Over the past couple of weeks I've become involved in a couple of discussions with some LDS organization members and non-members. I have also, through the generous decision of a another Christian gentleman to post a paper I wrote on the LDS Adam/God doctrine on his own blog, had a couple of opportunities to respond to LDS members comments to that paper. It has led to some interesting discussion.

"Borrowing" words from comments in an LDS booklet by Van Hale, an LDS member in response to my letter said that in past experiences, such as when he read an, "anti-Mormon tract," he knew that said literature had twisted and misinterpreted LDS sources. Having had that sort of experience before, he said he was certain that the quote I used from Brigham Young's April 9th, 1852 discourse---"that Adam is our Father and our God" was either taken from context or was, "an outright fabrication."

He went on to post, "After examining the evidence, however, I soon became convinced that on at least two occasions Brigham Young had taught a concept which generally has not been accepted by Mormons--namely, that God the Father, the Father of our spirits and the Father of Jesus (of both his body and his spirit), came to this earth, took upon himself mortality, and was known as Adam, the progenitor the of human family. Simply stated, according to President Young, God the Father became Adam. (Journal of Discourses [JD] 1:50; Deseret News, June 18, 1873). Later I found several other references in which President Young hinted at this belief. (JD 4:216-218, 271; 5:331; 6:274; 7:290; 11:41,42)."

In using those words as his own the poster actually plagiarized them word for word from the aforementioned LDS booklet by Van Hale entitled, "What About the Adam-God Theory?"

He then went on to miss the point entirely of my letter and unfortunately sidestep the issue of Brigham Young's flagrant disregard for the accuracy of the Bible and the fact that in so doing he held steadfastly to a "revelation" he says he received from "God" which 12th president and prophet Spencer W. Kimball denounced in 1976.

The mainstream Mormon religious organization denounced this doctrine, taught by the 2nd president and prophet of the whole system. Brigham Young said of this doctrine;

""Some years ago I advanced a doctrine with regard to Adam being our Father and God...It is one of the most glorious revealments of the economy of heaven..."" (President Brigham Young, in the Tabernacle, General Conference, October 8, 1861, 10:30 a.m.; Brigham Young Addresses, 1860-1864, Vol. 4, by Elden J. Watson, sheet 134 in chronological order, Historical Dept. Church, Ms d 1234, Box 49 fd 8)

If a person who adheres to the belief system of the LDS organization and what they teach today actually looks up these references and reads what 2nd president and "prophet" Brigham Young claimed was a revelation to him from "God" regarding the Adam/God doctrine, several serious questions remain for him or her.

Which prophet is correct? Was Brigham Young correct, and therefore the true prophet, or was 12th president Spencer W. Kimball the true prophet who actually received the truth from "God" in his denouncement of the doctrine? Both men cannot be correct.

Brigham Young said on more than one occasion that the Adam/God doctrine was revealed to him by God. That makes it a "revelation" from God. President Kimball declared it not to be. Conveniently the LDS organization regards it as just one man's opinion, or theory.

When a person claims something is a revelation to them from God, he is claiming that the Maker of the universe is telling them something. God doesn't present "theories." Neither did Brigham Young claim it was simply a theory or his opinion. He called it "one of the most glorious revealments of the economy of Heaven."

If 2nd president and "prophet" Brigham Young, one of the men LDS members revere most, next to Joseph Smith, a man for whom a university was named, (BYU) has one of his most cherished "revelations" denounced by the organization itself, what other of his revelations does this matter cast doubt on? If you'll indulge me, I'll expand further on some comments I made on another blog.

If you were Satan, and you wanted to deceive people to lead them away from God, how would you go about doing that? Let me show you a good example.

"For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." Genesis 3:5

The answer is this: You would tell people just exactly what they in their pride and limited understanding of God, would want to hear. You would tell them exactly the same sort of thing that Satan did tell Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

You would tell them that there is knowledge, a more complete truth, that has been hidden from them. You would tell them that everybody else is wrong and that what is called, "God's holy Word, the Bible" is not completely reliable. But---- you would tell them that they could have the whole truth from another source if they wanted it. You would tell them that with the coming of that additional knowledge, that they could become like gods too.

Do you see the distinct similarities? No practicing Mormon who has been given the doctrines of their belief system can deny the doctrine of eternal progression teaches that with proper self-conduct that believing Mormons can progress to godhood. This is one of Satans best lies too. You can get to Heaven if you're "good enough." No one is that good. I've never met a perfect person on this planet. The LDS organizationtakes this one step further. If you're good enough, you can spend eternity as a god.

The LDS organization doesn't deny that Joseph Smith taught that it was not God by whom the heavens and the earth were created "ex nihilo," but that a "council of gods" organized and formed the planet we live on. The LDS organization teaches that Heavenly Father had a father and he had a father and so on and so on. It teaches that there are more gods than we can imagine. If that is so, who was the first god, and how did he become a god?

Mormonism isn't a truth that was lost and restored to us by God through a man. It's just the same old lie that Satan has been telling to man since the Garden of Eden through today. It is just another way for Satan to attempt to diminish Jesus Christ and His deity in the eyes of men, women and children the world over. And right now, if you're having an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of your stomach, if you're feeling as though all of your beliefs are being called into question, don't ignore that and push it away. Instead, have courage and don't worry about being ostracized by family, friends and fellow members.

Turn away from the lie and turn toward the God of the Bible, and His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Please read these words carefully. I implore you to trust in, cling to and rely on Jesus, the Anointed One of the Bible. He is the only Way, the only Truth and the only doorway to an eternal life with God the Father in Heaven. There were no other gods before Him. There are no other Gods now and there will be no other gods after Him. May God draw you to Him. This is the prayer of all believing Christians and it is meant in sincere love.

You cannot work your way to Heaven. You cannot become a god.

Isa 43:1010 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. KJV