Editing Adam–God doctrine (section)

==Description==
The Adam–God doctrine teaches that Adam is the father of both the spirits and physical bodies of all humans born on Earth, including Jesus.<ref>{{Harvtxt|Bergera|1980|p=41}} (describing the Adam–God doctrine as "that Adam was at once the spiritual as well as the physical father of all persons born on this world, including Jesus Christ").</ref>

Under the doctrine, Adam had a number of roles. First, he was a creator god. He and his wife, Eve, had become gods by living a mortal life, becoming resurrected, and receiving their exaltation.<ref>{{Harvtxt|Bergera|1980|p=15}}.</ref> As a god before the creation of the Earth, he was known as [[Michael (archangel)|Michael]], or the "Ancient of Days." Michael was not the only creator god, however, as he was a member of a council of Earth's creator gods, which also included the gods "Elohim" and "Jehovah." In Smith's original [[Endowment (Mormonism)|endowment]] ceremony, the gods involved in the creation were called "Elohim, Jehovah, and Michael," but unlike in modern Latter Day Saint theology, "Jehovah" was not identified as [[Jesus]]. Rather, it was explained by [[Joseph F. Smith]] that "Elohim, Jehovah and Michael are Father, Son, and Grandson. They made this Earth and Michael became Adam."<ref>Joseph F. Smith Journal, 6/17/1871)</ref><ref>{{Harvtxt|Widmer|2000|pp=131, 133}} (describing Michael as a "God in the Council of Gods".); {{Harvtxt|Kirkland|1984|p=38}}</ref> Within the council, Jehovah and Michael were subordinate to Elohim and created the Earth, under the direction of Elohim. Michael was selected by the heads of this council of gods to be the Father of this Earth.<ref>{{Harvtxt|Widmer|2000|p=131}}; {{Harvtxt|Kirkland|1984|p=38}} (citing Joseph Smith's statement in {{Harvtxt|Larson|1978|pp=202–03}}).</ref>

Also, the doctrine teaches that Michael was the father of the spirits in heaven who are associated with this Earth.<ref name="Widmer 2000 131">{{Harvtxt|Widmer|2000|p=131}}.</ref> With Eve, and possibly his other wives, Michael had fathered the spirits of spirit offspring in the preexistence.<ref name="Widmer 2000 131"/> 

Next, the doctrine teaches that Michael came to the Earth with one of his wives, where they became known as Adam and Eve,<ref name="Widmer 2000 131"/> and became the progenitor of the human race and the father of mortal bodies of all his spirit offspring so that they could progress and achieve godhood like themselves.<ref>{{Harvtxt|Widmer|2000|p=131}}; {{Harvtxt|Bergera|1980|p=15}}.</ref> The names "Adam" and "Eve" are titles that reflect their roles as the parents of humanity, Adam meaning man or "[father] of mankind" and Eve meaning the "mother[s] of all living."The privilege of peopling the Earth was part of Adam and Eve's eternal purpose as exalted beings and eternal parents of their spirit children.<ref>{{Harvtxt|Bergera|1980|p=15}} (citing {{Harvtxt|Woodruff|1982|loc=6 May 1855)}}).</ref> To bear mortal children, Adam and Eve had to take on mortal bodies.<ref name="Widmer 2000 131"/> The bodies of Adam and Eve fell to a mortal state when they ate the fruit of [[tree of knowledge of good and evil]] in the [[Garden of Eden]].<ref>{{Harvtxt|Widmer|2000|p=133}}.</ref>

Then, the doctrine teaches that after his mortal existence, Adam returned to his throne and reigned as the immortal God of this Earth.<ref>{{Harvtxt|Kirkland|1984|p=39}}.</ref> He is thus considered to be the Biblical God of Israel.<ref>{{Harvtxt|Kirkland|1984|pp=39–41}} (noting that in the late 19th century, several Latter Day Saint leaders who still adhered to the Adam–God doctrine began to adopt the modern Latter Day Saint belief that the Old Testament deity was also Jesus).</ref> Smith stated that Adam's ascension to godhood took place at or after a gathering at a [[Adam-ondi-Ahman|holy place of the same name]]. Smith taught that a similar gathering is to prelude the [[second coming]] of Christ.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/116?lang=eng |title=Doctrine and Covenants 116}} (LDS Church edition). The naming of Adam-ondi-Ahman is also recorded in the ''History of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints'' in [http://www.centerplace.org/history/ch/v2ch09.htm#153 volume 2, chapter 9, pages 153–154].</ref>

Finally, the doctrine teaches that Michael/Adam was the literal, biological father of the mortal body of Jesus.<ref>{{Harvtxt|Widmer|2000|p=131}}; {{Harvtxt|Bergera|1980|p=41}} (describing the Adam–God doctrine as "that Adam was at once the spiritual as well as the physical father of all persons born on this world, including Jesus Christ").</ref>