--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Smith, Joseph F., et al. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 15 number: 5 published: 1912-03 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Smith, Joseph F., et al., "Editor’s Table: Pre-existent States," *Improvement Era* 15, no. 5 (March 1912): 467–468.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1505unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera1505unse start_page: 467 end_page: 468 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1912-03) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1505unse publication_year: 1912 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1912, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Editor’s Table: Pre-existent States Editor's Table Pre-existent States. In answer to numerous inquiries on questions treated upon in certain class exercises, the First Presidency of the Church present the following, under date of January 31, 1912: To Whom it May Concern: The First Presidency have nothing to advance concerning pre-existing states, but that which is contained in the revelations to the Church. The written standards of scripture show that all people who come to this earth and are born in mortality, had a pre-existent, spiritual personality, as the sons and daughters of the Eternal Father. (See Pearl of Great Price, Chap. 3, verses 5-7.") Jesus Christ was the first-born. A spirit born of God is an immortal being. When the body dies, the spirit does not die. In the resurrected state the body will be immortal as well as the spirit. Speculations as to the career of Adam before he came to the earth are of no real value. We learn by revelation that he was Michael, the archangel, and that he stands at the head of his posterity on earth. (Doctrine and Covenants, Section 107:53-56.) Dogmatic assertions do not take the place of revelation, and we should be satisfied with that which is accepted as doctrine, and not discuss matters that, after all disputes, are merely matters of theory. Your brethren, (Signed) Joseph F. Smith. Anthon H. Lund, Chas. W. Penrose. First Presidency. Relating to the identity of Adam, it might be further stated that the Prophet Joseph Smith, at Far Wr est, about 1839. gave some information upon this subject, which is found in one of his sermons (page 468, Historical Record). From this we learn that Adam is Michael, the archangel, spoken of in the scriptures. He is the father of the human family, and presides over the spirits stands before him, and there is given of all men. Jesus Christ him glory and dominion. Adam, delivers up his stewardship to 418 IMPROVEMENT ERA Jesus, the Son of Man, that which was delivered to him as holding the keys of the universe, and retains his standing as head of the human family. Jesus is the mediator of the new covenant. He is the great High Priest; Adam next. From these statements, and from many others that might be quoted, it is clear that Adam and Christ are two persons not the — same person. It is erroneous doctrine to consider them one and the same person, for Jesus is the Christ, a member of the Trinity, the God-head, and to whom Adam, the father of the human family upon this earth, is amenable. Adam will have to account for his stewardship to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, whose blood atones for the sins of those who have fallen by the transgression of Adam.