In my religious world, this acronym is one that I am fixated on because of its significance. To the Jews, the building of the third temple is something they are looking forward to. To me, activity at Adam-ondi-Ahman is a huge sign for us and I look at it with curiosity and anticipation.
I have it on good authority (second person rumor, here folks.....) from a builder of temporary and large arenas, that the request for proposal has been put in to see what it would cost for a large arena to be placed on the valley floor in what is now a large cultivated field next to the Grand River.
When I was in the MTC, my comp told me they had been on a field trip to this very field and their leader had them go about 1/4 mile down the field and stand in one spot while he stood near the far end of the valley. He spoke in a regular voice and they could hear perfectly well at such a great distance. The reason for this (as I studied and found out later) was due to it being a perfect (extremely large radius) parabola. I first experienced this phenomenon as a kid in Olympia, WA where they showed us how the Democrats of the day were able to listen in on the goings on of their opponents by placing their desk on opposite sides of the Capitol building floor (inside the dome which is parabolic in shape) and letting physics do the rest. When I visited the field approximately 10 years ago on our Nauvoo Temple dedication trip, I was not able to test this phenomenon out with the wife and kids, partly because it was being tilled by a large tractor and they probably would have been irritated by us traipsing around in the fresh soil - but you know I wanted to try it out in the worst way......
The valley at AOA is the same - but inverted; and it was used as stated to allow Adam to gather all of his righteous posterity (I am sure there were many who were getting extremely wicked and who chose to blow their old Patriarch off and not attend....), and to impart to them his last words of counsel without a loudspeaking system and using a voice that no doubt was frail and weak in its hundreds year old state. This natural phenomenon is a feature that many past civilizations have taken advantage of in order to speak to large groups of people without loud speakers and modern electronics. I have yet to do a piece about all of the valleys discovered in ancient America that have this feature and that archeologists have noted were used by the ancients for this purpose. The natural ones (without structures added) were mostly in South America, while the Romans and Greeks took advantage of this phenomenon aided by structures for seating, stages, etc. It will take me some time to dig up the info again and put it on the Wood Zone..... as it was before the creation of this beloved dumping spot.
So here is something I came across - more quotes of what we have to look forward to. As we struggle day to day with the weaknesses and temptations of this world, we have something glorious and wonderful to fix our minds upon and think about and strive to possibly be a part of:
Wilford Woodruff
What is the gospel as taught by Jesus himself? The very first principle was faith in the Messiah; this was the first principle ever taught to man. When Adam, after being driven from the garden of Eden, went to Adam-ondi-Ahman to offer sacrifice, the angel of the Lord asked him why he did so. Adam replied that he did not know, but the Lord had commanded him to do it. He was then told that the blood of bulls and goats, of rams and lambs should be spilt upon the altar as a type of the great and last sacrifice which should be offered up for the sins of the world. The first principle, then, ever taught to Father Adam was faith in the Messiah, who was to come in the meridian of time to lay down his life for the redemption of man. (The Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, p.18)
* At a conference of the Sunday School children in the old Tabernacle on the 30th of March (1873), Elder Woodruff reported Brigham Young as saying, "Joseph, the Prophet, told me that the Garden of Eden 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 an altar and offered sacrifice." (Wilford Woodruff, p. 481)
Joseph Smith
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. 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. This may take place before some of us leave this stage of action. 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. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.157)
Joseph Fielding Smith
It was in the night vision that all this was shown to Daniel, and he saw the Son of Man come to the grand council, as he did to the first grand council in the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman, and there he received the keys from Adam "and there was given to 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." (Dan. 7: 13-14.) In this council Christ will take over the reigns of government, officially, on this earth, and "the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him," even Jesus Christ. Until this grand council is held, Satan shall hold rule in the nations of the earth; but at that time thrones are to be cast down and man's rule shall come to an end -- for it is decreed that the Lord shall make an end of all nations. (D.C. 87:6.) Preparation for this work is now going on. Kingdoms are already tottering, some have fallen; but eventually they shall all go the way of the earth, and he shall come whose right it is to rule. Then shall he give the government to the saints of the Most High.
This council in the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman is to be of the greatest importance to this world. At that time there will be a transfer of authority from the usurper and impostor, Lucifer, to the rightful King, Jesus Christ. Judgment will be set and all who have held keys will make their reports and deliver their stewardships, as they shall be required. Adam will direct this judgment, and then he will make his report, as the one holding the keys for this earth, to his Superior Officer, Jesus Christ. Our Lord will then assume the reins 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. This grand council of Priesthood will be composed, not only of those who are faithful who now dwell on this earth, but also of the prophets and apostles of old, who have had directing authority. Others may also be there, but if so they will be there by appointment, for this is to be an official council called to attend to the most momentous matters ' concerning the destiny of this earth. (The Way to Perfection, p.289-291)
John Taylor
A great council will then be held to adjust the affairs of the world, from the commencement, over which Father Adam will preside as head and representative of the human family. . . .
Then they will assemble to regulate all these affairs, and all that held keys of authority to administer will then represent their earthly course. And as this authority has been handed down from one to another in different ages, and in different dispensations, a full reckoning will have to be made by all. All who have held the keys of priesthood will then have to give an account to those from whom they received them. Those that were in the heavens have been assisting those that were upon the earth; but then, they will unite together in a general council to give an account of their stewardships, and as in the various ages men have received their power to administer from those who had previously held the keys thereof, there will be a general account.
Those under the authorities of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have to give an account of their transactions to those who direct them in the priesthood; hence the elders give an account to presidents of conferences; and presidents of conferences to presidents of nations. Those presidents and the seventies give an account to the twelve apostles; the twelve to the First Presidency; and they to Joseph, from whom they, and the twelve, received their priesthood. This will include the arrangements of the last dispensation. Joseph delivers his authority to Peter, who held the keys before him, and delivered them to him; and Peter to Moses and Elias, who endowed him with this authority on the Mount; and they to those from whom they received them. And thus the world's affairs will be regulated and put right, the restitution of all things be accomplished, and the kingdom of God be ushered in. The earth will be delivered from under the curse, resume its paradisiacal glory, and all things pertaining to its restoration be fulfilled. [The Gospel Kingdom, p.217]
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