mikbone

Its kinda a long story... Alot of it has to do with the personality of Adam, for he was truely selfless. The First 2,000 years is the best book for understanding Adam. If you haven't read it, its a detailed study of the Pearl of Great Price. Another part has to do with the relationship between Adam and Jehovah. I think that they were close. Ether 3:14-16 Thats a good start.

The Father was the Architect Jesus was the Carpenter Yes sir. Wouldn't being a carpenter be a great training ground prior to becoming an architect?

Yeah. It was Michael. Michael said and did something in the Garden that was more powerful and inspirational then what God the Father could. I figured it out during a morning jog about 15 years ago, and cried like a baby for a long time. It hit me like a ton of bricks. I think that it would be an injustice if I were to tell ya the story without you being able to figure it out yourself though. Enjoy.

Tomk McConkie in Mormon Doctrine under title Atonement of Christ wrote along a similar line. "which means that the atonement of Christ, being literally and truly infinite, applies to an infinite number of earths" I just dont buy it. I like Joseph Smiths' explanation better found in the king folet discourse, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, P. 346 "Power of the Father and the Son I wish I was in a suitable place to tell it, and that I had the trump of an archangel, so that I could tell the story in such a manner that persecution would cease for ever. What did Jesus say? (Mark it, Elder Rigdon!) The Scriptures inform us that Jesus said, as the Father hath power in Himself, even so hath the Son power—to do what? Why, what the Father did. The answer is obvious—in a manner to lay down His body and take it up again. Jesus, what are you going to do? To lay down my life as my Father did, and take it up again. Do we believe it? If you do not believe it, you do not believe the Bible. (2) The Scriptures say it, and I defy all the learning and wisdom and all the combined powers of earth and hell together to refute it. Here, then, is eternal life—to know the only wise and true God; and you have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all Gods have done before you, (3) namely, by going from one small degree to another, and from a small capacity to a great one; from grace to grace, from exaltation to exaltation, until you attain to the resurrection of the dead, and are able to dwell in everlasting burnings, and to sit in glory, as do those who sit enthroned in everlasting power. And I want you to know that God, in the last days, while certain individuals are proclaiming his name, is not trifling with you or me." You state that: "Only an Exalted Being, God the Father, could power the Son sufficiently to perform the Atonement." No doubt, the Father did give Jesus encouragement. But I find it curious that Christ asked the Father three times if it would be possible for the bitter cup to be taken from him. And only when an un-named angle came to visit Christ in the Garden of Eden was Jesus strengthened enough to make the final decision to partake of the bitter cup. And then, during the bitter agony of the Atonement the Father had to leave Christ's presence so that He (Jesus) could perform the task alone. Matthew 27:46 I have a theory as to who the un-named angel was that strengthed Christ, and I think that it is pretty awesome. Finally, you finish with a discussion upon Glory and Honor. I LOVE these concepts. Have you ever read Cleon Skousen's - The First 2,000 Years? Especially the appendix B, Why Was The Attonement Necessary? If you haven't it is a must read! I think that Cleon's book taught me how to think more so than any other book or class that I have ever taken (and I've had lots of schoolin). It is my 3rd favorite gospel book only after the 1) Standard Works, and 2) The Words of Joseph Smith (compiled and edited by Andrew F. Ehat and Lyndon W. Cook). Anyway... Honor and Glory are something that Lucifer certainly did not understand. It is something that cannot be given, but can only be earned. It is interesting that Lucifer argued in the pre-existence that he would save us all if only the Father would give him (Lucifer) all the honor thus power. D&C 29:36, and Moses 4:3. Whereas Christ was happy to perform his labors and give all the glory and honor to the Father. Well here is the kool thing about Honor and glory. If you do it right, it has an additive effect. Although he asked that the glory be the Father's he will retain plenty of honor himself. Revelations 5:11-13 11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and a thousands of thousands; 12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. 13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. I'll finish with Revelation 3:21 To him that a overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Point well taken. I like this statement from the guys at despair.com better, None of Us is as Dumb as All of Us.

