The Truth About
the Creation and Fall of Adam and Eve
There
are many different beliefs about the Fall of Adam and Eve. Understanding this
doctrine helps us understand the role of our Savior, Jesus Christ and why we need
him in our lives.
God knows us just
as He knew His first two children on earth
Our
mortal life is designed to help us gain divine attributes we didn’t already
have in our premortal existence, and the Creation of the earth as well as the
Fall of Adam were part of God’s plan.
Alma
12:25
25 Now, if it had
not been for the plan of redemption, which was laid from the foundation of the
world, there could have been no resurrection of the dead; but there was a plan
of redemption laid, which shall bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, of
which has been spoken.
We
know, from the Book of Mormon, that the Fall of Adam and Eve was part of God’s
plan.
Do
you not think that an all-knowing God would not know exactly how Adam and Eve
would choose? Just as He perceived they would eat the forbidden fruit, He also
understands that we will sin during our time on earth—and He has made a way for
us to overcome our sins.
Jesus Christ was
the creator -
Mosiah
7:27
27…he said unto
them that Christ was the God, the Father of all things… he said that man was created after the image
of God
Ether 3:16
16 Behold, this
body, which ye now behold, is the body of my spirit; and man have I created after
the body of my spirit; and even as I appear unto thee to be in the spirit will
I appear unto my people in the flesh.
There was a need
for the Creation, the Fall, and the Atonement. Many throughout
the world had prophesied about a coming Messiah.
1
Nephi 10:5-6
5 And he also
spake concerning the prophets, how great a number had testified of these
things, concerning this Messiah, of whom he had spoken, or this Redeemer of the
world.
6 Wherefore, all
mankind were in a lost and in a fallen state, and ever would be save they
should rely on this Redeemer.
The Book of
Mormon gives the most complete explanation of the need for the Creation, the
Fall, and the Atonement.
As
descendants of Adam and Eve, we inherit a fallen condition in this life. We are
separated from the presence of the Lord and subject to physical death.
Alma
42
2 Now behold, my
son, I will explain this thing unto thee. For behold, after the Lord God sent
our first parents forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground, from
whence they were taken—yea, he drew out the man, and he placed at the east end
of the garden of Eden, cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to
keep the tree of life—
3 Now, we see
that the man had become as God, knowing good and evil; and lest he should put
forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat and live forever,
the Lord God placed cherubim and the flaming sword, that he should not partake
of the fruit—
4 And thus we
see, that there was a time granted unto man to repent, yea, a probationary
time, a time to repent and serve God.
5 For behold, if
Adam had put forth his hand immediately, and partaken of the tree of life, he
would have lived forever, according to the word of God, having no space for
repentance; yea, and also the word of God would have been void, and the great
plan of salvation would have been frustrated.
6 But behold, it
was appointed unto man to die—therefore, as they were cut off from the tree of
life they should be cut off from the face of the earth—and man became lost
forever, yea, they became fallen man.
7 And now, ye see
by this that our first parents were cut off both temporally and spiritually
from the presence of the Lord; and thus we see they became subjects to follow
after their own will.
8 Now behold, it
was not expedient that man should be reclaimed from this temporal death, for
that would destroy the great plan of happiness.
9 Therefore, as
the soul could never die, and the fall had brought upon all mankind a spiritual
death as well as a temporal, that is, they were cut off from the presence of
the Lord, it was expedient that mankind should be reclaimed from this spiritual
death.
10 Therefore, as
they had become carnal, sensual, and devilish, by nature, this probationary
state became a state for them to prepare; it became a preparatory state.
11 And now
remember, my son, if it were not for the plan of redemption, (laying it aside)
as soon as they were dead their souls were miserable, being cut off from the
presence of the Lord.
12 And now, there
was no means to reclaim men from this fallen state, which man had brought upon
himself because of his own disobedience;
13 Therefore,
according to justice, the plan of redemption could not be brought about, only
on conditions of repentance of men in this probationary state, yea, this
preparatory state; for except it were for these conditions, mercy could not
take effect except it should destroy the work of justice. Now the work of
justice could not be destroyed; if so, God would cease to be God.
14 And thus we
see that all mankind were fallen, and they were in the grasp of justice; yea,
the justice of God, which consigned them forever to be cut off from his presence.
Mankind became
lost and fallen but are redeemed by God.
We
are also placed in a state of opposition, in which we are tested by the
difficulties of life and the temptations of the adversary.
Russell
M Nelson said this about the Fall, "The Creation culminated with Adam and
Eve in the Garden of Eden. They were created in the image of God, with bodies
of flesh and bone. Created in the image of God and not yet mortal, they could
not grow old and die. “And they would have had no children” nor experienced the
trials of life. The creation of Adam and Eve was a paradisiacal creation, one
that required a significant change before they could fulfill the commandment to
have children and thus provide earthly bodies for premortal spirit sons and
daughters of God.
That
brings us to the Fall. Scripture teaches that “Adam fell that men might be; and
men are, that they might have joy.” The Fall of Adam (and Eve) constituted the
mortal creation and brought about the required changes in their bodies,
including the circulation of blood and other modifications as well. They were
now able to have children. They and their posterity also became subject to
injury, disease, and death. And a loving Creator blessed them with healing
power by which the life and function of precious physical bodies could be
preserved
Mosiah
16:1-4
1 The time shall
come when all shall see the salvation of the Lord; when every nation, kindred,
tongue, and people shall see eye to eye and shall confess before God that his
judgments are just.
2 And then shall
the wicked be cast out, and they shall have cause to howl, and weep, and wail,
and gnash their teeth; and this because they would not hearken unto the voice
of the Lord; therefore the Lord redeemeth them not.
3 For they are
carnal and devilish, and the devil has power over them; yea, even that old
serpent that did beguile our first parents, which was the cause of their fall;
which was the cause of all mankind becoming carnal, sensual, devilish, knowing
evil from good, subjecting themselves to the devil.
4 Thus all
mankind were lost; and behold, they would have been endlessly lost were it not
that God redeemed his people from their lost and fallen state.
As a result of
the fall, we must work to overcome being influenced by the passions, desires,
appetites, and senses of the flesh rather than by the promptings of the Holy
Spirit.
Mosiah
3:19
19 For the
natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will
be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and
putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ
the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of
love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon
him, even as a child doth submit to his father.
Only Jesus Christ
can bring redemption to mankind
Mormon
7:6-7
6 And he bringeth
to pass the resurrection of the dead, whereby man must be raised to stand
before his judgment-seat.
7 And he hath
brought to pass the redemption of the world, whereby he that is found guiltless
before him at the judgment day hath it given unto him to dwell in the presence
of God in his kingdom, to sing ceaseless praises with the choirs above, unto
the Father, and unto the Son, and unto the Holy Ghost, which are one God, in a
state of happiness which hath no end.
We all desperately
need Jesus Christ
Because
of our fallen state (we are all sinners), we must rely upon the grace of our Savior
to save us.
8 Wherefore, how
great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the
earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence
of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy
Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again
by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the
dead, being the first that should rise.
The Atonement of Jesus Christ is the central theme of the Book of Mormon.
2
Nephi 31
21 And now,
behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor
name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And
now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without
end. Amen.
My Testimony
I
know the gospel plan was one which we accepted prior to coming to this earth. I
know that Jesus Christ was the author and that only through him can we overcome
the fall, this state of mortality in which we find ourselves, and return to our
heavenly home to live eternally with our Father in Heaven.
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