Adam-On-Diahman

On the evening of April 5th, I arrived with my family and friends at the land called Adam-On-Diahman, or as the LDS church calls it (Adam-ondi-Ahman.) The first site we came across was Spring Hill with a sign there saying it was Spring Hill. When I saw this I felt the spirit strongly BUT I also felt something was wrong, and was disappointed as it looked nothing like what I have been shown Spring Hill to be, or the hill upon which the altar of Father Adam is located. The Spring Hill that I was looking at was in the middle of a field with one tree there.

The next day, April 6, we went to the east overlook of the Grand River Valley. Upon arriving at the edge of the overlook in my minds eye (third eye - spiritual eye) I saw the entire valley filled with water - a blue rapid moving water which was mildly choppy. I felt a great deal of spiritual energy flowing through this valley and knew that something of great importance had taken place down in that valley.

Later we went over to what is now called Tower Hill which is the most elevated hill in the area there. As soon as I got to this place I felt a great deal of energy. At one point while lying down resting I even saw the energy there near the top of the hill. What I saw was like heat but grayish-blue in appearance as I watched it more it flowed into the shape of a tunnel. Carrie, my then wife, was seeing this too. I kept wondering to myself why is it that I feel all this energy on Tower Hill and hardly feel anything over at Spring Hill.

As we walked down the pathway toward the crest of Tower Hill we came upon a lot of decaying rock which was natural limestone but some of which I found to be like cement. Having been familiar with other locations where the Nephites had placed stone and cement this reminded me of that, though I felt it was much older than the Nephites. From what I knew of church history a Nephite Altar was found on Tower Hill. I felt surely that it was nearby even though the landmark signs placed there by the LDS Church on the grounds claim the whereabouts were unknown.

At the large portion of rocky area Carrie found a peculiar stone shaped like an arrowhead which pointed to a path which led to the southern foot of the hill. She remarked that this stone pointed to that way for a reason, the whole time both of us felt the need to go look on that side of the hill and explore. This rock pictured below may have been very well pointing toward another important area.

We traveled down near the foot of the hill and found some rocks with very curious holes cut out of them, very smooth and completely circular. I also recognized this as Nephite work and felt that the altar spoken of was close by. Down at about the bottom of the hill we found the foundation of an old home. I felt Joseph Smith had stayed in this house at some point. Going forward to the day before we left for home we were again at Tower Hill and a group of us gathered discussing what exactly what these rocks could have been - we all felt that the flat basin of rocks was definitely ruins from either a fort or a foundation of some sort. And we all felt a battle had taken place at that spot.

As we went down to view the foundation of the old home again (remains of Lyman White's house) - off to the right I noticed some rocks covered in the earth and walked over to investigate. What we found was a stone wall about 2 feet in height and quite long, this wall was north of the foundation of the house, upon looking more closely at this wall I recognized the typical structure of an ancient stone wall, stones fitting so closely together that you couldn't fit a knife into the cracks. As I walked on this wall I felt that this was the correct place and that the Nephite altar and the Altar of Father Adam was in this location and that the entire hill was used for worshipping purposes.

Carrie and I walked past this and up a stone path through the woods- this stone path resembled worn down stairs. It brought us out at the top of Tower Hill. As we walked back to our van off to the left Carrie and I noticed some rocks back in the woods. As I noticed these it felt as if the rocks called out to me "Hey come over here." When we got there I noticed right away the rocks were in a certain formation which resembled the center of Stonehenge, half of a circle. Each rock was shaped like a triangle and each triangle pointed toward the direct center of the half circle. I felt that some type of initiation was held here. A friend came over and looked around and saw some other stones a little ways off and felt that this was much "bigger" than just these four stones. A diagram of what I found can be seen below, sorry I didn't take a photo so I doodled a quick drawing in Photoshop.

