Adam – Known in the pre-existence as Michael. Adam “sat in the council of the gods in the planning of the creation of this earth” (Mormon Doctrine, p. 16). According to Joseph Smith, Adam participated in the creation of the earth and occupied a position of authority next to Jesus Christ (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 158). Smith also taught Adam was the Ancient of Days, the father of all (D&C 27:11; 138:38). Second Mormon President Brigham Young taught that Adam was not created from the dust of this earth but rather from the dust of an earth (Journal of Discourses 3:319). He referred to the biblical account of the creation of Adam as found in Genesis 2:7 as one of many “baby stories” (Journal of Discourses 2:6). In the Bible, Adam is first human created by God and formed “of the dust of the ground” (Genesis 2:7). It was through Adam’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden that sin entered into the world (Romans 5:12). The consequence of that sin was death. “For the wages of sin is death …” (Romans 6:23).

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