begotten of the Holy Ghost, but of the Father Adam ."¹² [original typographical mistakes not edited]

Mormons Were Quick to Deny

It is painfully obvious that any person who teaches such a distorted, unbiblical view of God can only be a false teacher! Brigham's statements have so embarrassed the LDS Church that many Mormon authorities have had no alternative but to deny that they were ever made.

Mormon authority Mark E. Peterson started the ball rolling with, "Some dissidents would have us believe that Adam is our God and that we have nothing to do with any other God, which, on the face of it, is ridiculous. To say that Adam is God is, of course, opposed utterly and completely to the scriptures as well as to our articles of faith, " ¹³

Spencer W. Kimball, 12th Mormon President, would later offer the same advise, "We warn you against the dissemination of doctrines which are not according to the scriptures and which are alleged to have been taught by some of the General Authorities .Such, for instance is the Adam-God theory. We denounce that theory and hope that everyone will be cautioned against this and other kinds of false doctrine." ¹⁴

Other Mormon authorities have maintained that Brigham was simply misinterpreted. But that possibility would only exist if Young had never mentioned the Adam-God doctrine again and if he had cleared up any misunderstandings at that time.

Brigham Young, however, was a very proud and stubborn man. He professed his blasphemous Adam-God nonsense for 25 years, even to the point of alienating Apostle Orson Pratt, who stated, "In regard to Adam being our Father and God...I frankly say, I have no confidence in it." ¹⁵

According to one investigator, "It is true that the original discourse of April 9, 1852, could be taken in more than one way; and if he had never mentioned the subject again his actual meaning would be a moot point. However, he did mention the subject again, many times. Therefore the likelihood of misunderstanding him, in view of his subsequent statements through the years, becomes more remote." ¹⁶

Brigham Young Made Himself Perfectly Clear!

Two years after his first ridiculous statements, Young cleared up any misunderstandings concerning his "revelation." On February 19, 1854, he spoke about Jesus Christ once again:

"Who did beget him? His Father, and his father is our God, and the Father of our spirits, and he is the framer of the body, and God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Who is he? He is Father Adam; Michael; the Ancient of Days. Has he a Father? He has. Has he a mother? He has. Now to say that the Son of God was begotten by the Holy Ghost, is to say that the Holy Ghost is God the Father, which is inconsistent, and contrary to all the revelations of God both modern, and ancient. I silenced this erroneous doctrine a year ago last fall conference. It was I think when a dispute arose among some of our best Elders, as to who was the Father of the Son of Man pertaining to the flesh. Some contended it was the H Ghost, and some that it was Elohim. When I spoke upon it in this stand before a conference of Elders, I cautioned them when they lay their hands upon the people for the gift of the H Ghost, according to the instructions of the Savior, to be very careful how they laid hands upon young women for if it begat a child in the days of the virgin Mary it is just as liable to beget children in these last days." ¹⁷

Notice that Brigham Young stated that Adam is the "Father of our spirits." According to Chris Vlachos, author of Adam is God???, "One of Mormonism's fundamental doctrines is the belief that God the Father was married and that he and his celestial wife in a pre-existent period had begotten every spirit that would come to this earth. These spirits then enter into individual infants who are born physically upon the earth. By referring to Adam as the Father of our spirits, Brigham was clearly identifying him as the being whom Mormons address as 'Heavenly Father.'" ¹⁸

Historical documents show that Brigham Young was not the originator of these strange ideas! He got them from Joseph Smith! According to Brigham Young in Journal History, "Is there in the heaven of heavens a leader? Yes, and we cannot do without one and that being the case, whoever his is may be called God. Joseph said that Adam was our Father and God." ¹⁹

In the Wilford Woodruff Journal, dated December 16, 1867, Brigham further stated, "Adam is Michael the Archangel and he is the Father of Jesus Christ and is our God and Joseph taught this principle." ²⁰

In his address to the twelve Apostles concerning Adam's Place in the Order of the Worthies (July 2, 1839), Joseph Smith recorded, "Daniel in his seventh chapter speaks of the Ancient of Days, he means the oldest man, our Father Adam, Michael, and he will call his children together and hold a council with them to prepare them for the coming of the Son of Man." ²¹

It is apparent that both Smith and Young had very unique and distorted views when they applied the term "Ancient of Days" to Adam. Theologians through the centuries have been very consistent in identifying the "Ancient of Days" to Almighty God!

Brigham Young professed his nonsense for 25 years. In spite of the serious unbelief and intense opposition to his doctrines within his own ranks, Brigham never altered his stand. He never apologized, changed his mind, or claimed to be misquoted or misinterpreted. He claimed that this doctrine was not of his own personal opinion, but rather the Word of God.

