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Adam–God doctrine
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===Brigham Young's 1852 explanation === Whether or not Smith had taught the doctrine, the first recorded explanation of the doctrine using the term "Adam–God" was by Young, who first taught the doctrine at the church's spring [[General Conference (LDS Church)|general conference]] on April 9, 1852. This sermon was recorded [[stenography|stenographically]] by [[George D. Watt]], Young's private secretary, who was an expert in [[Pitman shorthand]].<ref>{{Harvtxt|Watt|1977}}.</ref> Watt published the sermon in 1854 in the British periodical ''[[Journal of Discourses]]'', which was endorsed by Young and his counselors in the church's [[First Presidency (LDS Church)|First Presidency]].<ref>{{Harvtxt|Young|Kimball|Richards|1853}}.</ref> In Watt's transcript of the sermon, Young said he intended to discuss "who it was that begat the Son of the Virgin Mary," a subject which he said "has remained a mystery in this kingdom up to this day."<ref name="Young1852p50">{{Harvtxt|Young|1852a|p=50}}.</ref> The transcript reads: <blockquote>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''. Every man upon the earth, professing Christians or non-professing, must hear it, and ''will know it sooner or later''.<ref name="Young1852p50"/></blockquote> The transcript then reads: "When the Virgin Mary conceived the child Jesus, the Father had begotten him in his own likeness. He was ''not'' begotten by the Holy Ghost. And who is the Father? He is the first of the human family."<ref>{{Harvtxt|Young|1852a|p=50}}. The full text from ''Journal of Discourses'' '''1''':51 reads as follows: "It is true that the Earth was organized by three distinct characters, namely, ''Eloheim, Yahovah, and Michael'', these three forming a quorum, as in all heavenly bodies, and in organizing element, perfectly represented in the Deity, as ''Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.'' Again, they will try to tell how the divinity of Jesus is joined to his humanity, and exhaust all their mental faculties, and wind up with this profound language, as describing the soul of man, "it is an immaterial substance!" What a learned idea! Jesus, our elder brother, was begotten in the flesh by the same character that was in the garden of Eden, and who is our Father in Heaven. Now, let all who may hear these doctrines, pause before they make light of them, or treat them with indifference, for they will prove their salvation or damnation. I have given you a few leading items upon this subject, but a great deal more remains to be told. Now, remember from this time forth, and for ever, that Jesus Christ was not begotten by the Holy Ghost."</ref> Young explained that Adam "was begotten by ''his Father'' in heaven" in the same way that Adam begat his own sons and daughters, and that there were "three distinct characters, namely, Eloheim, Yahovah, and Michael."<ref>{{Harvtxt|Young|1852a|pp=50–51}}.</ref> Then, reiterating, he said that "Jesus, our elder brother, was begotten in the flesh by the same character that was in the Garden of Eden, and who is our Father in Heaven."<!-- FOOTNOTE--><ref>{{Harvtxt|Young|1852a|p=51}}. Watt's transcript of the sermon was the only known stenographic recording; however, several other witnesses summarized it in their journals. These recountings vary somewhat in wording. For example, attendee Samuel Hollister Rogers wrote several days later, confirming that Young said that when Adam went to the Garden, he "brought his wife or one of his wives with him", that "Adam was the only God that we would have, and that Christ was not begotten by the Holy Ghost, but of the Father Adam." ''Brigham Young Addresses'' '''2''':12; ''Samuel Hollister Rogers Journal'' 145. Young's bodyguard [[Hosea Stout]] wrote that night in his diary that "President B. Young taught that Adam was the father of Jesus and the only God to us." ''Diary of Hosea Stout'' '''2''':435 (April 9, 1852). [[Wilford Woodruff]] wrote that Young said God went to the [[Garden of Eden]] with "one of his wifes", that "Adam is Michael or God And all the God that we have any thing to do with", and "when the VIRGIN MARY was begotton with Child it was By the Father and in no other way ownly as we were begotton." ''Journal of Wilford Woodruff'' '''4''':127–30 (April 9, 1852).</ref> Young concluded, "I could tell you much more about this; but were I to tell you the whole truth, blasphemy would be nothing to it, in the estimation of the superstitious and overrighteous mankind. Now, let all who may hear these doctrines, pause before they make light of them, or treat them with indifference, for they will prove their salvation or damnation."<ref>{{Harvtxt|Young|1852a|p=51}}.</ref>
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