Eve and Adam were in the Garden of Eden and were in the presence of God. They had all the security and safety they could possibly need but there was one problem, there was a separation between them and God, their Father. They communed and walked and talked with Him but they were not like Him. He was an exalted being and had a knowledge of good and evil and had learned all things. We learn by study and also by faith (D&C 88:118; D&C 109:7). Faith can only be developed in a fallen experience, otherwise, there would be no opportunity to exercise faith. We could have a very long discussion on faith but that is not the point of this post for now.
So, there they were, enjoying being in the presence of Father but recognize a huge gap in their personal development. They must have wrestled and asked how they could become like Him or was it ok to seek to become like Him.
There is a great verse in 2 Nephi chapter 2 verse 19 in the Book of Mormon, "And after Adam and Eve had partaken of the forbidden fruit they were driven out of the garden of Eden, to till the earth." That seems like a pretty simple verse but it hit me yesterday that if we read it like this, "And after Adam and Eve had partaken of the forbidden fruit they were driven out of the [temple and out of the presence of Father] to till the earth. The temple is Father's House. It's the "House of the Lord," as we have inscribed on our temples. The Garden of Eden is a place where God dwelt. It's a home for Him. So, why would Eve and Adam purposely leave His presence? 2 Nephi chapter 2 explains why. Some of those reasons were to learn the difference between good and evil and learn to prize the good. They would learn by experience those things that they had studied. Faith would now play a huge factor in their development. They would have to believe in and follow Father to greater happiness even though they were shut out of His presence. The only way they could now return would be through a process of changing, repenting, and becoming clean and holy. Though they were determined to change and repent to become holy like Father, they would have scars and stains from their mortal, fallen experience on earth. This leads us to a great sacrifice to satisfy the demands of justice that mercy might be extended to those that repent or change. This leads us to our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, who pays the demands of justice that He might extend mercy to us.
So, these are beautiful doctrines but the main message that I felt this time in verse 19 was a question and some wonderful thoughts the Lord took me down. The thought was this, "would Father ever inspire someone to do something that would keep them out of His presence, like partake of the forbidden fruit, to become more like Him in the end?" "Are there multiple 'falls' in our lives?"
As I look back upon my life, God has taken me to some interesting stages and levels of development. He will require great obedience and sacrifices to be completely faithful to a doctrine or principle that I understand, then He will require great obedience and sacrifice to be obedient to another principle or doctrine I previously did not understand or even one that I thought was forbidden. It would be like Eve. She had conflicting commandments, first, to multiply and replenish the earth and second to not partake of the forbidden fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. She partook of the forbidden fruit in order that she might be obedient to the first commandment.
What is our first purpose in this earth or mortal experience, that we might gain eternal life. Moses 1:39 states that Father's work and glory is to bring about our immortality and eternal life. We will all be resurrected and gain immortality so the question is will we be resurrected to a body and spirit that is exalted, one like Father's? John 17:3 explains that eternal life or life eternal is to come to know God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. We come to know Them by becoming like Them. You can't really know or understand someone if you are not like them. I have learned that truth by experience. We may think we understand or know someone but it isn't possible until we're in their shoes. That happens by walking in the paths they walk. Alma 7:11-13 has a great discourse about this truth. It explains that Jesus could have learned through the spirit what to do to succor His people but only through physical experience, suffering our pains, sicknesses, infirmities and sins could He truly know how to succor His people. So, to know someone you truly have to go through what they go through. That is an interesting truth.
So this leads one to ponder descending and ascending. Eve and Adam fell, or descended, that they might ascend to the throne of God, having become like Him. If they are to become like Him, then from what we just discussed, wouldn't it be logical that they will eventually have to descend below all things to ascend above all things? "He that ascended up on high, as also he descended below all things, in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth;" (Doctrine and Covenants 88:6).
This is leading to a very long discussion. I guess that is expected because the gospel principles and doctrines are all so intricately connected to all others. My point is that we can expect to have "falls" in our lives if we really want to come to know Father and Jesus Christ. Eve was willing to leave the garden, the temple, and so I wonder what that means for each of us? What will God require of us that we might come to know Him?
What are your thoughts?
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