tubaloth, I get the idea that Jehovah presented the plan to us in the pre-existant state from Abraham 3:23-27 Especially verse 24. And there stood one among them that was like unto God (I assume that this is Jehovah), and he said unto them... Jehovah was immeasurably more intelligent than the rest of our Father's spiritual children in the pre-existence. It is difficult to make an evaluation of the disparity between His intelligence and the intelligence of every other spirit child in the pre-existence. But in an attempt to do so, I believe that Jehovah could be portrayed as a very polished member of society with multiple PhDs in all categories of science and art while the rest of the spiritual mass would be finger-painters in kindergarten. This idea is supported by a verse in Abraham and some commentary on that same verse. And the Lord said unto me: These two facts do exist, that there are two spirits, one being more intelligent than the other; there shall be another more intelligent than they; I am the Lord thy God, I am more intelligent than they all. Abraham 3:19 "It is the direct statement in the Book of Abraham - accepted by the Church as scripture - that there are differences in the intelligences that exist, that some are more intelligent than others; and that God is "more intelligent than them all". I believe that this means more than that God is more intelligent than any other one of the intelligences. It means that he is more intelligent than all of the other intelligences combined. His intelligence is greater than that of the mass." Teaching of the Prophet Joseph Smith, footnote 8, p. 353

Yeah, I tend to wonder. I have faith, but not blind faith. I like to know the details. I'm a surgeon by trade and before I go into a case I like to know exactly what im getting into. I'm not a 'lets open the hood and fix the car kinda guy'. I do my homework and try to be prepared as much as possible for the complications that unexpectly occur. I not trying to be offensive. Just wanted to state succintly a few inconsistencies that I have been and will continue to try to work out. BTW, I know that there is a 'unified field theory' that applies to the plan of salvation. Its obvious. The chruch is true. Joseph Smith obviously knew it (the big picutre). I'm just trying to figure it out. Yeah I've trembled before and felt fear. Just not to the degree that Jesus Christ did. D&C 122:7-8. Totally agree. I know that I fall short of Christ - unfortunately WAY short. Yet I tell my children to follow him. I continue to strive, and will do so even after this mortal life. You will too. Here we part ways. It is an inconsistency that I have yet to resolve. BTW, I do believe that everyone that was in our pre-existent state was able to witness Jesus Christ's atonement. Or will be able to prior to the final judgement.

"What did Jesus do? Why, I do the things I saw my Father do when worlds came rolling into existence. I saw my Father work out his kingdom with fear and trembling, and I must do the same; and when I get my kingdom I shall present it to my Father so that he obtains kingdom upon kingdom, and it will exalt his glory. And so Jesus treads in his tracks to inherit what God did before." Assumptions: Fear and Trembling - I have always thought that this refers to the atonement I think that everyone who has, or is destined to receive a body on this earth was able to witness Jesus Christ's atoning sacrifice. "As man is God once was, as God is man may be." Questions: Did Jehovah witness the Father's atonement? Because it seems like everyone else in the pre-existence was in the dark concerning the details of the atonement when Jehovah presented the Father's plan to us. Are we going to be able to tread in the tracks of our fathers?, and have our "fathers" experienced sin to the degree that we have? How can we expect our children to follow in our tracks if we are not able to give them a proper example of fear and trembling. Will they have to refer to Jesus Christ's example?

