Adam’s role and keys over the human family — Willard Richards Account (Between circa June 26 and circa August 4, 1839)
The Priesthood was, first given to Adam: he obtained the first Presidency & held the Keys of it, from generation to Generation; he obtained it in the creation before the world was formed as in Gen. 1, 26:28,— he had dominion given him over every living Creature. He is Michael, the Archangel, spoken of in the Scriptures, — Then to Noah who is Gabriel, he stands next in authority to Adam in the Priesthood; he was called of God to this office & was the Father of all living in his day, & To him was given the Dominion. These men held keys, first on earth, & then in Heaven. — The Priesthood is an everlasting principle & Existed with God from Eternity & will to Eternity, without beginning of days or end of years. The Keys have to be brought from heaven whenever the Gospel is sent. — When they are revealed from Heaven it is by Adams Authority.
Dan[iel] VII Speaks of the Ancient of days, he means the oldest man, our Father Adam, Michael; he will call his children together. & hold a council with them. to prepare them for the coming of the Son of Man. He, (Adam) is the Father of the human family & presides over the Spirits of all men, & all that have had the Keys must Stand before him in this grand Council. This may take place before some of us leave this stage of action, The Son of Man Stands before him & there is given him glory & dominion.— Adam delivers up his stewardship to Christ, that which was deliverd to him as holding the Keys of the Universe, but retains his standing as head of the human family. . . .
The father called all spirits before him at the creation of Man & organized them. He (Adam) is the head. & was told to multiply. The Keys were first given to him, & by him to others he will have to give an account of his Stewardship, & they to him. . . .
Christ is the Great High priest; Adam next. . . . I saw Adam in the valley of Ah-dam ondi-ahman— he called together his children & blessed them with a Patriarchal blessing. The Lord appeared in their midst. & he (Adam) blessed them all & foretold what should befall them to the latest generation— See D.C. Sec III 28. 291 par. . . . Paul spoke of the Dispensation of the fulness of times. when God would gather together all things in one &c &, Those men to whom these Keys have been given will have to be there (I.E. when Adam shall again assemble his children of the Priesthood, & christ be in their midst) the Ancient of Days come &c &c J. T.) . . .
Discourse, circa between 26 June and circa 4 August 1839-A, as reported by Willard Richards, pp. 63–66, The Joseph Smith Papers. There is also additional context about the Ancient of Days on pp. 67–68.
See also, “History of Joseph Smith,” Deseret News, 27 April 1854; Discourse, between circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839–A, as Reported by Unidentified Scribe, pp. 2–4, The Joseph Smith Papers; Discourse, between circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839–A, as Reported by William Clayton, pp. 11-18.
Adam’s role and keys over the human family — Unidentified Scribe Account (Between circa June 26 and circa August 4, 1839)
Priasthood.—
The priasthood was first given to Adam, he obtained the first presidency & held the keys of it from generation to generation. He obtained it in the creation, before the world was formed as in Gen c 1 v 26, 28 he had dominion given him over every living creature; he is Michael the Archangel spoken of in the scriptures— Then to Noah who is Gabriel he stands next in authority to Adam, in the preasthood, he was called of God to this office. & was the father of all living, in this day, & to him was given the dominion, These men held keys first on earth & then in heaven; The priesthood is an everlasting principle & existed with God from eternity & will to eternity, without begining of days or end of years; The keys have to be brought from heaven whenever the gospel is sent.— when they are revealed from heaven it is by adams authority.— Dan[ie]l. 7 speaks of the ancient of days he means the oldest man our Father Adam Michael, he will call his children, together & hold a council with them to prepare them for the coming of the son of man, he. (Adam) is the father of the human familey & presides over the spirits of all men. & all that have had the keys must stand before him in this grand council. This may take place before some of us leave this stage of action. The son of man stands before him, and there is given him glory & dominion— Adam delivers up his stewardship to Christ, that which was delivered to him as the keys of the universe but retains his standing as head of the human family. . . .The father called all spirits before him at the creation of man & organized them he (Adam) is the head & was told to multiply—
The keys were given to him. he will have to give an account of his stewardship & they to him . . . Christ is the great High Priest. Adam next. . . . I saw Adam in the valley of Adam Ondi Ahman, he called together his children & blessed, them, with a patriarchal blessing, The Lord appeared in their midst. he (Adam) blessed them all & foretold what should befall them to the latest generation. see DC. sec 3 P 28. 29.— . . . Those men to whoom these keys have been given will have to be there (I E When Adam shall again assemble his children of the preasthood & Christ be in their midst the ancient of days come &c &c J T) & they without us could not be made perfect.
