The Garden Of Eden And Missouri

[bookofmormontruth]

Yes, but they are pretty good 2nd hand accounts... unless we think the prophets were lying.

Brigham Young stated, “Joseph the Prophet told me that the garden of Eden was in Jackson [County] Missouri.” (Journal of Wilford Woodruff, vol. 5, 15 Mar. 1857, Archives Division, Church Historical Dept., Salt Lake City.)

Heber C. Kimball said: “From the Lord, Joseph learned that Adam had dwelt on the land of America, and that the Garden of Eden was located where Jackson County now is.” (Andrew Jenson, Historical Record, 9 vols., Salt Lake City: Andrew Jenson, 1888, 7:439; see also Orson F. Whitney, Life of Heber C. Kimball, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1967, p. 219.)

Joseph Fielding Smith said: “In accord with the revelations given to the Prophet Joseph Smith, we teach that the Garden of Eden was on the American continent located where the City of Zion, or the New Jerusalem, will be built. When Adam and Eve were driven out of the Garden, they eventually dwelt at a place called Adam-ondi-Ahman, situated in what is now Daviess County, Missouri. … We are committed to the fact that Adam dwelt on [the] American continent.” (Doctrines of Salvation, 3 vols., comp. Bruce R. McConkie, Salt Lake City:Bookcraft, 1956, 3:74. Compare Answers to Gospel Questions, 5 vols., Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1957–75, 2:93–95, 4:19–24; and Alvin R. Dyer, in Conference Report, Oct. 1968, pp. 108–9.)

D&C 116 also identifies Adam-ondi-Ahman, a site near the Garden of Eden, to be in Daviess County, Missouri, some seventy miles from present-day Kansas City. (Encyclopedia of Mormonism, 4 vols., New York City: Macmillan, 1992, 1:19–20.)

Spiritually speaking and will probably not make sense.

Missouri has a special and alluring feeling about it without even visiting the land.

The concept of "same-o same-o" can apply to ancient Jerusalem and New Jerusalem. Ancient Jerusalem was significant and special and the same Jerusalem will be significant and special before the second coming.

With the same concept, If the Garden of Eden was in Missouri which I believe it was (pangea time) and will be the New Jerusalem then no wonder it has a special and alluring feeling about it. I also feel the Nephites had some connection with Missouri also.

[mnn727]

Well, if your not prone to take the Garden of Eden story as a historical event, then you can just as easily dismiss the idea that it existed at all.

I don't really understand how some people can believe that everything in the Bible and/or the Book of Mormon is historically true.

[thesometimesaint]

mnn727:

I don't have a problem with a literal GoE, an Adam and Eve, or real Lehites. I do have a problem with some of the Speculations on them.

[ELF1024]

I don't really understand how some people can believe that everything in the Bible and/or the Book of Mormon is historically true.

In many cases, I don't see that it makes much difference if it was historically true or not.

The Book of Mormon I am more apt to take as a historical records than the Bible.

I don't see that it makes much difference if the Garden of Eden is historical or allegorical or some of both. However, that is coming from a person who hasn't been thru the temple yet.

[thesometimesaint]

ELF1024:

We don't teach anything different about the GoE or A&E in the Temple ceremony than we teach in your weekly Sunday School class.

[BCSpace]

I don't really understand how some people can believe that everything in the Bible and/or the Book of Mormon is historically true.

I don't know how much or how little of it you take to be historical, but I don't understand how anyone can believe the BoM is not what it (and the Church) claims it to be and still believe it to be inspired or the word of God or remain a member of the LDS Church.

[Rivers]

ELF1024:

We don't teach anything different about the GoE or A&E in the Temple ceremony than we teach in your weekly Sunday School class.

But in the temple WE are called Adam and Eve. I think that is significant.

[AeonJ]

This may be a duh question but...

In Genesis doesn't it mention the Euphrates river which is located in the Middle East?

[WalkerW]

This may be a duh question but...

In Genesis doesn't it mention the Euphrates river which is located in the Middle East?

Yes. It also describes the Garden as the center of the world with four rivers flowing from it to all the rest. The axis mundi was seen as the center and origin of creation and was often associated with the temple. The author of Genesis included a river which they knew.

[thesometimesaint]

Rivers:

Representational not literal. But still significant.

[LeSellers]

In Genesis doesn't it mention the Euphrates river which is located in the Middle East?

You might want to read the footnote in the LDS edition of the AV here. As I recall, it reminds us that there were some names used in the true old world (now called the New World) to geograpical features in the traditional Old World.