This is a legitimate question that many have tried to understand. I have listed 11 verses with some of my own personal commentary to follow. This chapter in my opinion is an awesome piece of revelation. I take Mahonri at his word. Remember, this scripture was originally written in the Adamic language which I believe is precise. In the following commentary I conclude what type of Body that Mahonri thought he originally perceived. You will have to finish the chapter for the full revelation. I welcome your commentaries, especially on verse 17. ***Ether 2:22-23 I [Mahonri] have prepared the vessels for my people, and behold there is no light in them. Behold, O Lord, wilt thou suffer that we shall cross this great water in darkness? And the Lord said unto the brother of Jared: What will ye that I should do that ye may have light in your vessels?*** Isn't it wonderful that the Lord does not solve all our problems for us? Here Jehovah returned the responsibility of conceiving the means to illuminate the ships back upon Mahonri. The brother of Jared was inspired to molten sixteen stones, with the idea that Jehovah could enhance them such that they would produce light. This procedure of collecting the raw materials, producing a fire hot enough to melt stone, and pouring the molten material into pre-fashioned molds most definitely took much skill, time, and effort. I imagine that during this process Mahonri pondered on how he would ask the Lord to endow the stones. ***Ether 3:4 And I know, O Lord, that thou hast all power, and can do whatsoever thou wilt for the benefit of man; therefore touch these stones, O Lord, with thy finger, and prepare them that they may shine forth in darkness; and they shall shine forth unto us in the vessels which we have prepared, that we may have light while we shall cross the sea.*** Mahonri has just hiked up mount Shelem (interpreted as exceedingly high) hand carrying the carefully crafted sixteen stones. I assume that when he arrived at the summit, Mahonri took some time to clean up physically, rest his body, meditate, and to arrange everything just so. Finally, I picture him stepping back a few feet from the stones in satisfaction, and kneel down in preparation to invoke our Lord in prayer. In his supplication to the Lord, Mahonri not only asked for the stones to shine, he asked that the Lord touch the stones. One must question Mahonri's state of mind, and motivation behind this request. Did he ask the Lord to touch the stones only as an offhand remark, or did he actually desire that the Lord touch the stones? Did he think, believe, or actually have the faith that he could see the Lord's finger? Did Mahonri think that the Lord had a finger and thus a body? Did he want to see the Lord's finger? ***Ether 3:6 And it came to pass that when the brother of Jared had said these words, behold, the Lord stretched forth his hand and touched the stones one by one with his finger. And the veil was taken from off the eyes of the brother of Jared, and he saw the finger of the Lord; and it was as the finger of a man, like unto flesh and blood; and the brother of Jared fell down before the Lord, for he was struck with fear.*** Mahonri's prayers are answered! He intently watched in awe as the stones illuminated in succession. Then he realized that he was also witnessing the finger of God and he began to study it. He saw the digit of our Savior and noticed what it was composed of: bones, muscles, ligaments, skin, hair, and nail. This procedure of touching the sixteen stones probably transpired within fifteen to thirty seconds giving Mahonri sufficient time to study what he was observing. Then suddenly during this manifestation Mahonri became so overcome with fear that he lost the ability to control his muscles, and fell prostrate before the Lord. But why??? Was he afraid because he did not think that the Lord would do what he asked (see Ether 12:20)? Or was Mahonri afraid because he saw something that he did not anticipate? ***Ether 3:7 And the Lord saw that the brother of Jared had fallen to the earth; and the Lord said unto him: Arise, why hast thou fallen?*** Jehovah must have perceived the thoughts of Mahonri. Yet he asked a pointed question. I believe to assist Mahonri in coming to a radical conclusion. ***Ether 3:8 And he saith unto the Lord: I saw the finger of the Lord, and I feared lest he should smite me; for I knew not that the Lord had flesh and blood.