What did Young say?
In 1852, Brigham Young called Adam “our Father and our God, and the only God with whom we have to do.” The published sermon identifies him as Michael and as the father of Jesus. Young repeated the teaching in 1873 and said God had revealed it to him. 1852 sermon, pp. 50–51 · 1873 newspaper report
What does the Church teach now?
D&C 27:11 and 107:53–55 identify Adam as Michael, the archangel and ancient of days. Moses 6:51–52 distinguishes God from Adam as God speaks to Adam about His Only Begotten, Jesus Christ. In 1976, President Spencer W. Kimball named the “Adam-God theory” and said, “We denounce that theory” as false doctrine. Moses 6 · D&C 27 · D&C 107 · Kimball, 1976
A reply you can use
“Young taught Adam–God and said it came by revelation. I think he was wrong here. In Moses 6, God addresses Adam and speaks to him about His Son. That gives me a scriptural reason to agree with Kimball’s rejection. I take the disagreement seriously when weighing other prophetic claims.”
What Brigham Young said
In an April 9, 1852 sermon, Brigham Young taught that Adam came to Eden with a celestial body, brought Eve with him, and helped organize the earth. He called Adam “our Father and our God, and the only God with whom we have to do.” He said that the same person who had been in Eden was the father of Jesus’ mortal body. G. D. Watt’s report appeared in the Journal of Discourses. Wilford Woodruff independently recorded the core teaching in his journal that day. Sermon, pp. 50–51 · Woodruff’s journal
More than one public statement
In a sermon delivered June 8, 1873, Young described Adam–God as a doctrine “which I revealed to them, and which God revealed to me.” The newspaper report records the same identification as the 1852 sermon. The two reports and Woodruff’s journal make a single transcription error an inadequate explanation. Deseret News, June 18, p. 308 · Transcript
Thomas Bullock’s notes from an April 5, 1860 meeting record Orson Pratt’s objection. Pratt asked how the God who spoke to Adam and Adam himself could both be the father of Jesus. Orson Hyde defended Young’s teaching and argued that God would keep a presiding prophet from teaching false doctrine. The minutes record disagreement among apostles during Young’s lifetime. Minutes transcript and archival reference
L. John Nuttall’s February 7, 1877 journal records a lecture at the veil in St. George. It identifies Adam as Michael, the father of the spirits who came to earth, and the father of Jesus. It also lists Elohim, Jehovah, and Michael separately in its account of creation, so the names need to be read in context. The entry establishes what was taught in that setting. A claim about all temples would require a wider record. Nuttall journal excerpt and archival reference
What scripture says about Adam
Doctrine and Covenants 27:11 identifies Adam as Michael and the Ancient of Days. Section 107 describes the Lord appearing to Adam and calls Adam the archangel. In Moses 6:51–52, God speaks to Adam and tells him to be baptized in the name of God’s Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Adam’s scriptural role is distinct from God’s. D&C 27:11 · D&C 107:53–55 · Moses 6:51–52
That distinction leaves a further question about how Young understood the beings in his hierarchy. Moses 6 by itself leaves Adam’s potential exaltation open. The disputed teaching assigns him the role of our heavenly Father and father of Jesus. Compare that specific claim with the passage and with the wider scriptural account.
How the Church treats the teaching now
In his October 1976 general conference address, President Spencer W. Kimball warned against doctrines “not according to the scriptures” that were “alleged to have been taught by some of the General Authorities of past generations.” He named “the Adam-God theory” and said, “We denounce that theory.” “Our Own Liahona,” Ensign, November 1976
What does this mean for prophetic reliability?
The CES Letter and Bill McKeever both press the strongest point. Young publicly claimed revelation for a teaching that Kimball later denounced. Even if one distinguishes a sermon from canon, a member hearing Young had reason to take his claim seriously. The disagreement counts against the idea that every explicit prophetic claim of revelation is guaranteed. CES Letter, Prophets · McKeever, Mormonism Research Ministry
A concise reply
“I think Young was wrong here. He said the teaching came by revelation, so his claim deserves a direct answer. Moses 6 gives me a reason to reject it, and Kimball did so publicly. I believe God calls prophets who can make mistakes. I’d weigh this case alongside the evidence for their other claims and ask what each one rests on.”
