Mormon History
Adam is God and the Mormon Priesthood - 1839
Address By Joseph Smith
On the Priesthood-the Second Advent-the Gathering-Spiritual Ministrations and Manifestations
Journal of Discourses, Volume 6, pages 237-240.
(Typical Mormon blasphemes that is evidence of its non-Christian cult status)
Synopsis of an Address delivered by President Joseph Smith, in Commerce, Illinois, Tuesday, June 2, 1839.
The Priesthood was first given to Adam. (Correction: The priesthood was first given to Aaron and his sons. Exodus 29:9) 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 Genesis 1:20, 26, 28. (Correction: Adam and Eve were created after everything else had been created on the sixth day. Genesis 1:26-31) He had dominion given him over every living creature. He is Michael the Archangel (Correction: Michael is an angel not a man. Jude 1:9), spoken of in the Scriptures. Then to Noah, who is Gabriel (Correction: Gabriel is an angel not a man. Luke 1:26): he stands next in authority to Adam in the Priesthood. (Correction: John the Baptist was the greatest born before Jesus Christ. Matthew 11:11) 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. (Correction: Adam is not mentioned in the book of Revelation.)
The Priesthood is an everlasting principle, and existed with God from eternity (Correction: The Priesthood was created for Aaron at the time of the Exodus. Ephesians 3:9), and will to eternity, without beginning of days or end of years. (Correction: The priesthood was done away with by Jesus Christ who became our spiritual High Priest. Hebrews chapter 7) The keys have to be brought from heaven, whenever the Gospel is sent. (Correction: The Holy Spirit is not a set of keys. Acts 4:8-12) When they are revealed from heaven, it is by Adam's authority. (Correction: Jesus Christ has all authority. Matthew 28:18) Daniel vii. speaks of the Ancient of Days. He means the oldest man-our Father Adam (Michael). (Correction: Adam is not God since God created Adam. Mark 10:6) He will call his children together and hold a council with them to prepare them for the coming of the Son of Man. (Correction: God does not need to be counseled. Romans 11:34) He (Adam) is the Father of the human family, and presides over the spirits of all men; (Correction: Adam and all humans will have to stand before God. Revelation 20:12) and 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 and dominion. (Correction: Adam the sinner has a Savior in Jesus Christ. 1 John 4:14) 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. (Correction: Adam the sinner has no special standing before God. Romans 3:23)
The spirit of man is not a created being: it existed from eternity, and will exist to eternity. (Correction: The spirit of man is created at the conception of the body. Zechariah 12:1) Anything created cannot be eternal; and earth, water, &c, had their existence in an elementary state from eternity. (Correction: After creation eternity begins. Genesis 9:6) Our Saviour speaks of children and says, "Their angels always stand before my Father." 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 first given to him, and by him to others. He will have to give an account of his stewardship, and they to him. (Correction: Christians will give an account of their stewardship to Jesus Christ not Adam the sinner. 1 Corinthians 15:22-23)
The Priesthood is everlasting. (Correction: The priesthood was changed into Jesus Christ being a Christian’s High Priest forever. Hebrews 7:12) The Saviour, Moses, and Elias gave the keys to Peter, James, and John, on the mount, when they were transfigured before him. (Correction: The focus of the transfiguration was Jesus Christ not an priesthood. Matthew 17:5) The Priesthood is everlasting-without beginning of days or end of years-without father, mother, &c. (Correction: The High Priesthood of Jesus Christ is forever for Christians. Hebrews 7:24-27) If there is no change of ordinances, there is no change of Priesthood. (Correction: The priesthood was changed into Jesus Christ being a Christian’s High Priest forever. Hebrews 7:12) Wherever the ordinances of the Gospel are administered, there is the Priesthood. (Correction: Wherever the gospel is preached, the Holy Spirit is present. Romans 15:18-19)
How have we come at the Priesthood in the last days? It came down, down, in regular succession. Peter, James, and John had it given to them, and they gave it to others. Christ is the Great High Priest; Adam next. Paul speaks of the Church coming to innumerable company of angels; to God, the Judge of all-the spirits of just men made perfect; to Jesus, the Mediator of the new covenant, &c. (Hebrews 12:23.) (Correction: The priesthood has been done away with by Jesus Christ and the New Covenant. Hebrews chapter 8)
I saw Adam in the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman. (Note: Mormons believe that the Garden of Eden was in Missouri.) 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. (Correction: Adam the sinner did not bless Jesus Christ. Hebrews 7:7) (See Doc. and Cov., sec. iii., pars. 28, 29.)
