Why Was the Fall of Adam and Eve Essential to God’s Plan?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to Genesis 3-4 and Moses 4-5 in a lesson titled “The Fall of Adam and Eve.” The lesson was introduced by the following information. 

At first, the story of the Fall of Adam and Eve might seem like a tragedy. Adam and Eve were cast out of the beautiful Garden of Eden. They were sent into a world of pain, sorrow, and death (see Genesis 3:16-19). And they were separated from their Heavenly Father. But the truths restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith in the book of Moses give us a unique perspective on the Fall.

Yes, the Garden of Eden was beautiful. But Adam and Eve needed more than beautiful surroundings. They needed — and we all need — an opportunity to grow. Leaving the Garden of Eden was the necessary first step toward returning to God and eventually becoming like Him. That meant facing opposition, making choices, making mistakes, learning to repent, and trusting the Savior, whose Atonement makes possible progression and “the joy of our redemption” (Moses 5:11). So when you read about the Fall of Adam and Eve, focus not on the seeming tragedy but on the possibilities — not on the paradise Adam and Eve lost but on the glory their choice allows us to receive.

This week’s scripture block teaches the following principles: (1) The Fall was a necessary part of God’s plan (Genesis 3; Moses 4); (2) Jesus Christ offers hope and redemption (Genesis 3:1-7; Moses 4:22-31; 5:4-15); (3) What does it mean that Adam was to “rule over” Eve? (Genesis 3:16; Moses 4:22); (4) I need agency and opposition to grow (Moses 4:1-4); (5) Satan seeks “to deceive and to blind” me (Moses 4:4-12; 5:13-33); (6) “I, the Lord God … clothed them” (Moses 4:13-16, 27); (7) God will accept my sacrifices if I offer them with a willing and obedient heart (Moses 5:4-9, 16-26).

This essay will discuss Principle #4 about agency, opposition, and growth. We will first look at the verses that teach this principle – Moses 4:1-4:

1 And I, the Lord God, spake unto Moses, saying: That Satan, whom thou hast commanded in the name of mine Only Begotten, is the same which was from the beginning, and he came before me, saying—Behold, here am I, send me, I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor.

2 But, behold, my Beloved Son, which was my Beloved and Chosen from the beginning, said unto me—Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever.

3 Wherefore, because that Satan rebelled against me, and sought to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him, and also, that I should give unto him mine own power; by the power of mine Only Begotten, I caused that he should be cast down;

4 And he became Satan, yea, even the devil, the father of all lies, to deceive and to blind men, and to lead them captive at his will, even as many as would not hearken unto my voice.

Heavenly Father presented His plan for the eternal happiness of His children. Jehovah (Jesus Christ on earth) said that He would follow the Father’s plan and give the glory to His Father. Satan rebelled against the Father’s plan and sought to destroy the agency of the Father’s children – agency or opportunity to choose is how we grow – and he wanted the Father’s glory.

Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught: “Our Heavenly Father’s goal in parenting is not to have His children do what is right; it is to have His children choose to do what is right and ultimately become like Him” (“Choose You This Day,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov 2018, 104). Question to ponder: Why do you think it is important in Heavenly Father’s plan that we choose to do what is right? 

There is a wonderful scripture in the Book of Mormon – Another Testament of Jesus Christ (2 Nephi 2:25-27) that teaches the importance of having opposition and the freedom to make tough decisions.

25 Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.

26 And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given.

27 Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.

Question to ponder: Why do you think opposition is necessary for agency? Another question to ponder: How can you show your appreciation to Jesus Christ for making you “free to choose”?

Then-Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke on the topic of “Opposition in All Things” at the April 2016 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Elder Oaks taught: (“Opposition in All Things,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2016, 114-17): 

The purpose of mortal life for the children of God is to provide the experiences needed “to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life.” …

From the beginning, agency and opposition were central to the Father’s plan and to Satan’s rebellion against it. As the Lord revealed to Moses, in the council of heaven Satan “sought to destroy the agency of man” (Moses 4:3)….