*** Mahonri said that he was afraid that the Lord would smite him. So, the obvious question arises, why did Mahonri think that the Lord would smite him? Mahonri had obeyed the Lord's instructions. He invoked the Lord in sincere prayer, and his prayer was answered exactly as he had worded it. Did Mahonri fear because he thought he was audaciously seeing something that he was not worthy to see? Possibly, but I think not. Remember, Mahonri had asked specifically that the Lord touch the stones. He had the faith necessary to see the Lord, and had previously received at least two direct revelations from the Lord. In the previous chapter Mahonri had conversed with the Lord for the space of three hours! Was Mahonri afraid because he did not know that the Lord had the form of a body? I think not, he knew that Jehovah was a man and not some amorphous presence. Mahonri had access to the prophet's testimonies via scripture, thus he knew that man was created in the image of God. The Brother of Jared also knew that many prophets had seen God face to face. Adam & Eve; Genesis 1:26-27, Joseph Smith Lectures on Faith, Lecture Second #54, p. 23-24. The first eight patriarch, all of whom were high priests; D&C 107:53-55 Enoch; Moses 7:4 Noah; Genesis 6:9 The answer to the question as to why Mahonri thought that the Lord would smite him is very simply stated within the same verse in which the question arises, but many scriptural scholars have seemed to gloss over this essential concept. Mahonri states that he did not know that the Lord had a body of flesh and blood. Mahonri did not say flesh and bones, he used the word blood, and blood declares mortality. Thus Mahonri was saying, "I did not know you were mortal!" So, why did Mahonri think that his physical well-being was in jeopardy just by assuming that Jehovah was mortal? I believe that while Mahonri looked at Jehovah, he earnestly thought that he saw a body of flesh and blood. His thoughts were racing, for Mahonri had been previously taught that Jehovah was immortal and could not die. He then began to consider the implications of Jehovah's mortality, and concluded that if Jehovah is mortal, he must be subject to injury and possibly even death! Mahonri assumed that since this knowledge had never before been released, the Lord had reason to conceal that he was composed of the same weak material as the rest of mankind. I think that Mahonri thought that Jehovah would smite him - to keep him from revealing to humanity that God was in reality a frail mortal. *** Ether 3:9 And the Lord said unto him: Because of thy faith thou hast seen that I shall take upon me flesh and blood; and never has man come before me with such exceeding faith as thou hast; for were it not so ye could not have seen my finger. Sawest thou more than this?*** Jehovah alleviates Mahonri's fears, and praises his faith. At this point our Savior does not correct Mahonri's false assumption. Jehovah knew Mahonri Moriancumer's thoughts and used them to impress a significant truth upon his soul. Jehovah explained that in time he would become mortal (thus as Mahonri had concluded, Jehovah would be subject to injury and indeed even death). I assume that this information struck Mahonri heavily. Jehovah then told Mahonri that no man had previously come to him with such great faith, and that he was able to see the finger because Mahonri strongly desired and truly believed that he would see the finger. Then our Lord asked a leading question and Mahonri was more than happy to answer the question and issue the follow-up request. ***Ether 3:10-12 And he answered: Nay; Lord, show thyself unto me. And the Lord said unto him: Believest thou the words which I shall speak? And he answered: Yea, Lord, I know that thou speakest the truth, for thou art a God of truth, and canst not lie.*** Mahonri here requests to see the Lord in his entirety. Mahonri bears his testimony of God to God. ***Ether 3:13 And when he had said these words, behold, the Lord showed himself unto him, and said: Because thou knowest these things ye are redeemed from the fall; therefore ye are brought back into my presence; therefore I show myself unto you.*** The Lord here grants Mahonri Moriancumer's calling and election, the greatest ordinance that can be bestowed unto man upon this earth. Jehovah told Mahonri that because he knew these things, he was redeemed from the fall. Mahonri now understood that Jehovah, his God and the God of his ancestors, was to become a mortal man capable of death for some very important reason. Jehovah then thoroughly showed himself to Mahonri. What Jehovah was showing Mahonri was not tangible. The physical state of Jehovah was trivial at this point. What Mahonri was shown was so much more significant. When a person receives his calling and election he is brought back into the Lord's presence; or as revealed to Joseph Smith, the veil is rent (D&C 67:10). This veil is the veil of forgetfulness that we each pass through as we are born as an infant to our mortal parents. Thus Mahonri was re-endowed with his pre-existent memories and recognized the Lord. He recognized that our God Jehovah was the pre-existent soul who had said, Here am I, send me. Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever (Abraham 3:27, Moses 4:2). Mahonri’s recognized the Lord to be an old friend, yea, even his elder brother. At this point the celestial manifestation ceased to be a test and passed into a family reunion type event. How Mahonri’s heart must have jumped with joy to recognize the true identity of our Lord. How he must have sorrowed at the foreknowledge that Jehovah was himself to be the sacrificial lamb whose blood was to be shed during the meridian of time.

