askandanswer

Count your many blessings, name them one, by one...........   

Count your many blessings, name them one, by one...........   

I don’t believe that the general church membership had demonstrated the ability to discern truth from error beyond recognizing the truthfulness of the restored gospel in general. Speaking of these same people, Joseph Smith had said:
“[T]here has been a great difficulty in getting anything into the heads of this generation. It has been like splitting hemlock knots with a corn-dodger for a wedge, and a pumpkin for a beetle. Even the Saints are slow to understand.
I have tried for a number of years to get the minds of the Saints prepared to receive the things of God; but we frequently see some of them, after suffering all they have for the work of God, will fly to pieces like glass as soon as anything comes that is contrary to their traditions: they cannot stand the fire at all. How many will be able to abide a celestial law, and go through and receive their exaltation, I am unable to say, as many are called, but few are chosen.” (Jan. 20, 1844.) DHC 6:183-185.
Many church members received the Adam-God teaching with gladness and considered it to be light and truth revealed from heaven. This included apostles like Wilford Woodruff, Lorenzo Snow, and Franklin D. Richards. 
Others had difficulty accepting it as it went against their traditions. 

Thanks for posting this @mikbone I was unaware of this guy. After reading your post I watched two of his episodes. 

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Today, I have been given the opportunity to bear a short 3 Minute testimony in our Branch Conference. (This is Branch a organized for the local prisons)...
You will realize someday the importance of your calling to God and the heavens. 
Members would be clamoring to volunteer if they knew the blessings that will come to those who minister to the prisoner.
 
Heavenly Father loves us with a love that we can barely even conceive of. 
As the Lord's newest Apostle, Elder Patrick Kearon, said, and as I can personally witness, “God is in relentless pursuit of you. He “wants all of His children to choose to return to Him,” and He employs every possible measure to bring you back.”
 
Jesus Christ is our Messiah, Redeemer, and King. 
He voluntarily suffered, bled, and died so that we could repent and we receive forgiveness. He is our only hope of forgiveness, salvation, and exaltation.
By His Resurrection all of God's children will gain immortality. 
He is the Light and Life of this world and all creation. He is creation's only hope. Without Him all would be darkness and chaos. 
He is coming again soon to establish His Kingdom of Peace.
 
Joseph Smith holds the keys of, and is the head of this, the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times and those keys will never be taken from him- “Forever and ever the keys he will hold!”. 
He is the Servant of the Lord in the parable of the Vineyard. He will stand again on the earth to lead forth in the redemption of Zion- “Millions shall know Brother Joseph again!”. 
The Lord gave me a testimony of the calling of Joseph Smith Jr. at 16, and the all  devils in hell haven't been able to, and never will, take that witness from me!
 
The Book of Mormon is a real history, of real people, that really lived. It contains the fullness of the Gospel (Good News) of Jesus Christ. 
It is the keystone of my religion. 
It is my Latter-day survival guide. 
I have, and you will, come closer to God by abiding by it's precepts than any other Book.
 
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord's Church. 
It was established through the ministry of angels.
Only in it are found the keys of salvation and eternal life. As President Nelson recently said, “no other organization can and will influence your life after death.”
 
Russell Marion Nelson is the Lord's Presiding High Priest to direct His work in these days. 
He is the prophet, seer, and revelator to the Church and the world. 
If we obey the counsel given through him we will receive the power to endure and survive the sorrows that are coming upon the earth, and receive a fullness of joy in the mansions of our Eternal Parents.

They’ve always been pretty shady. 

We got another one.
My wife was following him prior to his baptism.  
He loved the temple open houses.  Our clear communication.  And Robins (the birds).
 

The teaching of additional light and truth to those who have already demonstrated an ability to discern truth from error does not generally cause the sort of reactions that you claim were caused by teaching the Adam-God theory. So that raises a question in my mind as to whether what was taught was indeed light and truth. It doesn't seem to be quite consistent with Doctrine and Covenants 88:40
For aintelligence cleaveth unto intelligence; bwisdom receiveth wisdom; ctruth embraceth truth; dvirtue loveth virtue; elight cleaveth unto light; fmercy hath gcompassion on mercy and claimeth her own; hjustice continueth its course and claimeth its own; judgment goeth before the face of him who sitteth upon the throne and governeth and executeth all things.