The rock on the left hand side was covered in brush and branches and was not noticeable at first glance. I also noticed each rock was covered on top by a yellowish substance, possibly a moss of some type but looked to me as if possibly also could have been painted on the rocks, near these rocks were three tall trees. I could see the energy again flowing the the left direction in front of my eyes as I was near this area.

I would like to now discuss some discoveries I made last evening being 5 days since leaving Missouri. I was pondering over why I felt such strong energies on Tower Hill and not the area that the Mormon church designated as Spring Hill when the Holy Spirit prompted me to go downstairs and so some research on it. So I got out my CD-rom which contained all the histories of the church, all the old church periodicals, journals of early saints and personal diaries of Joseph Smith. What I found there confirmed my promptings about Tower Hill and that Tower Hill was the Spring Hill mentioned of by the early saints and that on this hill was where Adam had his altar and not at the location where the Mormon church placed a sign in the middle of a field.

I will now include some references from the journals and histories with some of my comments.

The Doctrine & Covenants tells us that Adam-ondi-Ahman was so named by the Lord "'because, said he, it is the place where Adam shall come to visit his people, or the Ancient of Days shall sit, as spoken of by Daniel the prophet." Bruce R. McConkie, The Millennial Messiah, pp. 587-588 (quoting D&C 116).) President John Taylor explained that Adam-ondi-Ahman was referred to by the Saints as "Di-Ahman." John Taylor, The Gospel Kingdom, p. 188. During the time of Joseph Smith, it was also referred to as "Spring Hill." D&C 116:1; Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Section Three 1838-39 p. 122; John Taylor, Mediation and Atonement, Ch. 8.

It seems to point out here that the settlement here was referred to the saints as Diahman, it was also established as the Diahman Stake. But the brethren named it Spring Hill.

Adam built an altar on "a hill above the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman" Joseph Fielding Smith, Jr., Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 2, p. 232. or "plateau near Adam-ondi-Ahman [comprised of] a number of rocks piled together [where Adam] offered up sacrifices." John Taylor, The Gospel Kingdom, p. 102 (repeating statements made by Joseph Smith). At that place, "the Lord revealed to [Adam] the purpose of the fall and the mission of the Savior." Joseph Fielding Smith, Jr., Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 2, p. 232 (referencing D&C 107:53-57, 116, 117:8, 11; Moses 5:5-8; Joseph Fielding Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp. 122, 158. Adam-ondi-Ahman became "the land where Adam dwelt" D&C 117:8 ("Is there not room enough upon the mountains of Adam-ondi-Ahman, and on the plains of Olaha Shinehah, or the land where Adam dwelt, that you should covet that which is but the drop, and neglect the more weighty matters?"). and "the valley where God talked with Adam." John Taylor, The Gospel Kingdom, p. 102 (repeating statements made by Joseph Smith).

Here is states that the hill was above the valley. The Spring Hill that exists today is in the middle of a field not over a valley.

Adam-ondi-Ahman was referred to during prophet Joseph Smith, Jr.'s time as Spring Hill and is located at in Daviess County, Missouri. "SPRING Hill is named by the Lord Adam-ondi-Ahman, because, said he, it is the place where Adam shall come to visit his people, or the Ancient of Days shall sit, as spoken of by Daniel the prophet." (D&C 116:1.) Spring Hill is north of the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman, "through which runs Grand River, described by the Prophet Joseph as a 'large, beautiful, deep and rapid stream, during the high waters of spring.' In the spring and summer the surrounding valley is most beautiful, with its scattered farms discernible as far as the eye can reach." Joseph Fielding Smith, Jr., The Way to Perfection, p. 287; Adam-ondi-Ahman has also been described to be "situated on an elevated spot of ground, which renders the place as healthful as any part of the United States, and overlooking the river and the country round about, it is certainly a beautiful location. (Otten & Caldwell, Sacred Truths of the Doctrine & Covenants, Vol. 2, p. 277.) The most detailed description is found in a footnote in the History of the Church:

Now if you go to the Spring Hill the church has marked you will be scratching your head wondering where the elevated spot of ground is... that's because you are in the wrong place.

