Adam and Eve in Mormonism

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints (LDS Church) teaches that Adam and Eve were the first man and the first woman to live on the earth and that their fall was an essential step in the plan of salvation. Adam in particular is a central figure in Mormon cosmology.

According to LDS Church teachings, all people born on the earth lived with God the Father and Jesus Christ in a pre mortal life. Adam and Eve were "among our Father's noblest children" and they were "foreordained" to be the parents of the human race. As Michael, Adam "led the forces of God against the armies of Lucifer" in the War in Heaven. LDS Church scripture provides no information about Eve prior to her earth life, but it is believed that "she must have been a choice daughter of God." When they were created, their bodies were not mortal and they could not die or have children, and they did not know right from wrong. and he commanded them to have children. Adam was made “lord or governor of all things on earth, and at the same time [enjoyed] communion with his Maker, without a veil to separate between.”

Satan tempted Adam and Eve to eat of the prohibited fruit. Eve yielded to temptation and ate of the fruit; when Adam learned that Eve had done so, he ate the fruit too. Because they ate of the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve underwent the "fall". Rather, the fall is viewed as "a necessary step in the plan of life and a great blessing to all of us. Because of the Fall, we are blessed with physical bodies, the right to choose between good and evil, and the opportunity to gain eternal life. None of these privileges would have been ours had Adam and Eve remained in the garden." and the Book of Mormon teaches that the fall was necessary for humankind to exist and for them to develop and eventually experience joy, which is the ultimate purpose of existence: "Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy." Furthermore, the LDS version of the fall of Adam and Eve emphasizes the fall was a part of God's plan: "But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things," and prepared Jesus Christ to be slain "from the foundation of the world" in order to redeem mankind from the fall. In the early church, the idea that Eve's promised hardships were passed on to all women was commonly accepted. Valerie Cassler argues that God's description of her future hardships was not a curse, but a natural consequence that comes from living in a world with opposites. The fall of Adam and Eve as viewed by Latter day Saints denies the concept of original sin. They instead believe that "little children are whole, for they are not capable of committing sin; wherefore the curse of Adam is taken from them in [Jesus Christ]." Joseph Smith also stated that "men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression." Latter day Saint doctrine holds firm that through repentance, Adam and Eve were eventually forgiven of their transgression in Eden.

Latter day Saint scripture teaches that Adam and Eve had "sons and daughters" after the fall, including Cain, Abel, and Seth. Adam and Eve worshiped God, offered animal sacrifices, and were taught by an angel about Jesus Christ. Latter day Saint doctrine teaches that the "coats of skins" Adam and Eve received were to remind them of the coming of Jesus Christ who, through the atonement, would "cover their sins". Adam is believed to be "the world's first Christian," Adam ordained his descendants to the priesthood. Three years prior to his death, Adam and his righteous posterity gathered in the valley of Adam ondi Ahman in present day Daviess County, Missouri, where Adam and Eve had settled after being expelled from the Garden of Eden. At this meeting, Adam bestowed his last blessing on his descendants. The premortal Jesus Christ appeared as the unembodied God Jehovah at the meeting to bless Adam and Adam uttered prophecies, which are said to have been recorded by Enoch.

Some presidents of the LDS Church report to have had visions of Adam and Eve. In 1836, Joseph Smith said that he saw Adam in the celestial kingdom and in 1918 Joseph F. Smith said that he saw Adam and Eve in the world of spirits when Jesus visited there between his death and resurrection. Joseph Smith also said that the voice of Adam was heard near the Susquehanna River "detecting the devil when he appeared as an angel of light". Joseph Smith prophesied that Adam would one day return to Adam ondi Ahman "to visit his people". Thousands will attend this meeting with Adam, which will be prior to and in preparation of the Second Coming of Jesus. At the Second Coming, Adam will "sound his trump", which will signal the resurrection of the dead. At the end of the millennial rule of Christ, Adam will lead the forces of good against Satan in the final "battle of the great God", also known as the battle of Gog and Magog. One LDS Church apostle has suggested that it may have been Adam who was sent as the angel Michael to "strengthen" Jesus when he was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane during his passion.

Adam and Eve are frequent topics in Latter Day Saint arts and literature. Some significant examples include The Plan by Eric Samuelsen, "Adam ondi Ahman" by W. W. Phelps, and paintings by J. Kirk Richards.

Several early leaders of the LDS Church taught that Adam was God because he was the father of the human race. This doctrine was taught several times by Brigham Young during general conferences and was supported by other high ranking leaders of the church. Unreliable source: date=January 2013 However, the Adam–God doctrine never gained wide support by the church as a whole. Some members and critics of the church claimed that Young was declaring Adam to be God the Father. This specific interpretation was later repudiated by church president Spencer W. Kimball.