All of us experience various kinds of opposition that test us. Some of these tests are temptations to sin. Some are mortal challenges apart from personal sin. Some are very great. Some are minor. Some are continuous, and some are mere episodes. None of us is exempt. Opposition permits us to grow toward what our Heavenly Father would have us become….

We are all acquainted with other kinds of mortal opposition not caused by our personal sins, including illness, disability, and death….

To illustrate the opposition of temptation, the Book of Mormon describes three methods the devil will use in the last days. First, he will “rage in the hearts of the children of men, and stir them up to anger against that which is good” (2 Nephi 28:20). Second, he will “pacify, and lull [members] away into carnal security,” saying “Zion prospereth, all is well” (verse 21). Third, he will tell us “there is no hell; and … I am no devil, for there is none” (verse 22), and therefore there is no right and wrong. Because of this opposition, we are warned not to be “at ease in Zion!” (verse 24)….

God rarely infringes on the agency of any of His children by intervening against some for the relief of others. But He does ease the burdens of our afflictions and strengthen us to bear them, as He did for Alma’s people in the land of Helam (see Mosiah 24:13-15). He does not prevent all disasters, but He does answer our prayers to turn them aside, as He did with the uniquely powerful cyclone that threatened to prevent the dedication of the temple in Fiji; or He does blunt their effects, as He did with the terrorist bombing that took so many lives in the Brussels airport but only injured our four missionaries.

Through all mortal opposition, we have God’s assurance that He will “consecrate [our] afflictions for [our] gain” (2 Nephi 2:2). We have also been taught to understand our mortal experiences and His commandments in the context of His great plan of salvation, which tells us the purpose of life and gives us the assurance of a Savior, in whose name I testify of the truth of these things….

 

Was the Fall of Adam and Eve a Tragedy or Essential to God’s Plan?

            My Come, Follow Me studies this week took me to Genesis 3-4 and Moses 4-5. Many people consider the story of the Fall of Adam and Eve to be a tragedy. Adam and his wife Eve lived living in the beautiful Garden of Eden until they partook of the forbidden fruit. Then they were cast out into a world where they would know sorrow, pain, and death (see Genesis 3:16-19). In addition, they were separated from Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

            Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints know that the story of Adam and Eve is not a tragedy. Truths were restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith in the book of Moses. These truths tell us that the story of Adam and Eve is a story of hope and that the Fall of Adam and Eve was an essential part of Heavenly Father’s plan for the eternal happiness of His children.

            The Garden of Eden was a beautiful place to live, but it provided no challenges. Without challenges, they could not grow – just as you and I need opportunities to stretch and grow. Adam and Eve took the necessary first step toward returning to God’s presence and becoming like Him when they left the Garden of Eden.

            Living in the world outside the Garden of Eden brought opposition to Adam and Eve. They made mistakes, but they learned to repent and to trust the Savior. Heavenly Father’s plan provided for a Savior – even Jesus Christ whose Atonement made progression possible. As we study the Fall of Adam and Eve, we should focus on the glory of their choice – for them and for us – instead of the tragedy of leaving the Garden of Eden.

            When Adam and Eve partook of the forbidden fruit, their action brought physical and spiritual death into the world. It also brought adversity, sorrow, and sin. All of those conditions seem negative, but the Fall of Adam and Eve and the Atonement of Jesus Christ were both part of the Father’s plan to redeem and exalt His children. (See Moses 5:7.)

            After Adam and Eve were driven from the Garden of Eden, they began to have “sons and daughters” (Moses 5:2). The “sons and daughters of Adam began to divide two and two in the land, and to till the land, and to tend flocks, and they also begat sons and daughters” (Moses 5:3). Some time later, Cain, Abel, and later Seth were born (Moses 5:16-17; 6:2.) The Pearl of Great Price Student Manual for Moses 5:1-15 has the following introduction.

