Lessons on the Temple
Lesson No. Fifty-Two

Adam-ondi-Ahman – The First Temple

Introduction – A few years ago we stayed at Adam-ondi-Ahman with our friends Sheldon and Joan Child. Sheldon had been assigned by the First Presidency to oversee Adam-ondi-Ahman.  There are only a few signs at the property that talk about its history or future.  But for those who believe Joseph Smith was a prophet, Adam-ondi-Ahman is a sacred place.  The following all originated with Joseph Smith.

Adam and Eve’s temple – When Adam and Eve were driven out of the Garden of Eden, located in Jackson County Missouri, they traveled 70 miles north to where they settled.  The Lord named this area Adam-ondi-Ahman (see D&C 116:1) which means “Adam in the presence of God.”  (See Journal of Discourses 2:342)

This area was the cradle of civilization and where Adam received the gospel and taught his family. Here he built an alter and offered sacrifice.  “And after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam saying:  Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord?  And Adam said unto him:  I know not, save the Lord commanded me.  And then the angel spake, saying:  This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth” (Moses 5:5-7).

Joseph Smith identified the spot where this alter had been built and he named it Tower Hill.  “It was there that Adam and his family assembled to worship their God.  Here their evening and morning prayer ascended to heaven with the smoke of the burning sacrifice, prophetic and symbolic of the greater sacrifice yet to be, and here angels instructed them in heavenly truths” (History of the Church 3:40). 

President Ezra Taft Benson further explained:   “Adam and his descendants entered into the priesthood order of God. Today we would say they went to the House of the Lord and received their blessings” (Ensign, August 1985).  Adam and Eve’s temple was located at Adam-ondi-Ahman. 

Two great council meetings – The first took place three years before Adam’s death when he called his righteous posterity together and gave them his last blessing.  The Lord appeared and Adam was called Michael, the prince, the archangel.  Adam prophesied about the future of his family.  (D&C 107:53-56)    

The second great council meeting at Adam-ondi-Ahman “is the place where Adam shall come to visit his people…as spoken of by Daniel the prophet” (D&C 116:1).  This second great meeting ushers in the Second Coming.  Daniel saw in vision, “ten thousand times ten thousand stood before [Adam]: the judgment was set, and the books were opened” (Daniel 7:10).

Ten thousand times ten thousand is a hundred million!  Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote the participants at this great council meeting would include “all the faithful members of the Church then living and all the faithful saints of all the ages past…It will be the greatest congregation of faithful saints ever assembled on planet earth” (Millennial Messiah, p. 579).

This meeting will not be known to the world, and it will be by invitation only.  It may be that this great council meeting will happen in a way similar to the dedication of the Nauvoo Temple in June 2002.  These services were broadcast by secure satellite to stake centers which became extensions of the temple.   Those invited were given tickets and participated in the meeting.

Nephite temple – Joseph Smith also said that the place where Adam had built his alter was also the place of a later “Nephitish alter and Tower” (History of the Church 3:35).  We know that the Nephites built and worshiped in temples.  If they built an alter on the same spot as Adam’s alter it is likely that they used that alter as part of their temple worship just as Adam and Eve did. 

Testimony – Everyone present at the second great council meeting at Adam-ondi-Ahman, whether they are on this side of the veil or on the other side, will be heirs of eternal life.  They will love the temple and they will know how to worship in the House of the Lord.  It is Susan and my greatest desire to be invited, with our family, to that most remarkable meeting.  The Second Coming of the Lord will closely follow this great council meeting.