The teaching of additional light and truth to those who have already demonstrated an ability to discern truth from error does not generally cause the sort of reactions that you claim were caused by teaching the Adam-God theory. So that raises a question in my mind as to whether what was taught was indeed light and truth. It doesn't seem to be quite consistent with Doctrine and Covenants 88:40
For aintelligence cleaveth unto intelligence; bwisdom receiveth wisdom; ctruth embraceth truth; dvirtue loveth virtue; elight cleaveth unto light; fmercy hath gcompassion on mercy and claimeth her own; hjustice continueth its course and claimeth its own; judgment goeth before the face of him who sitteth upon the throne and governeth and executeth all things.

The teaching of additional light and truth to those who have already demonstrated an ability to discern truth from error does not generally cause the sort of reactions that you claim were caused by teaching the Adam-God theory. So that raises a question in my mind as to whether what was taught was indeed light and truth. It doesn't seem to be quite consistent with Doctrine and Covenants 88:40
For aintelligence cleaveth unto intelligence; bwisdom receiveth wisdom; ctruth embraceth truth; dvirtue loveth virtue; elight cleaveth unto light; fmercy hath gcompassion on mercy and claimeth her own; hjustice continueth its course and claimeth its own; judgment goeth before the face of him who sitteth upon the throne and governeth and executeth all things.

From the Webester 1828 Dictionary 3) law
the railing in a courtroom that encloses the place about the judge where prisoners are stationed or where the business of the court is transacted in civil cases
the whole body of barristors or lawyers qualified to practice in the courts of any jurisdiction
And from the BoM
1 Nephi 12:9 And he said unto me: Thou rememberest the twelve apostles of the Lamb? Behold they are they who shall judge the twelve tribes of Israel; wherefore, the twelve ministers of thy seed shall be judged of them; for ye are of the house of Israel.
10 And these twelve ministers whom thou beholdest shall judge thy seed. And, behold, they are righteous forever; for because of their faith in the Lamb of God their garments are made white in his blood.
I bet that we will be judged by our current apostles.
I'd prefer to have Elder Monson or Erying pead my case.  But I'll probably get McConkie or Packer.  

The "bar" has a footnote to Moroni 10.  
I noted that the "bar" (from Moroni 10) used in conjunction with "Eternal Judge" indicates that the "bar" spoken of is about the final judgement.  Maybe, maybe not.  I was thinking of "the bar" that is used in modern settings for the inner area in the courtroom for the judge and lawyers.  So, I could see this referring to God as the ultimate judge. Therefore, we meet at his bar.
The problem is that this usage of the word "bar" is of modern origin.  It was far later than Moroni, and certainly later than Jacob.  So, why is this "bar" used in these verses?
It is easy enough to say that these were simply the best modern language equivalents to ancient figures of speech.  And it could be.  But I just don't feel right about it.
Another answer didn't occur to me until I re-read the words:
This isn't the bar of a modern courtroom.  This is a scepter, either of the Egyptian Pharaoh or a Judge of Israel (or possibly some combination of the two).
I prefer that dual symbolism of the Egyptian Pharaohs.  The flail and scepter were double-dual symbols.  
The flail could punish disobedient servants, or it could be used to thresh wheat, thus providing for the people. The shepherd's crook was either a way to STRIKE down a criminal, or to bring a repentant soul into the fold. To say that the bar (staff, rod, etc.) was "pleasing", and then say that is striketh fear and dread, would indicate a dual symbol.

I like to think that I'm too well-mannered to laugh at the views and opinions of others, but sometimes the temptation arises. To think that God would allow His prophet to teach false doctrine about His character and nature for 25 years, especially after he and His Son appeared in person to Joseph Smith - well that's an example of when I'm tempted. 
To quote again from a previously quoted from talk:
Fourth: The prophet will never lead the Church astray.
President Wilford Woodruff stated: “I say to Israel, The Lord will never permit me or any other man who stands as president of the Church to lead you astray. It is not in the program. It is not in the mind of God.” (The Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, selected by G. Homer Durham [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1946], pp. 212-213.)
If Brigham Young did indeed teach the Adam-God theory - and I have never looked into the matter myself, and nor do I intend to because it is so unimportant - and God allowed him to continue teaching this, I would be inclined to accept that there must be some truth to it. However, I say this from the position of one who has never looked at the idea or its associated teachings.

Why limit the choice to 2? How about simple fallibility, misunderstanding and miscommunication, or practice with councils and group revelation and continuing revelation in council, or expediency in the Lord changing priorities and emphasis to best convey His plan of redemption?

I think we can agree on two things; 1) that the Adam-God theory was once taught in the church and 2) now it is not being taught in the church. I'm not sure, from those two facts, whether we can reliably come to the conclusion that it was a) taken away from the church and b) the reason for that presumed taking away was because of the wickedness of the church.

