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Adam-ondi-AhmanDaviess County, , of America

The area known as -ondi-Ahman is located in Daviess County, 70 miles northeast of Independence, Missouri. Here, three years be- fore his death, Adam called his posterity together, blessed them, and the Lord appeared unto them.1 Also, “it is the place where Adam shall come to visit his people, or the Ancient of Days shall sit, as spoken of by Daniel .”2 gave an account of President saying that “Joseph, the Prophet, told me that the was in Jackson County, Missouri. When Adam was driven out he went to the place we now call Adam-ondi- Ahman, Daviess County, Missouri. There he built Near the location of Adam-ondi-Ahman an altar and offered sacrifices.”3 Photo courtesy of Alexander L. Baugh defined the words Adam-ondi- Ahman from the as the “valley acres of land at Adam-ondi-Ahman and additional 8 of , where Adam dwelt.”4 land was later puchased. At the time the Saints began moving into Daviess County the land was not yet available for SOURCES sale, but individuals could lay claim to land through 1 Doctrine & Covenants 107:53. preemption rights. It allowed someone to move 2 onto a property, improve it, and then they would Doctrine & Covenants 116:1. 3 have the first claim to purchase the property from Wilford Woodruff, Wilford Woodruff, His Life and Labors, comp. the government when it became available. Matthias F. Cowley (: , 1916), 481. was the first person to con- 4 struct a home at Adam-ondi-Ahman and built a , 26 vols. (London: Latter-day Saints’ Book Depot, 1854-1886), 18:343. ferry which became known as Wight’s ferry.5 It was 5 near this ferry that Joseph identified Adam-ondi- Robert J. Matthews, “Adam-ondi-Ahman,” BYU Studies, Vol. 13, Ahman. In a conference held on June 28, 1838, a No. 1, (Fall 1972), 32. 6 stake at Adam-ondi-Ahman was organized with , History of The Church of Christ of Latter-day John Smith, the Prophet’s uncle, as the president Saints, 7 vols., introduction and notes by B. H. Roberts (Salt of the stake, Reynolds Cahoon as first counselor Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Lyman Wight as the second counselor.6 1932-1951), 3:38. 7 While here, the Saints laid out a city and Orson F. Whitney, Life of Heber C. Kimball (Salt Lake City: placed stakes for the cornerstones of a block Kimball Family, 1888), 209. 7 which was dedicated by Brigham Young. Persecu- 8 Encyclopedia of , 1-4 vols., ed. by Daniel H. Ludlow tion from the Missourians forced the Saints to flee (New York: Macmillan, 1992), 1:20. to Illinois and abandon their land. The preemption rights did not protect them from losing their land and so they lost all claim to it. In 1944, Wilford C. Wood purchased 38 2 Adam-ondi-Ahman, Daviess County, Missouri, United States of America

Adam’s Altar at Adam-ondi-Ahman ’s Interview with Abraham O. Smoot on December 4, 18812 Heber C. Kimball’s Account1 John Taylor: Brother Smoot, did you see on “After hearing of the mobbing, burning and the top of a hill, in a place called Adam-ondi-Ah- robbing in Gallatin, Daviess Co., and the region man, the remains of what Joseph Smith said had round about, the brethren of Caldwell went di- been an altar built by Adam, upon which he of- rectly to Adam-ondi-Ahman, which is on the west fered sacrifice? fork of Grand River. Thomas B. Marsh, David W. Abraham Smoot: Yes, sir. I first saw it in Patten, Brigham Young, myself, Parley P. Pratt and 1837, and the spring of 1838, when assisting to John Taylor amongst the number. survey the town called by that name. and , with hundreds of others of John Taylor: What was the condition of the the Saints, preparing to defend themselves from stones of which the altar had been built? the mob who were threatening the destruction of Abraham Smoot: I remember well. The stones our people. Men, women and children were fleeing which lay scattered around looked as though they to that place for safety from every direction; their had been torn from a wall. houses and property were burnt and they had to John Taylor: Yes, my remembrance is too flee half naked, crying, and frightened nigh unto that the stones were scattered as you say they were, death, to save their lives. having no particular form, except in one place. While there we laid out a city on a high el- You remarked that you helped to make the survey; evated piece of land, and set the stakes for the four and prior to this particular conversation, you told corners of a temple block, which was dedicated, me that you assisted in making an excavation. Brother Brigham Young being mouth; there were Abraham Smoot: Yes, sir. I helped to exca- from three to five hundred men present on the oc- vate around the base of the altar, some 2 to 3 feet, casion, under arms. This elevated spot was prob- and from 6 to 8 feet in length, which was sufficient ably from two hundred and fifty to five hundred to thoroughly satisfy us that the foundation of the feet above the level of Grand River, so that one wall was still there. could look east, west, north or south, as far as the John Taylor: Did you examine the wall fur- eye could reach; it was one of the most beautiful ther at any later period? places I ever beheld. Abraham Smoot: No, sis; but we intended to The Prophet Joseph called upon Brother do so after the war, or as some called it, the “Mor- Brigham, myself and others, saying, ‘Brethren, mon War,” was over. The opportunity, however, to come, go along with me, and I will show you do so did not present itself afterwards. something.’ He led us a short distance to a place John Taylor: Do you know the name of the where were the ruins of three altars built of stone, hill where the Altar was? one above the other, and one standing a little back Abraham Smoot: I do not recollect that. I will of the other, like unto the pulpits in the Kirtland say that I heard Joseph say that it was the remains Temple, representing the order of three grades of an altar built by Adam; and that he offered sac- of Priesthood; ‘There,’ said Joseph, ‘is the place rifice on it, and called his family and blessed them where Adam offered up sacrifice after he was cast there. out of the garden.’ The altar stood at the highest John Taylor: That was on the point of the point of the bluff. I went and examined the place hill that formed a curvature? several times while I remained there.” Abraham Smoot: Yes, sir. And that point commanded a beautiful view of the country. Adam-ondi-Ahman, Daviess County, Missouri, United States of America 3

