The Adamic Period
Adam Holds the Keys.--The Prophet Joseph Smith treats thus the theme of
the Gospel dispensations:
"Commencing with Adam, who was the first man, * * * the first and
father of all, not only by progeny, but 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;--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 beginning
to Christ, and from Christ to the end of all the dispensations that are
to be revealed."--("History of the Church," Vol. IV, pp. 207, 208.)
"All Things in Christ."--Having cited Paul (Ephesians 1:9,10), as
showing how God "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," the Prophet goes on
to say:
"Now the purpose of 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 preceding dispensations.
"And again, God purposed in himself that there should not be an
eternal fulness until every dispensation should be fulfiled 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 forever and ever, and set Adam to watch over
them, to reveal them from heaven to man, or to send angels to reveal
them.
* * * * * * * * * * *
"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 the Lord, but cannot receive a fulness until Christ shall present
the kingdom to the Father, which shall be at the end of the last
dispensation."--(Ibid, pp. 208-209.)
Distinctive Features.--Each dispensation stands for some particular
development of God's work. Each period possess certain distinguishing
characteristics, to point out which, rather than to give an exhaustive
narration of events and happenings, is the aim of the present article.
In the Adamic dispensation, or the period during which Adam lived upon
the earth, in addition to the Creation and the Fall, already treated in
previous chapters, we find the following distinctive features:
(1) The institution of the law of sacrifice, foreshadowing the
Atonement that was to be made by the Lamb of God.
(2) The introduction and first promulgation of the Gospel, as a means
of redeeming mankind from the effects of the Fall.
(3) The original exercise of the evangelical power and authority by
Father Adam, the patriarch of the human family.
Sacrifice Instituted.--Respecting the law of sacrifice, it is written:
"And Adam and Eve, his wife, called upon the name of the Lord, and they
heard the voice of the Lord from the way toward the Garden of Eden,
speaking unto them, and they saw him not; for they were shut out from
his presence.
"And he gave unto them commandments, that they should worship the Lord
their God, and should offer the firstlings of their flocks, for an
offering unto the Lord. And Adam was obedient unto the commandments of
the Lord.
"And after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying:
Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I
know not, save the Lord commanded me.
"And then the angel spake, saying: This thing is a similitude of the
sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace
and truth.
"Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thou doest in the name of the Son,
and thou shalt repent and call upon God in the name of the Son for
evermore."--(Moses 5:4-8.)
Revelation Necessary.--Adam knew all about the law of sacrifice--knew
all about it in the spirit; for he was one of those who had sat in
the eternal councils, where the plan of salvation was framed, and the
choice made of a Redeemer and Savior. He helped to form that plan, and
to choose the One who would put it into effect. Adam knew all about
the Lamb of God, slain in theory from the foundation of the world, and
yet to be slain literally upon the earth, an event symbolized by the
sacrifice that he was in the very act of offering, perhaps, when the
angel accosted him. But he had forgotten it all, so great is the change
that comes over the spirit in passing from pre-mortal into mortal
conditions. Hence the necessity of such a visitation, to enlighten
him. Hence, also, the necessity of revelation by the Holy Ghost, the
Comforter, bringing things past to remembrance, showing things to come.
The Gospel's Introduction.--The introduction of the Gospel is thus
narrated:
"And the Lord God called upon men by the Holy Ghost everywhere and
commanded them that they should repent."--(Moses 5:14.)
* * * * * * * * * * *
"And he called upon our father Adam by his own voice, saying: I am God;
I made the world, and men before they were in the flesh.
"And he also said unto him: If thou wilt turn unto me, and hearken
unto my voice, and believe, and repent of all thy transgressions, and
be baptized, even in water, in the name of mine Only Begotten Son,
who is full of grace and truth, which is Jesus Christ, the only name
which shall be given under heaven whereby salvation shall come unto the
children of men, ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost; asking
all things in His name, and whatsoever ye shall ask, it shall be given
you.
* * * * * * * * * * *
"And now, behold, I say unto you: This is the plan of salvation unto
all men, through the blood of mine Only Begotten, who shall come in the
meridian of time.
* * * * * * * * * * *
"And it came to pass, when the Lord had spoken with Adam, our father,
that Adam cried unto the Lord, and he was caught away by the Spirit of
the Lord, and was carried down into the water, and was laid under the
water, and was brought forth out of the water.
"And thus he was baptized, and the Spirit of God descended upon him,
and thus he was born of the Spirit, and became quickened in the inner
man.
"And he heard a voice out of heaven, saying: Thou art baptized with
fire, and with the Holy Ghost."--(Moses 6:51, 52, 62, 64-66.)
* * * * * * * * * * *
"And thus the Gospel began to be preached, from the beginning, being
declared by holy angels sent forth from the presence of God, and by his
own voice, and by the gift of the Holy Ghost.
"And thus all things were confirmed unto Adam, by an holy ordinance,
and the Gospel preached, and a decree sent forth, that it should be in
the world, until the end thereof; and thus it was. Amen."--(Moses 5:58,
59.)
Adam as Patriarch.--Concerning Adam's patriarchal ministry, we are thus
enlightened by Joseph the Seer:
"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."--("History of the
Church," Vol. III, p. 388.)
Patriarchal Order and Descent.--Respecting the patriarchal order, the
Lord says:
"The order of this priesthood was confirmed to be handed down from
father to son, and rightly belongs to the literal descendants of the
chosen seed, to whom the promises were made.
