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Chapter 1: Why a need for Zion? ADAM-ONDI-AHMAN “By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” (Hebrews 11:9 - 10) The significance of Adam-ondi-Ahman dates back to the earliest time of the earth’s existence. When Adam and Eve where cast out of the Garden of Eden they traveled north and settled the area that is now known as Adam-ondi-Ahman. Adam-ondi-Ahman is about seventy miles north of Independence, Jackson County Missouri, which from information passed down from the time of Joseph Smith, divulges was the location of Garden of Eden. (Mormon Doctrine, p. 20) President Joseph Fielding Smith wrote: “Incidentally we learn that the place where Adam dwelt, and where he blessed his righteous descendants three years before his death, and where the Lord appeared to him, was named Adam-ondi-Ahman. May we not in truth say that the meaning of this name Adam-ondi-Ahman is, the place, or land, of God where Adam dwelt?” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, 1: 12.) Here at this location, Adam called all his “posterity who were righteous,” to a great General Conference to bestow a blessing upon them, we read of this occasion: “Three years previous to the death of Adam, he called Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, Enoch, and Methuselah, who were all high priests, with the residue of his posterity who were righteous, into the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman, and there bestowed upon them his last blessing. And the Lord appeared unto them, and they rose up and blessed Adam, and called him Michael, the prince, the archangel. And the Lord administered comfort unto Adam, and said unto him: I have set thee to be at the head; a multitude of nations shall come of thee, and thou art a prince over them forever. And Adam stood up in the midst of the congregation; and, notwithstanding he was bowed down with age, being full of the Holy Ghost, predicted whatsoever should befall his posterity unto the latest generation.” (D&C 107:53-56) Elder Bruce R. McConkie suggests that there may have been many millions at that meeting in the days of Adam. (The Millennial Messiah: The Second Coming of the Son of Man, 579.) It is at this location that Adam built an alter to offer sacrifice, (Moses 5:7) and it was here that Adam was carried by the spirit into the water and baptized. (Moses 6:64) The Prophet Joseph Smith identified the location of the alter that Adam built even though it was not visible above ground. On this occasion the Prophet visited the area, and stayed in the home of Chapman Duncan. Of that visit this account was recorded: “I think the next day (after arriving the night before) he (Joseph) said to those present, Hyrum Smith, Bishop Vincent Knight, myself and two or three others, ‘get me a spade and I will show you the altar that Adam offered sacrifice on.’ ...We went forty rods north of my house. He placed the spade with care, placed his foot on it. When he took out the shovel full of dirt, it bared the stone. The dirt was two inches deep on the stone I reckon. About four feet or more was disclosed. He did not dig to the bottom of the three layers of good masonry well put wall. The stone looked more like dressed stone, nice joints, ten inches thick, eighteen inches long or more. We came back down the slope, perhaps fifteen rods on the level. The Prophet stopped and remarked that this place where we stood was the place where Adam gathered his posterity and blessed them, and predicted what should come to pass to later generations. The next day he returned to Far West.” (Autobiography of Hyrum Smith, p. 174,175 cited in The Refiner’s Fire p. 177) John A. Widtsoe recorded: “The Prophet designated the land at Independence and beyond as ‘the land where Adam dwelt.’ (D&C 117:8) Further, he declared, again under revelation, (DHC 3:35) that Spring Hill, Daviess County, Missouri, is ‘the place where Adam shall come to visit his people,’ and called it Adam-ondi-Ahman...Adam-ondi-Ahman is located on the north side of the Grand River, in a sharp bend of the stream, on an elevated spot of ground overlooking the ancient stone altar. ‘...When the altar was first discovered, according to those who visited it frequently, it was about sixteen feet long, by nine or ten feet wide, having its greatest extent north and south. The height of the altar at each end was some two and a half feet, gradually rising higher to the center, which was between four and five feet high-the whole surface being crowning. Such was the altar of ‘Diahman’ when the Prophet's party visited it.’ (DHC 3:39) ...The relative location of Independence and that of Adam-ondi-Ahman corroborate the Bible. After the so called ‘Fall’ Adam and Eve were driven out of the garden and a flaming sword ‘placed at the east to keep the way of the tree of life.’ Apparently Adam and Eve entered the country east of the garden. “Now Adam-ondi-Ahman is about seventy miles northeast of the city of Independence. If our first progenitors settled at Adam-ondi-Ahman, it is more likely that the people as they increased settled along the course of the Mississippi basin. Noah probably built the Ark near the river. When the flood came, it floated easily into the ocean, to the Asiatic continent where Noah and his family began again the work commenced by Adam.” (John A. Widtsoe, Evidences and Reconciliations, 1951, 3:158-161; cited in Roy W. Doxey, Latter-day Prophets and the Doctrine and Covenants, Vol. 4 p. 42-43) In June of 1966, President David O. McKay and President Joseph Fielding Smith visited Adam-ondi-Ahman and other historical sites in Missouri accompanied by Alvin R. Dyer and other church officials. Elder Dyer later wrote: “In connection with President McKay’s visit at Far West, it is to be noted that while there the president appeared somewhat overwhelmed. The place made a deep impression upon him; so much so that he referred to Far West a number of times in the ensuing days as a place of deep impression. “The feeling that President McKay had at Far West registered upon me once again, but now with greater impact. The events that transpired there are significant: (a) The Lord proclaimed Far West a holy and consecrated land unto him, declaring to Joseph Smith that the very ground he stood on there was holy. (D&C 115:7) (b) The Prophet Joseph Smith contended with the devil face to face for some time, upon the occasion of the power of evil menacing one of his children in the Prophet’s home just west of the temple site. Lucifer declared that Joseph had no right to be there, that this was his place. Whereupon the Prophet rebuked Satan in the name of the Lord, and he departed and did not touch the child again. (c) The overwhelming feeling that President McKay had when he visited this sacred place. “The Answer: I have often pondered the holy significance of Far West, and even more so since President McKay’s visit. The sacredness of Far West, Missouri, is no doubt due to the understanding that the Prophet Joseph Smith conveyed to the brethren, at these early times, that Adam-ondi-Ahman, the place to which Adam and Eve fled when cast out of the Garden of Eden, is where Adam erected an altar unto God, and offered sacrifices, and that Far West was the spot where Cain killed Abel. “This information tends to explain why the Lord declared Far West to be a holy consecrated place; and no doubt explains why Satan claimed that place as his own, as it was here that he entered into a covenant with Cain, resulting in the death of Abel, the first of mortal existence to die upon this earth.” (Joseph Fielding Smith Jr./ John J Stewart, The Life of Joseph Fielding Smith p.340) There can be no doubt as to the holiness of Adam-ondi-Ahman, this land is a temple, for here the Lord walked with all the righteous then on earth, and here He will walk with the righteous again on the earth, along with the saints of past ages. The Prophet Joseph Smith recorded: "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]. Moses sought to bring the children of Israel into the presence of God, through the power of the Priesthood, but he could not. In the first ages of the world they tried to establish the same thing; and there were Eliases raised up who tried to restore these very glories, but did not obtain them; but they prophesied of a day when this glory would be revealed. Paul spoke of the dispensation of the fullness of times, when God would gather together all things in one, etc.; and those men to whom these keys have been given, will have to be there; and they without us cannot be made perfect. “These men are in heaven, but their children are on the earth. Their bowels yearn over us. God sends down men for this reason. ‘And the Son of Man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that give offense and them that do iniquity.’—(Matt. 13:41). All these authoritative characters will come down and join hand in hand in bringing about this work.” (DHC 3:388, 389.) Deliverance from destruction
Daniel observed that the saints would be prevailed upon and persecuted until the events at Adam-ondi-Ahman; “Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High…” (Daniel 7:21-22.) Daniel repeats the description of the deliverance from oppression: “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.” (Daniel 12:1.) Who will be delivered at Adam-ondi-Ahman? All whose names are written in the Lambs book of life. (Alma 5:58) The Prophet Joseph Smith wrote of these events foretold by the prophet Daniel: “The ‘Horn’ made war with the Saints and overcame them, until the Ancient of Days came; judgment was given to the Saints of the Most High from the Ancient of Days; the time came that the Saints possessed the Kingdom. This not only makes us ministers here, but in eternity.” (DHC 3: 389.) In