'We discovered some antiquities about one mile east of the camp [the camp was in the vicinity of Lyman Wight's house], consisting of stone mounds, apparently erected in square piles, though somewhat decayed and obliterated by the weather (erosion) of many years. These mounds were probably erected to secrete treasures.'" (B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol. 1, Ch. 32, p. 422 (quoting History of the Church, Period I, Vol. 3, p. 37).) named by Joseph Smith because "of the remains of an old Nephite altar or tower that stood there." Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Section Three 1838-39 p. 122.

The foundation we found may have been Lyman Wight's house where Joseph stayed.

On May 8, 1838, Joseph Smith went to Adam-ondi-Ahman with Sydney Rigdon and Joseph Smith's clerk, George W. Robinson, "for the purpose of selecting and laying claim to a city plat ... called 'Spring Hill,' but by the mouth of the Lord it was named Adam-ondi-Ahman Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Section Three 1838-39 p. 122.

See here the Spring Hill the church has marked was actually the location of the "City" of Spring Hill and not where the altars were...

On "an elevated piece of ground or plateau near Adam-ondi-Ahman" was found "a number of rocks piled together ... where [Adam] gathered his righteous posterity." John Taylor, The Gospel Kingdom, p. 102. According to John Taylor, Joseph Smith explained "that this pile of stones was an altar built by [Adam] when he offered up sacrifices." John Taylor, The Gospel Kingdom, p. 102.

This sounds like the same description before mentioned about the Nephite structures. Now are they really Nephite structures or the ones Adam used. The spirit tells me they are older than the Nephites. Joseph Smith is often misquoted.

The Prophet Joseph called upon Brother Brigham, myself and others, saying, "Brethren, come, go along with me, and I will show you something," He led us a short distance to a place where were the ruins of three altars built of stone, one above the other, and one standing a little back of the other, like unto the pulpits in the Kirtland Temple, representing the order of three grades of Priesthood; "There," said Joseph, "is the place where Adam offered up sacrifice after he was cast out of the garden." The altar stood at the highest point of the bluff. I went and examined the place several times while I remained there. Otten & Caldwell, Sacred Truths of the Doctrine & Covenants, Vol. 2, pp.278-279 (citing Life of Heber C. Kimball, pp. 209-210)...

When the altar was first discovered:

...it was about sixteen feet long, by nine or ten feet wide, having its greatest extent north and south. The height of the altar at each end was some two and a half feet, gradually rising higher to the center, which was between four and five feet high--the whole surface being crowning. Such was the altar at "Diahman" when the Prophet's party visited it. Now, however, it is thrown down, and nothing but a mound of crumbling stones mixed with soil, and a few reddish boulders mark the spot which is doubtless rich in historic events. History of the Church, Vol. 3, p. 39, Footnotes.

Another member of the church, Chapman Duncan, recalled:

I think the next day, he said to these present: Hyrum Smith, Bishop Vincent Knight, myself and two or three others, "Get me a spade and I will show you the altar that Adam offered sacrifice on." I believe this was the only time Joseph was in Ondi-Ahman. We went about forty rods north of my house. He placed the spade with care, placed his foot on it. When he took out the shovelful of dirt, it barred the stone. The dirt was two inches deep on the stone I reckon. About four feet or more was disclosed. He did not dig to the bottom of the three layers of good masonry well put up wall. The stone looked more dressed like stone nice joints, ten inches thick, 18 inches long or more. We came back down the slope, perhaps 15 rods on the level. The prophet stopped and remarked this place where we stood was the place where Adam, gathered his posterity and blessed them, and predicted that should come to pass to later generations. Chapman Duncan Autobiography, typescript, B.Y.U. Studies, pp. 37-38.

