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Welcome Visitor
This site explores the Latter-day Saint Theology from points of view considered by its compilers to be faithful, or in other words: The various concepts expressed on this site are supportive of the belief that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true lineal successor of the church which was restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith, Jr., and that it holds valid priesthood authority up to this present day.
The links on this page provide information for:
Investigators of the Church who are seeking answers to these particular subjects and would like to learn about them from a pro-Mormon source.
Members of the Church who, after learning about these subjects, have developed questions or doubts and are interested in faith promoting, accurate, frank, honest, and informed material on the subject from the perspective of believers.
If you are not interested in this subject, you may be better served by starting with the official www.mormon.org web site which covers our basic beliefs in a balanced way.
If you hold a leadership calling in the Church, and you are attempting to counsel with a prospective convert or with a member of the Church who has shown interest in or asked about the "Adam-God" concept, we have developed a page specifically for leaders with a few points you may want to keep in mind.
If you are a member of the Church and you have made a choice to either believe or disbelieve in the "Adam-God" concept, we have developed a page with advice for the decided.
Historical Illustrations of Theology
Since the Latter-day Saint religion is operated by the principle of continuing revelation—both personal, and through men called by God as Prophets and Apostles—the people in the Church possess a gradually evolving understanding of theology. As questions arise about matters of policy, doctrine, or direction, prayer may be used as a tool to ask God concerning such things, revelation may be received, and if this is done by the Prophet or Apostles, these revelations may also be occasionally delivered to the people of the Church in the form of Conference Addresses (speeches), Periodical Publications, or even canonized additions to the Holy Scriptures.
Mormonism is a restoration of the primitive Church. The process of Restoration involves God giving back to the Church, by revelation and heavenly ministrations, those things that have been lost through the dark ages of time, but which it has in former times possessed. In the beginning of this Restoration process, progress was very rapid for obvious reasons, and Joseph Smith received a volume of revelation to the Church perhaps unparalleled at any other time in history.
Because revelation is given in a gradual process referred to in the scriptures as line upon line, precept upon precept, the understanding of Joseph Smith and his contemporaries developed and evolved as they spent more time in the Church. The Articles of Faith indicate that God may continue to reveal things to us. We should therefore expect our understanding to continue to develop whenever revelation is received.
In this section we will attempt to give you a taste of the various theological developments that have occurred in Latter-day Saint history. It may be a helpful exercise for you to place yourself in the context of the time period being investigated, and forget all developments after that point in time, with which you may be aware, so that you may attempt to see things as they were understood by the people. After you have "lived" through all of the developments, go back and study them over again, considering in what ways they integrate with the entire schema of Mormon theology, including your present views.
Protestant Christian Theology - Before the Restoration - Because this was common in the religious thought of the era, this was the position where most of the early Saints came from before joining The Church. It is therefore important to see it as a contrast to what has been given by revelation.
Joseph Smith's First Vision - Being one of Brother Joseph's first-hand experiences with members of the Godhead, this experience sheds much light on the nature of God and Christ.
Book of Mormon Theology - The Book of Mormon makes several offerings on the subject of theology, however many of the statements may appear to be ambiguous.
Kirtland Theology - The Lectures On Faith - Some ideas presented in The Lectures On Faith may sound strange to the ear of a modern Latter-day Saint. It is however, one of the more thorough explanations. In this illustration, we will explore these teachings at their face value.
Nauvoo Theology - The Doctrine & Covenants - Amidst the ongoing efforts to construct a Temple, some profound revelations were recorded which we can find today in the Doctrine & Covenants.
The King Follett Discourse - Perhaps Joseph Smith's most famous sermon. The revelations given here seem to have set the stage for everything that was to come. The Sermon in the Grove is also here considered, as it was largely a clarification and expansion on what Joseph taught in the King Follett Discourse.
Adam God - Brigham Young's famous or infamous teachings on the character of God. Was this a fulfillment of Joseph Smith's prophecy that Brigham Young would be "the greatest man who ever lived to teach the identity of God to the world?"
Modern LDS Theology - A review of what we are taught in the Missionary lessons, Sunday School classes, Seminaries and Institutes of Religion today.