On June 8, 1873, more than 21 years following his first discourse, Brigham asserted his revelation in very strong terms, "How much unbelief exists in the minds of the Latter-day Saints in regard to one particular doctrine which I revealed to them, and which God revealed to me - namely that Adam is our Father and God...Oh fools, and slow of heart to believe the great things that God has purposed in his own mind...Adam came here and got it up in a shape that would suit him to commence business. What is the great mystery about it? None, that I have seen." ²²

Finally...the Confession!

Before you read the next quote, go back to the first portion of this article and read again the words of Mormon Apostle Bruce McConkie from his entry in his book Mormon Doctrine. He refers to the false accusations used by "cultists and other enemies of the restored truth."

I just read again a copy of a letter written by Bruce McConkie to Mr. Eugene England dated February 19, 1981. On page 6, emblazoned with the bold print "DO NOT REPRODUCE," McConkie states,

"Yes, President Young did teach that Adam was the father of our spirits, and all the related things that the cultists ascribe to him. This, however, is not true. He expressed views that are out of harmony with the gospel. But, be it known, that Brigham Young also taught accurately and correctly, the status and position of Adam in the eternal scheme of things. What I am saying is, that Brigham Young, contradicted Brigham Young, and the issue becomes one of which Brigham Young we will believe."

On page 7, McConkie continues, "I do not know all of the providences of the Lord, but I do know that he permits false doctrine to be taught in and out of church...If we believe false doctrine, we will be condemned. If that belief is on basic and fundamental things, it will lead us astray and we will lose our souls. This clearly means that people who teach false doctrine in the fundamental and basic things will lose their souls. The nature and kind of being that God is, is one of these fundamentals. I repeat: Brigham Young erred in some of his statements on the nature and kind of being that God is and to the position of Adam in the plan of salvation,...if we choose to believe and teach the false portions of his doctrines we are making an election that will damn us." ²³

Come, Come, Ye Saints

The double-dealing, double-talking, deceptive history of your false prophets and authorities should send up a red flag! Come out from among them and be ye separate. You no longer need to fear them...Christ will see you through!

"When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD,
if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing
which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken
it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him."
(Deuteronomy 18:22)

References:
(1) Bruce McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 1979, p. 18
(2) Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 12, p. 127
(3) Chris A. Vlachos, Adam is God???, 1979, p. 4 (from 'Misc. Minutes,' unpublished ms., B. Y. Collection, Church Archives)
(4) Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 13, p. 264
(5) Doctrine and Covenants 1:30
(6) Chris A. Vlachos, Adam is God???, p. 3 (from The Seer, Pratt, Washington ed., p. 255)
(7) Joseph Smith, Pearl of Great Price, 2:19
(8) Chris A. Vlachos, Adam is God???, p. 3 (from 'Misc. Minutes', unpublished ms., B. Y. Collection, Church Archives, Salt Lake City, p. 1)
(9) Ibid., pp. 6-7
(10) Ibid., Vol. 1, pp. 50-51
(11) Chris A. Vlachos, Adam is God???, p. 6 (from Diary of Hosea Stout, copied from typed transcript, B.Y.U Library, Special Collections, Provo, Utah)
(12) Ibid. (from the Journal of Samuel H. Rogers, Vol. 1, p. 179, B.Y.U. Library, Special Collections, Provo, Utah)
(13) Ibid. (from Adam Who is He?, Peterson, Deseret Book, 1976, p. 14)
(14) Ibid. (from Deseret News, October 9, 1976, Church News Section, p. 11)
(15) Ibid., p. 19 (from the B. Y. Collection, Miscellaneous Papers, Church Historian's Office)
(16) Ibid., p. 9 (from The Position of Adam, Rodney Turner, p. 36)
(17) Ibid., pp. 9-10 (from Brigham Young Papers, February 19, 1854, call number Ms. F219 #81, Church Historian's Office, Salt Lake City)
(18) Ibid., p. 10 (referring to Mormon Doctrine, McConkie, pp. 516-517)
(19) Walter Martin, The Maze of Mormonism, 1983, p. 88 (from Journal History, Brigham Young, May 14, 1876, Church Archives)
(20) Ibid. (from Wilford Woodruff Journal, Brigham Young, December 16, 1867, Church Archives)
(21) History of the Church, Vol. 3, p. 386
(22) Chris A. Vlachos, Adam is God???, p. 22 (from Dereret News, June 18, 1873)
(23) Jerry Benson tract, L.D.S. Apostle Bruce R. McConkie Confesses (Challenge Ministries, El Cajon, Calif.)

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