“After men have got their exaltations and their crowns—have become Gods, even the sons of God—are made Kings of kings and Lords of lords, they have the power then of propagating their species in spirit; and that is the first of their operations with regard to organizing a world. Power is then given to them to organize the elements, and then commence the organization of tabernacles. How can they do it? Have they to go to that earth? Yes, an Adam will have to go there, and he cannot do without Eve; he must have Eve to commence the work of generation, and they will go into the garden, and continue to eat and drink of the fruits of the corporeal world, until this grosser matter is diffused sufficiently through their celestial bodies to enable them, according to the established laws, to produce mortal tabernacles for their spiritual children.”
Exegetical Breakdown
“After men have got their exaltations and their crowns…”
Exaltation and receiving “crowns” refers to achieving the highest degree of glory in the Celestial Kingdom—deification and the divine right to rule and create.
“…have become Gods, even the sons of God—are made Kings of kings and Lords of lords…”
This mirrors divine titles applied to Christ and ultimately to the Father. Through covenantal progression, exalted beings reflect the image and pattern of the Son, who reflects the Father.
Revelation 19:16, Hebrews 1:3, Romans 8:17
“…they have the power then of propagating their species in spirit…”
This affirms that exalted beings produce spirit children—literal divine parenthood, just as our Heavenly Parents bore us.
“…that is the first of their operations with regard to organizing a world.”
Before any planet is formed or body created, spirit children are prepared. This is the divine order.
“Power is then given to them to organize the elements…”
Matter is not created from nothing. It is eternal and is shaped, or “organized,” by divine beings with authority.
“…and then commence the organization of tabernacles.”
These tabernacles—mortal bodies—are the sacred housing for eternal spirits.
2 Corinthians 5:1–4, D&C 88:15
“Have they to go to that earth? Yes, an Adam will have to go there…”
The phrase “an Adam” suggests a title or calling. This concept is reinforced in JD 1:50, where Brigham Young taught that Adam is Michael, the Archangel, who comes into Eden with a celestial body to begin the mortal phase of his spirit children’s journey.
“…he cannot do without Eve…”
Eve is essential to the generative process. In JD 1:50, Brigham Young identifies Eve as “one of [Adam’s] wives,” confirming her exalted role in the work of creation.
“…they will go into the garden, and continue to eat and drink of the fruits of the corporeal world…”
This is the sacred Fall. In JD 1:50, Adam enters the garden already exalted, indicating that the Fall was a chosen descent to enable physical embodiment.
Moses 4:23–25, 2 Nephi 2:22–25
“…until this grosser matter is diffused sufficiently through their celestial bodies…”
This shows that embodiment was a lawful process. In JD 1:50, Adam and Eve descend as beings of light who must take on mortal substance to produce physical posterity.
“…to produce mortal tabernacles for their spiritual children.”
This is the culmination of divine descent—embodying eternal spirits in physical form through lawful condescension.
Hermeneutic Layers
Doctrinal Layer
This discourse outlines a full divine cycle: exaltation, spiritual offspring, elemental organization, physical descent, the Fall, and tabernacle formation. It places Adam and Eve as divine beings fulfilling eternal roles in accordance with revealed law.
Symbolic Layer
The Fall is not shameful—it is the gateway. Celestial beings descend willingly to initiate mortality, bearing both the burden and the blessing of embodiment for their children.
Title-Based Theology
Adam is a role, not a name. The phrase “an Adam” affirms the pattern: each world receives an Adam and an Eve who descend together, begin physical generation, and guide that world’s mortal family. As expanded in JD 1:50, God is the Adam of more than one earth—one for each of His wives.