Discourse, between circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839–A, as Reported by Unidentified Scribe, pp. 2–4, The Joseph Smith Papers. There is also additional context about the Ancient of Days on p. 4.
See also, “History of Joseph Smith,” Deseret News, 27 Apr. 1854; Discourse, circa between 26 June and circa 4 August 1839-A, as reported by Willard Richards, pp. 63–66, The Joseph Smith Papers; Discourse, between circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839–A, as Reported by William Clayton, pp. 11-18.
Adam’s role and keys over the human family — William Clayton Account (Between circa June 26 and circa August 4, 1839)
The priesthood was first given to Adam, he obtained the first presidency and held the keys of it from generation to generation; he obtained it in the creation before the world was formed as in Gen. 1— 26, 28, he had dominion given him over every living creature. He is Michael the Archangel spoken of in the scriptures. Then to Noah who is Gabriel, he stands next in authority to Adam in the priesthood. He was called of God to this office, and was the father of all living in his day and to him was given the dominion. These men held keys first on earth and then in heaven. The priesthood is an everlasting principle and existed with God from eternity, and will to eternity, without beginning of days or end of years. The keys have to be brought from heaven whenever the gospel is sent. When they are revealed from heaven it is by Adam’s authority. Daniel 7. speaks of the Ancient of Days, he means the oldest man our Father Adam, Michael. He will call his children together and hold a council with them to prepare them for the coming of the Son of man. He (Adam) is the father of the human family and presides over the spirits of all men, and all that have had the keys must stand before him in this great council. This may take place before some of us leave this stage of action. The Son of man stands before him and there is given him glory and dominion. Adam delivers up his stewardship to Christ, that which was delivered to him as holding the keys of the Universe, but retains his standing as head of the human family. . .
The Father called all spirits before him at the creation of man and organized them— he (Adam) is the head and was told to multiply. The keys were given to him;— he will have to give an account of his stewardship and they to him. . . . Christ is the great High Priest. Adam next. . . . I saw Adam in the valley of Adam-ondi-ahman, he called together his children and blessed them with a Patriarchal blessing. The Lord appeared in their midst and he (Adam) blessed them all and foretold what should befall them to the latest generation See D. C. Sec. 3— 28, 29. . . . Paul spoke of the dispensation of the fulness of times when God would gather together all things in one &c. Those men to whom these keys have been given will have to be there (I. E. when Adam shall again assemble his children of the priesthood and Christ be in their midst the ancient of days come &c &c. J. T.) . . .
Discourse, between circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839–A, as Reported by William Clayton, pp. 11-18, The Joseph Smith Papers. There is also additional context about the Ancient of Days on pp. 17-18, 21.
See also, “History of Joseph Smith,” Deseret News, 27 Apr. 1854; Discourse, circa between 26 June and circa 4 August 1839-A, as reported by Willard Richards, pp. 63–66, The Joseph Smith Papers; Discourse, between circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839–A, as Reported by Unidentified Scribe, pp. 2–4, The Joseph Smith Papers.
Every Man Holding Priesthood Keys over His Dispensation (e.g., Abel), Reports to Adam, Who Receives Authority from Christ — Robert B. Thompson (October 5, 1840)
We read in Gen 4th Chap. v. 4 That Abel brought of the firstlings of the flock and the fat thereof and the Lord had respect to Abel and to his offring. And again Heb 11 Chap 4 verse. By Faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent Sacrifice than Cain by which he obtained witness that he was righteous God testifying of his gifts and by it he being dead yet speaketh. how doth ye yet speak? Why he magnified the Priesthood which was confired upon him and died a righteous man, and therefore has become a righteous man an angel of God by receiving his body from the dead, therefore holding still the keys of his dispensation and was sent down from heaven unto Paul to minister consoling words & to commit unto him a knowledge of the mysteries of Godliness and if this was not the case I would ask how did Paul know so much about Abel and why should he talk about his speaking after he was dead. How that he spoke after he was dead must be, by being sent down out of heaven, to administer. This then is the nature of the priesthood, every man holding the presidency of his dispensation and one man holding the presidency of them all even Adam, and Adam receiving his presidency and authority from Christ, but cannot receive a fulness, untill Christ shall present, the kingdom to the Father which shall be at the end of the last dispensation.
Instruction on Priesthood, circa 5 October 1840, pp. 4-5, The Joseph Smith Papers.
