Saturday, October 22, 2011

Agency and The Fall of Adam and Eve


     Most of us probably know the story of Adam and Eve but their story is very important to us because their story determined our mortal existence. After Jesus Christ and God the Father created the physical earth, they created man and woman. We learn from Genesis that the names of these humans are Adam and Eve. We also learn that we were created in the image of God. Therefore, each of us here on this earth have some attributes that our Father in Heaven possesses. I think that is pretty amazing! 
     God placed man in the most beautiful of Gardens; the Garden of Eden. Here, Adam and Eve lived in a perfect place where they could walk and talk with God and Jesus Christ. In the Garden, Adam and Eve were innocent, meaning they did not know right from wrong. They didn't have any opposition. This meant that they could not experience joy or pain because they didn't know which was which. They were just kind of there not progressing at all.
     

     One of the greatest gifts God has given us, is our agency. Agency is the right we have to choose and act for ourselves, whether we choose good or evil. God gave Adam and Eve their agency. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were commanded to take care of the garden and to multiply and replenish the earth. He also suggested them to not partake of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. For so by doing, they would become mortal and would eventually die. If Adam and Eve partook of the fruit, then they would know the difference between good and evil. They could experience pain, but also, they could experience joy.



     Eventually as we all know, God allowed Satan to tempt Adam and Eve and they used their agency and partook of the forbidden fruit and were therefore kicked out of the Garden of Eden. This was part of God's Plan. This event of Adam and Eve being kicked out of the Garden of Eden in called The Fall. Because of the Fall, we are all subject to disease, pain, sadness and suffering and we will all eventually die; so we are all subject to physical death. Also, we are all out of God's physical presence which is called spiritual death. When we sin and make mistakes, we distance ourselves from God even further. On the bright side, because Adam and Eve partook of the fruit, the rest of God's spirit children will have the opportunity to come to earth and gain a mortal body which is what we all wanted to gain in the Pre-Mortal council in Heaven. Also, we also can gain experience to learn and grow and progress to become more and more like our Father in Heaven. We can experience joy and happiness to lead us back Home. So there are some negatives that come from the effects of the Fall, but overall it was a good thing Adam and Eve fell so God's plan could continue.



After Adam and Eve were kicked out of the Garden of Eden. They repented of their sins and received forgiveness and continued of the path of righteousness. They began to have children and taught them the ways of the Lord. I am so grateful for Adam and Eve and for what they did to allow each of us to come to earth so we could all gain a body and to gain experience that help us learn and grow. I am so grateful for a loving Father in Heaven who has given each of us the gift of Agency to act for ourselves and to choose that which we desire. I hope and pray we will use our agency for good and choose to exercise good works! (That was a brief story of Adam and Eve there is more to it if you want to learn more visit LDS.org and search Adam and Eve.) Also some scripture references to look up that tell more about the story of Adam and Eve visit here:


Up next in the Plan of Salvation:
Our Earth Life: The Purpose of Life, Why are we here?

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