a conference held at Norton, Ohio on April 21st 1834, the prophet made this statement: "Take away the Book of Mormon and the revelations, and where is our religion? We have none; for without Zion, and a place of deliverance, we must fall; because the time is near when the sun will be darkened, and the moon turn to blood, and the stars fall from heaven, and the earth reel to and fro. Then, if this is the case, and if we are not sanctified and gathered to the places God has appointed, with all our former professions and our great love for the Bible, we must fall; we cannot stand; we cannot be saved; for God will gather out His Saints from the Gentiles and then comes desolation and destruction, and none can escape except the pure in heart who are gathered." (DHC 2:52) It is hard to imagine how difficult the future might become, yet the Prophet Joseph Smith gave a glimpse into future difficulties: “I saw men hunting the lives of their own sons, and brother murdering brother, women killing their own daughters, and daughters seeking the lives of their mothers. I saw armies arrayed against armies. I saw blood, desolation, fires. The Son of Man has said that the mother shall be against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother. These things are at our doors. They will follow the Saints of God from city to city. Satan will rage, and the spirit of the devil is now enraged. I know not how soon these things will take place; but with a view of them, shall I cry peace? No! I will lift up my voice and testify of them. How long you will have good crops, and the famine be kept off, I do not know; when the fig tree leaves, know then that the summer is nigh at hand.” (DHC 3: 391.) Numerous MeetingsThere will be numerous meetings at Adam-ondi-Ahman, Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote: “But Daniel has yet more to say about the great events soon to transpire at Adam-ondi-Ahman. And we need not suppose that all these things shall happen in one single meeting or at one single hour in time. It is proper to hold numerous meetings at a general conference, some for the instruction of leaders, others for edification of all the saints. In some, business is transacted; others are for worship and spiritual refreshment. And so Daniel says: ‘I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.’ Christ comes to Adam, who is sitting in glory. He comes to conform to his own priestal order. He comes to hear the report of Adam for his stewardship. He comes to take back the keys of the earthly kingdom. He comes to be invested with glory and dominion so that He can reign personally upon the earth. As President Joseph Fielding Smith expresses it: ‘Our Lord will then assume the reigns of government; directions will be given to the Priesthood; and He, whose right it is to rule will be installed officially by the voice of the Priesthood there assembled.’ (The Way to Perfection, p. 291.) Thus Daniel says: ‘And there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.” (Bruce R. McConkie, The Millennial Messiah: The Second Coming of the Son of Man p. 585.) The references to this great Conference are many, and who will be there. John recorded that he saw standing before the Lord “…a great multitude, which no man could number…” (Revelation 7:9) Daniel observed this great Conference and recorded that he saw “ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him”(Daniel 7:10.) that’s 100 million saints. It is apparent that Adam will again gather all his “posterity who are righteous” into the valley to bestow a blessing, and to bring them into the presence of God. Who Will Be There? There are many references to this meeting and who will be there. On each visit of the Savior to the descendants of Lehi, the Lord administered the sacrament. (3 Ne. 18:1-9; 20:3-9) He also told the Twelve in Jerusalem; "But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom." (Matt. 26:29) Although the Lord administered the sacrament to the people of Lehi He did not partake of it Himself, for He will not partake until the Father's kingdom would come on earth, and it would be done on earth as it is in heaven. (Matt. 6:10) All those whom My Father hath given Me out of the world “With reference to the use of sacramental wine in our day, the Lord said to Joseph Smith: ‘You shall partake of none except it is made new among you; yea, in this my Father's kingdom which shall be built up on the earth.’ In so stating, He is picking up the language He used in the upper room. Then He says: ‘The hour cometh that I will drink of the fruit of the vine with you on the earth.’ Jesus is going to partake of the sacrament again with his mortal disciples on earth. But it will not be with mortals only. He names others who will be present and who will participate in the sacred ordinance. These include Moroni, Elias, John the Baptist, Elijah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph (who was sold into Egypt), Peter, James, and John, ‘and also with Michael, or Adam, the father of all, the prince of all, the ancient of days.’ Each of these is named simply by way of illustration. The grand summation of the whole matter comes in these words: ‘And also with all those whom my Father hath given me out of the world.’ (D&C 27:4-14.) The sacrament is to be administered in a future day, on this earth, when the Lord Jesus is present, and when all the righteous of all ages are present. This, of course, will be a part of the grand council at Adam-ondi-Ahman”.(Bruce R. McConkie, The Millennial Messiah: The Second Coming of the Son of Man p. 587.) Will the righteous on other continents come to Zion? The Lord gave an answer to this question: “And they shall go out from all nations; and they shall not go out in haste, nor go by flight, for I will go before them, saith the Father, and I will be their rearward.” (3 Nephi 21:29.) Why will there need to be this gathering of all the righteous? Why must all these be present? We will need to sustain our Lord and Savior as our Prophet, Priest, and King, for He will not usurp authority over the righteous, and will petition there approval for His leadership. The Savior will then rule and reign on the earth for the prophets will return their keys to the Lord and will in effect say as John the Baptist said: “He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth Him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease. He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: He that cometh from heaven is above all.” (John 3:29-31.) Enoch and His City and Saints of previous ages These meetings will indeed be a great General Conference with all that the Father has given the Savior out of this world. This great Conference will be held at Adam-ondi-Ahman, and not only will there be those living saints in attendance, but also all saints from past ages will be present. We read in Section 133 of the Doctrine and Covenants: "When the Lamb shall stand upon Mount Zion and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand, having his Father's name written on their foreheads...Yea, and Enoch also, and they who were with him; the prophets who were before him; and Noah also, and they who were before him; and Moses also, and they who were before him; and from Moses to Elijah, and from Elijah to John, who were with Christ in his resurrection, and the holy apostles, with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, shall be in the presence of the Lamb. And the graves of the saints shall be opened; and they shall come forth and stand on the right hand of the Lamb, when He shall stand upon Mount Zion, and upon the holy city, the New Jerusalem; and they shall sing the song of the Lamb, day and night forever and ever." (D&C 133:18,54-56) Enoch must come with his keys and the revelation states, “and they who were with him” To think of the numbers that would be involved for all the hosts that are named, not only “all those whom (the) Father hath given… out of the world,” but that the graves would be opened and all the saints of former ages, along with Enoch and "they who were with him" would come forth and stand on the right hand of the Savior. That would make up an innumerable host! As Daniel gazed upon this great scene and tried to convey to us the majesty of this event is it any wonder that he declared that he saw "ten thousand times ten thousand” standing before the Lord, or John observing the “great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations and kindreds, and people, and tongues” in the Lord’s presence adorned in white robes, representing their righteousness. (Rev. 7:9) (Rev. 19:7,8) What joy must have filled their hearts as the viewed the culmination of all the perseverance and trials that the saints throughout the ages endured and now receiving their prize at Adam-ondi-Ahman. We read the promise that the Lord made with Enoch: "Then shalt thou and all thy city meet them there, and we will receive them into our bosom, and they shall see us; and we will fall upon their necks, and they shall fall upon our necks, and we will kiss each other; And there shall be mine abode, and it shall be Zion, which shall come forth out of all the creations which I have made; and for the space of a thousand years the earth shall rest." (Moses 7:63,64) Those in the heavens including those spirits whose bodies are in the grave must anxiously await this great Conference, their anticipation to greet and embrace their earthly offspring and join hand in hand to build the long awaited Zion. The 144,000John's attention seems to be focused on the 144,000, twelve thousand from each tribe of Israel. What can we learn of this group? The Lord revealed to us that this is a group of High Priests, "...ordained out of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people,...to bring as many as will come