EPISTLE OF CORDELL VAIL TO THE SAINTS LIVING IN WASHINGTON D.C.
Our Son David went to the Washington D.C. mission for two weeks
while he waited for his visa to Brazil. When he received his visa
the mission president let him call home to tell us the good news.
While he was on the phone talking to us about it I could hear
his companions in the background asking him a question. He then
paused and said his two companions there in Washington D.C. were
studying the Adam God Theory and they wanted him to ask me about
it while he was on the phone telling us about the visa. I think
we have trained David pretty well about Church doctrine. I think
he knew what I would tell them. So I gave them my little lecture
about the Adam God Theory. The next night a member of the Church
from there called me about it too, so I decided to sent the member
a letter. I also wrote to the two missionaries and the Mission
President in Washington D.C.
Here are the letters I wrote to the Saints In Washington D.C. concerning the Adam God Theory.
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14 Oct. 1996
President C. Terry Graff
Washington D.C. North Mission
904 Wind River Lane Suite #103
North Potomac, MD 20878
Dear President Graff,
Our son Elder David C. Vail just served in your mission while
waiting for his VISA to go to Brazil. When you gave him permission
to call us and tell us that he had received the VISA his companion
asked him if he would ask me about the Adam-God Theory. I gave
him a short lecture and hoped that it would be enough. Then last
night one of the members in the area called and told me that he
had known Elder Vail while he was there and that he had told him
to call me if he wanted to know about the Adam-God Theory. Elder
Vail knows me and knew what I would say. So I have written a letter
to brother Spoltore and thought you and Elder Vail's companion
might like to have a copy of it.
I hope that this will put an end to their studying of such subjects, but I though you would at least want to know that it was going on among your mission members and especially some of your elders. I hope they were not offended at my boldness in telling them what the prophets have said, but I do not want them to ever say that I did not warn them.
Thank you for your kindness to our son while he served there. I pray that the influence he had there in those few short weeks will have made a positive effect on those he was associated with. May the Lord continue to bless you and your missionaries in this most important work.
Your brother in the Gospel
Cordell Vail
Box 669
Wauna, WA 98329
(253)853-4469
cordellv@yahoo.com
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14 October 1996
Brother Spoltore,
I really enjoyed talking with you on the phone last night. I hope I was not too severe with you about the Adam God Theory. But I feel very strongly about it having known several people who started studying things like that and then ended up getting mixed up with splinter groups who taught other apostate teachings, and finally left the church.
May I again add to these attached quotes my own testimony and witness to you of the importance of following the living prophets. President Kimball asked us to leave the Adam-God theory alone. I have sent you his words. Now you have been warned. And I admonish you in love to put it away and to advise any others that you are associated with to do the same. You have now the opportunity to read the words of President Kimball and the other leaders of the church that I have enclosed. You now have to decide whether you will follow their advice.
I hope that you will turn your efforts and study to more fruitful subjects like how to convert people to the gospel, or how to help non-members understand that we are Christians, or what the meaning of CONSECRATION is related to president Kimball asking us to pay double or even 10 times the normal fast offering if we are financially able to, if you want to delve into a really deep doctrinal subject. [See Conference Report, Welfare Session, April 1974 President Kimballs talk]. I would be surprised if the members in your are well versed in the atonement and its relationship to repentance and forgiveness, yet they are studying the Adam-God theory??? There are so many subjects that are worthwhile to study, I would hope that one of them would be for you to read everything the living prophets have said in the past 10 years (from the Ensigns).
May the Lord bless you in your studies, and I know he will if you will follow the teachings and counsel of the living prophets. I have attached some of those words of the living prophets for you to read.
Your Brother in the gospel
Cordell Vail
1639 22nd Way N.E.
Auburn, WA 98002
cordellv@vcaa.com
CC: President C. Terry Graff
Elder Gorby
Elder Hunt
Elder Horagan
QUOTES BY THE LIVING PROPHETS ........
