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Adam-ondi-Ahman: Appearances at
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The Prophet and Party at Tower Hill or Adam-ondi-Ahman 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 Hill1 (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. 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,2 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.3 (May 19, 1838.) DHC 3:34–35. Teachings of the
Joseph Smith
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The Priesthood was first given to Adam. He obtained the First Presidency, and held the keys of it from generation to generation. He obtained it in the creation, before the world was formed, as in Gen. i. 20, 26, 28. Gen. 1:26-28 He had dominion given him over every living creature. He is Michael the Archangel, spoken of in the Scriptures. Then to Noah, who is Gabriel: he stands next in authority to Adam in the Priesthood. He was called of God to this office, and was the Father of all living in his day, and to him was given the dominion. These men held keys first on earth, and then in heaven. The Priesthood is an everlasting principle, and existed with God from eternity, and will to eternity, without beginning of days or end of years. The keys have to be brought from heaven, whenever the Gospel is sent. When they are revealed from heaven, it is by Adam's authority. Daniel vii. speaks of the Ancient of Days. He means the oldest man—our Father Adam (Michael). He will call his children together and hold a council with them to prepare them for the coming of the Son of Man. He (Adam) is the Father of the human family, and presides over the spirits of all men; and all that have had the keys must stand before him in this grand council. This may take place before some of us leave this stage of action. The Son of Man stands before him, and there is given him glory and dominion. Adam delivers up his stewardship to Christ—that which was delivered to him as holding the keys of the universe, but retains his standing as head of the human family. The spirit of man is not a created being: it existed from eternity, and will exist to eternity. Anything created cannot be eternal; and earth, water, &c., had their existence in an elementary state from eternity. Our Savior speaks of children and says, “Their angels always stand before my Father.” The Father called all spirits before him at the creation of man, and organized them. He (Adam) is the head, and was told to multiply. The keys were first given to him, and by him to others. He will have to give an account of his stewardship, and they to him. The Priesthood is everlasting. The Savior, Moses, and Elias gave the keys to Peter, James, and John, on the mount, when they were transfigured before him. The Priesthood is everlasting—without beginning of days or end of years—without father, mother, &c. If there is no change of ordinances, there is no change of Priesthood. Wherever the ordinances of the Gospel are administered, there is the Priesthood. How have we come at the Priesthood in the last days? It came down, down, in regular succession. Peter, James, and John had it given to them, and they gave it to others. Christ is the Great High Priest; Adam next. Paul speaks of the Church coming to an innumerable company of angels; to God, the Judge of all—the spirits of just men made perfect; to Jesus, the Mediator of the new covenant, &c. (Heb xii. 23.) Heb. 12:22-24 [p. 238b] I saw Adam in the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman. He called together his children and blessed them with a patriarchal blessing. The Lord appeared in their midst, and he (Adam) blessed them all, and foretold what should befall them to the latest generation. (See Doc. and Cov., sec. iii., pars. 28, 29.) D&C 107:53-57 This is why Abraham blessed his posterity—he wanted to bring them into the presence of God. “They looked for a city,” Heb. 11:10 &c. Moses sought to bring the children of Israel into the presence of God, through the power of the Priesthood, but he could not. D&C 84:23-24 In the first ages of the world they tried to establish the same thing; and there were Eliases raised up who tried to restore these very glories, but did not obtain them; but they prophesied of a day when this glory would be revealed. Paul spoke of the dispensation of the fulness of times, when God would gather together all things in one, &c.; Eph. 1:10 and those men to whom these keys have been given will have to be there; and they without us cannot be made perfect. Heb. 11:40 These men are in heaven, but their children are on earth. Their bowels yearn over us. God sends down men for this reason. (Matt. xiii. 41.) Matt. 13:41 “And the Son of man shall send forth his angels, &c.” All these authoritative characters will come down and join hand in hand in bringing about this work. The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed. The mustard seed is small, but brings forth a large tree, and the fowls lodge in the branches. The fowls are the angels. Thus angels come down, combine together to gather their children, and gather them. We cannot be made perfect without them, nor they without us. Heb. 11:40 When these things are done, the Son of Man will descend—the Ancient of Days sit; we may come to an innumerable company of angels have communion with and receive instruction from them. Paul told about Moses' proceedings—spoke of the children of Israel being baptized, &c. He knew this, and that all the ordinances and blessings were in the Church. Paul had these things, and we may have the fowls of heaven lodge in the branches, &c. The horn made war with the Saints and overcame them, until the Ancient of Days came; judgment was given to the Saints of the Most High from the Ancient of Days; the time came that the Saints possessed the kingdom. This not only makes us ministers here, but in eternity.
