Dear Brother:—

I am in receipt of your letter dated September 30th, 1916, but it has been laid aside until the rush of conference business is over. To begin with, I have to say that such questions as those you propound should not be raised, either in a priesthood meeting or any other assembly. If our brethren would be wise enough to spend valuable time in matters more practical, or such as can be definitely settled by accepted revelations, it would avoid a great deal of needless discussion.

The doctrine that God our Eternal Father has passed through experiences similar to those we are passing through, is established by the teachings of the inspired Prophet, Joseph Smith, but it does not follow that all prominent personages in the pre-existent state also had passed through them before coming to this earth in mortality. There is no revelation which declares that Jesus the Christ had a mortal body previous to coming here, nor indeed is there any which definitely declares the same concerning other persons who have tabernacled in flesh on this globe. As to beings being immortal before they came here there is no need of dispute, we were all immortal in our pre-existent spirit state, therefore immortality does not "pre-suppose a previous earthly existence." That is only inferential, and is one of the theories without proper support which cause contention. Your statement that "we are told that Adam was a God before he came here" is simply something that somebody has stated for which there is no definite revelation in its support.

Please accept this brief reply to your latter and believe me, in all sincerity,

Your Brother,

Joseph F. Smith