Today, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is associated with Utah, where they settled in 1847, before it officially became a state. But Joseph Smith founded Mormonism in 1830 in the “Burned-Over District” of upstate New York, and led his growing band of followers westward, through Ohio and Illinois. Independence, Missouri was declared by Smith to be the original Garden of Eden, or Zion, and he laid the ground for a Mormon temple.
Before it could be built, tensions mounted with the local settlers who were largely pro-slavery in this border state, and the “Saints,” as they called themselves, were forced to resettle in a small village north of Independence which Smith christened Adam-ondi-Ahman. Also the name of a classic Mormon hymn, the phrase is supposed to mean “Adam settled here,” in a secret language revealed to Smith by God.
Smith preached standing on a large, flat stone in a wooded area on the edge of a field, where he claimed Adam and Eve had made their first sacrifice upon settling in their new home. According to Smith, Adam and Eve lived long, peaceful lives and had many children. The Mormon settlers were not so fortunate: in 1838 the bloody Mormon War forced them into exile again.
Today the site, a peaceful expanse of forests and fields in the rolling hills of Missouri farmland, has been turned into a Church-owned park, where you can tour sites related to Smith. Due to some discrepancy over which stone was the one that Smith designated as Adam’s, there is no longer an official Church plaque singling out the stone, but if you follow an unofficial path downhill from one of the viewing areas, you will come to something that is rumored to be “preacher’s rock,” along with a number of other landmark stones.
It is said that because visiting Mormons will take small stones they find in Adam-ondi-Ahman’s fields home with them as souvenirs, local farmers bring their troublesome stones into the park to get rid of them. The park, including a picnic area, is open to the public during daylight hours, and cared for by a couple of young Mormon missionaries who live in a small house on site.
Kanisa la Yesu Kristo la Watakatifu wa Siku za Mwisho (KJW) lilijulikana kama Kanisa la Utah tangu mwaka 1847 wakati wa kuanzishwa kwa jimbo hilo. Joseph Smith alianzisha dini ya Mormon mwaka 1830 katika eneo la Burnt Over District, kaskazini mwa jimbo la New York, na kuongoza kundi lake la wafuasi kuelekea magharibi, kupitia Ohio na Illinois. "Msomi Smith aliita mji wa Independence, Missouri, ""Bustani ya Edeni ya awali,"" na kuweka msingi wa hekalu la Wamormoni." "Kabla ya ujenzi huo, mvutano uliongezeka na wahamiaji wa eneo hilo ambao walikuwa wakipinga utumwa katika jimbo hili la mpakani, na ""Watakatifu,"" kama walivyojiita, walilazimika kuhamia kijiji kidogo kaskazini mwa Uhuru ambacho Smith alibatiza ""Adam-ondi-Ahman.""" Pia jina la wimbo wa kimapokeo wa Wamormoni, maneno hayo yanapaswa kumaanisha "Adamu aliishi hapa", katika lugha ya siri iliyofunuliwa kwa Smith na Mungu. Smith alihubiri akiwa amesimama juu ya jiwe kubwa tambarare katika eneo lenye miti kwenye ukingo wa shamba, ambapo alidai Adamu na Hawa walikuwa wamefanya dhabihu yao ya kwanza walipojiunga na nyumba yao mpya. Kulingana na Smith, Adamu na Hawa waliishi maisha marefu yenye amani na walikuwa na watoto wengi. Wahamiaji wa Mormon hawakuwa na bahati kama hiyo: katika 1838 Vita vya Mormoni vilivyojaa damu viliwafanya wahamishwe tena. Leo eneo hilo, ambalo ni eneo lenye amani la misitu na mashamba katika vilima vya Missouri, limegeuzwa kuwa bustani inayomilikiwa na Kanisa, ambako unaweza kutembelea maeneo yanayohusiana na Smith. "Kwa sababu ya kutoelewana juu ya jiwe ambalo Smith aliliita ""Adam,"" hakuna tena bamba rasmi la Kanisa linaloonyesha jiwe hilo, lakini ikiwa utafuata njia isiyo rasmi chini kutoka moja ya maeneo ya kutazama, utafika kwenye kitu kinachojulikana kuwa ""mwamba wa mhubiri,"" pamoja na mawe mengine kadhaa ya kihistoria." "Kama vile watu wa dini ya Mormon wanavyopeleka mawe madogo kwenye mashamba ya Adam-ondi-Ahman nyumbani kama zawadi, wakulima wa eneo hilo huleta mawe hayo katika bustani ili kuondoa mawe hayo.""" Hifadhi hiyo, ikiwa ni pamoja na eneo la matembezi, ni wazi kwa umma wakati wa saa za mchana, na inashughulikiwa na wanandoa wa wamishonari wachanga wa Mormon ambao wanaishi katika nyumba ndogo kwenye tovuti.