I Am Adam

I have stated before that, as a linguist, I see great value in defining words by their usage. Said more plainly, "any word's meaning is to be seen largely in how the word is used."

Adam 

The first mention of "Man" we have in the scriptural accounts as handed down to the world is found in Genesis 1:26: (From the Hebrew)

And Elohim said, "Let Us make Man in shape of Us, as a likeness of Us." 

Here God, "Elohim" per the Hebrew, gives us the clearest definition of "Man", and certainly the first clear definition in all scripture: "Man is a being shaped like Elohim as a likeness (or similitude) of Elohim". Said more plainly, "Man physically looks like Elohim, by shape and members, and Man has attributes or characteristics that are similar to Elohim."

To be more precise in who Elohim (God) is, in Genesis 1:1 we read the following:

In a beginning Elohim created the heavens and the earth.

Then in verse two we read as follows:

And the earth was without form, and void, and darkness upon the face of the deep. And Spirit Elohim moved upon the face of the waters.

The Hebrew "Ruakh Elohim" literally reads 'Spirit Elohim'. Though the translation adds a definite article the and a functional preposition of, "The Spirit of God", the Hebrew construction conveys a powerful meaning, namely, that "Spirit Elohim" ('The Spirit of God') was contrasted to "Elohim" ('God') by the fact that Spirit Elohim (The Spirit of God) was a Spirit only. Therefore, "Elohim" or "God" is Embodied; He has a tangible body of flesh and bones.

But there was another Being present, One who was also called "Elohim", just like His Father, only this Elohim was as yet a Spirit only, just as Spirit Elohim (The Spirit of God) was. We see this Elohim creating under the command of His Father. In verses 6 and 7:

And Elohim said, let there be a firmament in the midst of the heavens...

And Elohim made the firmament... 

Notice how Elohim (God) commands, and then Elohim obeys. God did not command Himself; God commanded His Son, and His Son obeyed Him in all things.

Also, when Adam fell, Elohim The Father says something very interesting: (Genesis 3:22)

 Behold, the Adam is become as One of Us...

So I ask the question, like which "One"? Adam, embodied, had now gained a knowledge of good and evil through his own experience, while in a body. These factors (body, life, experience via choice) now made the Adam (humanity, which at this point was Adam and Eve as a couple) like unto "One" of the Elohim. When these observations are taken in their totality it becomes evident that when Elohim The Father said, "Let us make Adam in our image" that (a) Adam was shaped like God, (b) Adam had attributes like God, and (c) just like Elohim The Father, Adam had both a body and a spirit.

Adam Plus

Most people who have even a passive acquaintance with The Bible associate the name "Adam" with the first man. But God said more than "shape" and "likeness". (Genesis 1:26)

In the image of Elohim created He him, male and female created He them.

Man, "Adam" denotes both genders. This is an often overlooked point, but more astonishing still, the narrative goes on to describe God's joining Adam (the first man) to Eve (the first woman) in matrimony by His authority in a special Garden established as a place where His Presence was revealed in great glory. Bear in mind that this union took place before death entered human experience, so the matrimony was indefinite ("eternal"), "Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion (or 'lord over') over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth". (Genesis 1:28) Thus, per usage, "Adam" means "husband and wife together", and if with this point in mind, that "Adam" per the Hebrew denotes a married couple, we return to what we have already seen, that "Adam" was made both "in shape or image" of Elohim "as a likeness or similitude" of Elohim, as "male and female", we are actually being told, in the very beginning of the Scriptural record, that God The Father is a Married Man. That is, God The Father is One with His Wife, might we say, "God The Mother". Our terminology is more tender than that, though, for we refer to God The Father as "Heavenly Father" and His Wife as "Heavenly Mother", our Heavenly Parents.

All Are Adam

The Scriptural account adds one further expansion or application of the word Adam: "Adam" means "mankind" collectively: (Genesis 6:3)

And Jehovah said, My Spirit shall not always plead in Adam...

In Hebrew all mankind is collectively known as "Adam" or as "the Adam" (with the definite article the). This usage demonstrates that God equates all people collectively as "Adam", the two children He bore to life and later joined in matrimony in the Garden. This usage also demonstrates that God treats each individual as "Adam", His firstborn son on earth. It may be with this affirmation in mind that holy prophets have said the following things about humanity:

1. (Genesis 4:6-7) "And Jehovah said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? And why is thy countenance fallen [i.e. 'very sad']? If thou doest well shalt thou not be exalted? 
2. (Malachi 2:10) Have we not all One Father? Hath not One God created us?...
3. (Acts 10:34) "Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons."
4. (2 Nephi 26:33) "For none of these iniquities come of The Lord; for He doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and He inviteth them all to come unto Him and partake of His goodness; and He denieth none that come unto Him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and He remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile." 
5. (Alma 24:14) "And the great God has had mercy on us, and made these things known unto us that we might not perish; yea, and He has made these things known unto us beforehand, because he loveth our souls as well as He loveth our children; therefore, in His mercy He doth visit us by His angels, that the plan of salvation might be made known unto us as well as unto future generations."
6. (Moses 6:64-66,68) "And it came to pass when The Lord had spoken with Adam, our father, that Adam cried unto The Lord, and was carried down into the water, and was brought forth out of the water. And thus he was baptized, and The Spirit of God descended upon him, and thus he was born of the Spirit, and became quickened in the inner man. And he heard a voice out of heaven, saying: Thou art baptized with fire, and with The Holy Ghost. This is the record of The Father, and The Son, from henceforth and forever. Behold, thou art one in me, a son of God; and thus may all become my sons. Amen."

Certainly I could cite more passages, but these suffice to show that God loves all His children the same. He offers us the same eternal opportunities and the same mercy. Neither gender, color, age, era, nationality or beliefs persuade The Father to see His children any other way than as all alike to Him.

I Am Adam

In conclusion, though much more can be said on these topics, I certainly do not claim to have a right to compel anyone to adopt these views. I am simply sharing the teachings of the Holy Scriptures. But I will say this, knowing who I am, a son of God, equated by Him to His first earthly son, Adam, means that God offers me the same redemption and the same blessings as He offered His first earthly Adam. I am an Adam too. This means I have it in me both to utilize my strength to do good and to open myself up to more of God's strength to do good. I am much more than one among the billions: I am Adam. The reader may similarly find great truth in the Scriptures or may differ as to interpretation. However one wishes to take this I only ask that you bear in mind that the passages I shared, at least, are actually textual.