The significance of Moses 5:1-2 is profound in light of the many attacks and challenges being made today regarding marriage and family relationships. In their proclamation on the family, the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles stated:

“Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. ‘Children are an heritage of the Lord’ (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law abiding citizens wherever they live. …

“… Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners” (Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2010, 129; italics added).

            Adam and Eve were married in the Garden of Eden by Heavenly Father, and their marriage was for time and eternity. Today, marriages for time and eternity are performed in the temples of God by men holding the power and authority to seal on earth and in heaven. Adam and Eve were the first family on earth, and they made life on earth possible for each of us. Our task is to so live that we can also be married and have our families with us for eternity.

The Fall of Adam and Eve

                President Ezra Taft Benson once said that no one understands their need for the Savior until they understand the Fall of Adam and Eve.  Since that is the topic of today’s post, I hope both you and I understand their fall better so that we will appreciate the Atonement of Jesus Christ more.  The Creation, the Fall of Adam and Eve, and the Atonement of Jesus Christ are the three great “pillars” of eternity.  Each of them played an important in the great plan of salvation.

                Jesus Christ and His associated created this beautiful earth.  After forming and organizing the earth from some available matter, after separating the land from the darkness, after separating the light from the darkness and hanging the sun, moon, and stars, in the sky, after planting the millions of plants to make the world beautiful, and after creating all the animals, birds, insects, and fish – after all these creations, Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ created Adam and Eve.

                Heavenly Father chose Adam and Eve to be the first people to live on the earth (see Pearl of Great Price, Moses 1:34).  Their mission on earth was to bring mortality into the world and to become the first parents on earth (Doctrine and Covenants 107:54-56).

                Why did God choose Adam and Eve for this great mission?  They were some of the noblest of all Heavenly Father’s spirit children.  Adam was called Michael the Archangel (see Doctrine and Covenants 27:11; Jude 9).  He was chosen by Heavenly Father to lead the righteous in the battle against Satan (see Revelation 12:7-9).  Eve was chosen to be the helpmeet of Adam.  They were foreordained to become the parents of the human race on earth.

                Even though the scriptures are silent about Eve before she entered the Garden of Eden, I believe that we can safely assume that she was a choice daughter of God.  Adam called his wife Eve “because she was the mother of all living” (Moses 4:26).  She was given to Adam by God because God said that “it was not good that man should be alone” (Moses 3:18).  As Adam’s wife and helpmeet, Eve shared his responsibility then and will share his eternal blessings.

                Adam and Eve were not yet mortal when they were placed in the Garden of Eden.  They could not have children.  They did not know about good and evil.  They could not die.  According to Elder Bruce R. McConkie, they had physical life because they had physical bodies made from the dust of the earth (see Abraham 5:7).  They also had spiritual life because they lived in the presence of God.

                Heavenly Father performed their marriage ceremony and commanded them to have children and to manage the resources of the earth.  He said, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it, and have dominion over every living thing that moveth upon the earth” (Moses 2:28).  God gave them permission to eat from every tree in the Garden of Eden except the tree of knowledge of good and evil.  He told them they would die if they ate from that tree” (Moses 3:17).

                Satan did not know God’s entire plan for His children and thought he could destroy the work of God by tempting Adam and Eve to eat of the forbidden fruit.  He lied to Eve when he told her that she would not die, but he was honest when he told her that she would “be as gods, knowing good and evil” (Moses 4:11).  Eve yielded to Satan’s temptation and partook of the fruit.  Adam was not deceived.  When he understood that Eve had partaken of the fruit and would be kicked out of the Garden of Eden, Adam chose to partake of the fruit also.  Something in the fruit changed their bodies into mortal bodies.  The event is called the fall of Adam.

                God forced Adam and Eve to leave the Garden of Eden because they partook of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  They then entered the world that we know, one much different than the Garden of Eden.  Their new physical condition was mortality.  They could have children, and they and their children could experience the problems of mortality – sickness, pain, and physical death.

                Because of their fall, Adam and Eve also experienced spiritual death.  This means that they could no longer walk and talk with God face to face.  After their fall, Adam and Eve were separated from God both physically and spiritually.

