The great council at Adam-ondi-Ahman stands as one of the most significant yet veiled events in the divine plan for the earth’s final days. Revealed through modern prophets, this sacred assembly will serve as a culminating moment in the preparation for the millennial reign of Jesus Christ. It is here that Adam, the Ancient of Days, will gather his faithful children, priesthood authority will be accounted for, and Jesus Christ will return to preside over the meeting as King of Kings. This event links the ancient past with the prophesied future, demonstrating the eternal nature of God’s governance and His unbroken relationship with His covenant people.

The name Adam-ondi-Ahman, meaning “Adam in the presence of God,” first appears in modern revelation given to Joseph Smith. The Lord declared that “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” (Doctrine & Covenants 116:1). This declaration places Adam-ondi-Ahman as a divinely appointed gathering place, not only for past events but for a future, highly significant council. The earliest scriptural reference to Adam-ondi-Ahman’s role in sacred convocations is found in Doctrine & Covenants 107, where it is recorded that “three years previous to the death of Adam, he called Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, Enoch, and Methuselah, who were all high priests, with the residue of his posterity who were righteous, into the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman, and there bestowed upon them his last blessing” (Doctrine & Covenants 107:53). This event, which took place near the beginning of mortal history, foreshadows the final gathering that will occur before Christ’s return.

Daniel’s vision provides another witness to the significance of Adam-ondi-Ahman in the last days. The prophet saw that “the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire” (Daniel 7:9). Latter-day Saint leaders have consistently interpreted the phrase “Ancient of Days” as a title referring to Adam. The passage further describes that “thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened” (Daniel 7:10). This imagery aligns with the prophetic understanding of Adam-ondi-Ahman as the site of a grand council in which priesthood keys will be returned to the Savior, signifying His full assumption of governance over the earth. Those who have been entrusted with divine authority—from the ancient patriarchs to the prophets of the Restoration—will report on their stewardships. The council will be an occasion in which all priesthood authority is accounted for and then returned to Christ, who alone holds the right to reign over the whole earth.

The great council at Adam-ondi-Ahman will be a prelude to Christ’s public return in power and glory. Unlike the visible Second Coming, when “every eye shall see him” (Revelation 1:7), this meeting will be a private gathering known only to those prepared to participate. The Lord declared that “the hour is nigh and the day soon at hand when the earth is ripe” (Doctrine & Covenants 29:9), a statement reinforcing the necessity of divine preparation before the world’s final purification. The presence of Adam at this council further emphasizes the eternal nature of priesthood authority, as he, the first mortal steward of God’s children, will be present to witness the formal return of all governing power to Christ.

This understanding of a sacred pre-millennial council is unique to the Restoration. Other Christian traditions anticipate Christ’s Second Coming but do not possess the additional light that clarifies how divine governance will be transferred before His reign. The doctrinal foundation provided by modern revelation adds depth and order to the eschatological timeline, demonstrating that God’s house is governed by law and that all things are done with proper authority. Those who embrace this revealed knowledge gain an enhanced perspective on the role of priesthood keys, the necessity of preparation, and the intimate relationship between Adam’s original calling and the ultimate redemption of the earth.

The great council at Adam-ondi-Ahman offers believers a profound sense of purpose and expectation. It testifies of the continuity of divine governance, linking the earliest patriarchs with the final dispensation. It affirms that the Lord’s kingdom is one of order and that all things are directed by His perfect will. Covenant-keeping disciples who understand this doctrine find themselves spiritually aligned with God’s unfolding work, striving to live worthy of participation in the greatest gathering of priesthood leadership the world has ever known. The anticipation of this event reinforces faith in Christ’s imminent return and deepens commitment to the cause of Zion, preparing individuals to stand with the faithful in the day when Adam, the Ancient of Days, once again gathers his righteous children before the throne of God.

Preface: Touchstones of Spiritual Verification

It is a certainty that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ way of “knowing” is different from others’ concept of what it means to “know.” Subjective revelation is essential to the Latter-day Saint way of knowing and that can be tricky since many people can claim revelation and sometimes on behalf of others in a way that is inappropriate.

I developed this list as a way of knowing truth better in the Latter-day Saint way. I called them Touchstones of Spiritual Verification such that we can have greater means of developing spiritual certainty and verifying their authenticity against the revealed word of God. These 15 gifts are such touchstones.