Seven Deadly Heresies and the Saints of Yesteryear

16 November

bruce-mcconkie1When LDS Apostle Bruce McConkie gave a Fireside Speech in June 1980 he named it “The Seven Deadly Heresies”, His message was a warning to members of the Church to refrain from believing in some of the teachings that were made popular by past prophets.

I’ve often wondered if he thought that his words would carry a significant message far into the future.

McConkie told listening ears then (and now) that believing in Brigham Young’s teaching on the Adam-God Theory would bring you to the gates of hell.  Let’s take a look at what he said;

“Heresy six: There are those who believe or say they believe that Adam is our father and our god, that he is the father of our spirits and our bodies, and that he is the one we worship.

The devil keeps this heresy alive as a means of obtaining converts to cultism. It is contrary to the whole plan of salvation set forth in the scriptures, and anyone who has read the Book of Moses, and anyone who has received the temple endowment, has no excuse whatever for being led astray by it.

Those who are so ensnared reject the living prophet and close their ears to the apostles of their day. “We will follow those who went before,” they say. And having so determined, they soon are ready to enter polygamous relationships that destroy their souls.

We worship the Father, in the name of the Son, by the power of the Holy Ghost; and Adam is their foremost servant, by whom the peopling of our planet was commenced.”

McConkie was referring to the many teachings of Brigham Young’s Adam-God Theory. The second prophet of Mormonism was adamant that Adam was Michael the Archangel, the Ancient of Days as well as God.  While Joseph Smith did give hints of this theory it wasn’t built upon to the level that Brigham took it. Here’s just a few of the things he and others had to say about this –

On the Potter’s Wheel”, Appendix A, Memorandum Book, H. C. Kimball; “April 30, 1862. The Lord told me that Adam was my father and that he was the God and father of all of the inhabitants of this Earth.” – Stanley B. Kimball, editor

Journal of Wilford Woodruff, December 11, 1869, Brigham Young Addresses, 1865-1869, Vol. 5, page 361; “… the period will come when the people will be willing to adopt Joseph Smith as their Prophet, Seer and Revelator and God! But not the father of their spirits, for that was our father Adam.” – Elden J. Watson, Feb. 1982

Wilford Woodruff’s Journal, April 9, 1852; “Our Father begot all the spirits that were before any tabernacle was made. When our Father came into the Garden He came with his Celestial body and brought one of his wives with him and ate of the fruit of the Garden until He could beget a Tabernacle. And Adam is Michael God and all the God that we have anything to do with. They ate of this fruit and formed the first Tabernacle that was formed. And when the Virgin Mary was begotten with Child it was by the Father and in no other way only as we were begotten. I will tell you the truth as it is in God. The world don’t know that Jesus Christ our Elder Brother was begotten by our Father in Heaven. Handle it as you please, it will either seal the damnation or salvation of man. He was begotten by the Father and not by the Holy Ghost.” – Brigham Young

So I wonder…where are all the Latter-day Saints who lived during the time Brigham and friends taught this heresy?

Are they in heaven or hell?

If I was a Mormon I’d be concerned that I wouldn’t see my ancestors when I die and go to the Mormon heaven.  This in turn would be a problem for me because as a Mormon I used to put a lot of hope into knowing/believing we’d all be one big family someday because “families are forever”.

What if the Church changes their minds in the future about temple sealings or maybe the Book of Mormon or Doctrine and Covenants?  Will the Mormon who believes in those things now go to heaven if the Church dumps those beliefs in the future?

We’re praying the Mormon people will think upon this and other scenarios like it. The most important thing in this life is to know Jesus Christ. Would Jesus tell people the teachings of past prophets aren’t compatible with His teachings?

With Love in Christ;

Michelle

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