Mormon Fundamentalism

Brigham Young gave over 30 sermons on Adam, in a period of 25 years. As he never gave all of the details of what he believed in one single sermon, this is an attempt to compile all of his unique teachings into one text, as if he were explaining it from begging to end.

President Brigham Young, 1852-1877

from the Journal of Discourses & Manuscript Addresses

Now, let all who may hear these doctrines, pause before they make light of them, or treat them with indifference, for they will prove their salvation or damnation.¹ It² will be a curse to many of the elders of Israel because of their folly with regard to it.”³

Adam’s birth

When you tell me that father Adam was made as we make adobes from the earth, you tell me what I deem an idle tale. When you tell me that the beasts of the field were produced in that manner, you are speaking idle words devoid of meaning. There is no such thing in all the eternities where the Gods dwell.⁴

Did the Lord put into him his spirit? Yes, as the Lord put into you your spirit, he was begotten of a father, and brought forth as you and I were;⁵ He was made just the same way you and I are made, but on another earth. … He had lived on an earth similar to ours.⁶

Though we have it in history that our father Adam was made of the dust of this earth, and that he knew nothing about his God previous to being made here, yet it is not so; … Adam was made from the dust of an earth, but not from the dust of this earth.”⁷ He was made of the dust of the earth where he lived, where he honored his calling.⁸…

Heavenly Father of Spirits

In the Celestial Kingdom Adam and Eve¹⁴ were crowned with glory, immortality and eternal lives, with thrones, principalities and powers: and it was said to him, ‘It is your right to organize the elements; and to your creations and posterity there shall be no end, but you shall add kingdom to kingdom, and throne to throne; and still behold the vast eternity of unorganized matter.’”¹⁵

Some have grumbled because I believe our God to be so near to us as Father Adam. There are many who know that doctrine to be true.¹⁶

Adam is the Father of our spirits … and the spirits of all the human family were begotten by Adam and born of Eve [in the celestial world¹⁷]. … I tell you, when you see your Father in the Heavens, you will see Adam; when you see your Mother that bore your spirit, you will see Mother Eve.¹⁸ Father Adam’s oldest son (Jesus the Saviour) who is the heir of the family, is father Adam’s first begotten in the spirit world, who according to the flesh is the only begotten as it is written.¹⁹

Organizing the World

We say that Father Adam came here and helped to make the earth. Who is he? He is Michael, a great prince, and it was said to him by Eloheim, ‘Go ye and make an earth.’²⁰ Elohim, Yahovah and Michael were Father, Son and Grandson.²¹ They made this Earth and Michael became Adam.²² He was the first man on the earth, and its framer and maker. He, with the help of his brethren, brought it into existence.²³

Adam and Eve²⁴ came here, organized the raw material, and arranged in their order the herbs of the field, the trees, the apple, the peach, the plum, the pear, and every other fruit that is desirable and good for man; the seed was brought from another sphere, and planted in this earth.²⁵

Then Adam²⁶ said, “I want my children who are in the spirit world to come and live here. I once dwelt upon an earth something like this, in a mortal state. I was faithful, I received my crown and exaltation. I have the privilege of extending my work, and to its increase there will be no end. I want my children that were born to me in the spirit world to come here and take tabernacles of flesh, that their spirits may have a house, a tabernacle or a dwelling place as mine has,” and where is the mystery?²⁷

Eating the Fruits

Adam and Eve when they were placed on this earth were immortal beings with flesh, bones, sinews.²⁸ As soon as the devil was on earth he sowed the seeds of death in everything so as soon as they began to eat of the fruit of the earth they received into their system the seeds of mortality and of death so their children were mortal & subject to death, sorrow, pain and wo.²⁹

Upon partaking of the fruits of the earth while in the garden and cultivating the ground their bodies became changed from immortal to mortal beings with the blood coursing through their veins as the action of life.³⁰ Adam … agreed to fall when he came here, and he fell that man might be.³¹ I do not blame Mother Eve, I would not have had her miss eating the forbidden fruit for anything in the world.³²

We are the Children of Adam and Eve

Adam³³ commenced the work of creating earthly tabernacles, precisely as He had been created in this flesh himself, by partaking of the course material that was organized and composed this earth, until His system was charged with it, consequently the tabernacles of His children were organized from the coarse materials of this earth.³⁴

Do you not all know that you are the sons and daughters of the Almighty? If you do not I will inform you this morning that there is not a man or woman on the earth that is not a son or daughter of Adam and Eve. We all belong to the races which have sprung from father Adam and mother Eve; and every son and daughter of Adam and Eve is a son and daughter of that God we serve.³⁵ We are his children, literally, spiritually, naturally, and in every respect.”³⁶

Adam was as conversant with his Father who placed him upon this earth as we are conversant with our earthly parents. The Father frequently came to visit his son Adam, and talked and walked with him; and the children of Adam were more or less acquainted with their Grandfather, and their children were more or less acquainted with their Great-Grandfather.” ³⁷

Jesus, the Son of Adam

When the time came that His first-born, the Saviour, should come into the world and take a tabernacle the Father came Himself and favoured that spirit with a tabernacle instead of letting any other man do it. The Saviour was begotten by the Father of His spirit, by the same Being who is the Father of our spirits, and that is all the organic difference between Jesus Christ and you and me.”³⁸

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 … 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.³⁹ Adam was … the Father of Jesus Christ.⁴⁰

Whence Cometh This Doctrine?

[Yet] 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.⁴¹ I tell you this about my belief about that personage who is called the Ancient of Days … I did not understand so until my mind became so enlightened with the Spirit and by the revelations of God.⁴² What I know concerning God, … I have received from the heavens, not alone through my natural ability.⁴³

I could not find any man on earth who could tell me this, although it is one of the most simplest things in the world, until I met and talked with Joseph Smith.⁴⁴ It was Joseph’s doctrine that Adam was God … Joseph could not reveal what was revealed to him.⁴⁵

These things of which I have been speaking are what are termed the mysteries of godliness but they will enable you to understand the expression of Jesus, made while in Jerusalem, “This is life eternal that they might know thee, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.”⁴⁶

Whether you receive these things or not, I tell you them in simplicity. I lay them before you like a child, because they are perfectly simple. If you see and understand these things, it will be by the Spirit of God; you will receive them by no other spirit. No matter whether they are told to you like the thunderings of the Almighty or by simple conversation; if you enjoy the Spirit of the Lord, it will tell you whether they are right or not. I am acquainted with my Father. I am as confident that I understand in part, see in part, and know and am acquainted with Him in part, as I am that I was acquainted with my earthly father … I know my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ whom He has sent, and this is eternal life.⁴⁷

Footnotes