Well stated. I have always tried to understand God. Just because some people think that topics are mysterious dosent mean that I have to have the same belief. I have always questioned and tried to find the truth thru common sense, logic, pondering, study, and prayer. Sure our current minds are probably not able to understand the complete nature of God. But the beauty of the Truth is that, it is what it is. The Brother of Jared was able to comprehend the nature of God because he wanted to and he deserved it. The scriptures do give a vast amount of information of the life and times of Jehovah and Jesus Christ. And if man never made the attempt to fill in the blanks we would never progress. It is in our nature. I doubt that my comments have offended any. If so, I an sorry. They are thoughts. I dont require you or anyone else to believe them. I do have problems with people stating that God the Father and the Virgin Mary had intercourse. It is a false doctrine.

Im pretty sure in my thought process as to why I believe that the virgin Mary was a surrogate mother and not his biologic mother. Mostly because I am looking at the birth of Jesus Christ from a vastly different angle. I am going to make a hypothetical statement here. Mull it over for a bit before you reject it. I believe that it does have some merit. What if Jehovah had previously recieved a body on another world where Elohim served as his Savior?

I greatly dislike the idea that God the Father had relations with the Virgin Mary and that the union of their seed produced Jesus. Its just wrong on so many levels. God, the Father of our spirits, became the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh ...The fleshly body of Jesus required a Mother as well as a Father. Therefore, the Father and Mother of Jesus, according to the flesh, must have been associated together in the capacity of Husband and Wife; hence the Virgin Mary must have, for the time being, the lawful wife of God the Father ...He had a lawful right to overshadow the Virgin Mary in the capacity of a husband, and beget a Son, although she was espoused to another; for the law which He gave to govern men and women, was not intended to govern Himself, or to prescribe rules for his own conduct. Orson Pratt, The Seer, p. 158 These words appear to convey the idea that Elohim and the Virgin Mary had sexual relations as husband and wife, which produced Jesus Christ. This is the most obnoxious and offensive doctrine that I have ever heard, and reminds me of Greek Mythology. Jehovah was no Hercules. 1) Immortal parents produce spirit children - Doctrines of Salvation, volume 2, p. 68 2) There is no evidence that an immortal sperm and a mortal egg could combine. It defies logic. We can't even stand in gods full presence without being transfigured. Elohims sperm would have anhiliated Mary's egg. 3) Mary and Joseph are Married. Elohim is not some galavanting greek God. 4) If Jesus was a hybrid, which he was not. What would have happened if he had had children. (I dont think he had physical relations with any mortals during his mortal ministry btw) Would they have been 1/4 immortal? 5) If God were to sin he would cease to be God. Alma 42.

