For thousands of years, the fall of Adam and Eve has been thought of as horrible. The original sin, and many religions taught that because of the fall, all babies are born guilty. But is that right? Was the fall and incredibly important part of God’s plan today, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints rejoice because Adam and Eve’s fall brought mortality into the world and allowed them to have children. If they were still in the garden, we wouldn’t be here.
So the fall was a necessary part of God’s plan of happiness for all his children. After Adam and Eve were placed in the garden, they were first commanded to multiply and replenish the Earth. In other words, to have children. And Secondly, God told them not to eat of the tree of knowledge, of good and evil. But in the Book of Moses, we learned that God added this important caveat not found in the Bible.
Nevertheless, thou mayest choose for thyself. So he gave Adam and Eve agency to choose. But one law had to be broken in order for the other one to be fulfilled. Now why did God give them a rule? He needed them to break.
Well, because the choice to enter mortality have children and one day die had to be theirs. He’ll never force any of us to make a particular choice. Then God planted the Tree of Knowledge in the middle of the garden and left it wide open, basically saying, if you want to stay in the garden, don’t eat the fruit of the tree, but it’s your choice. Then along came Satan. Even if he was literally or figuratively disguised as a snake.
As we look at some of the deceitful ploy Satan used on Eve, we can see he’s still using many of the same tactics on us today. First, while they had the freedom to eat from lots of plants and trees, Satan got them to focus on the one forbidden thing instead of the thousands of safe things. He often whispers that God is trying to oppress us with rules and consequences. I’m your real friend and I’ll point the path to freedom. He then tells Eve a truth followed by a lie, hoping that since he’s told the truth, she won’t notice the lie that follows.
It’s a favorite tactic of it to tell us something true to get us to swallow a bigger lie. Now Adam and Eve were childlike, but their experience in the Garden of Eden provided them with the knowledge and the opposing enticements to make a free choice. Bliss, innocence and immortality on the one hand and on the other, the sorrows of mortality and the risks of freedom. But with growth, families, reliance on the Savior and the chance for true happiness. Elder John A.
Widsow explained the Gospel had been taught them during their sojourn in the Garden of Eden. They could not have been left in complete ignorance of the purpose of their creation. They chose with open eyes and minds as to the consequences. Adam fell that men might be, and men are that they might have joy. God cursed Satan lay on the ground.
Interestingly, those are the only two things that God cursed. He didn’t curse Adam or Eve or their posterity because they hadn’t sinned. They’d only transgress by breaking a law that applied only to them and only in Eden. Still, there were consequences and they were forced to leave the garden. Satan was told that he’d have the power to bruise Christ’s heel, but Christ would have the power to crush his head.
Satan indeed bruised Christ’s heel through the crucifixion. But three days later, Christ was resurrected and with his first steps from the tomb eternally crushed all of Satan’s attempts to win. Christ opened the gates of heaven, enabling all who repent to return to the Father. Ultimately, Satan lost and God won. Which of course came as no surprise to God.
Before the fall, Adam and Eve were naked like newborn babies, meaning they were innocent. But after they chose to partake of the fruit, they became vulnerable and exposed to shame, guilt, and pain. So they hit like children may hide from a parent afraid of getting consequences. Then they try to cover themselves up with fig leaves. Hey, Eve, it’s the latest in fall fashion.
Okay, let’s talk about fig leaves for a minute. They’re among the biggest tree leaves. However, they dry up, shrivel and break faster than most other leaves. When we attempt to hide the truth from God, it’s like we’re trying to hide behind figurative fig leaves. However, he always knows the truth and our excuses will shrivel up and fall apart.
Just like those giant fig leaves. Now, Adam and Eve needed something else to wear. So before God cast them out of the garden, he made coats of skins and clothed them. This meant an innocent animal had to be killed. One they’d likely have known and named this sacrificial animal’s.
Blood flowed so that its skin could be used to cover their nakedness. They were witnessing symbols of the Savior and his atonement. Like that innocent animal who was sacrificed to cover Adam and Eve. We know Jesus Christ would one day shed his blood and give his life to cover and save us.
Next time we’ll study the call of the Prophet Enoch that’s completely lost from the Bible. It takes a lot to make these videos, so to keep line upon line free for everyone, consider donating the links in the description below and thanks for watching. This episode is packed with info so you might want to watch it again to make sure you didn’t miss anything, including the hilarious jokes. If you feel this video has helped you on your path towards truth and Christian discipleship, please subscribe and share. Most importantly, go read the Scriptures for your yourself.
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dyejo