                Some people believe that Adam and Eve committed serious sin by eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Latter-day scriptures tell us that the Fall of Adam and Eve was actually a fall forward.  It was a necessary step in God’s plan for His children; it was also a great blessing for all mankind.  Remember, Adam and Eve could not have children in the Garden of Eden:  if they had not partaken of the fruit, none of us would even be here.  Our blessings include physical bodies, the right to use our agency in choosing good or evil, and the opportunity to gain eternal life.  We would have none of these blessings if Adam and Eve were still in the Garden of Eden.

                Eve understood at least some of the changes that took place because she said, “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” (Moses 5:11).

                Lehi, an ancient American prophet, also understood and explained:  “And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen [been cut off from the presence of God], 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 knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin.  But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things.  Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy” (Book of Mormon – Another Witness of Jesus Christ, 2 Nephi 2:22-25).

                I personally am grateful for courage of Adam and Eve in eating of the fruit.  Eve was deceived by Satan, but she did what had to be done.  Adam was not deceived but intentionally chose to stay with Eve.  Together, they made it possible for us to receive physical bodies, gain necessary experience, and prepare to return to Heavenly Father’s presence.  I look forward to the day when I have an opportunity to thank Mother Eve for her great gift to all her posterity!

The Fall of Adam and Eve

                     Imagine that you were given the opportunity to live in a world where there was no sickness, sorrow, sin, pain or death.  Would you like to live in such a world?  Adam and Eve lived in just such a world when they were first placed on the earth.  There was no sickness, sorrow, pain or death in the Garden of Eden.  Many people wonder why Adam and Eve would choose to leave such a wonderful place.  This article will explain why Adam and Eve made their decision and how their choice has affected all of us.

                    In our pre-earth life, our Heavenly Father called all of His spirit children together in a big conference so that He could explain His plan for the eternal happiness of His children.  He explained that an earth would be created and a way would be prepared for all of His spirit children to gain mortal bodies, to gain knowledge and experience, and to return to His presence to live with Him forever.  Not all of His spirit children were thrilled with the Father's plan; in fact, one-third of the hosts of heaven rebelled against God and was cast out of heaven.  Satan - known as Lucifer in heaven - led the rebellious spirits. 

Adam - known as Michael in heaven - was one of the leaders of the righteous spirits who fought against Lucifer.  Under the direction of Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ - known as Jehovah in heaven - created this earth, and He was assisted by Adam.  Adam and Eve were among the most righteous of our Father's spirit children, and they were chosen to be the first man and woman on the new earth. 

                    After Adam and Eve entered the Garden of Eden, God gave them two commandments.  The first commandment ever given to mankind on this earth can be found in Genesis 1:28 and also in Moses 2:28:  "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it:  and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth."

                    The second commandment given to Adam and Eve can be found in Genesis 2:16-17 and also in Moses 3:16-17:  "And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

                    "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it:  for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."

                    Adam and Eve could not keep both of these commandments because they contradicted each other.  If they chose to eat the fruit, they would be cast out of the Garden of Eden.  But if they did not eat the fruit and remained in the garden, they would not be able to have children or to "multiply and replenish the earth."  Because the Garden of Eden was a place of innocence while Adam and Eve lived there, they could not change or progress in any way, including having children.  By giving Adam and Eve two contradicting commandments, God put them in a position where they had to use their agency - their power to choose.

                    An ancient American prophet named Lehi taught his children:  "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 must have remained forever, and had no end.

                    "And they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin.

                    "But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things.

                    "Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy."  (See Book of Mormon - Another Testament of Jesus Christ, 2 Nephi 2:22-23.)

                      Elder Russell M. Nelson, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, taught:  "To bring the plan of happiness to fruition (fulfillment), God issued to Adam and Eve the first commandment ever given to mankind.  It was a commandment to beget children.  A law was explained to them.   Should they eat from `the tree of the knowledge of good and evil' (Genesis 2:17), their bodies would change; mortality and eventual death would come upon them.  But partaking of that fruit was prerequisite to their parenthood" (Ensign, Nov. 1993, 34).