I gotta get back up to speed. 1) Justice - thanks for the post. Excellent Rebuttal Christ was born via Eve's Seed - This is still consistent with my line of though. You might have to look at it from a different angle though. I was born thru the seed of Noah correct? If Adam and Eve had produced a embryo and that embryo had been preserved for 6000 years. And I found it. And placed it into my wife's Uterus. And it took. And a baby was produced. I could argue that it was from the seed of Noah. The DNA itself is from the same family. How can Christ be mortal if his parents were immortal. This question is crucial... I'll skip answering this for now. :) I disagree that it was Satan's plan that Adam and Eve partake of the Tree of Life after partaking of the Tree of KoG&E. In Alma 12:26, Alma states that if Adam and Eve would have partaken of the tree of life they would have been miserable, having no preparatory state; thus the plan would have been frustrated. Alma 12:21 & Moses 4:31 State clearly that God prevented Adam and Eve from partaking from the Tree of Life. "And thus we see that there was no possible chance that they should live forever." God knew what he was doing. He allowed Adam & Eve to partake of the Tree of KoG&E, but he placed a cheribum and flaming sword in front of the Tree of Life. It just was not a possibility for them to partake of the Tree of Life after having partaken from the Tree of KoG&E. This is significant. 2) HemiDakota and Faded I love that Elohim, Jehovah, Adam, & Seth look like identical quads. Hebrews 1:2-3, Genesis 1:26, Genesis 5:3, D&C 107:43

I don't think that Christ's biologic mother was the Virgin Mary or any of the mortal woman that were contemporary of Mary. I want to believe that Christ's biologic mother was someone who was co-equal and intimate with God the Father. His eternal wife no less. This line of thought necessairly begets more questions...

Jesus Christ was 100% Mortal. Of that there is no doubt. Yes we all have to have mortal bodies. Elohim was once mortal. Christ was mortal during the meridian of time. The Holy Ghost will eventually have a mortal body. Yes his mortality did give him the ability to die.

About the Rh Factor: Most people — about 85% — are Rh positive. But if a woman who is Rh negative and a man who is Rh positive have a baby, there is the potential for a baby to have a health problem. The baby growing inside the Rh-negative mother may have Rh-positive blood, inherited from the father. Approximately half of the children born to an Rh-negative mother and Rh-positive father will be Rh positive. Rh incompatibility usually isn't a problem if it's the mother's first pregnancy because, unless there's some sort of abnormality, the fetus's blood does not normally enter the mother's circulatory system during the course of the pregnancy. However, during delivery, the mother's and baby's blood can intermingle. If this happens, the mother's body recognizes the Rh protein as a foreign substance and can begin producing antibodies (protein molecules in the immune system that recognize, and later work to destroy, foreign substances) against the Rh proteins introduced into her blood. Rh antibodies are harmless until the mother's second or later pregnancies. If she is ever carrying another Rh-positive child, her Rh antibodies will recognize the Rh proteins on the surface of the baby's blood cells as foreign, and pass into the baby's bloodstream and attack those cells. This can lead to swelling and rupture of the baby's RBCs. A baby's blood count can get dangerously low when this condition, known as hemolytic or Rh disease of the newborn, occurs. About the question of Mary: Mary was the mother of Jesus. I totally agree. I just have a question about the degree of motherhood. She carried him, and most probably breast fed him. She reared him. But I can confidently argue that Christ could have been of the lineage of David even if Mary was not the genetic mother.

Yeah... This is where it starts to get interesting. Thanks for asking deseretgov. Did Jesus Christ have Mary's DNA? I don't know. I have doubts though. From back in medical school though... I know that the blood between a mother and a fetus do not mix. Most people dont realize that. The mothers blood flows into the uterus and the fetus' blood flows into the placenta. Nutrient and waste pass between the two mediums but the blood does NOT mix. If it did, children that had different blood types then their mothers would die in utero. It's quite an elegent design. Christ was able to die because his body was 100% mortal. He was able to resurrect himself because he knew how to. He KNEW what he was doing. He was God already. He was VERY different from everyone else. Here is an interesting scripture, btw. John 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? You may notice that when Christ answers he does not correct Nicks seemingly ridiculous question. John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Well, from a Medical point of view, strictly based on the technical definations: Fertilization - the union of sperm from the father and Ovum (egg) from the mother, combining the genetic material, if successful this creates a viable embryo Begotten, beget - To Father, Sire Conception - Implantation of the fertilized egg or embryo into the Uterine wall. Born, Birth - Delivery of the child from the mother's uterus to the outside world. Alma 7:10 And behold, he shall be born of Mary at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and concieve by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God. As I read this: 1) Mary delivered the child Jesus. 2) Mary was a virgin (no coitus). 3) Mary was a precious and chosen vessel (objectively, this suggests that Mary was a surrogate mother). 4) The Holy Ghost assisted in the conception of the embryo (the Holy Ghost delivered the embryo of Christ onto the wall Mary's Uterus). 5) Christ is the Son of God. (Elohim or God the Father begat or sired Jesus). One final defination... Surrogate Mother - A woman who bears a child for another person, either through artificial insemination or by carrying until birth another woman's surgically implanted fertilized egg.