3 John Taylor’s Account tling with Sidney Rigdon. One time he had his pants torn badly, but had a good laugh over it. “It was stated by the Prophet Joseph Smith, In Missouri, when mob forces oppressed in our hearing while standing on an elevated piece the Saints, we were encamped in Adam-ondi- of ground or plateau near Adam-ondi-Ahman Ahman, mostly around campfires without tents. (Davis Co., Missouri,), where there were a number One night the snow fell four or five inches. The of rocks piled together, that the valley before us Prophet, seeing our forlorn condition, called on was the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman; or in other us to form into two parties—Lyman Wight at the words, the valley where God talked with Adam, head of one line and he (Joseph) heading the oth- and where he gathered his righteous posterity, as er line—to have a sham battle. The weapons were recorded in the above revelation, and that this pile snowballs. We set to with a will full of glee and of stones was an altar built by him when he of- fun. fered up sacrifices, as we understand, on that occa- I stood with Joseph Smith and others when sion.” he pointed out the sacred spot of Adam’s altar. Turning to the lovely valley below us, in a large 4 Edward Stevenson’s Account bend of Grand River, he said, ‘Here is the real val- ley where Father Adam called his posterity togeth- “I stood with Joseph Smith and others er and blessed them.’ when he pointed out the sacred spot of Adam’s He also stated that the Garden of Eden altar. Turning to the lovely valley below us, in a was in Jackson County—the Center Place of large bend of Grand River, he said, ‘Here is the where a great temple will be reared.” real valley where Father Adam called his poster- ity together and blessed them.’ He also stated that SOURCES the Garden of Eden was in Jackson County—the 1 Center Place of Zion where a great temple will be Hyrum L. Andrus and Helen Mae Andrus, comps., They Knew reared.” the Prophet (Salt Lake City: , 1974), 86.

SOURCES 1 Orson F. Whitney, Life of Heber C. Kimball (Salt Lake City: Description of Adam-ondi-Ahman Kimball Family, 1888), 210. in the Doctrine & Covenants

2 Leland H. Gentry, “Adam-Ondi-Ahman: a Brief Historical Survey,” BYU Studies, Vol. 13, Number 4, (Summer 1973), 568. Doctrine & Covenants 107 3 “Three years previous to the death of John Taylor, Mediation and Atonement (Salt Lake City: Deseret News, 1882), 69 - 70. Adam, he called , Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, , and , who were all high 4 Hyrum L. Andrus and Helen Mae Andrus, comps., They Knew priests, with the residue of his posterity who were the Prophet (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1974), 86. righteous, into the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman, and there bestowed upon them his last blessing. Edward Stevenson’s Account And the Lord appeared unto them, and of Joseph Smith1 they rose up and blessed Adam, and called him Michael, the prince, the archangel. And the Lord administered comfort unto “I have often seen the Prophet indulge in a Adam, and said unto him: I have set thee to be game of checkers. He was cheerful—often wres- 4 Adam-ondi-Ahman, Daviess County, Missouri, United States of America at the head; a multitude of nations shall come of 1992. thee, and thou art a prince over them forever. Janet Brigham, “Church History Sites—Separat- And Adam stood up in the midst of ing Fiction and Fact,” Ensign, (March 1979). the congregation; and, notwithstanding he was Leland H. Gentry, “Adam-ondi-Ahman: A Brief bowed down with age, being full of the Holy Historical Survey,” BYU Studies, 1973. Ghost, predicted whatsoever should befall his Leland H. Gentry, “Was a Temple Site Ever posterity unto the latest generation.”1 Dedicated at Adam-ondi-Ahman?” Ensign, (April 1974). Doctrine & Covenants 116 Leland H. Gentry, “The Land Question at Adam- “Spring Hill is named by the Lord Adam-ondi- ondi-Ahman,” BYU Studies, 1986. Ahman, because, said he, it is the place where Andrew Jenson, “Adam-ondi-Ahman,” Historical Adam shall come to visit his people, or the An- Record, 1886. cient of Days shall sit, as spoken of by Daniel the Robert J. Matthews, “Adam-ondi-Ahman,” BYU prophet.”2 Studies, 1972.

SOURCES

1 Doctrine & Covenants 107:53-56.

2 Doctrine & Covenants 116.

Visitor Information

Address: 216 N Main Street Liberty, Missouri 64068

Hours of Operation: Daylight to dark

Admission: Free

Further Reading Resources

Alexander L. Baugh, “From High Hopes to De- spair: The Missouri Period, 1831–39,” Ensign, (July 2001). Lamar C. Berrett, “Adam-ondi-Ahman,” Encyclo- pedia of Mormonism, ed. Daniel H. Ludlow et al.,