DID THE LDS TRULY REJECT THE ADAM-GOD DOCTRINE?

see Daniel 7:9-10

The Adam-god Doctrine

Whether it is called a doctrine or a theory, the origins of the Adam-God teaching can be traced directly to Brigham Young, the second president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Many modern LDS bishops and leaders dismiss this teaching, claiming that Brigham Young never taught it, was misunderstood, or—God forbid—was simply wrong. Others argue that it was never an official doctrine and should not be considered part of LDS theology.

But what did Brigham Young actually say? Where did this teaching originate, and why was there such a dramatic shift in how the LDS Church responded to it?

Brigham Young publicly declared that Adam was not only the first man but also God the Father and the only God we should worship. His most famous statement on this can be found in the Journal of Discourses, a collection of early LDS sermons once considered a standard doctrinal source for the Church.

"Now hear it, O inhabitants of the earth, Jew and Gentile, Saint and Sinner! When our father Adam came into the garden of Eden, he came into it with a celestial body and brought Eve, one of his wives, with him. He helped to make and organize this world. He is Michael, the Archangel, the Ancient of Days! about whom holy men have written and spoken—He is our Father and our God, and the only God with whom we have to do." (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 1, p. 50, April 9, 1852)

This was not an isolated statement. Brigham Young repeated this doctrine for over 25 years in LDS sermons, reinforcing it as a fundamental belief during his presidency.

Was the Journal of Discourses Considered Scripture?

Many LDS apologists today argue that the Journal of Discourses does not represent official doctrine, yet LDS leaders once treated it as scripture.

The Millennial Star, an official LDS publication, wrote in 1865:

"The Journal of Discourses deservedly ranks as one of the standard works of the Church; and every right-minded Saint will certainly welcome with joy every Number as it comes forth from the press, as an additional reflector of ‘the light that shines from Zion’s hill.’"(Millennial Star, Vol. 27, p. 659, 1865)

Additionally, Brigham Young himself affirmed the authoritative status of his sermons:

"When one of the Elders writes a sermon delivered by me and it is correctly written, it is as good scripture as is in the Bible."(Journal of Discourses, Vol. 13, p. 264)

While the Journal of Discourses was once treated as scripture, modern LDS leaders reject Adam-God doctrine, but multiple early apostles and First Presidency members publicly defended it, proving that it was not a fringe idea. For example:

• Heber C. Kimball (First Presidency, 1855):

  "I have learned by experience that there is but one God that pertains to this people, and He is the God that pertains to this earth—the first man."(Journal of Discourses, Vol. 5, p. 19)

• Wilford Woodruff (4th LDS President, Journal Entry, 1854):

  "President Young said that Adam was the Father of Jesus Christ and was our God and that Joseph taught this principle."

• Franklin D. Richards (Apostle, 1857):

  "Pres. Young taught that Adam was the Father of Jesus and the only God with whom we have to do."

Clearly, multiple high-ranking leaders supported Brigham Young’s Adam-God Doctrine, contradicting the claim that it was never a serious LDS belief.

The LDS Church’s Later Rejection of Adam-God

Despite early LDS leaders defending Adam-God, many modern LDS prophets have rejected it as false doctrine.

• Spencer W. Kimball (12th LDS President, 1976):

  "We warn you against the dissemination of doctrines which are not according to the scriptures and which are alleged to have been taught by some of the General Authorities of past generations. Such, for instance, is the Adam-God theory. We denounce that theory and hope that everyone will be cautioned against this and other kinds of false doctrine."– Spencer W. Kimball, General Conference, October 1976 (Ensign, November 1976, p. 77)

  
  

• Bruce R. McConkie (1980):

  "There are those who believe or say they believe that Adam is our father and our god, that he is the father of our spirits and our bodies, and that he is the one we worship. The devil keeps this heresy alive as a means of obtaining converts to cultism. It is contrary to the whole plan of salvation set forth in the scriptures."

  – Bruce R. McConkie, “The Seven Deadly Heresies” Address, Brigham Young University, June 1, 1980

  
  

• "Yes, President Young did teach that Adam was the father of our spirits, and all the related things that the cultists ascribe to him. This, however, is not true. He expressed views that are out of harmony with the gospel."

  – Bruce R. McConkie, Personal Letter to Eugene England, February 19, 1981

  
  

• Mark E. Petersen (1980):

  "Adam was not our God, nor was he our Savior. But he was the humble servant of both in his status as an angel."

