Remembering Joseph by Mark McConkie

Duncan, Chapman (July 12, 1812-December 22, 1900)

Duncan says Joseph showed he and others the place where Adam built an altar.

By this time Joseph the Prophet had come out to Adam-ondi-Ahman, Davies Country. . . . I think the next day he said to those present, Hyrum Smith, Bishop Vinson 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 Di-Ahman. He went about forty rods north of my house and placed the shovel with care and placed his foot on it. When he took out the shovelful of dirt it bared the stone, on the side of [the] upper edge nearly a foot deep. The dirt was two inches deep on the stone, I reckon. About four feet or more were disclosed. He did not dig to the bottom of the wall-three layers of good masonry wall put up, were unearthed. The stone looked like dressed stone, nice joints, ten inches thick, eighteen inches or more long. He came back down the slope perhaps fifteen rods. On the level, the Prophet stopped and remarked, "This place where we stood is the place where Adam gathered his posterity and blessed them, and predicted what should come to pass to later generations." The next day he returned to Far West, Lyman Wight and Bishop Knight going with him.

"Extract from the Journal of Chapman Duncan," LDS Church Archives, Salt Lake City, Utah. Some spelling and punctuation have been modernized.
Note: See D&C 107:53-56 for the account of Adam blessing his posterity.

Adam-ondi-Ahman

http://emp.byui.edu/satterfieldb/quotes/Adam-ondi-Ahman.html

Chronology of Events in Adam-ondi-Ahman

• Adam lived in Adam-ondi-Ahman after being cast out of the Garden of Eden
• Adam offered sacrifice as commanded of the Lord
• Adam was baptized, received the Holy Ghost and temple ordinances
• Three years before he died, Adam met with his righteous posterity and gave them the temple ordinances
• May 19, 1838, Joseph Smith revealed the location of Adam-ondi-Ahman
• June 25, 1838, saints living at Adam-ondi-Ahman were organized into a stake of Zion
• Latter-day Meeting at Adam-ondi-Ahman

Latter-day Discovery HC Volume 3 page 33-36

Selection Of Lands In Caldwell And Daviess Counties For Settlement-Adam-Ondi-Ahman.

The Prophet Leaves Far West to Locate Settlements.

Friday, May 18.-I left Far West, in company with Sidney Rigdon, Thomas B. Marsh, David W. Patten, Bishop Partridge, Elias Higbee, Simeon Carter, Alanson Ripley, and many others, for the purpose of visiting the north country, and laying off a stake of Zion; making locations, and laying claim to lands to facilitate the gathering of the Saints, and for the benefit of the poor, in upholding the Church of God. We traveled to the mouth of Honey Creek, which is a tributary of Grand river, where we camped for the night. We passed through a beautiful country the greater part of which is prairie, and thickly covered with grass and weeds, among which is plenty of game, such as deer, turkey, and prairie hen. We discovered a large, black wolf, and my dog gave him chase, but he outran us. We have nothing to fear in camping out, except the rattlesnake, which is native to this country, though not very numerous. We turned our horses loose, and let them feed on the prairie.

The Prophet and Party Reach Tower Hill.

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 there), where we camped for the Sabbath.

Adam-ondi-Ahman.

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, 1 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. 2

Sunday, 20.-This day was spent by our company principally at Adam-ondi-Ahman; but near the close of the day, we struck our tents, and traveled about six miles north and encamped for the night with Judge Morin and company, who were also traveling north.

Monday, 21.-This morning, after making some locations in this place, which is in township 61, ranges 27 and 28, we returned to Robinson's Grove, about two miles, to secure some land near Grand River, which we passed the day previous; and finding a mistake in the former survey, I sent the surveyor south five or six miles to obtain a correct line, while some of us tarried to obtain water for the camp.

Council called to determine Location of Settlements.

In the evening, I called a council of the brethren, to know whether it was wisdom to go immediately into the north country, or tarry here and here abouts, to secure land on Grand River, etc. The brethren spoke their minds freely on the subject, when I stated to the council that I felt impressed to tarry and secure all the land near by, that is not secured between this and Far West, especially on Grand River. President Rigdon concurred, and the council voted unanimously to secure the land on Grand River, and between this and Far West.

Elders Kimball and Hyde this day (21st May) arrived at Kirtland from England.