This is why Abraham blessed his posterity-he wanted to bring them into the presence of God. (Correction: Jesus Christ brings Christians into the presence of God. Hebrews 9:24) "They looked for a city," &c. Moses sought to bring the children of Israel into the presence of God, through the power of the Priesthood, but he could not. In the first ages of the world they tried to establish the same thing; and there were Eliases raised up who tried to restore these very glories, but did not obtain them: but they prophesied of a day when this glory would be revealed. Paul spoke of the dispensation of the fulness of times, when God would gather together all things in one, &c.; and those men to whom these keys have been given will have to be there; and they without us cannot be made perfect. (Correction: At judgment day, God the Father will have all things subject to Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:7-12)
These men are in heaven, but their children are on earth. Their bowels yearn over us. God sends down men for this reason. (Matthew 13:41.) "And the Son of Man shall send forth his angels, &c." All these authoritative characters will come down and join hand in hand in bringing about this work. (Correction: At judgment day, Jesus Christ will purge His Kingdom of evil people and cast them into the lake of fire. Matthew 13:37-43; Revelation 20:15)
The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed. The mustard seed is small, but brings forth a large tree, and the fowls lodge in the branches. The fowls are the angels. (Correction: Birds are types of evil in the parables that will be in Christendom until judgment day. (Matthew 13:4; 13:30) Thus angels come down, combine together to gather their children, and gather them. We cannot be made perfect without them, nor they without us. When these things are done, the Son of Man will descend-the Ancient of Days sit; we may come to an innumerable company of angels-have communion with and receive instruction from them. Paul told about Moses' proceedings-spoke of the children of Israel being baptized, &c. He knew this, and that all the ordinances and blessings were in the Church. Paul had these things, and we may have the fowl of heaven lodge in the branches, &c. (Note: Paul had nothing to say about a priesthood.)
The horn made war with the Saints and overcame them, &c., until the Ancient of Days came; judgment was given to the Saints of the Most High from the Ancient of Days; the time came that the Saints possess the kingdom. This not only makes us ministers here, but in eternity.
Salvation cannot come without revelation: (Correction: Prophecies will cease. 1 Corinthians 13:8) it is in vain for any one to minister without it. No man is a minister of Jesus Christ without being a prophet. (Correction: Prophets ceased after the revelation of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 1:1) No man can be the minister of Jesus Christ, except he has the testimony of Jesus, and this is th`e spirit of prophecy. (Correction: Wherever the gospel is preached, the Holy Spirit is present. Acts 1:8) Whenever salvation has been administered, it has been by testimony. Men of the present time testify of heaven and of hell, and have never seen either; and I will say that no man knows these things without this. (Correction: Christians will testify of Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:23)
Men profess to prophesy. (Mormons need to renounce Joseph Smith the false prophet. Matthew 7:15) I will prophesy that the signs of the coming of the Son of Man are already commenced. One pestilence will desolate after another. We shall soon have war and bloodshed. The moon will be turned into blood. I testify of these things, and that the coming of the Son of Man is nigh, even at your doors. If our souls and our bodies are not looking forth for the coming of the Son of Man, and after we are dead, if we are not looking forth, &c., we shall be among those who are calling for the rocks to fall upon us, &c. (Mormons need to renounce Joseph Smith the false prophet. Matthew 24:11)
The hearts of the children of men will have to be turned to their fathers, and the fathers to the children, living or dead, to prepare them for the coming of the Son of Man. If Elijah did not come, the whole earth would be smitten. (Mormons need to renounce Joseph Smith the false prophet. 1 John 4:1)
There will be here and there a Stake for the gathering of the Saints. Some may have cried peace, but the Saints and the world will have little peace from henceforth. Let this not hinder us from going to the Stakes; for God has told us to flee, not dallying, or we shall be scattered, one here, and another there. There your children shall be blessed, and you in the midst of friends, where you may be blessed. The Gospel net gathers of every kind. (Mormons need to flee from the abominations of Joseph Smith. Matthew 24:15-16)