"This order was instituted in the days of Adam, and came down by
lineage in the following manner:
"From Adam to Seth, who was ordained by Adam at the age of 69 years,
and was blessed by him three years previous to his (Adam's) death, and
received the promise of God by his father, that his posterity should be
the chosen of the Lord, and that they should be preserved unto the end
of the earth.
"Because he (Seth) was a perfect man, and his likeness was the express
likeness of his father's, insomuch that he seemed to be like unto his
father in all things, and could be distinguished from him only by his
age.
"Enos was ordained at the age of 134 years and four months by the hand
of Adam.
"God called upon Cainan in the wilderness, in the fortieth year of his
age, and he met Adam in journeying to the place Shedolamak. He was 87
years old when he received his ordination.
"Mahalaleel was 496 years and seven days old when he was ordained by
the hand of Adam, who also blessed him.
"Jared was 200 years old when he was ordained under the hand of Adam,
who also blessed him.
"Enoch was 25 years old when he was ordained under the hand of Adam,
and he was 65 and Adam blessed him.
"And he saw the Lord, and he walked with him, and was before his face
continually; and he walked with God 365 years, making him 430 years old
when he was translated.
"Methuselah was 100 years old when he was ordained under the hand of
Adam.
"Lamech was 32 years old when he was ordained under the hand of Seth.
"Noah was 10 years old when he was ordained under the hand of
Methuselah.
"Three years previous to the death of Adam, he called Seth, Enos,
Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, Enoch, and Methuselah, who were all High
Priests, with the residue of his posterity who were righteous, into
the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman, and the re bestowed upon them his last
blessing.
"And the Lord appeared unto them, and they rose up and blessed Adam,
and called him Michael, the Prince, the Archangel.
"And the Lord administered comfort unto Adam, and said unto him, I have
set thee to be at the head--a multitude of nations shall come of thee,
and thou art a prince over them for ever.
"And Adam stood up in the midst of the congregation, and not
withstanding he was bowed down with age, being full of the Holy Ghost,
predicted whatsoever should befall his posterity unto the latest
generation."--(D. and C. 107:40-56.)
The Ancient of Days.--Here is given, by the Prophet, a glimpse of the
glorious sequel:
"Daniel, in his seventh chapter, 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 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. 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."--("History of the Church," Vol. III, p. 386.)
Place of the Council.--The place of the council mentioned in the
foregoing paragraph, is thus pointed out by the finger of the Lord:
"Revelation to Joseph the Seer, given near Wight's Ferry, at a place
called Spring Hill, Davis County, Missouri, May 19th, 1838, wherein
Spring Hill is named by the Lord,
"Adam-ondi-Ahman, because, said he, it is the place where Adam shall
come to visit his people, or the Ancient of Days shall sit, as spoken
of by Daniel the prophet."--(D. and C. 116.)
Adam-ondi-Ahman.--At that very spot, Spring Hill, Davis County,
Missouri, in the year 1838, the Latter-day Saints, by direction of the
Prophet, began to build a city, naming it Adam-ondi-Ahman, afterwards
abbreviated to Diahman. While engaged in making the survey, some of the
brethren came upon the ruins of an ancient altar, which the Prophet, on
beholding, declared to be the identical altar upon which Adam offered
sacrifices after he was expelled from Eden. The Garden of Eden, Joseph
said, was in Jackson County, Missouri, from which part the Saints had
been driven, as if to typify reminiscently the original expulsion. In
both instances, the tree of disobedience bore the same bitter fruit. In
Jackson County the New Jerusalem is to be built, and a people prepared
for the glorious coming of the Lord. That America is the Old World,
not the New, science now affirms; but the fact was first proclaimed by
revelation, whose other name, in this case, is Joseph Smith the Prophet.
Cain and Abel.--Adam's offering of sacrifice was acceptable to the
Lord, being in accordance with the divine command, and because it
truly symbolized the Lamb of God, who was to come. Abel, Adam's son,
offered a similar sacrifice--"the firstlings of his flock and of the
fat thereof, and the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering"
(Gen. 4:4). But Cain, Abel's eldest brother, who had also been taught
the law of sacrifice, took it upon himself to deviate from the divine
instruction, and instead of a lamb, he "brought of the fruit of the
ground," an offering in no way typical of the Savior. Hence, his
offering was rejected. The Prophet Joseph, commenting upon these facts,
says: "God will not acknowledge that which He has not called, ordained,
and chosen." He quotes Paul (Heb. 11:4): "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"--and then asks:
"How doth he yet speak? Why, he magnified the priesthood which was
conferred upon him, and died a righteous man, and therefore has become
an angel of God by receiving his body from the dead, holding still the
keys of his dispensation; and was sent down from heaven unto Paul to
minister consoling words, and to commit unto him a knowledge of the
mysteries of godliness."
* * * * * * * * * * *
"The power, glory and blessings of the priesthood could not continue
with those who received ordination only as their righteousness
continued; for Cain also being authorized to offer sacrifice, but
not offering it in righteousness, was cursed. It signifies, then,
that the ordinances must be kept in the very way God has appointed;
otherwise their priesthood will prove a cursing instead of a
blessing."--("History of the Church," Vol. IV, pp. 208, 209.)
Inter-Relation Shown.--It was after the episode of Cain and Abel,
including the murder of the latter by the former, that Adam called the
righteous residue of his posterity into the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman,
and there gave them his farewell benediction, foretelling what should
befall the human race down to the end of time. That great patriarchal
blessing, considered in connection with Adam's coming as the Ancient
of Days, to call his children before him in a grand council upon the
precise spot where he uttered his wonderful world-covering prediction,
clearly shows the relationship between the First Dispensation and the
Dispensation of the Fulness of Times.