Question
Gramps,
I was reading and later watched a documentary about the early church of Christ and the saints who worshiped thereto, and it got me thinking: were Adam and Eve Christians?
I have an idea as to what the answer is, but I would love to hear your answer.
Regards,
Xavier
Answer
Dear Xavier,
Thanks to the scriptures of the restoration, we know that Adam and Eve were indeed Christians. We don’t know the words in their language which they used to refer to the Son of God, so they may not have used that term, but we know that they knew of Christ and his Atonement.
In Moses 5:5-11, Adam learns that the sacrifices he was commanded to offer are in the likeness of the sacrifice of the Son of God:
7 And then the angel spake, saying: This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth.
And from verse 10, we can infer that Adam understood that there would be a resurrection:
10 And in that day Adam blessed God and was filled, and began to prophesy concerning all the families of the earth, saying: Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy, and again in the flesh I shall see God.
Then, in Moses 6:51-63, we learn that Adam was taught about the need for baptism in the name of the Jesus Christ, and that only through him could salvation come.
52 And he also said unto him: If thou wilt turn unto me, and hearken unto my voice, and believe, and repent of all thy transgressions, and be baptized, even in water, in the name of mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth, which is Jesus Christ, the only name which shall be given under heaven, whereby salvation shall come unto the children of men, ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, asking all things in his name, and whatsoever ye shall ask, it shall be given you.
Adam also learned that Christ’s Atonement covered Adam’s transgression, and that forgiveness comes through Christ. Further, Adam was instructed to teach these things to his children:
57 Wherefore teach it unto your children, that all men, everywhere, must repent, or they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God, for no unclean thing can dwell there, or dwell in his presence; for, in the language of Adam, Man of Holiness is his name, and the name of his Only Begotten is the Son of Man, even Jesus Christ, a righteous Judge, who shall come in the meridian of time.
Evidence and knowledge that God really is “the same yesterday, today, and forever”, is surely one of the greatest blessings of the restoration. I hope this answers your question, and that your study of the gospel of Jesus Christ brings you joy as you draw closer to him.
Gramps