                    The decision of Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit was not a sin, as it is sometimes considered.  According to Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, it was a transgression - an act that was formally prohibited but not inherently wrong.  (See Ensign, Nov. 1993, 73.)  The Fall was necessary for us to progress toward exaltation.  We have to experience mortality to become like our Father in Heaven, and Adam and Eve fulfilled their mission to make this possible.  The Fall of Adam and Eve enabled each of us to come to earth, receive a body, and gain experience in choosing between good and evil.  Instead of thinking of the Fall of Adam and Eve as a fall backward, we should consider it as a step forward.

So what actually happened to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden?  The scriptures tell us that "Satan put it into the heart of the serpent … and he sought also to beguile Eve, for he knew not the mind of God, wherefore he sought to destroy the world.

"And he said unto the woman:  Yea, hath God said - Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?  (And he spake by the mouth of the serpent.)

"And the woman said unto the serpent:  We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden;

"But of the fruit of the tree which thou beholdest in the midst of the garden, God hath said - Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

"And the serpent said unto the woman:  Ye shall not surely die;

                    "For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

                    "And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it became pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make her wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and also gave unto her husband with her, and he did eat."  (See Pearl of Great Price, Moses 4:6-12, italics added.)

                    Satan told Eve a lie and then followed the lie with a truth.  He told her "Ye shall not surely die," which is a lie.  By partaking of the fruit, Adam and Eve brought death into the world.  Satan also told Eve, "… your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil," which is a truth.

                    Satan tempted Eve to eat the fruit because he thought that he could destroy God's plan for the happiness of His children.  He had no idea that partaking of the fruit was a necessary part of God's plan for Adam and Eve.

                    Eve and then Adam ate the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil because they acted with understanding and used their agency to choose.  They realized that if they did not eat the fruit, they would not be able to have children and they would not be able to learn to make righteous decisions.  They wisely chose to eat the fruit.  

         

                    The Fall of Adam and Eve had great effects on them as well as their descendants, including you and I.  Before the Fall, they could not have physical bodies or the mortal experience with testing and probation.  They had limited choices and no joy or pain.  There was no work, sin or opposition in the garden and no opportunity for exaltation.   By partaking of the fruit, the bodies of Adam and Eve changed in order for them to have the mortal experiences - testing, probation, children, unlimited choices, work, judgment, sin, opposition, repentance, joy, and pain.  They also prepared the way for Jesus Christ, our Savior, His Atonement, and eventual exaltation.  

              

                    "Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy" (2 Nephi 2:25).  The Fall of Adam and Eve was essential to the eternal joy of all their posterity.  Through the Fall we are able to be born on earth, where we can learn and progress toward exaltation and eternal joy.

                    In our pre-mortal life, we were among the righteous spirits with Adam.  We are like Adam ad Eve.  They were spirit children of God, and so are we.  They were given agency to choose between good and evil, and so were we.  They used their agency wisely and followed God; we too are given that opportunity.  They had a special mission to be the first man and woman on earth.  We too have a special mission because we were held back until the latter days.

                    Elder Ezra Taft Benson (then of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and later President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) stated:  "For nearly six thousand years, God has held you in reserve to make your appearance in the final days before the Second Coming of the Lord….  God has saved for the final inning some of his strongest children, who will help bear off the Kingdom triumphantly.  And that is where you come in, for you are the generation that must be prepared to meet your God" ("In His Steps," in BYU Speeches of the Year, 1979, 59-60).

                    Adam and Eve made a deliberate choice to partake of the forbidden fruit.  Their choice did not come from a desire to disobey the Lord, but from a desire to gain wisdom.  Because of this choice, we have the opportunity to come to earth and learn, as did Adam and Eve, how to choose good over evil.  I am very grateful for Adam and Eve and the choice they made.  I encourage you to continue to be like Adam and Eve and follow their righteous examples in choosing good over evil.