Topical Guide/Doctrinal issues/Adam-God Theory

    RESOURCES

Adam-God theory

Summary: Brigham Young taught that Adam, the first man, was God the Father. Since this teaching runs counter to the story told in Genesis and commonly accepted by Christians, critics accuse Brigham of being a false prophet. Also, because modern Latter-day Saints do not believe Brigham's "Adam-God" teachings, critics accuse Mormons of either changing their teachings or rejecting teachings of prophets they find uncomfortable or unsupportable.

    PERSPECTIVES

  • Ari D. Bruening and David L. Paulsen, "The Development of the Mormon Understanding of God: Early Mormon Modalism and Other Myths (Review of: Mormonism and the Nature of God: A Theological Evolution)," FARMS Review of Books 13/2 (2001): 109–169. off-site
  • William J. Hamblin, "The Return of Simon and Helena (Review of The Sanctity of Dissent by Paul Toscano)," FARMS Review of Books 7/1 (1995): 298–316. off-site
  • Hugh Nibley, Before Adam
  • Keith J. Wilson, "Review of Mormons Answered Verse by Verse by David A. Reed and John R. Farkas," FARMS Review of Books 8/1 (1996): 93–94. off-site