Joseph Fielding Smith, Jr., stated that "When the Prophet Joseph Smith first visited Spring Hill he called it 'Tower Hill, a name I gave the place in consequence of the remains of an old Nephite altar or tower that stood there,' he wrote in his journal." Joseph Fielding Smith, Jr., The Way to Perfection, p. 287. It is unclear whether Adam's altar and that of the Nephites are different or whether the Nephites simply used Adam's alter. As explained by Leland H. Gentry:

The account of the discovery of "Adam's Altar" is quite different from that for the "Nephite altar or tower." Abraham O. Smoot, a member of the survey team for Adam-ondi-Ahman, is quoted as having said that Joseph Smith was not present when "Adam's Altar" was discovered: President Smoot said that he and Alanson Ripley, while surveying at the town [i.e., Adam-ondi-Ahman], which was about 22 miles from Jackson County, Missouri, came across a stone wall in the midst of a dense forest of underbrush. The wall was 30 feet long, 3 feet thick, and 4 feet high. It was laid in mortar or cement. When Joseph visited the place and examined the wall he said it was the remains of an altar built by Father Adam and upon which he offered sacrifices after he was driven from the Garden of Eden. He said that the Garden of Eden was located in Jackson County, Missouri. The whole town of Adam-ondi-Ahman was in the midst of a thick and heavy forest of timber and the place was named in honor of Adam's altar. The Prophet explained that it was upon this altar where Adam blessed his sons and his posterity, prior to his death. Leland H. Gentry, B.Y.U. Studies, Vol. 13, No. 4, p. 565 (citing Matthias F. Cowley, Wilford Woodruff: History of His Life and Labors (Salt Lake City: Deseret News, 1909), pp. 545-546.).

Leland H. Gentry points out from his review of various descriptions that "The 'altar' was 'a quarter of a mile down the road,' rather than on top of Tower Hill where the Nephite altar was found." Leland H. Gentry, B.Y.U. Studies, Vol. 13, No. 4, p. 568. Mr. Gentry provides a further comparison of the two altars:

Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith: Section 3: 1838-39, 122

122 1 The Prophet and Party at Tower Hill or Adam-ondi-Ahman

2 Saturday, 19 -- This morning we struck our tents and formed a line of march, crossing Grand River at the mouth of Honey Creek and Nelson's Ferry. Grand River is a large, beautiful, deep and rapid stream, during the high waters of Spring, and will undoubtedly admit of navigation by steamboat and other water craft. At the mouth of Honey Creek is a good landing. We pursued our course up the river, mostly through timber, for about eighteen miles, when we arrived at Colonel Lyman Wight's home. He lives at the foot of Tower Hill (a name I gave the place in consequence of the remains of an old Nephite altar or tower that stood thee), where we camped for the Sabbath.

3 In the afternoon I went up the river about half a mile to Wight's Ferry, accompanied by President Rigdon, and my clerk, George W. Robinson, for the purpose of selecting and laying claim to a city plat near said ferry in Daviess County, township 60, ranges 27 and 28, and sections 25, 36, 31, and 30, which the brethren called "Spring Hill," but by the mouth of the Lord it was named Adam-ondi-Ahman, because, said He, it is the place where Adam shall come to visit his people, or the Ancient of Days shall sit, as spoken of by Daniel the Prophet. (May 19, 1938.) DHC 3:34-35.

Here we find again that Spring Hill was a city plat named by the brethren and not necessarily a physical hill at all. Joseph Smith was then inspired not to call it Spring Hill but to call if Adam-On-Diahman.

Church History and Modern Revelation: Vol 3, 118

2 There has been some confusion in the minds of many because the Prophet speaks of Tower Hill, and later after traveling some half mile and coming to Wight's Ferry, and marking off territory for a township he speaks of Spring Hill near said ferry. It has been thought that "Tower Hill" and "Spring Hill" are two separate places some half mile or so apart, but the place called by these two names is the same. Some hundred yards or more from the crest of the hill, was Lyman Wight's home, and on or near the top of the hill was the ruins of an ancient altar or tower, which the Prophet states was built by the Nephites. In later years this spot and the stones thereon have been looked upon as the place where Adam offered sacrifice, and that the stones were the remains of Adam's altar, but the Prophet said it was a Nephite altar or tower. Lyman Wight lived at this place which the Prophet named Adam-ondi-Ahman. In the year 1904, President Lewis W. Shurtliff and Elder Joseph Fielding Smith visited this place and Lyman Wight's house was still standing but in a dilapidated state. His name engraved on a copper plate was still hanging on the door, this these brethren took.