to the church of the Firstborn.” (D&C 77:11) They are missionaries to go to the world one last time, to warn all people fulfilling the words of the Savior: "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." (Matt. 24:14) Imagine 144,000 missionaries, prophet missionaries, eyewitnesses of the resurrected Savior, to go to all nations, to bring as many as will come to the Church of the First Born. Will this group of High Priests be at Adam-ondi-Ahman? I am sure they will for “these are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth.” (Revelation 14:4.) Perhaps from this group will come the two witnesses that John observed prophesying in the city of Jerusalem just prior to the Lords appearance in that City? (Rev. 11:3-13) The Prophet Joseph answered a Question about these two men: "Q. What is to be understood by the two witnesses, in the eleventh chapter of Revelation? A. They are two prophets that are to be raised up to the Jewish nation in the last days, at the time of the restoration, and to prophesy to the Jews after they are gathered and have built the city of Jerusalem in the land of their fathers." (D&C 77:15) We know that of that group of 144,000 will be 12,000 from the tribe of Judah. (Rev. 7:5) Daniel, as he viewed the events at Adam-ondi-Ahman, may have been speaking of this elite group of priesthood holders when he recorded that a “thousand thousands ministered unto Him.” This body Daniel mentions in addition to “ten thousand times ten thousand” that stood before the Lord at Adam-ondi-Ahman. (Daniel 7:10.) Return of the Lost Ten Tribes We might ask; how will there be 12,000 from each of the tribes of Israel? since there are only a couple of tribes that we are now aware of? Again the Lord gives us the answer: "And they who are in the north countries shall come in remembrance before the Lord; and their prophets shall hear His voice, and shall no longer stay themselves; and they shall smite the rocks, and the ice shall flow down at their presence. And an highway shall be cast up in the midst of the great deep. Their enemies shall become a prey unto them, and in the barren deserts there shall come forth pools of living water; and the parched ground shall no longer be a thirsty land. And they shall bring forth their rich treasures unto the children of Ephraim, my servants. And the boundaries of the everlasting hills shall tremble at their presence. And there shall they fall down and be crowned with glory, even in Zion, by the hands of the servants of the Lord, even the children of Ephraim." (D&C 133:26-32) From this revelation we learn several things, first, that the lost ten tribes return to the American continent. Second, they shall are crowned under the hand of the servants of the Lord or the church who hold the keys of the gathering of Israel, (D&C 110:11) and third, "that there enemies shall become a prey unto them", that they along with the decedents of Lehi will tread down the unrepentant Gentiles. Of this same event Isaiah wrote: "And He will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss unto them from the end of the earth: and, behold, they shall come with speed swiftly: None shall be weary nor stumble among them; none shall slumber nor sleep; neither shall the girdle of their loins be loosed, nor the latchet of their shoes be broken: Whose arrows are sharp, and all their bows bent, (they are ready for battle) their horses' hoofs shall be counted like flint, and wheels like a whirlwind: Their roaring shall be like a lion, they shall roar like young lions; yea, they shall roar, and lay hold of the prey, and shall carry it away safe, and none shall deliver it. And in that day they shall roar against them like the roaring of the sea: and if one look unto the land behold darkness and sorrow, and the light is darkened in the heaven thereof." (Isa. 5:26-30) Jeremiah also foretold these events when he wrote: "Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that it shall no more be said, The Lord liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; But, The Lord liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers." (Jer. 16:14,15) We learn that the ten tribes will bring rich treasures with them, (D&C 133:30) and what are the rich treasures? Nephi gives us that answer: "And it shall come to pass that the Jews shall have the words of the Nephites, and the Nephites shall have the words of the Jews; and the Nephites and the Jews shall have the words of the lost tribes of Israel; and the lost tribes of Israel shall have the words of the Nephites and the Jews. And it shall come to pass that my people, which are of the house of Israel, shall be gathered home unto the lands of their possessions; and my word also shall be gathered in one. And I will show unto them that fight against my word and against my people, who are of the house of Israel, that I am God, and that I covenanted with Abraham that I would