Posted on 07/13/2010 11:54:36 AM PDT by T Minus Four
Early Mormon theology about the divine origin and destiny of Adam may have been an affront to contemporary Protestants, who revered such ambiguities as hallowed mysteries, but such candid new doctrine — like Adam's spirit existing before coming to earth — eventually encouraged Latter-day Saints to view Adam's roll as both a literal and figurative one.
The story of Adam and his and Eve's famed transgression have long been an important narrative for most of the world's largest religions — Judaism, Islam and Christianity.
The account had influenced art, and therefore society, long before Michelangelo painted Adam and Eve on Sistine's ceiling. Eve's traditionally perceived role as a sinful temptress has been wielded by men to sustain anti-feminist traditions and ritually justify the creation of purely sociological male hierarchies throughout much of religious and political history.
Indeed, the story is an old one — the oldest, in fact. And, just like the fate of most ancient stories, it has gradually slipped further into a sort of legendary status with each new generation who hears it. The next generation is always more scientific and practical than the last.
Although Catholics have forever maintained a strong literal interpretation of Adam and Eve, many have doubted the couple's story as a literal one, and by the 19th century it had become a progressive and popular notion to reduce the two figures to a fable graded morality lesson.
In fact by 1909, a few decades after Darwinism had shaken hairline cracks into the faith of may Christian Old Testament literalists, the New York Times headlined news that "figurative belief in the story of the Garden of Eden now satisfies Presbytery." After shedding tears of concern, ministers of the large New York church gathered and eventually voted to accept a group of freshman clergy, whom, during an interview, said Adam and Eve's story is only figurative. One of the candidates, a recent seminary graduate, also reportedly admitted to the elder clergy that he had trouble believing the literal "flesh" resurrection of Christ, too.
While the Adam and Eve story had been crumbling from history to poetry status in the hearts of much of the world for centuries, Joseph Smith came along and shocked everyone. He didn't necessarily surprise anyone by declaring its literalism; many had stated the same before. But Joseph did more, much more. He verified the story's place in our timeline by essentially revealing Adam's back story — in great detail.
What Latter-day Saint could be confused that Adam was possibly written in the bible as a theatrical analogy, a composite person, made up to explain or represent an era of human evolution, if he is also Michael the archangel? Such specificity was unknown to contemporary Christianity.
But — enter paradox! — it's through this literal understanding of Adam and Eve that early Mormons were finally able to view our original parents as clearer figurative figures, too, according to Jacob Rennaker, a Hebrew Bible student at Claremont Graduate University.
Rennaker had fellow colleague Blair Hodges read his scholarly paper at the annual Mormon Scholars Foundation Summer Seminar, hosted by the Neal A. Maxwell Institute at BYU, last week while he attended an archeological dig in Israel.
Nine other Latter-day Saint collegians from all over the United States also presented subjects on early Mormon theology, primarily from the years between 1830 to 1850.
Adam was "viewed figuratively in very unique ways that ultimately served as a means for early Mormons to understand the nature of God and the human," Rennaker said.
Rennaker focused on several specific theological teachings that brought Mormons closer to not only understanding the epic events in the Garden, but understanding themselves and their destiny.
First, Joseph taught Adam's spirit existed long before he was given a body in the Garden of Eden.
"Joseph Smith's literal interpretation of Genesis 2:7 ('God made man & put into it Adam's spirit') required an antecedent for Adam's physical existence," Rennaker said.
Suddenly, mortality wasn't the beginning anymore. Latter-day Saints could start thinking in more eternal terms, knowing their spirits existed long before residing in their mortal "tabernacle of clay."
Second, Adam was identified with specificity, as Michael, a heroic Old Testament figure who was traditionally known to go before and command God's army. Besides his patriarchal role in presiding over mortal men, Revelations makes it clear in Chapter 12 that Michael (Adam), during the "war in heaven … fought against the dragon (Lucifer)."
"As such, Adam became a hero even before his earthly sojourn," Rennaker said.
Latter-day Saints learned of their valiant past, as they were told they fought alongside Adam while the devil "prevailed not."
Third, "Adam was seen as being so significant in that pre-mortal realm, in fact, that he was described by Joseph Smith as holding a position of priesthood authority prior to his mortal existence on earth," Rennaker said.