I second what @Maverick said. I think part of the atonement required Jesus to endure the suffering in part without any external support. That's why he could make the claim "I have tread the winepress alone." Some general authorities have expressed similar opinions.
I have always liked this explanation by Jeffrey R Holland: "Now I speak very carefully, even reverently, of what may have been the most difficult moment in all of this solitary journey to Atonement. I speak of those final moments for which Jesus must have been prepared intellectually and physically but which He may not have fully anticipated emotionally and spiritually—that concluding descent into the paralyzing despair of divine withdrawal when He cries in ultimate loneliness, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” 16 Matthew 27:46 emphasis added.]
The loss of mortal support He had anticipated, but apparently He had not comprehended this. Had He not said to His disciples, “Behold, the hour … is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me” and “The Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him”? 17 John 16:32 8:29
With all the conviction of my soul I testify that He did please His Father perfectly and that a perfect Father did not forsake His Son in that hour. Indeed, it is my personal belief that in all of Christ’s mortal ministry the Father may never have been closer to His Son than in these agonizing final moments of suffering. Nevertheless, that the supreme sacrifice of His Son might be as complete as it was voluntary and solitary, the Father briefly withdrew from Jesus the comfort of His Spirit, the support of His personal presence. It was required, indeed it was central to the significance of the Atonement, that this perfect Son who had never spoken ill nor done wrong nor touched an unclean thing had to know how the rest of humankind—us, all of us—would feel when we did commit such sins. For His Atonement to be infinite and eternal, He had to feel what it was like to die not only physically but spiritually, to sense what it was like to have the divine Spirit withdraw, leaving one feeling totally, abjectly, hopelessly alone."

From the ABC, Australia' government funded national broadcaster a few days ago:
 
https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2024-04-13/how-fast-can-a-womat-actually-run-faster-than-usain-bolt/103648118
How fast does a wombat really run? An investigation into the 40 kph phenomenon

I think we can agree on two things; 1) that the Adam-God theory was once taught in the church and 2) now it is not being taught in the church. I'm not sure, from those two facts, whether we can reliably come to the conclusion that it was a) taken away from the church and b) the reason for that presumed taking away was because of the wickedness of the church.

I think we can agree on two things; 1) that the Adam-God theory was once taught in the church and 2) now it is not being taught in the church. I'm not sure, from those two facts, whether we can reliably come to the conclusion that it was a) taken away from the church and b) the reason for that presumed taking away was because of the wickedness of the church.

1. Because methods of publication and distribution were not as fast or as widespread as they are now. Compare with how long it took to publish and disseminate the Book of Mormon to England and Canada with how long it takes to do the same with a publication today. 
2. Because there were fewer organisations and individuals that were inclined to make the kinds of attacks we are now seeing.  Levels of hate, and the organisations of the haters seem to be higher and better organised now than previously. 
3. Those who were inclined to make such attacks were focussed on bigger targets rather than a new and obscure group that only had a significant presence in a few US states. 
I've noticed some changes in the world since I've been in it, and no doubt there were some changes between 1830 and my arrival. Changed circumstances sometimes require a response and sometimes that response involves doing things differently.

Alma 10:3 And Aminadi was a descendant of Nephi, who was the son of Lehi, who came out of the land of Jerusalem, who was a descendant of Manasseh, who was the son of Joseph who was sold into Egypt by the hands of his brethren.
“The Prophet Joseph informed us that the record of Lehi, was contained on the 116 pages that were first translated and subsequently stolen, and of which an abridgment is given us in the first book of Nephi, which is the record of Nephi individually, he himself being of the lineage of Manasseh; but that Ishmael was of the lineage of Ephraim, and that his sons married into Lehi's family, and Lehi's sons married Ishmael's daughters... “

(Erastus Snow, JD 23:184)
 

This is something that interests me as well. I've always wondered what it would be like to make an error. Sometimes I think about deliberately making an error just to see what it would feel like, but when I actually try to, I just don't know how to do it.
 
(Well, not always  ) 

When the Temple priests in ancient Israel were in error the people still had to take their sacrifices to them at the Temple.
That is a pattern.
Even *if* the general leadership is in error, they have the keys of the kingdom and are the gatekeepers of the House of the Lord. Our job is to stay recommend worthy and redeem our dead- the Lord will deal with His leaders *if* necessary.
Don't be a latter-day Uzzah.

After years of study and meditation (which recently I had several years to do) I finally realized it's about authority and the temple. When Israel's priests weren't behaving well, where could the people take their sacrifices? They still had to take them to the same priests at the same temple. So, using that scriptural precedent - even IF the Church is having issues, your access to eternal temple covenants remains with the authorities of the Church.
ZealouslyStriving (Mosiah 27:35)