The Fall of Adam and Eve

1. The Fall of Adam and Eve Priesthood Lesson 2010

2. Traditional (Non-LDS) Views • Eve broke God’s command and, through her sin, evil entered the world • Adam was forced by Eve’s sin to also break the commandment • Consequences: • Women viewed as evil (Pandora and the box) • Men justified their domination of women • Women felt they were born 2nd class

3. Traditional (Non-LDS) Views • Eve is viewed as a temptress and the original sin was sexual • Consequences: • Humans are born through a sinful act and, therefore, all have sin as an inheritance • The celibate life is viewed as superior to a married life

4. An LDS View • Adam and Eve both sinned and fell from God’s presence and into mortality • 1 Timothy 2:14 – And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. • D&C 29:40 – Wherefore it came to pass that the devil tempted Adam, and he partook of the forbidden fruit and transgressed the commandment, wherein he became subject to the will of the devil, because he yielded unto temptation.

5. An LDS View • Adam and Eve were given two conflicting commandments and they chose to keep the more important one and break the other • Some LDS believe that the commandments only became conflicting after Eve partook of the fruit • Consequences: • The Fortunate Fall

6. The Fortunate Fall • Moses 5:11 – Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed [children], and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient.

7. The Fortunate Fall • 2 Nephi 2:22-23 – And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the Garden of Eden. And all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created… And they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they know no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin.

8. The Fall Itself (LDS View) • The fruit caused a physical change in the bodies of Adam and Eve, thus making them subject to physical death (ie, mortal) • The sin/transgression of Adam and Eve led to their spiritual death when they were cast out of God’s presence [the Garden of Eden] • The Fall (mortality and separation from God) was necessary to the Plan of Salvation

9. Sin and Transgression • Problem: If Adam and Eve are to be honored, how do you explain their sinfulness? • Response: They did not sin but, rather, transgressed • They were innocent and, therefore, not capable of sinning so they were said to transgress • Problem: If they were innocent [didn’t understand the difference between right and wrong], how did they then make such a wise choice?

10. Sin and Transgression • Another definition of transgression • Some acts are inherently evil [sin] but others are wrong only because they are legally prohibited [transgression] • The eating of the fruit was only legally prohibited and, therefore, was a transgression • Example: murder versus eating pork

11. Sin and Transgression • However, the scriptures define sin: • 1 John 3:4 – Sin is the transgression of the law • 1 John 5:17 – All unrighteousness is sin • Therefore, some LDS believe that Adam and Eve sinned and that there is little real difference between sin and transgression

12. Praising of Eve • Encyclopedia of Mormonism: Eve, first woman of earthly creation, companion of Adam and mother and matriarch of the human race, is honored by Latter-day Saints as one of the most important, righteous, and heroic of all the human family. Eve’s supreme gift to mankind, the opportunity of life on this earth, resulted from her choice to be mortal. • Elder Dallin Oaks praised the “wisdom and courage [of Adam and Eve] in the great episode called the Fall.”

13. Problem with traditional LDS view • If Eve is to be praised for choosing to keep the higher law, that implies that we are teaching it is OK to break God’s commands if we “know” that we have a good enough reason to disobey

14. Problem with traditional LDS view • Furthermore, Eve is set above Adam in intelligence because she “understood” that she should break one law whereas Adam had said that he intended to keep all of God’s commands • Adam’s affirmation that he intended to keep all of God’s commands suggests that there was no inherent conflict in the laws (in Adam’s mind) • Adam was placed into a state in which he could not keep both commandments only after Eve partook

15. Resolution of the Conflict with a New Concept • Eve took the fruit because she was fooled (beguiled) by Satan • The point that Satan used to beguile her was to imply that she needed to take the fruit at that moment (when offered by Satan) because there was no other way or, presumably, there would never be another moment

16. New Concept • James E. Talmage: Articles of Faith • The woman was captivated by these representations; and, being eager to possess the advantages pictured by Satan, she disobeyed the command of the Lord, and partook of the fruit forbidden.

17. What other path was open to Eve? • She could have said to Satan, • “I want to think about this and consult with Adam.” • “I want to ask God if this is true.” • Adam also acted precipitously in not consulting with God and seeking a resolution to his dilemma

18. Supporting Evidence for the New Concept

19. Supporting Evidence for the New Concept • The temple story suggests that at least one other path was possible • Perhaps that other path was the authorized giving of the fruit to Adam and Eve • Note that Satan was punished for giving the fruit to Adam and Eve which he objected to • Satan was, in this act, acting as if he was authorized • Satan may have even been acting as the “God of this world” when he did this unauthorized act

20. Supporting Evidence for the New Concept • Adam and Eve went through a process of repentance • Admitted their sinfulness • Showed remorse • Accepted punishment • God then told them of the atonement as a way for them to overcome their sin

21. What about the Fortunate Fall? • Don’t we learn from all experiences, good and bad? • However, we shouldn’t try to sin in order to gain experiences • The comments about the benefits of the Fall would also be true if Adam and Eve had eaten after being given permission

22. What position should we take? • Eve was one of the greatest spirits, men or women, who has ever lived • Bruce R. McConkie: Eve–a daughter of God, one of the spirit offspring of the Almighty Elohim–was among the noble and great in preexistence. She ranked in spiritual stature, in faith and devotion, in conformity to eternal law with Michael.

23. What position should we take? • Eve sinned [transgressed], as did Adam • But all humans except for Christ have sinned • Therefore, to say that Eve sinned is not diminishing her except in comparison to Christ

24. What position should we take? • Perhaps God had another plan that would have allowed Adam and Eve to become mortal and to experience good and evil without sinning in the Garden of Eden • God certainly was not controlled by the actions of Satan • We should not be limited in our thinking because we only know some of the facts and certainly not the mind of God

25. What position should we take? • We should resolve to keep all of God’s commandments and then have faith that God can solve all situations • We should consult with God when confronted with an apparent dilemma

26. What position should we take? • We should work together as husband and wife to strengthen each other and to jointly resolve to honor our covenants • Howard W. Hunter: The Lord intended that the wife be a helpmeet for man (meet means equal)–that is, a companion equal and necessary in partnership.

27. Consultation with our spouse or God can help us make better decisions