D&c 107:53-55

[mikbone]

What do you think happened here?

In my imagination, the Lord gives Adam a priesthood blessing with the assistance of the other patriarchs.

Is the Lord here Jehovah or Elohim?

I wish I was an artist.

[Just_A_Guy]

My guess is Jehovah, on the admittedly tenuous grounds that we're talking about an OT event (even though it's being related in the D&C), and in the OT "Lord" is usually a translation of "Adonai", which was generally written in place of "YHWH" - Jehovah. Also, on the more general theory that Elohim only appears to mankind very rarely, choosing generally to delegate His authority to the Son.

[mikbone]

I think that it was probably Jehovah as well.

But then you have the issue of Jehovah being an unembodied spirit. Can an unembodied spirit administer a blessing to a mortal? Or are the verses stating that Jehovah witnessed the blessing on Adam?

In Ether 3:6 Jehovah does touch the stones. He also inscribed the law upon the stones for Moses in Exodus 31:18. Would the other patriarchs have been able to lay their hands upon Jehovah's hands? What an awesome event this must have been.

D&C 129 seems to indicate that a spirit of a just man made perfect would not try to interact physically with a mortal. I interpret a just man made perfect as a disembodied spirit, one who has past through Earth life and has yet to be resurrected.

And is there a difference between a preembodied, unembodied, and disembodied spirit?

Edited April 4, 2013 by mikbone

[mordorbund]

I read it as "And the Lord appeared unto them (the Patriarchs), and they (the Patriarchs) rose up and blessed Adam".

The Lord "administers" comfort, which is an interesting word, but I must admit I haven't really thought about it before.

[james12]

Here are a couple of thoughts...

The Father or the Son

There may be some indications that indeed God the father did appear unto Adam in this valley. For the valley was named Adam-ondi-Ahman which translated means “"the valley of God where Adam dwelt" and while there may be confusion when we say “God” or “Lord” I think there is no confusion with the term “Ahman” for God the Father is always “Ahman” and Christ always calls himself “Son Ahman” (D&C 78:20, 95:17). This would indeed be a very special place if the Father were there even for a short time. However, I’m not sure that I would extend such a visit to Adam’s posterity.

Temple

It may be that Adam-ondi-Ahman was and will be a great outdoor temple in some fashion like the Parowan Gap was to the Indians (see The Parowan Gap, Nature’s Perfect Observatory by V. garth Norman). Joseph indicated that on a hill at Adam-ondi-Ahman the remains of an old Nephite altar or tower stood (subsequently named Tower Hill). I wonder what the purpose of this altar or tower was? Here Adam and Eve were cast after the fall. Here Adam built an altar and offered sacrifices unto the Lord. Here an angel of the Lord appeared to Adam and explained the purposes of the fall and the sacrifice of the Only Begotten. Here the Lord appeared to Adam. And here Brigham Young dedicated a spot for a temple which was never built.

Presence of the Lord

At Adam-ondi-Ahman, Adam and his posterity were brought into the presence of the Lord. Joseph says, "I saw Adam in the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman. He called together his children and blessed them with a patriarchal blessing. The Lord appeared in their midst, and he (Adam) blessed them all, and foretold what should befall them to the latest generation. This is why Adam blessed his posterity; he wanted to bring them into the presence of God. They looked for a city, etc., [‘whose builder and maker is God.’—Heb. 11:10].” (DHC 3:388, 389.) Would not Adam’s posterity bless Adam and praise him for what he had done for them? For here they found God.

Priesthood

How were they brought into the Lord’s presence? President Benson says,

Here is an illuminating passage from Section 107 of the Doctrine and Covenants which tells us how Adam was able to bring himself and his righteous posterity into God’s presence: “The order of this priesthood was confirmed to be handed down from father to son, and tightly belongs to the literal descendants of the chosen seed, to whom the promises were made. “This order was instituted in the days of Adam, and came down by lineage in [order] … that his posterity should be the chosen of the Lord, and that they should be preserved unto the end of the earth.” (D&C 107:40–42; italics added.) How did Adam bring his descendants into the presence of the Lord? The answer: Adam and his descendants entered into the priesthood order of God. Today we would say they went to the House of the Lord and received their blessings. (What I Hope You Will Teach Your Children About the Temple, Aug. 1985).

Priesthood is received when men and women place themselves in their rightful order in relation to God. When enough people have entered the Holy Order, Adam, in the valley which carries his name, will then pass the keys of the kingdom back to Christ.

[mikbone]

Here are a couple of thoughts...

The Father or the Son

There may be some indications that indeed God the father did appear unto Adam in this valley. For the valley was named Adam-ondi-Ahman which translated means “"the valley of God where Adam dwelt" and while there may be confusion when we say “God” or “Lord” I think there is no confusion with the term “Ahman” for God the Father is always “Ahman” and Christ always calls himself “Son Ahman” (D&C 78:20, 95:17). This would indeed be a very special place if the Father were there even for a short time. However, I’m not sure that I would extend such a visit to Adam’s posterity..

It could have been Elohim, but I doubt it. Ever since the fall the Father has manifested himself rarely. And the only thing He does is present the Son.

1) Baptism of Christ - This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Matthew 3:17

2) Mount of transfiguration - This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. Matthew 17:5

3) Visitation of the Nephites - Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him 3 Ne 11:7

4) First Vision - This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him! JSH 1:17

In all other visitations where it appears that the Father is speaking directly to a prophet, I kinda think that it is Jehovah speaking as if He is the Father. I can see no reason why anyone would need to have a direct discussion with the Father when Jehovah is available.

I also feel that Jehovah wanted to give a blessing of comfort to Adam for his job well done despite the hardships that he had to overcome. I also think that Adam / Michael was the Angel that comforted Jesus Christ in the garden of gethsemane during the atonement. These two men, Jehovah and Adam have a special relationship in my opinion.

I agree that this event in D&C 107 is after the order of the temple.

Instructions delivered sometime in July 1839 by Joseph Smith Jr.

Source: Willard Richards Pocket Companion (probably copied in part from notes of John Taylor)

Eschatological Meeting

Dan VII Speaks of the Ancient of days, he means the oldest man, our Father Adam, Michael; he will call his children together, & hold a council with them to prepare them for the coming of the Son of Man. He, (Adam) is the Father of the human family & presides over the Spirits of all men, & all that have had the Keys must stand before him in this great Council. This may take place before some of us leave this stage of action. The Son of Man stands before him & there is given him glory & dominion.--Adam delivers up his Stewardship to Christ, that which was deliverd to him as holding the Keys of the Universe, but retains his standing as head of the human family.

It makes sense to me that Jehovah gave the keys to Adam and his posterity and that these keys will again be gathered and returned to Jesus Christ.

Edited April 5, 2013 by mikbone