Editing Adam–God doctrine (section)

===After Young's death===
There is some controversy as to whether or not Young considered Adam–God to be official church doctrine. At the end of his 1852 sermon, he stated, "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>''[[Journal of Discourses]]'' 1:51.</ref> Nevertheless, in 1854, after a great deal of controversy concerning the doctrine, Young minimized the importance of the doctrine, stating that the "subject ... does not immediately concern yours or my welfare ... I do not pretend to say that the items of doctrine and ideas I shall advance are necessary for the people to know."<ref>October 8, 1854, Historical Department of the Church [HDC].</ref>

After Young's death, church leaders began to cast the various interpretations of this teaching as mere speculation and denied that any particular interpretation was binding on the church. In 1897, [[Joseph F. Smith]], then an apostle and counselor in the First Presidency, wrote a private letter concerning Young's teachings on Adam, stating:

<blockquote>The doctrine was never submitted to the councils of the Priesthood nor to the church for approval or ratification, and was never formally or otherwise accepted by the church. It is therefore in no sense binding upon the Church. Brigham Young's "bare mention" was "without indubitable evidence and authority being given of its truth." Only the scripture, the "accepted word of God," is the Church's standard.<ref>Joseph F. Smith, letter to A. Saxey, January 7, 1897, HDC.</ref></blockquote>

Beginning around 1892, church leaders privately decided to no longer publicly teach the doctrine. In a private meeting held on April 4, 1897, church president [[Wilford Woodruff]] said. "Adam is our father and God and no use to discuss it with [the] Josephites [Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints] or any one else."<ref>''[[Brigham Young Jr.]] Journal'', April 4, 1897 – February 2, 1899, '''30''':107; CHO/Ms/f/326, December 16, 1897.</ref>

In 1892, the doctrine was publicly opposed in [[St. George, Utah]], by [[Edward Bunker (Mormon)|Edward Bunker]]. The First Presidency—Woodruff, [[George Q. Cannon]], and [[Joseph F. Smith]]—traveled to St. George to address the issue. Records of the meeting state that Bunker was corrected: "Pres Woodruff and Cannon showed ... that Adam was an immortal being when he came to this earth and was made the same as all other men and Gods are made."<ref>''Diary of Charles Lowell Walker'', '''2''':740–41, June 11, 1892 (typescript pp. 43–44).</ref> "The doctrine preached and contended for by Father Edward Bunker of Bunkerville was investigated, condemned and Father Bunker set right. Presidents Woodruff and Cannon present."<ref>''Journal of J. D. T. McAllister'', p. 99; BYU, Mor/M270.1/m/v.6, June 11, 1892.</ref>

After the start of the 20th century, church leaders openly took the position that the doctrine should no longer to be taught publicly.<ref>See, e.g., the Proceedings of the First Sunday School Convention, November 28, 1898; Letter to Bishop Edward Bunker, February 27, 1902; ''Messages of the First Presidency'' '''4''':199–206; ''Journal of Thomas A. Clawson'', 1912–1917, pp. 69–70, April 8, 1912; B. H. Roberts, ''[[Deseret News]]'', July 23, 1921; [[Joseph Fielding Smith]],''Utah Genealogical Magazine'', pp. 146–51, October 1930; Joseph Fielding Smith, ''Doctrines of Salvation'' '''1''':18, 76–77, 92 (1954).</ref>

As early as 1902, apostle [[Charles W. Penrose]] claimed, "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has never formulated or adopted any theory concerning the subject treated upon by President Young as to Adam."<ref>Charles W. Penrose, "Our Father Adam", ''[[Improvement Era]]'' (September 1902): 873, reprinted in Charles W. Penrose, "Our Father Adam", ''[[Millennial Star]]'' (11 December 1902): 785–90 at 789.</ref>