3 2. Adam-ondi-Ahman was not just a small spot resting on the brow of the hill, but this name has reference to the surrounding territory. One can obtain a beautiful view from this ancient altar overlooking the valley through which courses Grand River. It was in this valley where Adam called together the faithful of his posterity three years before his death and blessed them. (D. &C. 107:53.) It will be in this same valley where the Ancient of Days shall sit at the grand gathering of the worthies who have held keys of the dispensations, and where Adam will make his report, likewise all others who have been given keys, and our Savior shall be crowned King of kings and take his place as the rightful ruler of the earth.

Since we find here that the valley which is seen from the East Overlook is literally the very valley where Adam blessed his posterity, where Seth, Enoch, Noah and the rest gathered with Father Adam and in the midst of them stood the Lord. No wonder everyone was feeling something special about this valley!

Orange Wight Auto, BYU, 4

3 I was now eleven years old. Father was again called on a mission, but returned shortly and we made arrangements to move to Caldwell County, Missouri. We moved to Caldwell County and settled about three miles from Far West--most of the Saints moved from Clay to Caldwell. Also we had a great many newcomers from the east so we began to number the Saints by thousands instead of hundreds. The county population increased to such an extent that it was thought proper to establish a settlement in another county; hence, we moved to Daviess County and our principle settlement at a place on Grand River called--afterwards Adam-ondi-Ahman, named by the Prophet Joseph Smith from the fact as the Prophet Joseph told {Joseph Smith, miracles} us that it was the place where Adam offered his holy sacrifice. The altar was still there and not far from our house when we went there. Our family was among the first to move to that county and father bought land of one Adam Black; you will see his name mentioned in most of the church histories.

2 I wish now to give a description of the [Adam's] altar, more particular the situation and also other things in the neighborhood including some things that are [cached] there. Please find with this a diagram of the place with notes of explanation.

Here we find out that a map of the area exists somewhere - a diagram showing where the altar was. If we can find a hard copy of the Orange White Autobiography perhaps it will have this diagram attached.

So there you have it. Tower Hill is actually the same as the Spring Hill where the Altar of Father Adam still exists. This is why there is so much energy up there now all we need to do know is find the vortexes around that hill. So we have the understanding now that the hill is where Adam shall return, but the area which was meant to be the city plat of Spring Hill is the land of Adam-On-Diahman. The valley seen from the top of Tower (Spring) Hill is the valley of Adam-On-Diahman, it is the valley I was shown in a vision in which the Savior Jesus Christ appeared to me.

Some other highlights of my visit to Adam-On-Diahman were while I stayed in the small town of Jameson. There I received several symbols which I have yet to translate, and we had several spirit filled discussions when the group gathered at her home.

The day before we left, April 9, we had a prayer circle at the location of the Spring Hill which is marked by the church. There we received revelation and the presence of the Father made himself known.

Father Adam, Michael, spoke to me saying that it is beginning, that Lucifer is now losing his hold upon this world. I was also told I would come back but that I would sacrifice great things as he did when he left the garden of Eden and I was explained to why he made the choice to sacrifice so that we could return to Father and have eternal life. Another friend was revealed that "It was finished." Others were revealed that the time was now to gather and that the Lord has cleansed and prepared the land for our return. During this time we gathered in a circle of 9 people (9 represents completion.) I received a symbol which appears here. At the time I felt it meant the powers of heaven resting down upon that area. On the way home I saw the symbol again and below the symbol I saw the word, ALIGNMENT.