Adam Received Commandments, Instructions, Revelations, Ordinances, and Authority from God — Robert B. Thompson (October 5, 1840)
In the begining God called Adam by his own voice See Genesis 3 Chap 9 & 10 verses. And the Lord called unto Adam and said unto him where art thou, and he said I heard thy voice in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked and hid myself. Adam received commandments and instruction from God. this was the order from the begining: that he received revelations, Commandments, and ordinances at the begining is beyond the power of controversy, else, how did they begin to to offer Sacrifices to God in an acceptable manner? And if they offered sacrifices they must be authorized by ordination.
Instruction on Priesthood, circa 5 October 1840, pp. 3-4, The Joseph Smith Papers.
Adam, Under the Direction of Christ, Reveals Ordinances in Each Dispensation — Robert B. Thompson (October 5, 1840)
And again, God purposed in himself that there should not be an eternal fulness until every dispensation should be fulfilled and gathered together in one and that all things whatsoever that should be gathered together in one in those dispensations unto the same fulness and eternal glory should be in Christ Jesus, therefore he set the ordinances to be the same for Ever and ever and set Adam to watch over them to reveal them from heaven to man or to send Angels to reveal them 8 Heb 1 Chap. 16 verse. Are they not all ministring spirits sent forth to minister to those who shall be heirs of Salvation. These angels are under the direction of Michael or Adam who acts under the direction of Christ.
From the above quotation we learn that Paul perfectly understood the purpose of God in relation to his connexion with man, and that glorious and perfect order which he established in himself whereby he sent forth power revelations and glory. God will not acknowledge that which he has not called, ordained, and chosen.
Instruction on Priesthood, circa 5 October 1840, pp. 2-3, The Joseph Smith Papers.
Adam First Father by Progeny & Also First to Hold Spiritual Blessings — Robert B. Thompson (October 5, 1840)
Commencing with Adam who was the first man who is spoken of in Daniel as being the “Antient of days” or in other words the first and oldest of all, the great grand progenitor of whom it is said in another place he is Michael because he was the first and father of all, not only by progeny, but he was the first to hold the spiritual blessings, to whom was made known the plan of ordinances for the Salvation of his posterity unto the end, and to whom Christ was first revealed, and through whom Christ has been revealed from heaven and will continue to be revealed from henceforth.
Instruction on Priesthood, circa 5 October 1840, p. 2, The Joseph Smith Papers.
Adam Holds Keys of the Dispensastion of the Fulness of Times — Robert B. Thompson (October 5, 1840)
Adam holds the Keys of the dispensation of the fulness of times, i.e. the dispensation of all the times have been and will be revealed through him from the begining to Christ and from Christ to the end of all the dispensations that have [been and] are to be revealed Ephesians 1st Chap 9 & 10 verses. “Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he has purposed in himself that in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ both which are in heaven and which are on earth in him” Now the purpose in himself in the winding up scene of the last dispensation is, that all things pertaining to that dispensation should be conducted precisely in accordance with the preceeding dispensations.
Instruction on Priesthood, circa 5 October 1840, p. 2, The Joseph Smith Papers.
Adam’s fall and our reconciliation with God (circa February 9, 1841)
Joseph said in answer to Mr. stout that adam Did Not Comit sin in eating the fruit, for God had Dec[r]eed that he should Eat & fall— But in compliance with the Decree he should Die— only he should Die was the saying of the Lord therefore the Lord apointed us to fall & also Redeemed us— for where sin abounded Grace did Much More abound— for Paul says Rom.— 5.10 for if— when were Enemys we were Reconciled to God by the Death of his Son, much more, being Reconciled, we shall be saved by his Life
Account of Meeting and Discourse, circa 9 February 1841, pp. 10-11, The Joseph Smith Papers.
Adam made in the image of God and counting the Lord’s time (circa March 9, 1841)
. . . also in asking have Referance to a personage Like Adam for God made Adam Just in his own Image . . .
Now as to Adam the Lord said in the day thou shalt Eat there of thou shalt shurely Die Now the Day the Lord has Refferance too is spoken of By [Peter] a thousand of our years is with the Lord as one Day &c at the time the Lord said this to adam there was No mode of Counting time By man, as man Now Counts time[.]
Account of Meeting and Discourse, circa 9 March 1841, pp. 14-15, The Joseph Smith Papers.
- Section 107 of the Doctrine and Covenants was previously numbered as Section 3 in the 1835 and 1844 editions of the Doctrine and Covenants. Doctrine and Covenants 3:28-29 in the 1835/1844 editions equates to Doctrine and Covenants 107:53-57 of the 2013 edition of the D&C, with only minor punctuation and spelling edits.
