Background of Adam-Ondi-Ahman
Adam-Ondi-Ahman is two miles south of the town of Jameson, Missouri. Today, Jameson is a tiny town with the population 73 in 2021.
Back in the days of Joseph Smith. Oliver Cowdery was in charge of a committee to explore the area of Davis County, to locate site for Stakes. It is recorded, this excursion lasted 20 days. A member of the committee must of found liked the area because he moved his family from Far West to Adam-Ondi-Ahman in February 1838. Then, in May of 1838 the Prophet Joseph Smith led a survey team to the area.
The name of the area where Adam-ondi-Ahman is, was once called Spring Hill. The prophet Joseph Smith renamed the area Adam-ondi-Ahman which means "The place where Adam dwelt" or "The valley of God in which Adam blessed his children." The word Adam means "Man", Ahman means "God" and Ondi means "presence of"
Visiting Valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman
There are a couple different area to check out at Adam-ondi-Ahman and one of the main areas is The Valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman. The Valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman is on the south, west, and southeast of Tower Hill and was made by the Grand River. The Grand River flooding the area, over thousands of years has created fertile silt on the valley floor, making the are a rich farmland. When the Latter-Day Saints settled in 1838 most of the Valley was covered with trees.
Things to see in the Valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman:
Site of Adam's last blessing on his posterity:
Adams Blessing Site is where the Lord appeared. Joseph Smith identified Adams Altar Site to some of the brethren on October 21, 1838. While still at Adams Altar Site, Joseph Smith turned towards the valley below and said "Here. . . is the real valley were Father Adam. . . called his posterity together and blessed them." Then Joseph and the other brethren walked down Tower Hill, going southward to the Valley when 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 the latest generations." This ancient meeting was one of the greatest spiritual gatherings ever. At the gathering, Adam offered sacrifices on the altar on the top of Tower Hill.
Doctrine and Covenants 107:53-57
"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.
And the Lord appeared unto them, and they rose up and blessed Adam, and called him Michael["who is like God"] the prince, the archangel.
The Lord administered comfort unto Adam, and said unto him: I have set thee to be at the head; a multitude of nations shall come unto thee, and thou art a prince over them forever.
And Adam stood up in the midst of the congregation; and notwithstanding he was bowed down with age, being full of the Holy Ghost, predicted whatsoever should befall his posterity unto the latest generation.
These things were all written in the book of Enoch, and are to be testified of in due time."
2. John Lee cabin Site:
248 directly south of Adams altar, on the East side of Main Street, is where John D. Lee built his cabin, according to witnesses. The site is 50-60 feet north of the current road located south of the bast of Tower Hill.
John Lee recorded a sweet scene at his cabin. The Missourians and the Latter-Day Saints had been in great conflict when John D. Lee had been appointed to lead Gen. Robert Wilson and his militia of 500 men from Far West to Diahman, where the General planned to compel the Saints to surrender, like they did in Far West. John, only 26 years old, received permission to leave Wilson and go see his wife, and his new daughter. John had heard mobs had burnt down his cabin. John trudged through the snow for 12 miles to the site of his cabin.
"As we neared the home the sun shown out brightly. When I got in sight of where my house had been, I saw my wife sitting by a log fire in the open air, with her babe in her arms. Some soldiers had cute a large hickory tree for firewood for her, and had built her a shelter with some boards I had dressed to weather-board a house, so she was measure comfortable. She had been weeping, as she had been informed that I was a prisoner at Far West, and would be shot, and that she need not look for me, for she would never see me again. When I rode up she was nearly frantic with delight, and as soon as I reached her side she threw herself into my arms and. . . wept bitterly. . . The next evening[Nov 16], General Wilson and his command arribed and camped near my little shanty."
3. Chapman Duncan Cabin Site:
Chapman Duncans Cabin was directly south of Adams altar. Chapmans cabin faced Main Street. His house was also burnt down by Missouri mob men.
Valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman
When you pull into the gps location of Adam-ondi-Ahman you see signs saying "Overlook". There are two sides of Adam-ondi-Ahman and you can drive and park on both different outlooks. There is no visitors center, and no missionaries available to answer questions. There are very few information signs. Come prepared and studied on your own, or you will not have a lot of information to poll from.
The land in Adam-ondi-Ahman was being used to grow crops when we went, looks like soybean. The area is very remote, there were only two cars there when we pulled up. There were farmers down in Adam-Ondi-Ahaman packing out crops.
If I was do stop again, I would bring scriptures, and a picnic. Take time pondering what I was seeing. What had happened there and what will happen there in the future. I wish I was better prepared.