  – Elder Mark E. Petersen, "Adam, the Archangel," General Conference, October 1980

  
  

Thus, the LDS Church now officially rejects the Adam-God Doctrine, stating that God was never Adam. However, dismissing Brigham Young’s teachings is not so simple. If Young was wrong, then his claim to divine revelation collapses—leading to serious theological consequences; but even Brigham himself warned against people not believing him:

"It is a great mystery to many, and a subject of much speculation. Some have grumbled, and I have heard men say that they would not believe it if they were to know it was true. But I tell you, if you do not embrace it, you will be damned. No man or woman in this dispensation will ever enter into the celestial kingdom of God without accepting this truth." - Journal of Discourses, Vol. 7, p. 238 (October 9, 1859)

Brigham Young did not teach Adam-God as personal speculation—he declared it as divine revelation and doctrine necessary for salvation,  as quoted he said that even rejecting this teaching could lead to damnation. While the refutations have come, and tried to claim that Brigham got this doctrine wrong, he went on to make a noteworthy claim that it was in fact Joseph Smith, jr. who held this belief:

"You came out tonight & place them as charges, & have as many against me as I have you. One thing I thought I might still have omitted It was Joseph’s doctrine that Adam was God when in Luke Johnson’s, at O Hyde the power came upon us, or such that alarmed the neighborhood. God comes to earth & eats & partakes of fruit" - April 4, 1860, Miscellaneous Papers, Brigham Young Collection, LDS Archives

Not to mention the previously quoted Wilford Woodruff said "that Joseph taught this principle." Though no formal writings from Smith himself could validate these claims, we must remember Young and Woodruff were seen as prophets of the Most High. Brigham Young made several statements affirming that he could not lie or that his teachings were divinely inspired:

"I have never yet preached a sermon and sent it out to the children of men, that they may not call scripture." – Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 13, p. 95, January 2, 1870

"I say now, when they [the people] go home, let them write down what I say, and if it is not true, let them say so. I could not speak truth and lie at the same time." – Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 18, p. 72, June 23, 187

So let us recap: Brigham Young openly taught Adam-God as doctrine.

• He claimed that his sermons were scripture and that he could not lie while preaching.

• Modern LDS leaders reject Adam-God as false doctrine.

• If Brigham Young was right, then the modern LDS Church is wrong.

• If the modern LDS Church is right, then Brigham Young taught false doctrine—meaning he was wrong when he claimed he couldn’t lie.

  
  

But the question that truly should be asked is, did the church of Jesus Christ latter-day saints reject this doctrine truly?

The Modern Teaching

Modern Latter-day Saints may not be familiar with the Adam-God Doctrine or its historical significance. However, any serious believer of the LDS faith should take the time to examine this history and compare it with current Church teachings.

While Brigham Young openly taught that Adam was both God the Father and the only God with whom we have to do, the LDS Church today denies this doctrine. However, some elements of Young’s teachings remain embedded in official LDS theology, creating a doctrinal contradiction.

To understand how the LDS Church currently views Adam, let us examine their official teachings.

The first man created on earth. Adam is the father and patriarch of the human race on the earth. His transgression in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3; D&C 29:40–42; Moses 4) caused him to “fall” and become mortal, a step necessary in order for mankind to progress on this earth (2 Ne. 2:14–29; Alma 12:21–26). Adam and Eve should therefore be honored for their role in making our eternal growth possible. Adam is the Ancient of Days and is also known as Michael (Dan. 7; D&C 27:11; 107:53–54; 116; 138:38). He is the archangel (D&C 107:54) and will come again to the earth as the patriarch of the human family (D&C 116). - Guide to the Scriptures, Adam

This teaching bears a striking resemblance to Brigham Young’s controversial doctrine, particularly in its identification of Adam as the "Ancient of Days" and Michael the Archangel. Like Young’s teaching, the LDS Church acknowledges Adam’s role in the Fall, wherein he and Eve partook of the forbidden fruit, introducing mortality and the ability to choose between good and evil. However, the key distinction is that, in mainstream Christianity, Adam is simply the first human created by God and the father of the human race—not a divine being or the holder of godlike titles. But it is here where we have a big problem, not just for the modern saint but even for Brigham Young.

Let’s Test Ourselves

I’m going to present two passages of scripture, but I will redact the identification of one of the beings described. All I ask is that you answer honestly, in your heart of hearts: Who is being described in these passages?

"I kept looking until thrones were set up,And [REDACTED] took His seat;His garment was white as snow,And the hair of His head like pure wool.His throne was ablaze with flames,Its wheels were a burning fire.A river of fire was flowingAnd coming out from before Him;Thousands upon thousands were serving Him,And myriads upon myriads were standing before Him;The court convened,And the books were opened."

"Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And after turning I saw seven golden lampstands; and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and wrapped around the chest with a golden sash.His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow;And His eyes were like a flame of fire.His feet were like burnished bronze when it has been heated to a glow in a furnace,And His voice was like the sound of many waters.In His right hand He held seven stars,And out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword;And His face was like the sun shining in its strength."– Revelation 1:12-16

Clearly, these two passages describe the same divine being—if not the exact same, then at least identical in power, majesty, and glory.

• The second passage is from Revelation 1, where John explicitly identifies Jesus Christ in His heavenly glory.