Joseph Smith
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About the same time that the Latter-day Saints are quickened (not immortalized), there will be Saints that have slumbered and slept for ages, and they are to be quickened and taken up into the heavens. Now the wicked are to see all these things; and if power of language could be given to them, what would they say? They would turn to the rocks and the mountains, and say, O mountains and rocks, fall upon us and hide us from the presence of Him that sits upon the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. And I have no doubt but they will have the power to say it. But they must endure the sight. After which, they must be consumed according to that which is spoken, and the heathen nations must be redeemed, and the way be prepared for the Lord to dwell upon the earth. The mortal Saints will then be transfigured and sanctified, but not immortalized. They will be prepared for the millennial reign. The tables will then be spread, and the Latter-day and Former-day Saints will be together to partake of the sacrament just as it is this afternoon, only more perfectly prepared. This is my object in thus portraying these things before you this afternoon, for as often as we do this we show forth the Lord's death till he come. When that time comes, he will partake of the fruit of the vine with us; and with him will be Moroni, Mormon, and Lehi, and all the inhabitants of this vast American continent who have been saved through the Gospel. There will be Enoch's city, the Former-day Saints, and the vast throng of resurrected Saints to sit down and partake of the supper of the great Bridegroom, and he will administer in the midst of his brethren. I hope and pray that I may be prepared to be one of that joyful throng to be assembled there with a pure heart, and one that is upright before God. I also hope that my brethren will be with me, and that we shall have the privilege of celebrating the marriage supper of the Lamb, for that will be a happy day.
Elder Orson Pratt
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Thus, having cleansed the earth, and glorified it with the knowledge of God, as the waters cover the sea, and having poured out his Spirit upon all flesh, both man and beast becoming perfectly harmless, as they were in the beginning, and feeding on vegetable food only, while nothing is left to hurt or destroy in all the vast creation, the prophets then proceed to give us many glorious descriptions of the enjoyments of its inhabitants. ' They shall build houses and inhabit them ; they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine of them ; they shall plant gardens and eat the fruit of them ; they shall not build and another inhabit ; they shall not plant and another eat ; for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall longenjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth in trouble ; for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them ; and it shall come to pass, that before they call I will answer, and while they are yet speaking I will hear.' In this happy state of existence it seems that all people will live to the full age of a tree, and this too without pain or sorrow, and whatsoever they ask will be immediately answered, and even all their wants will be anticipated. Of course, then, none of them will sleep in the dust, for they will prefer to be translated ; that is, changed in the twinkling of an eye, from mortal to immortal ; after which they will continue to reign with Jesus on the earth." Pp. 110 — 122. A great council will then be held to adjust the affairs of the world, from the commencement, over which Father Adam will preside as head and representative of the human family. There have been, in different ages of the world, communications opened between the heavens and the earth.
Elder John Taylor
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Judgment will be set and all who have held keys will make their reports and deliver their stewardships, as they shall be required. Adam will direct this judgment, and then he will make his report, as the one holding the keys for this earth, to his Superior Officer, Jesus Christ. Our Lord will then assume the reins of government; directions will be given to the Priesthood; and He, whose right it is to rule, will be installed officially by the voice of the Priesthood there assembled. This grand council of Priesthood will be composed, not only of those who are faithful who now dwell on this earth, but also of the prophets and apostles of old, who have had directing authority. Others may also be there, but if so they will be there by appointment, for this is to be an official council called to attend to the most momentous matters concerning the destiny of this earth. When this gathering is held, the world will not know of it; the members of the church at large will not know of it, yet it shall be preparatory to the coming in the clouds of glory of our Saviour Jesus Christ as the Prophet Joseph Smith has said. The world cannot know of it. The Saints cannot know of it - except those who officially shall be called into this council - for it shall precede the coming of Jesus Christ as a thief in the night, unbeknown to all the world.
