Independence, Missouri

[cbdem]

I have heard the claim on several occasions that Mormons believe that the Garden of Eden was in Independence, Missouri and that the Second Coming of Christ will be in Independence, MO. Do Mormons really believe this? Thanks.

[pam]

yes

[pam]

Here is a little information about that:

LDS.org - Family Chapter Detail - The Second Coming of Jesus Christ

[Blackmarch]

I have heard the claim on several occasions that Mormons believe that the Garden of Eden was in Independence, Missouri and that the Second Coming of Christ will be in Independence, MO. Do Mormons really believe this? Thanks.

yup.

[bytor2112]

For a bit more thorough answer....try here

[Just_A_Guy]

I have heard the claim on several occasions that Mormons believe that the Garden of Eden was in Independence, Missouri . . .

Yes.

. . . and that the Second Coming of Christ will be in Independence, MO. Do Mormons really believe this?

Not quite. The Second Coming, as thought of in the Biblical sense, occurs in the Holy Land--Jerusalem and its environs. However, we believe Christ has/will manifest Himself to His Church, or at least its leadership, a couple of times prior to the "Second Coming" proper. One of those manifestations, we believe, will occur at a gathering in Missouri in the indeterminate future.

[mnn727]

Sorry to disagree with everyone but that is not exactly what we believe.

we believe that after Adam and Eve were kicked out of the Garden, they ended up in an area of Missouri we now call adam ondi ahman

Its never been doctrine that Missouri was where the Garden was located although many members believe it.

Edited October 11, 2012 by mnn727

[Vort]

Sorry to disagree with everyone but that is not exactly what we believe.

we believe that after Adam and Eve were kicked out of the Garden, they ended up in an area of Missouri we now call adam ondi ahman

Its never been doctrine that Missouri was where the Garden was located although many members believe it.

Though we have no first-person account from Joseph Smith, the historical record indicates that he believed and taught that the garden of Eden was located in the vicinity of Springfield, Missouri. This probably does not rise to the level of doctrinally established truth, but it seems pretty obvious that Joseph Smith and many of the Saints believed (and many still do) that Eden was located in the Springfield area.

[mnn727]

This probably does not rise to the level of doctrinally established truth,

There is the key to me, is it Church Doctrine. In this case, no its not.

I'm sorry, and I realize this is going to strike some people the wrong way, but sometimes I think Brother Joseph (or the people listening) got a bit carried away.

Edited October 12, 2012 by mnn727

[Sonagolese]

The wisest is not always wise and the most spiritually gifted does not always in touch with our Creator. That's all part of the wonderfullness of us.

[Anddenex]

There is the key to me, is it Church Doctrine. In this case, no its not.

I'm sorry, and I realize this is going to strike some people the wrong way, but sometimes I think Brother Joseph (or the people listening) got a bit carried away.

This is provided on the site Bytor shared:

From Mormonism 101: FAQ, Newsroom, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:

We do not know exactly where the original site of the Garden of Eden is. While not an important or foundational doctrine, Joseph Smith established a settlement in Daviess County, Missouri, and taught that the Garden of Eden was somewhere in that area. Like knowing the precise number of animals on Noah’s ark, knowing the precise location of the Garden of Eden is far less important to one’s salvation than believing in the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Thus Jospeh did teach that the Garden of Eden was in Missouri, and it is accepted by the Church.

EDIT: Found this on lds.org

Neither biblical records nor secular history and archaeological research identify the dimensions or the location of the garden in terms of the present-day surface of the earth. Latter-day revelation specifies that as a mortal, Adam lived at Adam-ondi-Ahman in what is now Daviess County, Missouri (D&C 107:53-56;116:1;117:8). Several early LDS leaders, among them Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball, stated that the Prophet Joseph Smith taught them that the Garden of Eden was located in what is now Jackson County, Missouri

Edited November 13, 2012 by Anddenex

[Guest]

Why Missouri? Why not Mesopotamia?

I mean, of course, it doesn't really matter where it is. I just wondered why God needed to tell Joseph Smith that it is in Jackson County.

[Dravin]

Why Missouri? Why not Mesopotamia?

I mean, of course, it doesn't really matter where it is. I just wondered why God needed to tell Joseph Smith that it is in Jackson County.

I'm confused by your confusion. If it was located in Jackson County then why God would say it was in Jackson County instead of Mesopotamia is rather straight forward. Or are you asking why the Garden of Eden was in Missouri rather than Mesopotamia?

Edited November 13, 2012 by Dravin

[Guest]

I'm confused by your confusion. If it was located in Jackson County then why God would say it was in Jackson County instead of Mesopotamia is rather straight forward. Or are you asking why the Garden of Eden was in Missouri rather than Mesopotamia?

Sorry for being too vague... I was thinking - Christians thought it was in Mesopotamia, God thought the restoration of the gospel includes correcting that assumption...

I'm just musing (because - really, it doesn't matter to me), if it truly was a truth restoration or just Joseph Smith extrapolating some stuff on his own and coming up with Missouri.

[bytebear]

I always think it's important to point out that the Earth was flooded, and Noah floated around for a while. There is no reason to believe he landed where he started. So Eden or wherever Adam and Eve lived could be anywhere on the planet.