• The first passage is from Daniel 7, where the being described is the Ancient of Days—who Christians recognize as God the Father.

The imagery in Daniel 7 and Revelation 1 establishes a direct link between Jesus and the Father, demonstrating that Jesus is not separate from God but fully divine. Revelation portrays Jesus with the same attributes as the Ancient of Days, strongly supporting the doctrine of the Trinity—that the Father and the Son are distinct persons yet share the same divine nature.

The Devastating Implication for Mormon Doctrine

Now, here’s where the LDS teaching collapses:

If the Ancient of Days is God the Father, and Jesus in Revelation 1 shares the same attributes, then Jesus is divine, fully sharing in the Father's eternal glory.

This directly refutes the Mormon concept of God, because:

1. LDS doctrine claims that the Father and Son are separate, distinct beings with completely different essences.

   • Yet, Daniel and John describe the same being but attribute Him to different persons—which supports the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, not the Mormon doctrine of God.

2. Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15), aligning with His own words:

   • "Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father" (John 14:9).

However, the LDS Church still teaches that Adam is the Ancient of Days—a title given to God the Father in Daniel 7, who shares His attributes with Jesus Christ in Revelation 1.

This contradicts LDS doctrine, blasphemes the Most High God, and once again proves that the Mormon concept of God is ever-changing—its definition, manifestation, and theology shifting over time to fit their evolving narrative.

A Crucial Crisis in Mormon Theology

This contradiction leaves Latter-day Saints with two difficult choices:

1. If Mormons reject the Adam-God Doctrine, they are calling Brigham Young and Joseph Smith heretical false prophets.

2. If they still believe in Adam-God, they are following a teaching that their own church has since denounced as false doctrine.

Either way, Mormonism stands divided against itself—a house built on theological sand, constantly shifting, yet never stable.

If the LDS Church truly rejected Brigham Young’s Adam-God Doctrine, why does it still teach that Adam is the Ancient of Days—a title that Daniel 7 explicitly gives to God?

This is not a minor inconsistency—it is a blatant contradiction. Either Brigham Young was correct in calling Adam 'God' (which the LDS Church denies), or the LDS Church is still holding onto a remnant of his false teaching.

LDS Scripture Exposes Mormonism’s Own Falsehood

Christians firmly believe that the LDS Church is a false religion, built on the fabrications of Joseph Smith, a false prophet. Yet, even the LDS Church’s own scripture contradicts its changing doctrine:

"God is not a partial God, neither a changeable being; but he is unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity."– Moroni 8:18 , The Book of Mormon

If God is unchanging from eternity to eternity, why does the LDS Church’s doctrine change constantly?

If Mormons truly believed their own scripture, they would have already rejected Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, and the LDS Church itself—for Mormonism is not the work of the unchanging God, but the invention of changeable men.

Thus, the truth remains: Mormonism is built on contradictions. If a Latter-day Saint truly seeks the unchanging God, they must abandon a religion built on the words of changing men

BIBLIOGRPAHY

• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Guide to the Scriptures: Adam. Accessed February 2025. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/gs/adam.

• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Doctrine and Covenants. Salt Lake City, UT: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1981.

• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Salt Lake City, UT: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1981.

• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Pearl of Great Price. Salt Lake City, UT: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1981.

Journal of Discourses (Brigham Young’s Teachings)

• Young, Brigham. Journal of Discourses, Vol. 1, p. 50. April 9, 1852.

• Young, Brigham. Journal of Discourses, Vol. 5, p. 19. 1855.

• Young, Brigham. Journal of Discourses, Vol. 7, p. 238. October 9, 1859.

• Young, Brigham. Journal of Discourses, Vol. 13, p. 95. January 2, 1870.

• Young, Brigham. Journal of Discourses, Vol. 18, p. 72. June 23, 1874.

Statements by Early LDS Leaders Supporting Adam-God Doctrine

• Kimball, Heber C. Journal of Discourses, Vol. 5, p. 19. 1855.

• Woodruff, Wilford. Wilford Woodruff Journal, 1854.

• Richards, Franklin D. Journal of Discourses, 1857.

Modern LDS Leaders Rejecting Adam-God Doctrine

• Kimball, Spencer W. "Our Own Liahona." Ensign (November 1976): p. 77. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1976/10/our-own-liahona.

• McConkie, Bruce R. "The Seven Deadly Heresies." Address at Brigham Young University, June 1, 1980.

• McConkie, Bruce R. "Letter to Eugene England." February 19, 1981.

• Petersen, Mark E. "Adam, the Archangel." General Conference, October 1980. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1980/10/adam-the-archangel.

Historical LDS Publications & Commentary

• Millennial Star, Vol. 27, p. 659. 1865.

• Miscellaneous Papers, Brigham Young Collection. LDS Archives, April 4, 1860.

Biblical References

• The Holy Bible, New American Standard Bible (NASB) (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 2020).