It was also taught Adam assisted in creating the world, and thus he used priesthood power.
This correlates with Joseph Smith's translation of the Book of Mormon. It teaches premortal men were foreordained for priesthood powers/positions.
Fourth, "Adam was seen by early Mormons as having spoken a very particular language," Rennaker said, which "served to further legitimize Adam as a historical figure who was familiar with a particular theological outlook concerning the nature of God and humanity."
Fifth, the physical creation of Adam was interpreted in a hyper-literal sense.
"Genesis 1:26 records God as saying, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness,'" Rennaker said. "A literal reading of this passage resulted in a radical anthropomorphism. Joseph Smith was reported as saying, 'God himself … is a man like unto one of yourselves … If you were to see him today you (would) see him a man for Adam was a man like in fashion & image like unto him.'"
Although Joseph's interpretation of the Godhead gave Latter-day Saints a clearer, more intimate view of God, it rocked both Catholic and Protestant contemporary Christians who were traditional Trinitarians.
It was all of these particular teachings, and a few more, that led Rennaker to suggest Mormons could better be figurists because they were taught to be such stalwart literalists.
"This trend of extreme scriptural literalism and historical expansion was paradoxically augmented in early Mormonism by figurative interpretations of Adam," Rennaker said. "… This extreme literalism allowed early Mormons (to experience) figurative views of Adam in a way that went beyond the figurative readings of Adam among other Christians."
e-mail: jhancock@desnews.com
Adam is “god”
In 1856 the Mormons published a hymnal which contained a hymn entitled, “We Believe In Our God.” This hymn plainly taught that Adam was the father of Christ:
We believe in our God the great Prince of His race,
The Archangel Michael, the Ancient of Days,
Our own Father Adam, earth’s Lord, as is plain,
Who’ll counsel and fight for his children again.
We believe in His Son, Jesus Christ, who, in love
To his brethren and sisters, came down from above
To die to redeem them from death, and to teach
To mortals and spirits the Gospel we preach.
(Sacred Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Liverpool, 1856, p. 375, as quoted in “The Position of Adam in Latter-day Saint Scripture and Theology,” p. 16.)
Under the date of June 23, 1889, Abraham Cannon recorded that George Q. Cannon taught that “Jesus Christ is Jehovah” and “Adam is His Father and our God” (vol. 11, p. 39).
The information given above certainly shows that Brigham Young did teach that Jesus was the son of Adam, and it was not just “Enemies of the Church, or stupid people” who believed that he taught this doctrine. The most devastating evidence, however, comes from the “Journal of L. John Nuttall,” who was “a special secretary to President Young.”
On Wednesday, February 7, 1877, L. John Nuttall recorded in his journal that Brigham Young taught that Jesus was the son of Adam:
Wed 7... Prest Young was filled with the spirit of God & revelation & said, ... This is life eternal that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent... Adam was an immortal being when he came on this earth ... and had begotten all the spirit that was to come to this earth and Eve our common Mother who is the mother of all living bore those spirits in the celestial world....
Father Adam’s oldest son (Jesus the Savior) who is the heir of the family is Father Adams first begotten in the spirit World, who according to the flesh is the only begotten as it is written. (In his divinity he having gone back into the spirit world, and come in the spirit to Mary and she conceived ...(” Journal of L. John Nuttall,” vol. 1, pp. 18-21, taken from a typed copy at Brigham Young University).
When the Mormon church was accused of teaching that “Adam is God ... and that Jesus is his son,” the Mormon historian B. H. Roberts replied: “As a matter of fact, the ‘Mormon’ Church does not teach that doctrine. A few men in the ‘Mormon’ Church have held such views: and several of them quite prominent in the councils of the Church, ... Brigham Young and others may have taught that doctrine ...” (Deseret News, July 23, 1921).
