Something that has confused me about the fall is if Adam and Eve had a little knowledge about what happened. Because in the church, we always talk about how we shouldn't condemn them for what they did. But I haven't always understood why. Even if they were beguiled, a transgression is a transgression. Yes, good came out of it, but isn't it still a transgression? I understand a lot better after my studies today.
God gave Adam and Eve the choice. He laid out the consequences, and they had to choose. This was important because mortality was an important step in man's progress towards godhood, but he needed to choose it for himself. And not only from the pre-mortal viewpoint, knowing the plan, but not experiencing bodies yet, but also choosing it with bodies in a terrestrial viewpoint.
When Eve made her choice, she was at least partially deceived. Plus both Adam and Eve were in a state of innocence. They didn't know of the higher law! So yes, they were deceived. They did transgress God's law. So why do we honor them? Why don't we just say, "Yes, Adam and Eve messed up, but good thing God is there to make good out of the bad decision?" Why must we honor them for their choice?
I love what Callister says, "If they consciously partook of the fruit, sufficiently understanding the consequences, we honor them. If they partook in innocence or were partially deceived, and they thereafter learned the plan of salvation because of their obedience and faithfulness, which plan they thereafter taught with love and diligence to their posterity, then, again, we honor them."
I don't know how much Adam and Eve knew when they partook of the fruit. But their transgression isn't what defines them. It is what they did with their transgression. They learned. They taught. They believed. They obeyed. They are such noble souls. Imagine being the first ones ever on the earth, trying to figure everything out for the first time. Trying to figure out how to communicate with God in a way that's not face to face like you've always done. Trying to figure out parenting without all the knowledge we have now. Trying to figure out how to live the gospel without the scriptures. Holy cow, YES WE SHOULD HONOR THEM. But not because of their choice, but because of what they did with their choice.
I think we do the same thing to ourselves. We mess up and try to label ourselves with our mistake. Just like people have tried to devalue Eve for her choice or put the blame on her. That's not what matters. What matters is what we choose to do with our mistakes. Because we are spiritual CHILDREN. We will make mistakes, and even when we know of the consequences just like Adam and Eve did by God warning them, we don't really understand yet. Sometimes we fall. But we can follow our first parents' great examples by picking ourselves up, drawing closer to God, and learning the higher law line upon line, precept upon precept.
Isn't this a cool thought? I learned a lot today.
Love ya!
Rachel
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