Adam-ondi-Ahman

The shortest section of the Doctrine and Covenants reads this way: “Spring Hill is named by the Lord Adam-ondi-Ahman, because, said he, it is the place where Adam shall come to visit his people, or the Ancient of Days shall sit, as spoken of by Daniel the prophet” (Doctrine and Covenants 116:1). This was given on May 19, 1838 when Joseph Smith was on a trip to look for a place for a new settlement. One article describes what happened, “As Joseph, Sidney, and George W. Robinson searched for a location to establish a settlement community near the Grand River, they came to a prominent knoll called Spring Hill. On this trip, Joseph received the revelation known today as Doctrine and Covenants 116, which identified the region as Adam-ondi-Ahman.” So what does this term mean? Elder Bruce R. McConkie said this: “Ahman is one of the names by which God was known to Adam. Adam-ondi-Ahman, a name carried over from the pure Adamic language into English, is one for which we have not been given a revealed, literal translation. As near as we can judge—and this view comes down from the early brethren who associated with the Prophet Joseph Smith, who was the first one to use the name in this dispensation—Adam-ondi-Ahman means the place or land of God where Adam dwelt.” The term Adam-ondi-Ahman was first introduced in Doctrine and Covenants 78:15 in 1832: “That you may come up unto the crown prepared for you, and be made rulers over many kingdoms, saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Zion, who hath established the foundations of Adam-ondi-Ahman; Who hath appointed Michael your prince, and established his feet, and set him upon high, and given unto him the keys of salvation under the counsel and direction of the Holy One, who is without beginning of days or end of life.” So this was some place closely connected with Adam who holds the keys of salvation. The same revelation indeed uses the name Ahman for the God: “Wherefore, do the things which I have commanded you, saith your Redeemer, even the Son Ahman, who prepareth all things before he taketh you” (Doctrine and Covenants 78:15-16, 20). So one name for the Father is Ahman, and that makes the Savior the Son Ahman.

In a revelation a few years later Joseph gave more details about why this was a significant place in history: “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” (Doctrine and Covenants 107:53-56). What an incredible meeting that must have been! This was in the final years of Adam’s life—he was over 900 years old—and the Savior came and blessed him there at this place called Adam-ondi-Ahman. Adam there prophesied about his posterity—that includes all of us—and what would happen to them.

               While we do not know what Adam prophesied exactly, perhaps he spoke of a future meeting that we know will take place at Adam-ondi-Ahman. That is the meeting that section 116 speaks of: Adam, the first man, will come there to visit his people. I believe that Joseph Smith was referring to when he said this, “Daniel in his seventh chapter speaks of the Ancient of Days; he means the oldest man, our Father Adam, Michael; he will call his children together and hold a council with them to prepare them for the coming of the Son of Man [see Daniel 7:9–14]. He (Adam) is the father of the human family, and presides over the spirits of all men, and all that have had the keys must stand before him in this grand council. … The Son of Man stands before him, and there is given him glory and dominion. Adam delivers up his stewardship to Christ, that which was delivered to him as holding the keys of the universe, but retains his standing as head of the human family.” So sometime in the future before the Savior’s return, Adam will hold a great priesthood meeting in Adam-ondi-Ahman and there will be a grand council with all those who have held keys. If I understand that correctly, it will have to be a very big meeting! Elder Bruce R. McConkie described it this way: “He [Christ] 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.” As we strive to live faithful we can hope to be there together at this great gathering of the Saints of God as the world prepares to usher in the Second Coming of the Savior.