The New Yorker magazine, dated January 21, 2002, contains an article about Mormonism. Lawrence Wright reported on his interview with LDS Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley. President Hinckley is quoted as saying, "Brigham Young said if you went to Heaven and saw God it would be Adam and Eve. I don't know what he meant by that...I'm not going to worry about what he said about those things." (p. 44) Later in the interview President Hinckley said, "We believe in the principle of continuous revelation. To me, it is so perfectly clear and understandable that the God who revealed himself in the comparatively simple days of the Old West would not fail to reveal himself in the very complex times in which we now live." (p. 48)

If God revealed Himself to Brigham Young in the Old West as "Adam and Eve," is it important for Gordon B. Hinckley, as today's living prophet, to understand what that means and explain it to the world -- or at least to the Church? Why or why not?

I believe that this questions centers around a common anti-mormon viewpoint, known as the Adam/God Theory. This concern is easily explained. The Apostle Paul states in 2nd Corinthians 4:3-4 "But if our gospel be hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." Here the Apostle Paul states that the god of this world is Satan. We read in Genesis 1:26, that God created Adam and Eve and gave them dominion over this earth. So in the begining, Adam was "god over the earth" in the sense that he had dominion over all the earth. Satan, the great deceiver took over and claimed to be god of this world in Adam's place. But when Jesus comes again, Satan will be bound for a thousand years and ultimately banished. Adam will then regain the dominion God gave him over this earth; ruling under the God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. This explains while the earth is such an evil place, because Satan took dominion over it from Adam by deception. The statement made by the Prophet Brigham Young regarding that Adam is God was taken out of context. I hope that this answers your question. -CB (LDS)

The Lord reveals Himself line upon line and precept upon precept, and always after the manner of our understanding. The needs of the church have changed, so the Lord is now speaking in terms that do the most good for us today. Sometimes the Lord can withdraw information if we don't use it wisely. I think the early prophets freely shared each doctrine they began to learn about, without always thinking through the possible consequences.

The ideas behind Adam-God are very profound as far as they go, but later prophets have wisely decided that it is not an important issue for us in these times. It is downplayed so us to not lead to confusion and error. Hence the Lord has "taken away" that teaching until we can bear it. This is the inspiration of the Lord, because His objective is to keep His Kingdom moving forward and not stalling on unimportant issues.

If knowing what Brigham Young meant by his Adam-God statements were necessary, I think it would be part of LDS curriculum, which it is not. Personally, I do not think we have earned the privilege of understanding this doctrine yet, except to whomever the Lord may reveal it _if they seek it_ (and then they should keep it private and personal to them).

The Gospel is a thing of many layers. Each outer layer has a simplification of the layer before. I could argue that the gospel has been simplified in order to reach more people. After all, the gospel is now among more spiritual "babes" and those unable to understand such doctrines. Again, this serves the Lord's current purposes.

If the Lord has not seen fit to reveal further light and knowledge on what Adam-God may mean, as a covenant person I am content with that. If the Lord has taken away some of that knowledge, or caused that it should no longer be an active teaching, I am content with that also. Ultimately, it's the Lord's call, and the church is indeed lead by revelation and inspiration, which comes as needed and when needed, according to the abilities of the Saints to bear it. -BW (LDS)

i believe g hinckley should know what is going on and explain it to the church. read D and C 1:14 "and the arm of the lord shall be revealed and the day cometh that they who will not hear the voice of the lord neither the voice of his servants, neither give heed to the words of the prophets and apostles shall be cut off from among the people." read articles of faith 1:9 and page 55 of gospel principles. they both state words of the prophets are SCRIPTURE and god will continue to reveal truth through revelation.

if all this is true and b young is/was a prophet, then we need to listen to him. i have the entire 26 volumes of the jod. let me quote what mr young said about the adam god DOCTRINE that the mormon church denies. he said and i quote, "my next sermon will be to both saint and sinner. one thing has remained a mystery in this kingdom up to this day." it is no longer a mystery thanks to him. he also says, "every man upon the earth professing christian or non professing MUST hear it." he again says, "now let ALL who hear these DOCTRINES pause before they make light of them or treat them with indifference, for they will prove their SALVATION OR DAMNATION." do you think b young is trying to say this is important and must be understood? according to D and C it is. please write me at [email protected]. i would love to discuss this more in-depth. thank you. -RB (non-LDS)