Brigham Young’s Adam-God doctrine has brought much confusion into the Mormon church. Wilford Woodruff, the fourth president of the church, once stated:
Cease troubling yourselves about who God is; who Adam is, who Christ is, who Jehovah is. For heaven’s sake, let these things alone ... God is God. Christ is Christ. The Holy Ghost is the Holy Ghost. That should be enough for you and me to know ... I say this because we are troubled every little while with inquiries from Elders anxious to know who God is, who Christ is, and who Adam is. I say to the Elders of Israel, stop this (Millennial Star, vol. 57, pp. 355-56).
In all fairness to the Mormon leaders it should be stated that they no longer teach the Adam-God doctrine, even though some members of the church still believe it. Anyone who is caught teaching this doctrine is liable to be excommunicated. This, however, shows the inconsistency of the Mormon church, for they say that Brigham Young was a prophet, and at the same time they will excommunicate a person for believing in his teachings.
Apostle John A. Widtsoe said that “In Joseph Smith’s philosophy of existence Adam and Eve were raised to a foremost place among the children of men, second only to the Savior. Their act was to be acclaimed. They were the greatest figures of the ages. The so-called ‘fall’ became a necessary, honorable act in carrying out the plan of the Almighty” (Joseph Smith—Seeker After Truth, p. 160).
Joseph Fielding Smith also said that “the fall of man came as a blessing in disguise, ... I never speak of the part Eve took in this fall as a sin, nor do I accuse Adam of a sin.... it is not always a sin to transgress a law” (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 1, pp. 114-15).
Sterling W. Sill, a member of the First Quorum of Seventy, made the same point in colorful language:
This old sectarian doctrine, built around the idea of man’s natural depravity and weakness inherited from Adam, is at the root of innumerable problems among us. Adam was one of the greatest men who has ever lived upon the earth....
Under Christ Adam yet stands at our head.... Adam fell, but he fell in the right direction. He fell toward the goal....
Adam fell, but he fell upward. Jesus says to us, “Come up higher” (Deseret News, Church Section, July 31, 1965, p. 7).
Amen
I have never heard this “Adam is god” stuff before. It just rolls on and on, doesn’t it.
1. The plain meaning of the Greek in verse 29 is that some people are being baptized on behalf of those who have died—and if there is no resurrection, why are they doing this?
2. Either Paul is referring to a pagan custom (notice he uses they, not "we"), or to a superstitious and unscriptural practice in the Corinthian church of vicarious baptism for believers who died before being baptized.
3. Either way, he certainly does not approve of the practice; he merely says that if there is no resurrection, why would the custom take place?
The Mormon practice of baptism for the dead is neither scriptural or sensible. Baptism for the dead is a practice that was common in the pagan religions of Greece and is still practiced today by some cults; but it doesn't change a person's eternal destiny, for that is determined while he lives (Luke 16:26).
Read more here.
Oh, well that’s much better...
Nice repeat of your trollish lines that you stutter on...over and over and over again...Got anything fresh out of that keyboard of yours?
You are correct to say the Mormon church loves the dead....Christ said "Let the dead bury the dead"...
Further.... In reference to IPeter4:6....The reason referred to is expressed in the latter part of the verse (so that) not in the proceeding verse.
"...was preached even to those who are now dead."... This preaching was a PAST event. The word "now" does not occur in the Greek, but it is necessary to make it clear that the preaching was done NOT after the people died, but while they were still alive..... Heb 9:27 "Just as man is destined to die once, and after that FACE JUDGEMENT"...
There is no "apparently people can be saved after death" as you stated..it is affirmed... There will be NO opportunity for people to be saved after death. again Heb 9:27
Additionally it was the Corinthian church who continued to infiltrate pagan rites into the Christian church...just as was done in Rome during the dark ages...Baptizing the dead was a pagan practice done before pagan Gods. The Corinthian church had many problems which Paul continually had to address as they were "worldly" and "infants" in the things of the Lord. Baptizing the dead is a Pagan practice which was rooted out of the early church for obvious reasons....it was NEVER part of the Gospel and never shall be. It is a sacrilegious satanic occult practice...and straight out of the pits of hell.
As for John 3:5 The context of this was discussion of fleshly birth and spiritual birth.....not water baptism. Before a child is born the mothers "water breaks" before the child is delivered ("born of the flesh")...
Christians do not at all ignore the dead. They honor and mourn them in burial... and move on in the Life Christ has given them trusting those who are in Christ are safely home.
