ADAM-GOD THEORY

The Adam-God theory is based primarily on Brigham Young's repeated teaching that Adam is God, Heavenly Father. Despite the objections of other leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at that time, Brigham insisted on teaching the doctrine although he never fully explained it and said that most would misunderstand his teachings in the matter.

On the latter point he was apparently correct. Many scholars, Latter-day Saint and others, apologists and non-Latter-day Saint critics have sought, to no avail, to understand Young's precise meanings. Some think that he meant that Adam was an eternal God-like being and the father of the human race (and thus a god, and a literal Son of Eloheim), who chose to partake of the forbidden fruit, thus causing his Fall and Mortality. In a comparison to that teaching, Christ was an eternal being (although he could also die), and also a Son of God (the only in the flesh), who chose to give back immortality to all men, and making eternal life possible for those who accept Him. This coincides with Paul's teachings in the New Testament about the "two Adams."

According to Mormon theology, Christ is the only begotten Son of God "in the flesh." Adam could have also been a Son of God, but by his transgression became the "first flesh," thus placing responsibility on Adam, not God, for mortality. Regardless, the mystery of Young's teachings in regard to exactly what he meant in the few statements he made on the subject apparently died with him and his close associates.

The Adam-God theory has never been officially recognized by the Church or the members at large, and speculation regarding the teachings were denounced as false doctrine by LDS Church President, Spencer W. Kimball.

See also: Controversies regarding Mormonism

External link

• A critical view of the theory
• First Presidency Letter regarding the supposed theory
• Apoligetic response
• Articles about how Latter-day Saints view Adam

Resources

• Journal of Discourses http://journals.mormonfundamentalism.org/ (public domain)
• "Orgin of Man: the Doctrinal Framework," by Robert J. Matthews.