The origins of Adam = Ancient of Days

[Ahab]

I thought I made it clear I was looking for the origins of the thought in the context of the Restored Church, IE, the beginning of the idea being expressed among a select group of people in a select period of time. My question is chiefly historical, not theological. There are certainly theological implications, but that the information I am currently seeking is historical.

Theology is history, bro. What people thought and did, with God, our Father, being one of the people involved throughout history.

Staker's book is a history book, not theological. It documents the historical and cultural setting, making many references to the documents, thoughts, and ideas that were circulated and expressed. It doesn't claim to be a work of revelation, or even a religious book. As history, it's worth its weight in gold.

How do you know what he says happened is what really happened? Because somebody else said so? How do you know that what he has said is the truth?

Truth is reality, and God is as real as anyone else who really exists.

I strongly believe a key part of the Revelation process is studying things out in your mind, and bringing conclusions to the Lord. There have been many cases where my answer has been to the tune of, "You're on the right track. Don't stop now. Keep it up, and return and report again later."

I strongly believe a key part of the Revelation process is for God to actually reveal an idea to the one receiving the revelation, which sometimes can be simply a confirmation of an idea a person is already thinking, but at other times can be the idea from God himself.

I don't want Him to be just my Yes man, with me having to be the one to come up with all of the ideas about what it takes to become like Him.

I want Him to be my Master Teacher, the one I am learning from over everyone else, with Him having things to teach me that I haven't even thought about yet.

I believe this is a key part of the process. A key part of President Kimball's seeking an answer to the Priesthood question was, apart from his own diligent study and pondering and praying, the establishment of a committee to study the historical and scriptural precedent and documents for the Priesthood Ban, to see if there even was one.

It turned up very clearly that there wasn't. I strongly believe this due diligence was a key part of what prepared him to be the one to receive the Revelation clarifying and confirming the conclusion he had come to, where other predecessors had not. I, for one, am extremely grateful that President Kimball didn't give up, and just assume the tradition was correct.

You and I are probably just going to have to disagree here, and I'd rather not get into this issue in this particular thread.