Lehi

[AeonJ]

You might want to read the footnote in the LDS edition of the AV here. As I recall, it reminds us that there were some names used in the true old world (now called the New World) to geograpical features in the traditional Old World.

Lehi

AV?

[LeSellers]

AV?

Authorized Version, aka, the King James Version. See the Title Page of the AV.

Lehi

[mfbukowski]

But in the temple WE are called Adam and Eve. I think that is significant.

That's because we ARE Adam and Eve.

[mfbukowski]

Yes. It also describes the Garden as the center of the world with four rivers flowing from it to all the rest. The axis mundi was seen as the center and origin of creation and was often associated with the temple. The author of Genesis included a river which they knew.

Change your center, the "world" goes with it!

Ever heard anyone say "Oh, it's a different world now than when I was young!"

[mfbukowski]

You might want to read the footnote in the LDS edition of the AV here. As I recall, it reminds us that there were some names used in the true old world (now called the New World) to geograpical features in the traditional Old World.

Lehi

Like even maybe "New" York?

[David T]

You might want to read the footnote in the LDS edition of the AV here. As I recall, it reminds us that there were some names used in the true old world (now called the New World) to geograpical features in the traditional Old World.

Lehi

It's a nice apologetic explanation - probably by Bruce R. But it's not backed up by anything, at all, other than a desire to have Adam and Eve's home be in America.

The Genesis Story is a Mesopotamian Story. It takes place in Mesopotamia. The Book of Moses selection is a doctrinal update and revision of that story.

[Franktalk]

A couple of things. First off there are physical places and spiritual places with the same name. Normally these are used to describe something that is going on.

Revelation 11:8 (King James Version)

8And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

So here Jerusalem has three names. So maybe there is a spiritual reason to call some place by another name. Myself I think it is a built in stumbling block for some to fall over. If indeed you rest your faith in words then words will cause you to stumble. But if you rest your faith on the more sure Holy Ghost then all words will be viewed through that truth. So what does it matter what a place is called. Have faith that that question can be answered in time by a person called of God to do so. But until then it is a curious thing and means little.

[TAO]

Walker, isn't this what we are supposed to do... to believe in things we cannot see?

How is believing in this garden any different?

Worried Wishes,

TAO

[William Schryver]

Just for the record, I believe in a very literal, very historical Adam and Eve; that they are the primeval parents of all the human inhabitants of this earth; that they really did reside in a literal garden of Eden; that they really did consume a forbidden fruit that initiated their (and, ultimately, our) mortal sojourn on this planet; that there is an ongoing literal gathering of scattered Israel in these, the last days; that there will yet be a literal restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will yet be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory, thus completing the circle.

[Log]

Just for the record, I believe in a very literal, very historical Adam and Eve; that they are the primeval parents of all the human inhabitants of this earth; that they really did reside in a literal garden of Eden; that they really did consume a forbidden fruit that initiated their (and, ultimately, our) mortal sojourn on this planet; that there is an ongoing literal gathering of scattered Israel in these, the last days; that there will yet be a literal restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will yet be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory, thus completing the circle.

+ this.

Out of curiosity, WS, do you believe that Adam and Eve were the physical offspring of some other, non-human or sub human, beings that lived and died on this earth?

[mfbukowski]

Just for the record, I believe in a very literal, very historical Adam and Eve; that they are the primeval parents of all the human inhabitants of this earth; that they really did reside in a literal garden of Eden; that they really did consume a forbidden fruit that initiated their (and, ultimately, our) mortal sojourn on this planet; that there is an ongoing literal gathering of scattered Israel in these, the last days; that there will yet be a literal restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will yet be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory, thus completing the circle.

Well I do too, just in case anybody thinks anything I said here contradicts that. I just have a little different view of what we call "history" than most people.

[TAO]

I also agree with Will. There may be metaphorical points, but most of this isn't one, I believe =).

But that is my opinion. =)

Best Wishes,

TAO

[zerinus]

I do. I view the creation account as a temple ritual.