I prophesy that the man who tarries after he has an opportunity of going will be afflicted by the Devil. Wars are at hand: we must not delay, but are not required to sacrifice. We ought to have the building up of Zion as our greatest object. When wars come, we shall have to flee to Zion. The cry is to make haste. The last revelation says, "Ye shall not have time to have" gone over the earth, until these things come. It will come as did the cholera, war, fires, and earthquakes, one pestilence after another, &c., until the Ancient of Days come; then judgment will be given to the Saints. (Mormons need to renounce Joseph Smith the false prophet. 2 Peter 2:1)
Whatever you may hear about me or Kirtland, take no notice of it; (Note: Joseph Smith was guilty of bank fraud in Kirtland, Ohio.) for if it be a place of refuge, the Devil will use his greatest efforts to trap the Saints. You must make yourselves acquainted with those men who, like Daniel, pray three times a day to the house of the Lord. Look to the Presidency and receive instructions. Every man who is afraid, covetous, &c., will be taken in a snare. The time is soon coming when no man will have any peace but in Zion and her Stakes. (Note: Joseph Smith was soon destroyed as Paul declared. 1 Thessalonians 5:3)
I saw men hunting the lives of their own sons, and brother murdering brother, women killing their own daughters, and daughters seeking the lives of their mothers. I saw armies arrayed against armies; I saw blood, desolation, fires, &c. The Son of Man has said that the mother shall be against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother, &c. These things are at our doors. They will follow the Saints of God from city to city. (Note: The wrath of God was manifested against Joseph Smith. Romans 1:18) Satan will rage, and the spirit of the Devil is now enraged. (Correction: The wrath of God was manifested against Joseph Smith. Ephesians 5:6) I know not how soon these things will take place; and with a view of them, shall I cry peace? No. I will lift up my voice and testify of them. How long you will have good crops, and the famine will be kept off, I do not know. When the fig-tree leaves, know then that summer is nigh at hand.
We may look for angels and receive their ministrations, but we are to try the spirits and prove them, for it is often the case that men make a mistake in regard to these things. God has so ordained that, when he has communicated, no vision is to be taken but what you see by the seeing of the eye, or what you hear by the hearing of the ear. When you see a vision, pray for the interpretation. (Correction: Prayer will not be needed for interpretation. Christians will know. Matthew 24:32-33) If you get not this, shut it up. There must be certainty in this matter. An open vision will manifest that which is more important. Lying spirits are going forth in the earth. There will be great manifestations of spirit, both false and true. Being born again comes by the Spirit of God, through ordinances. (Correction: Being born again does not come by set ordinances. John 3:5-8) An angel of God never has wings. Some will say that they have seen a spirit,-that he offered them his hand, but they did not touch it. This is a lie. First, it is contrary to the plan of God. A spirit cannot come but in glory. An angel has flesh and bones: we see not their glory. (Correction: Angels are spirits. Psalm 104:4) The Devil may appear as an angel of light. Ask God to reveal it. If it be of the Devil, he will flee from you; if of God, he will manifest himself, or make it manifest. We may come to Jesus and ask him: he will know all about it. If he comes to a little child, he will adapt himself to the language and capacity of a little child.
Every spirit, or vision, or singing is not of God. The Devil is an orator. (Note: Many have followed the destructive oratory of Joseph Smith. 2 Peter 2:2) He is powerful. He took our Saviour on to a pinnacle of the Temple, and kept him in the wilderness for forty days. The gift of discerning spirits will be given to the Presiding Elder. (Correction: The spiritual gift of discerning spirits is freely given by the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:4-10) Pray for him that he may have this gift. (Correction: If is by the will of the Holy Spirit that gifts are distributed to Christians. 1 Corinthians 12:11) Speak not in the gift of tongues without understanding it, or without interpretation. The Devil can speak in tongues: the Adversary will come with his work. He can tempt all classes-can speak in English or Dutch. Let no one speak in tongues, unless he interpret, except by the consent of the one who is placed to preside; then he may discern or interpret, or another may. Let us seek for the glory of Abraham, Noah, Adam, the Apostles, who have communion with these things, and then we shall be among that number when Christ comes. (Correction: Christians will rejoice in hope for the glory of God through faith in Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1-2)