I see you as a Mormon align yourself and Mormonism to the Christian church.....sorry bub...LDS is not Christian no matter how you cut it and the Christ they serve is an impostor of the highest rank.
I’m sorry, I think you are correct Is it the Mormons that believe Jesus in the brother of Lucifer? If not, do you know who they say Jesus is?
Um ... that's not what my copy of the Book of Genesis says. Easy to "reinterpret" the Bible if you first corrupt the text you are interperting.
And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
[Genesis ii:7] Emphasis added to the word that refutes Joseph Smith.
While never less than God, at the appointed time He laid aside the glory He shared with the Father (John 17:4, 5; Philippians 2:6-11) and was made flesh for our salvation;
His incarnation was accomplished through being conceived supernaturally by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin (Matthew 1:18-23; Luke 1:34-35).
***********************************
By contrast, the Mormon Church teaches that Jesus Christ is our elder brother who progressed to godhood, having first been procreated as a spirit child by Heavenly Father and a heavenly mother; He was later conceived physically through intercourse between Heavenly Father and the virgin Mary (D&C 93:21; Journal of Discourses, 1:50-51; Gospel Principles, p. 11-13; Achieving a Celestial Marriage, p. 129; Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, pp. 546-547; 742; Ezra Taft Benson, Come unto Christ, p. 4; Robert L. Millet, The Mormon Faith: Understanding Restored Christianity, p. 31).
Mormon doctrine affirms that Jesus, all angels, Lucifer, all demons, and all human beings are originally spirit brothers and sisters (Abraham 3:22-27; Moses 4:1-2; Gospel Principles, pp. 17-18; Mormon Doctrine, p. 192).
The 8th LDS article of faith reads:
We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
Yes, God created everyone and everything, spiritually first. So Jesus and Satan (and us) are spiritual brethren.
If not, do you know who they say Jesus is?
Christ is the 'Begotten' of God. God was Christs physical father.
I am not a member of a cult. Please stop saying that. You may say in your opinion “so and so” but that doesn’t make it true. Here is what my Church believes which is not what you apparently think we believe:
The Articles of Faith
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.
We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.
Joseph Smith
Oh, good grief. Don’t you ever tire of quoting from non LDS scripture? The Journal of Discourses is not LDS Scripture, and you know it. Why do you continue doing this? It is tedious and silly in my opinion.
Here is what we Mormons believe:
The Articles of Faith
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.
We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.
Joseph Smith
“If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.”
I am still waiting for one of you to say one good thing about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Hey kind of off the subject but on Glenn Beck’s radio show today he played audio clips of Charles Stanley’s explanation of socialism. I couldn’t figure out on my own what kind of sinister motive he may have had in doing so but I knew you would probably know. Can you enlighten me please? :-)
I am a Mormon. Jesus Christ is my Savior; He suffered and died to save me from my sins. This is Heavenly Father’s Plan of Salvation. The Holy Ghost is my Witness.
Please stop this horrible practice of trashing my Church and my faith. No decent God-fearing Christian would spend so much valuable time in such a destructive pursuit.
Jesus is the Lord. This is what I believe.
“Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost”
1 Corinthians 12:3
Furthermore, I know that there is a lot of money to be made off of anti Mormon writings, publications, tapes, books, CD’s, DVD’s, classes, talks and speaking engagements. So the more anti Mormon junk you post on this site, the more money can be made.
Calling me a cult member may sell books but you may be unwittingly (or wittingly) promoting an agenda that is not spiritually constructive.
First off, mind reading...
Second, The JODs "may not" "officially" be considered scripture, but the quotes sure give some valuable insight as to the mindset your prophets and apostles were in. It also demonstrates what they were thinking and how that thinking was applied in acting as a prophet for the LdS.
I find it next to impossible to believe that they're thinking and saying those things and it did not affect their behavior and subsequent teachings to the church as a whole.
I told you a week or two ago that y'alls temples are very pretty. But I must add, the design of most of the stake houses in Northern Utah are examples of all that was hideous about 60's architecture.
Ignoring the truth about mormonism"...may sell books but you may be unwittingly (or wittingly) promoting an agenda that is not spiritually constructive."
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