Thanks for the link. I loved the Preface and like the paragraph format better than the current chapter verse format.

Sorry, was just trying to respond to Wandering's comments about the technology that would be required to create a woman from a rib. 1) No technology would be needed as the rib is a figurative term used to denote that Adam and Eve are equal. This is my belief by the way. 2) Eve could be a clone of Adam. This would have required God to have removed some of Adam's bone marrow (Doctors usually harvest bone marrow from the sternum or pelvis bones but a rib could also be used. Im an Orthopaedic Surgeon btw :) ) Anyway, after harvesting the bone marrow he would then have to isolate a pluripotential stem cell (young cell that contains and can express all the genetic material of the host). This stem cell then could be placed into an Ovum (Mother's unfertilized egg cell), and then implated into the woman's Uterus. Cloning of animals has already occurred using this technology. God of course could have easily done it, but WHY? 3) Adam and Eve could be identical twins. Identical twins occur when one fertilized egg divides into 2 separate eggs. So you could make the argument that God manipulated the very young embryo that was Adam and removed a portion of him (the rib) and made another embryo - Eve. In almost all cases identical twins are of the same gender. The above journal article explains that in a very rare case identical twins can actually be of different genders. Without a basic understanding in genetics its difficult to follow, but as the author explains it did occur and he presents the data of the genetic testing of the twins in the article. God has much more knowledge then current scientists or doctors. He could have done all kinds of stuff to make Adam and Eve. But I think that our first Mortal Parents created Adam and Eve in the old fashioned way. They procreated and had two healthy children the boy was first named Adam. Their second child was a female, Eve.

I believe that the Adam's Rib - Creation of Eve scriptures describe a symbolic or figurative account that Adam and Eve are co-equals. As has been previously well explained earlier within this topic by other posters. Although... If one was to create clone. It could be done with the cells that originate from the flat bones that produce blood. Pluripotential Stem Cells that are found within a rib could indeed be use create a clone. But WHY? Finally It could refer to twins. Prenat Diagn. 2008 Aug;28(8):759-63. Monochorionic-diamniotic twins discordant in gender from a naturally conceived pregnancy through postzygotic sex chromosome loss in a 47,XXY zygote. Zech NH, Wisser J, Natalucci G, Riegel M, Baumer A, Schinzel A. Division of Obstetrics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. OBJECTIVE: It is generally believed that monochorionic-diamniotic twin pregnancies result from one fertilized oocyte with both siblings having the same genotype and phenotype. In rare instances, due to somatic mutations or chromosome aberrations, the karyotypes and phenotypes of the two twins can differ. METHOD: We report cytogenetic, molecular genetic and clinical examinations in monochorionic-diamniotic twins discordant in gender. RESULTS: The monochorionic-diamniotic status of the twins was diagnosed by ultrasound and histologic examination of the placenta. Prenatal chromosome examination performed on amniocytes revealed a normal female karyotype in one and a 46,XX(26)/46,XY(3) karyotype in the other twin. Molecular examinations confirmed monozygosity despite discordant sex. Based on the cytogenetic and molecular results of lymphocytes and placental cells, the only explanation for gender discordance was that the conceptus originally had a 47,XXY chromosome complement. CONCLUSION: A 47,XXY zygote appears to have undergone a twinning process. A postzygotic loss of the X chromosome in some cells and the Y chromosome in other cells, either before or after twinning, resulted in 46,XX/46,XY mosaicism in both monozygotic (MZ) twins. The sex discordance of the MZ twins can be explained by different proportions of the 46,XX and 46,XY cell lines in the gonads and other tissues. Although that seems a bit far fetched...

