Suggest a Site
Now accepting banner ads!
Search this site!
IVAN - In the original D&C scripture 137:5 describing Joseph Smith's vision of the Celestial Kingdom, it says the following:
"I saw father Adam, and Abraham and Michael and my father and mother, my brother Alvin that has long since slept, and marvled how it was that he had obtained this an inheritance in that kingdom,"
The current D&C 137:5 now leaves out the name "Michael".
"I saw Father Adam and Abraham; and my father and my mother; my brother Alvin, that has long since slept"
Why the discrepancy and why was the scripture changed?
JOEL - Although in the original version Adam and Michael, the archangel, are designated as separate persons, the previous year Joseph Smith approved publication of the Doctrine and Covenants, which has earlier scriptures that described them as the same person:
"And also with Michael, or Adam, the father of all, the prince of all, the ancient of days;"(D&C 27: 11)
"And the Lord appeared unto them, and they rose up and blessed Adam, and called him Michael, the prince, the archangel. (D&C 107: 54)
Other sources confirm this:
"At meeting of school of the prophets, President Young said Adam was Michael the Archangel and he was the father of Jesus Christ and was our God, and Joseph taught this principle." (Prophet Wilford Woodruff, Journal of Wilford Woodruff, December 16, 1867)
Also in a letter from Oliver Cowdery to John Whitmer he confirmed that he had been told by Joseph Smith that Michael is Adam.
Joseph taught in other places that Adam was Michael.
When Section 137 was originally written later in 1836, after the publication of the original 1835 D&C, the new and inexperienced scribe, Warren Parrish, transcribing the revelation, must have miss heard what Joseph Smith said and thought he included Michael in the revelation.
This is just speculation but, when Joseph Smith said the words "and my father", and perhaps stuttered and said "and my..and my", Parrish might have thought he heard Joseph say "and Michael" instead of just "and My..".
Regardles, it is quite evident from previous reports and scriptures that Joseph Smith knew and taught that Adam was Michael.
Therefore, the scripture was corrected to reflect the true identity of Adam.
Return to top
Return to Questions
HOME
| 