That means you would have to dismiss Adam and Eve as historical figures as well. So is there any part of modern revelations of the Church that you take literally or seriously at all, such as these:

D&C 27

:

11 And also with Michael, or Adam, the father of all, the prince of all, the ancient of days

D&C 84

:

16 And from Enoch to Abel, who was slain by the conspiracy of his brother, who received the priesthood by the commandments of God, by the hand of his father Adam, who was the first man

D&C 107

:

41 This order was instituted in the days of Adam, and came down by lineage in the following manner

42 From Adam to Seth, who was ordained by Adam at the age of sixty-nine years, and was blessed by him three years previous to his (Adam's) death, and received the promise of God by his father, that his posterity should be the chosen of the Lord, and that they should be preserved unto the end of the earth

43 Because he (Seth) was a perfect man, and his likeness was the express likeness of his father, insomuch that he seemed to be like unto his father in all things, and could be distinguished from him only by his age.

44 Enos was ordained at the age of one hundred and thirty-four years and four months, by the hand of Adam.

45 God called upon Cainan in the wilderness in the fortieth year of his age; and he met Adam in journeying to the place Shedolamak. He was eighty-seven years old when he received his ordination.

46 Mahalaleel was four hundred and ninety-six years and seven days old when he was ordained by the hand of Adam, who also blessed him.

47 Jared was two hundred years old when he was ordained under the hand of Adam, who also blessed him.

48 Enoch was twenty-five years old when he was ordained under the hand of Adam; and he was sixty-five and Adam blessed him.

49 And he saw the Lord, and he walked with him, and was before his face continually; and he walked with God three hundred and sixty-five years, making him four hundred and thirty years old when he was translated.

50 Methuselah was one hundred years old when he was ordained under the hand of Adam.

51 Lamech was thirty-two years old when he was ordained under the hand of Seth.

52 Noah was ten years old when he was ordained under the hand of Methuselah.

53 Three years previous to the death of Adam, he called Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, Enoch, and Methuselah, who were all high priests, with the residue of his posterity who were righteous, into the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman, and there bestowed upon them his last blessing.

54 And the Lord appeared unto them, and they rose up and blessed Adam, and called him Michael, the prince, the archangel.

55 And the Lord administered comfort unto Adam, and said unto him: I have set thee to be at the head; a multitude of nations shall come of thee, and thou art a prince over them forever.

56 And Adam stood up in the midst of the congregation; and, notwithstanding he was bowed down with age, being full of the Holy Ghost, predicted whatsoever should befall his posterity unto the latest generation.

D&C 116

:

1 Spring Hill is named by the Lord Adam-ondi-Ahman, because, said he, it is the place where Adam shall come to visit his people, or the Ancient of Days shall sit, as spoken of by Daniel the prophet.

D&C 117

:

8 Is there not room enough on the mountains of Adam-ondi-Ahman, and on the plains of Olaha Shinehah, or the land where Adam dwelt, that you should covet that which is but the drop, and neglect the more weighty matters

D&C 137

:

5 I saw Father Adam and Abraham; and my father and my mother; my brother Alvin, that has long since slept

D&C 138

:

38 Among the great and mighty ones who were assembled in this vast congregation of the righteous were Father Adam, the Ancient of Days and father of all,

39 And our glorious Mother Eve, with many of her faithful daughters who had lived through the ages and worshiped the true and living God.

40 Abel, the first martyr, was there, and his brother Seth, one of the mighty ones, who was in the express image of his father, Adam.

That is some fictional Adam, who ordained Abel, and a string of other ancient patriarchs to the priesthood, who “lived” in a land now identified as Spring Hill, whom the Lord Himself identifies as the “first man,” who (together with his wife Eve) was seen in a vision by Joseph F. Smith (along side a bunch of other real historical figures), who had a son called Seth who looked just like him, who is identified with the arch-angel Michael, and who is going to come again and gather together his posterity at some future date. That is quite a fictional Adam. Pardon my scepticism; but I am just wondering; is there any portion of the revelations of Joseph Smith that you believe?

[Franktalk]

Most things in scripture have a real element and I believe that the events in the Garden happened quite literally. If we indeed evolved from apes then at what time did Adam become man? What of all of those creatures that were 99% man, did they receive a spirit? And if those other spiritless creatures were on the earth did they breed with man? Once you open that line of thought then all kinds of problems occur. Mixing scientific theories with scriptural truth leads to destruction. God has a plan for us and that plan started in the garden. If we arm wave away the events in the garden then we say that Christ died for a lie. If indeed your faith is strong then couple that faith with the purpose or plan of God. There is a beginning of the plan just as there is a beginning of man. There was never an almost man. The knowledge of good and evil was obtained in the garden and is with us today. It is not a construct of evolution that evolved over millions of years. It is raw knowledge and is not part of the creation. Eve and then Adam took the knowledge and it became a part of man. One day we will take from the tree of life. That will be quite the event for me.