Elder Joseph Fielding Smith
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John Fife Bowman
John F. Bowman
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The Ancient Of Days
President Joseph Fielding Smith
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Coming Of Christ At Adam-Ondi-Ahman
President Joseph Fielding Smith
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Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles I feel this morning to begin my remarks to you to bear my testimony to you as a servant of God that Joseph Smith is truly a prophet of God. And this pleasant and happy occasion calls to mind that if it were not for the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which has been sent forth in the presence of God, that men might be made partakers of the glories to come, none of us would be here today. And this through the instrumentality of the prophet Joseph Smith. Apostle Widtsoe made this statement. Joseph Smith is the key figure in the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ in the latter days. The foundation of the Church which he was instrumental in restoring to earth with every doctrine, organization and movement must be attributed directly or indirectly to him. It is true, no doubt, that had he proven unfaithful to that which was entrusted to him, another would have been chosen in his stead. But the fact is that he did prove faithful. And that is why we are here today, the day and time that we should honor him because of that which is transpiring in the world and in the Church in the preparation for the Second Coming of the Son of God. It is fitting also that in connection with this that we should recognize that he was the first witness of the new dispensation of the gospel for Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The prophet himself bore record of the completion of his task here upon the earth. This happened upon an occasion not long before his martyrdom, prior to which he had hastened his preparations, and had conferred upon the twelve all of the keys, covenants, endowments, and sealing ordinances of the priesthood that he had received from heavenly messengers. And having done this, he declared, “The Lord is about to lay the burden on your shoulders, and if they kill me, the kingdom of God will roll on as I have now finished the work that was laid upon me.” Each of the successors of the prophet Joseph Smith have upon many occasions borne witness to the faithful completion of his work. President Joseph F. Smith, who knew the prophet as a boy, gave this testimony of his work. "Joseph Smith was true to the covenants that he made with the Lord, true to his mission, and the Lord enabled him to accomplish his work even to the sealing of his testimony with his shed blood." President David McKay has said, “Not only did he receive guidance and instruction from the divine head, but once received, he defended it with invincible resolution, and his reliance on truth, on virtue, and in God were most unfaltering.” Joseph Smith, foreordained as a chosen spirit in the premortal realms to be the instrument of God in this last dispensation, without question, has proved faithful and true to the great trust placed upon him. I say this with regard to the fact that the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in their hidden documents proclaim Joseph Smith to have been a fallen prophet. And even to this day, there is written in the crevices of their philosophy and their teachings this concept which nullifies the position that they attempt to hold in the world. This great prophet and seer who has done more save Jesus only for the salvation of men in this world than any other man that ever lived in it stands as a martyred witness for Jesus Christ the Redeemer of the world and of mankind. It is probably common knowledge now throughout the throughout the Church, at least I hear the reverberations of it wherever I go. But not long ago, in fact only seven months ago in June of 1966 with President David McKay, President Joseph Fielding Smith and several others, I stood in the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman in Daviess County, Missouri. I have in my folder the journal record of our memorable visit. But in our thoughts that day there loomed before us the importance of this hallowed place to the future of the Church and the kingdom of God. Our automobile rested in the large valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman at the base of Spring Hill and we could clearly see Spring Hill, on the bluff of which a temple site has been dedicated and where the altar of Adam once stood which was used for sacrifice. The other altar on Tower Hill, which is also was nearby, was usually used for prayer. And according to the prophet Joseph Smith, this is the altar where Adam gathered together his children at eventide. But the altar of sacrifice, wherein the angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, and asked him why he offered sacrifice, and he said, I know not, save the Lord hath commanded me. And that altar is on the place we call Spring Hill, near the temple site. I stood on that bluff not many months ago on the very place where the storehouse had been erected. And there is still discernable the broken red brick of the storehouse. And the storehouse was very close to the temple site. And the altar of sacrifice was not many yards from this sacred place. According to many accounts given to us in the various histories of the church and in the journal records of many of the brethren. There in this area where we stood that day according to the revelations is where Adam or the ancient of days spoken of by Daniel the prophet will sit to receive from those who will stand before him the keys of all dispensations. Among these will be the prophet Joseph Smith representing the dispensation of the fullness of times as testified to by the Lord himself and as contained in section 27 of the Doctrine and Covenants. At this great council meeting of Adam-ondi-Ahman, not many years hence, the Son of Man will appear, and will receive from Adam the stewardship which will contain the keys of the universe. We're given to understand that many others by appointment will be present at this great priesthood meeting. But the world will not know of it, nor will many within the church. According to the prophet Joseph Smith, this will be