Understanding the Belief: The Garden of Eden in Missouri

LDS Perspective

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often referred to as Mormons) believe that the Garden of Eden was located in what is now Jackson County, Missouri, largely based on revelations received by the church's founder, Joseph Smith, in the early 1830s. This belief stems from the church's distinct teachings about the pre-mortal existence and the history of the world as outlined in their holy scriptures. The idea is primarily derived from a revelation known as the "Book of Commandments," later expanded in the Doctrine and Covenants. Section 57 of the Doctrine and Covenants states that the New Jerusalem will be built in Jackson County, which has led members to consider the area significant in biblical history. According to Joseph Smith, a vision revealed that Adam and Eve

Historical Perspective

Mormons, or members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), believe that the Garden of Eden was located in Missouri based on revelations that Joseph Smith, the church's founder, received. According to Smith's accounts, the Garden of Eden was established on the American continent, specifically in a location known as Adam-ondi-Ahman, situated in what is now Daviess County, Missouri (MormonThink, 2021; source 1). This belief is rooted in the theological framework of Mormonism that often emphasizes American soil as central to biblical narratives, asserting that many significant events in the scriptures occur in the Americas. Joseph Fielding Smith, a prominent Latter-day Saint leader and prophet, supported this doctrine by stating, "In accord with the revelations given