ADAM (Teachings of Joseph Smith)

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.

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.
The Words of Joseph Smith, p. 64.

1. 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.