Tuesday, November 21, 2023

Some Often Overlooked Texts from Eliza R. Snow on Adam and God

  

The God who talk'd with Adam face to face

 

Is speaking now, in these the latter-days, . . . (Eliza R. Snow, "Gathering of the Saints," in Eliza R. Snow, Poems, Religious, Historical, and Political, 2 vols. [Liverpool: F. D. Richards, 1856], 1:7)

 

We read in this Bible, in which we believe, that in the beginning God made man male and female, and addressed them as one. There was no discordance nor unfitness between them. But through woman’s partaking of the forbidden fruit, Adam was compelled also to partake that he might fulfil the work he had to do. Since the fall it has been different. It was decreed that woman’s “desire should be to her husband and he should rule over her.” (Eliza R. Snow, Weber County Relief Societies; Ogden Tabernacle, Ogden, Utah Territory, August 3, 1871, in “Miss E. R. Snow’s Address to the Female Relief Societies of Weber County,” Ogden Semi-Weekly Junction 11, no. 63 [August 5, 1871]: 2)

  

When Adam and Eve were brought from the presence of Eloheim, they stood equal, there was no opposing power, or feelings between them, but after Eve partook of the forbidden fruit, Man was placed at the head, and by the order or law of obedience, man and woman, can again be brought into the presence of God our Father. (Big Cottonwood Relief Society, Big Cottonwood Meetinghouse, Big Cottonwood [Holladay], Utah Territory, May 15, 1872, Big Cottonwood Ward, Granite Stake, Relief Society Minutes and Records (1868–1948), vol. 1 (1868–1882); Note: Eliza is contradicting Adam-God by teaching that our God is the same God as Adam's, and that this figure is Elohim, to whom we will all [Adam & Eve included] return to)

 

 

18 Q.—What was needed then?

 

A.—A man to till the ground

 

19 Q.—then what did the Gods do?

 

A.—They placed man on the earth

 

20 Q.—Who was the man like?

 

A.—The Lord, our God.

 

21 Q.—What was the first man called?

 

A.—Adam

 

22 Q.—What ws the first woman called?

 

A.—Eve

 

23 Q.—Where did the Lord place Adam and Eve?

 

A.—In the Garden of Eden.

 

. . .

 

28. Q.—Did the Lord tell Adam he might eat the fruit of all trees?

 

A.—He did not.

 

29 Q.—What did He tell him not to eat the fruit of?

 

A. The tree of knowledge.

 

30 Q.—What did He say would be done if he did eat of it?

 

A.—He should surely die.

 

. . .

 

38 Q.—What did the Lord say to Eve?

 

A.—That Adam should rule over her.

 

39 Q.—What did He say to Adam?

 

A.—That the ground should be cursed.

 

40. Q.—What did He say should grow?

 

A.—Briers and thorns.

 

41 Q.—What did He do with Adam and Eve then?

 

A.—He turned them out of the garden

 

42 Q.—What was placed on the east to keep them out?

 

A.—A flaming sword. (Eliza R. Snow, Bible Questions and Answers for Children [Salt Lake City: Juvenile Instructor Office, 1881], 4-5)

 

 

Christ conquered death: And to the Saints of God,

 

Who live to do His will, death has no sting;

 

'Tis a kind porter to admit us where

 

A realm of light and beauty shines around—

 

A world of glorious Immortality!

 

A world? Yes, words of vast immensity.

 

And what of us? To be our very selves,

 

Free from all imperfections consequent

 

Upon the curse entailed through Adam's Fall—

 

To enjoy life's sweet associations—those (Eliza R. Snow, "Immortality," in Eliza R. Snow, Recitations for the Primary Associations, in Poetry, Dialogues and Prose, Book No. 2 [Salt Lake City: Deseret News Company, 1882], 71)