a day of judgment, a day of preparation, for the Lord will receive of the dominion and the glory of the earth as plans will go forward for the culmination of God's work here upon the earth and the millennial reign of the Son of God to be officially established by His glorious Second Coming. As we contemplate this great event of the future, our thought broadens to the prophecies of Joseph Smith of the gathering of the saints out of the world in response to the message of the restoration. For said he of events preceding the final gathering of the saints to the center place of Zion. And we are acquainted with the initial preparations which God made in the first settling of the consecrated and dedicated land of Zion in Jackson County, Missouri, wherein God knew the beginning and the end. And he knew that the saints would not redeem Zion at that time. And they were subsequently expelled. And in light of that expulsion, there came to the prophet Joseph Smith the manner in which the children of God would be gathered from throughout the world in preparation for the day when the revelation would come that would begin the final gathering of the children of God from throughout the world. And this is to be accomplished in the manner that the prophet has explained here and which you and I are a part of this very day. For said he, "There will be here and there a stake for the gathering of the saints. Some may have cried peace, but the saints and the world will have little peace henceforth. But let this not hinder us from going to the stakes. For God has told us to flee, not dallying, or we shall be scattered, one here and another there. For there your children shall be blessed, that is in the stakes of Zion, wherever they are established throughout the world. And you shall be in the midst with your friends, where you may be blessed. For the gospel net gathers of every kind." But of the final gathering of the saints in the due time of the Lord, not many years hence, the prophet makes this further declaration. And I quote, “You know, there has been a great discussion in relation to Zion, where it is and where the gathering of this dispensation is, and which I am now going to tell you. The prophets have spoken and written about it. But I will make a proclamation that will cover a broader ground. The whole of America is Zion itself from north to south and is described by the prophets who declare that it is Zion where the mountain of the Lord shall be and that it should be in the center of the land. When the elders shall take up and examine the old prophecies in the Bible, they will see it.” In the prophecies of Micah, Isaiah, and Nephi, and later in the revelations from God contained in section 133 of the Doctrine and Covenants, we learn that the term mountain of the Lord's house means the place where the authority and where the power of God resides. And that the mountains referred to are not specifically geographical eruptions, but pertain to the house of God. The psalmist once said that he prayed that his mountain would be faithful unto the commandments of God. And this mountain to be above all other mountains means that it shall rise above all other houses and all other kingdoms of the earth. Concerning the gathering of the saints first to the stakes wherever they may be throughout the earth for the purposes intended of teaching those who come into the church the principles and the ordinances of heaven that they may be blessed by the commandments of God and then to the center of the land in America. Joseph Smith uttered this prophecy. “I prophesy that that man who tarries after he has an opportunity of going will be afflicted by the devil. Wars are at hand. We must not delay. We ought to have the building up of Zion as our greatest object. When wars come, we shall flee to Zion. The cry is to make haste. But the last revelation says, ‘Ye shall not have time to have gone over the earth until these things shall come.’” The Zion of God, or the place where the city of the new Jerusalem shall be built, which shall be the first of the cities of Zion, shall therefore be established in Jackson County, Missouri. For following the expulsion of the saints from Jackson County, Missouri, the consecrated centerplace of Zion in November of 1833, and the failure because of the rebelliousness of its volunteers of Zion's Camp to redeem Zion in the months that followed. The Lord gave a revelation to the prophet Joseph at Fishing River, Missouri in June of 1834 at the very scene of the Zion's Camp encampment where many died because of a deadly scourge from which the following is taken. “Therefore, in consequence of the transgressions of my people, it is expedient in me that mine elders should wait for a little season for the redemption of Zion.” Previously, but after the Jackson County expulsion, the Lord had assured the prophet that Zion shall not be moved out of her place, that no other place has been appointed. The key to the initial settlement in Jackson County, Missouri, the consecrated land of the center place was declared by the Lord who knows the beginning and the end. Wherein he said, that you might be honored in laying the foundation and in bearing record of the land upon which the Zion of God shall stand. It is the responsibility and the obligation of every servant of God in this dispensation according to this revelation to bear record unto the children of men that the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored first for the redemption of the individual and secondly for the gathering of the children of God from throughout the earth that there may be ushered in the millennial reign. And this is stated in many of the revelations. The time has come, I believe, to reestablish the image of Christ's church more formidably in the consecrated and dedicated land of Missouri. I think that President McKay feels this. And only recently he has authorized that the things that transpired on the memorable visit we had seven months ago to Adam-ondi-Ahman and the cities of Far West, Missouri and Jackson County in general and Independence that these things now can be written that we may in some way bring back to the consciousness of the people of this church, those who are faithful to their covenants, that God established his work in that place, and that to fulfill it, there must be built the city of the New Jerusalem as revealed by the