Now I would like to express another thought which is vital to us one and all. President Brigham Young has been unjustly condemned for a statement that he made to the effect that Adam is our God and the only one with whom we have to do. President Young's statement has been unmercifully condemned, but what he said is a righteous principle and in full accord with the doctrines of the kingdom of God. It is the doctrine of primogeniture in the kingdom of God and a glorious principle when it is fully and clearly understood....
Thus we learn by virtue of the law of primogeniture, that all
who are saved in the kingdom of God will be subject to Adam, for
by divine appointment he holds these keys under the direction
of Jesus Christ. I might carry this law a little further. According
to the gospel of Jesus Christ, Joseph Fielding Smith will be subject
to his father, and his father to his father in the family of God;
and so it will go back from the end to the beginning; and we will
all be obedient to Adam whom the Prophet Joseph Smith declared
holds the keys of salvation for his posterity who are redeemed,
but "under the counsel and direction of the Holy One,"
who is Jesus Christ, who stands at the head because he is the
Redeemer of the world, who gave us, through his atonement, the
resurrection and eternal life if we will only repent and keep
his laws and commandments....
President Joseph Fielding Smith
Conference Report
April 1965 page 10-11
...Another case is the one of those who talk about the "Adam-God"
theory; I guess when they are engrossed with all these different
theories, and things in the Church, they don't have time to study
faith and repentance. Maybe they ought to get back to basics.
And when they understand everything about faith, then they can
move on to the next principle....
Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone
Conference Report
April 1975 page 102
....Another matter. We hope that you who teach in the various
organizations whether on the campuses or in our chapels, will
always teach the orthodox truth. We warn you against the dissemination
of doctrines which are not according to the scriptures and which
are alleged to have been taught by some of the General Authorities
of past generations. Such, for instance, is the Adam-God theory.
We denounce that theory and hope that everyone will be cautioned
against this and other kinds of false doctrine.
President Spencer W. Kimball
Conference Report
Priesthood Session
October 1976 page 115
In my mind there is grave doubt that any man can abide the day
of the second coming who is not willing and able to follow the
leadership of these men whom the Lord has sent to counsel and
guide us in this day.
Elder Harold B. Lee
Conference Report
October 1941 page 114
We speak not by way of alarm but by way of gentle counsel. Let
us go back to the basics and follow the fundamentals. Thus we
will experience a spiritual resurgence in our lives which will
help us through these tempestuous times.
President Spencer W. Kimball
Ensign
May 1981 page 80
May I remind all of us that if we will live the gospel and follow the counsel of the leaders of the Church, we will be blessed to avoid many of the problems that plague the world.
President Spencer W. Kimball
Conference Report
April 1980 page 128
Now as we conclude this general conference, let us all give heed
to what was said to us. Let us assume the counsel given applies
to us, to me. Let us hearken to those we sustain as prophets and
seers, as well as the other brethren, as if our eternal life depended
upon it, because it does!
President Spencer W. Kimball
Conference Report
April 1978 page 117
...Let us not turn a deaf ear now, and listen to these as the
words that have come from the Lord inspires of Him - and we will
be safe on Zion's hill - until all that the Lord has for his children
shall have been accomplished.
President Harold B. Lee
Conference Report
October 1973 page 128-129
...the greatest test that confronts us, as in every age when the
Lord has a people on earth, is whether we will give heed to the
words of his living oracles and follow the counsel and direction
they give for our day and time.
Elder Bruce R. McConkie
Ensign
May 1974 page 71 - 72
Will you listen? Will you follow the advice and counsel of your
leaders, local and general? Or will you choose your own paths
though they lead you into the dark wilderness?
President Spencer W. Kimball
Conference Report
October 1974 page 10
As President J. Reuben Clark said in a classic talk that he gave,
"What we need today is not more prophets. We have the prophets.
But what we need is more people with listening ears. That is the
great need of our generation."
Elder Harold B. Lee
Conference Report
October 1948 page 82
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