Why speculate? We don't. We study, ponder and pray. The scriptures state that Adam was created from the dust of the earth. But this does not necessairly mean that adam was molded from clay. The dust of the earth that was used to create adam was the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. God (Male and Female) partook of the fruit of the Tree of KoG&E and changed ("charged") their immortal bodies of flesh and bone into a bodies of flesh and blood. They then had Adam and Eve in the normal fashion. True it is that the body of man enters upon its career as a tiny germ or embryo, which becomes an infant, quickened at a certain stage by the spirit whose tabernacle it is, and the child, after being born, develops into a man. There is nothing in this, however, to indicate that the original man, the first of our race, began life as anything less than a man, or less than the human germ or embryo that becomes a man. Joseph Fielding Smith, Man His Origin and Destiny, p. 354 We are the literal offspring of God. How many times is that stated in scripture? I'm gonna bet more than 3 times.

Adam did have a belly button. It is a beautiful story that is well hidden in the scriptures. On the sixth day, the Lord and his wife traveled to this earth (I suppose from Kolob), with a specific duty in mind. In their current state they were in possession of exalted bodies of flesh and bone which do not create mortal bodies. Exalted bodies create spirit children. As has been stated by Brigham Young the Lord charged his body with the coarse materials of this earth so that he could produce Adam... So how did he do it?? Things were first created spiritually; the Father actually begat the spirits, and they were brought forth and lived with him. Then he commenced the work of creating earthly tabernacles, precisely as he had been created in this flesh himself, by partaking of the coarse material that was organized and composed this earth, until his system was charged with it, consequently the tabernacles of his children were organized from the coarse materials of this earth. Discourses of Brigham Young P. 50 There were 2 special trees in the Garden of Eden. The Tree of Knowledge of Good & Evil and the Tree of Life. There were both placed there for a specific purpose. The Tree of KoG&E - changes immortal bodies into mortal beings The Tree of Life - changes mortal beings into immortals The Lord and his spouse partook of the Tree of KoG&E (the coarse material or Dust of the Earth) and became mortals, their bodies were changed from Flesh and Bone to Flesh and Blood. They then produced Adam & Eve the same way that has always been and will ever be done. Our forefather's Parents then partook of the Tree of Life and switched back to immortal beings. I think that at some point during the early childhood of Adam and Eve they were weened off of mortal mothers milk and began to partake of immortal food and thus changed their bodies from mortals to a paradisical state. That by reason of transgression cometh the fall, which fall bringeth death, and inasmuch as ye were born into the world by water, and blood, and the spirit, which I have made, and so became of dust a living soul, even so ye must be born again into the kingdom of heaven of water and of the Spirit and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye might be sanctified from all sin, and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come, even immortal glory. Moses 6:59 Most well read LDS members know that prior to the fall that Adam and Eve's bodies were immortal and did not have blood. But the above scripture, revelation given by the Lord directly to Adam states that Adam's body was born of Water, Blood, and Spirit. Adam was born a mortal without knowledge of good and evil. Early during his childhood his tabernacle was transfigured into an immortal state. Then came the fall. The Tree of Life was in the Garden of Eden so that God could change his mortal body back into an immortal. Dont you find it interesting that Adam and Eve were commanded not to partake of the Tree of KoG&E? Yet when they did trangress and became mortals they were NOT commaned not to partake of the Tree of Life. God placed Cheribum and a flaming sword to guard the Tree of Life so that they COULD NOT partake of immortal in their sin. God wanted Adam to partake of the Tree of KoG&E. Because He loves us.