Hebrew אדם, "human,” or “mankind.” This can denote the man Adam, the couple Adam and Eve, a man, mankind generally, a person, or people. As the human race, this is Adam Kadmon (premortal beings) that becomes, through Christ, Adam Elyon (resurrected and perfected beings). As Adam, he is Michael the archangel (Doctrines of the Saints Appendix 1:11, 2:7, 7 Joseph 5:11, Book of Remembrance 7:15). He may be the Holy Ghost, the Apostle Brigham Young taught, “It is true that the earth was organized by three distinct characters, namely, Eloheim, Yahovah, and Michael, these three forming a quorum, as in all heavenly bodies, and in organizing element, perfectly represented in the Deity, as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost” (Journal of Discourses 1:51). While this echoes the Book of Remembrance, it may merely be symbolic. As the human race, we are Adam Kadmon (premortal beings), and become, through Christ, Adam Elyon (resurrected and perfected beings).
The Hebrew translated as “Adam” is connected with other Hebrew words, helping to clarify the meaning. Two of the words connected with Adam are אָדֹם (adom) meaning “red” and אַדְמָה) adamah) “ground,” or “earth.” This tells us that Adam or mankind is somehow associated with both the color redness and the earth, as to say that we, Adam, belong to the earth.
In the Hebrew there is a difference between the creation of Adam and the creation of Eve. While Adam is created (Hebrew, yatzar, Genesis 2:7, meaning “fashioned”) similar to a potter fashioning vessels from clay. Eve is created (Hebrew, banah, Genesis 2:22, meaning “built”) as a divine creation. This term is used throughout the first chapters of Genesis. The Hebrew verb banah is from the word binah, “intelligence.” This suggests that from the beginning woman was endowed with a superior sense of wisdom, tying Eve to the Shekinah.
See also 1 Moses 2:12; Genesis 2:19; 1 Corinthians 15:22, 45; Doctrines of the Saints Appendix 1:11, 2:7; 7 Joseph 5:11; Book of Remembrance 7:15; Journal of Discourses 1:51; Eve, Male and Female, Ruach HaKodesh.