remember his seed forever." ((2 Ne. 29:13,14) Isaiah made many references to the restoration of the House of Israel in his record, of which the Lord, after quoting the fifty fourth chapter, gives us this command: "And now, behold, I say unto you, that ye ought to search these things. Yea, a commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently; for great are the words of Isaiah. For surely he spake as touching all things concerning my people which are of the house of Israel; therefore it must needs be that he must speak also to the Gentiles." (3Ne. 23:1,2) Isaiah recorded: "And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyrea, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And He shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim... And there shall be an highway for the remnant of His people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt." (Isa. 11:11-13) The Seed of Lehi The descendants of Lehi, are now coming to the knowledge of the gospel in great number, but the Lord prophesied that they would come in even greater multitudes: "And then shall the remnants, which shall be scattered abroad upon the face of the earth, be gathered in from the east and from the west, and from the south and from the north; and they shall be brought to the knowledge of the Lord their God, who hath redeemed them." (3 Ne. 20:13) Nephi prophesied that when the Book of Mormon would come forth, that the Gentiles would carry the record unto the remnant of his seed; "And then shall the remnant of our seed know concerning us, how that we came out from Jerusalem, and that they are descendants of the Jews. And the gospel of Jesus Christ shall be declared among them; wherefore, they shall be restored unto the knowledge of their fathers, and also to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, which was had among their fathers. And then shall they rejoice; for they shall know that it is a blessing unto them from the hand of God; and their scales of darkness shall begin to fall from their eyes; and many generations shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a pure and a delightsome people." (2 Ne. 30:3-6) Perhaps Lehi gives some incite as to how these multitudes will be reached, for he leaves this blessing on his son Joseph: "Wherefore, because of this covenant thou art blessed; for thy seed shall not be destroyed, for they shall hearken unto the words of the book. And there shall rise up one mighty among them, who shall do much good, both in word and in deed, being an instrument in the hands of God, with exceeding faith, to work mighty wonders, and do that thing which is great in the sight of God, unto the bringing to pass much restoration unto the house of Israel, and unto the seed of thy brethren. And now, blessed art thou, Joseph. Behold, thou art little; wherefore hearken unto the words of thy brother, Nephi, and it shall be done unto thee even according to the words which I have spoken. Remember the words of thy dying father. Amen." (2 Ne. 3:23-25) This great latter-day meeting of all the righteous since the earth’s creation, will be far greater in numbers than any meeting previous in the history of the world, only to be surpassed by the great council in heaven before the creation of the world. Adam left the Garden of Eden and traveled northward to the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman where, three years before his death, Adam held a great General Conference with all his righteous posterity then on earth, to bless them before he died. Even so is it not then appropriate that we would first gather at Adam-ondi-Ahman to prepare for our return to the Garden of Eden, or Jackson County? “Before the Lord Jesus descends openly and publicly in the clouds of glory, attended by all the hosts of heaven; before the great and dreadful day of the Lord sends terror and destruction from one end of the earth to the other; before He stands on Mount Zion, or sets His feet on Olivet, or utters his voice from an American Zion or a Jewish Jerusalem; before all flesh shall see Him together; before any of His appearances, which taken together comprise the second coming of the Son of God—before all these, there is to be a secret appearance to selected members of his Church. He will come in private to His prophet and to the apostles then living. Those who have held keys and powers and authorities in all ages from Adam to the present will also be present. And further, all the faithful members of the Church then living and all the faithful saints of all the ages past will be present. It will be the greatest congregation of faithful saints ever assembled on planet earth. It will be a sacrament meeting. It will be a day of judgment for the faithful of all the ages. And it will take place in Daviess County, Missouri, at a place called Adam-ondi-Ahman.” (The Millennial Messiah: The Second Coming of the Son of Man, 578.) |