Lord, by the Gentiles, who shall come in and be numbered among the children of Israel, by the sons and daughters of Ephraim, and by the remnant of Jacob, who are the Lamanites, and they shall build the city of the New Jerusalem. And there shall be erected in that city a temple complex such has never been known in the annals of earth's lifetime wherein there shall be as the center of that complex the temple of the New Jerusalem where the Lord will make his appearance in the administrative responsibilities of the government of the earth and it will be sustained and supported by 23 other temples, all named after various orders of the priesthood. And we know the exact location of these temples in the city of Zion. And it is of particular interest to note that when the temple land was purchased by Bishop Partridge for and in behalf of the Church, it constituted 63.27 acres. Whereas according to the plat of the city of Zion, which is to be the city of New Jerusalem, and the first of the cities of Zion, which will be constructed in multiple fashion, for when one city is filled, then the same measurement and dimension of another city will be erected, and so on until it fills the earth, or until it fills all of the land of Zion. But the temple complex will be so arranged that the government of the earth will be carried forward through the priesthood of God under the direct leadership and direction of the Son of God who will live and reign upon the earth. Among these 23 other temples are three temples of communication whereby the voice of God will go throughout all the earth to testify of the things that are to happen in the culmination of the Lord's work here upon the earth. And these things the Lord has made known to us. Well, now my brothers and sisters, the Church has gone through many vicissitudes with its initial expulsion from the state of Missouri and its exile in the city of Nauvoo and their eventual expulsion from there to the state of Utah where many troubles developed, reaching the turn of the century and then the more solidification of the programs of the Church leading to its great position in the world today. The children of God have truly been occupied in these many years. But we need, I believe, to reflect upon the initial things which God has restored to us that pertain to the establishment of these great cities to culminate the work of the Lord. The student of the revelations will find that the greater preponderance of the revelations given from God in this dispensation as contained in the Doctrine and Covenants refer directly or indirectly to the establishing of the cities of Zion and the founding of the Law of Consecration to be administered under the United Order. And these constitute the things which God chose to reveal mainly unto his servant, the prophet Joseph Smith. In concluding my remarks, I should like to quote a statement by Orson F. Whitney concerning the land of Missouri. For said he, "Here in the most ancient region, where parallel with the stream of time, the great river of mortal life arose, had pitched their tents, the saints of the latter day. Here dwelt Adam and Eve in the world's infancy. Here they tasted of the fruit forbidden and were driven forth from Eden, their fall foreordained that mortal man might be. Here the great sire of mankind built altars unto God, offering sacrifice unto the Father in commemoration of the atonement of the Son. Here fell the first martyr." And it is of interest. And we contemplated this fact as we stood on the ground at Far West, a most holy and consecrated place, and when the prophet of our own dispensation, President McKay said, “I feel a great spiritual influence in this place.” And we have reason to believe by the testimony of the brethren that it was at Far West that Abel was martyred by his brother Cain. That was their dwelling place in the early day in that area. And it was in that vicinity that the first martyr of this dispensation took place. And so here fell the first martyr. Here righteous Abel's blood was spilled. Here burst the awful thunders of heaven's awakened wrath upon the guilty head of earth's first murderer. Here Adam bowed with age blessed the righteous residue of his seed and predicted whatsoever should befall his posterity to the latest generation. Of all this ere the days of Peleg in whose days was the earth divided ere Enoch city rose to heaven or the ark of Noah floated over a wave-buried world, ere Babel's towering folly mocked the skies, ere wrecked was language on confusion strand ere the great river of humanity dividing into rills went forth to water with the streams of life, the soil of every land. Here in the time of restitution, when all things in Christ are gathered in one, Adam, Michael, the Great Prince, the Ancient of Days, is to come in power and glory, revisiting the scenes of his earthly pilgrimage. America, the old world, not the new. Cradle of man, mother of nations, grave of empires.
Elder Alvin R. Dyer
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The second coming of the Son of Man consists not of one but of many appearances. Our blessed Lord will come—attended by all the hosts of heaven, and in all the glory of his Father’s kingdom—not to one but to many places. He will stand on one continent after another, speak to one great assemblage after another, and work his will among succeeding groups of mortals. Allusions to and some explanations concerning these various appearances are found in the ancient word. These, however, might well go unnoticed or remain without proper interpretation if it were not for the clarifying views found in latter-day revelation. For instance, one of David’s psalms calls upon us to ‘sive unto the Lord the glory due unto his name,” and then, rather enigmatically, the inspired psalmic word acclaims: ‘‘The voice of the Lord is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the Lord is upon many waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty,’’ and a number of similar expressions.
Elder Bruce R. McConkie
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The Second Coming of Christ
Elder Bruce R. McConkie
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Adam-ondi-Ahman: Appearances at
Elder Bruce R. McConkie
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Adam-ondi-Ahman (2)
Weaver, Sarah Jane
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