How Can Adam and Eve Be Bad or Fallen?

Adam and Eve are to be commended for their example and stalwart nature, in following the admonitions and commands of the Eternal Father and also of the Son – not condemned. These two, our first Earthly parents, are the reason we exist today and are the reason we have that innate drive to continue the climb of perfection, knowledge, justification and sanctification unto salvation. Through their transgression, and not sin, man IS - and is able to have joy. In this article we shall examine the reasons why, though against many modern popular doctrines, Adam and Eve are worthy of honor and recognition.

Where did Adam and Even come from? The short answer is God – from His literal presence. The concept of our first parents is difficult to grasp among the vast numbers of people. The altered concept of a person existing without a mortal parent, to give them birth, is a hard notion to swallow as it goes against the grain of our “natural” scientific thought processes. For this reason, we shall examine the original, “mom and dad.” In the beginning of their sojourn on Earth they were flawless and pure. Being not clothed with flesh, sprung from mortal parents, their spirits were robed with perfected flesh from the sphere and realm of God – as He is housed in a tabernacle of perfect flesh and bone. They were presented here, from their spirit home where we all awaited our appointed time upon the Earth, in bodies free of sickness and disease upon an orb equally free from ill. It could not be any other way as all things directly from God cannot be flawed – but perfect. They were brought here, passing through the veil of knowledge from their life before, to receive and keep the commandments of God that all man may received immortality and eternal life.

Now, being in such a state, what was their life like? Though their knowledge of former things had been suspended, they were both highly intelligent. Again, being directly clothed and commissioned of God all things are flawless and intelligent. They learned and investigated their surroundings with curiosity and enthusiasm. All things were good. However, physically there were enormous differences in comparison to the bodies we habitat today. Being physically perfect they were already immortal, as they were free of ill and disease. Death had not yet entered this world. For this reason they did not contain the flowing blood as we do now, not at their beginnings. For blood is unto life as described in Genesis 9:2-6 and also Leviticus 17:10-15, and immortality is what they had.

Keep in mind the ramifications of the flow of blood. Blood is the mobility of all life on Earth. It is what perpetuates the various species. It is the manner by which posterity happens through conception and birth. It is also the manner by which death occurs as well. It is through blood that murder and the shedding of man's blood takes place. This could not have existed in creation from His direction and realm of beginnings.

When they were visited, they were given the first great command: “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it:...” (Genesis 1:28). This was the command, and yet, those powers had not yet entered into the world. Why would God give such a command that could not be followed as of yet? Hear this – that God knows all things from the beginning to the end. Our entire mortality and, yes, even all existence has purpose and has been planned out carefully by Him. The Plan is not new, as it is a plan conceived and implemented countless times before as is intimated in Ephesians 3:21, Hebrews 1:1-2, 11:3 and Moses 1:33. The Lord God planned and knew that a fall would be necessary in order for not only man to exist, but to allow man the freedom and agency to choose those paths that would enable him to enter back into the Father's presence. It is a perfect plan, a most holy plan and the Plan of Salvation.

Adam and Even were also eventually given another command. A tree of knowledge of good and evil was placed in Eden with the express command that they were not to partake of the fruit of that tree. However, they were given the greatest of gifts that not only we enjoy today, but by which the premise all creation was formed – the gift of agency as presented in Genesis 2:15-17 and also Moses 3:15-17. They were given a directive and the opportunity to choose, and with that choice were also warned of the consequences. So now we have two great commandments. The second can be upheld, but the first is difficult.

In that state of perfection Adam and Eve were innocent though ignorant of evil or even what the difference between good and evil was. It was an exposure not given them since Lucifer's rebellion in the pre-existence, which they cannot remember due to the veil over their recollection. Adam was the first to be approached with the promptings of Satan to partake of the fruit. Being faithful, however, he declined (1 Timothy 2:13-14). In time Eve was beguiled by that old serpent Satan. She partook of the fruit after coming to the realization, through the beguilement, that knowing good from the evil is to be as the gods and that this information is necessary for them in the propitiation of the family.

Now, we have a problem and the great solution. Eve had fallen unlike Adam and, therefore, would be driven away from Eden, and Adam alike countering the law that man should not be alone (Genesis 2:18), and also that Adam and Eve are to be “one flesh” eternally married as they were by the hand of God (Genesis 1:24). Eve approached Adam with this dilemma. With this dilemma, Adam knew that due to this fall of Eve, man would thus render God's first great commandment unfulfilled and laying to waste all creation and their purpose thereof.

Now we get to the crux of the difference between the transgression of the law, and “sinning” against the law as modern thought would have it. Adam and Even did not sin in partaking of the fruit even though the act was against the dictates of God. Rather, Eve partook knowing that the “new” knowledge would be vital and necessary to the human family. Adam partook knowing that it “transgressed” the law but yet was the only way to fulfill the first great law. There we have it! Through the Fall of Adam and Eve death, misery, thorns and thistles, pain and constant temptation entered the world. However, through the Fall of Adam and Eve all mankind can now achieve God's first great commandment, thus producing the ongoing opportunities of personal agency and the freedom of choice, in the pursuit of personal progression in the trek of, once again, obtaining the presence of the Father. As we read in 2 Nephi 2:25:

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

So, what now entered into the process of man? The Fall had epic effects on Adam and Eve and even the whole Earth. Adam and Eve's perfect state was thrust to a lower sphere of existence. Being subject to carnal laws blood, as we now know it, entered their veins. Children became possible. Observance of the coming laws of sacrifice would now be instituted. Spontaneous fruit and comfort would now be a memory, being replaced by those realities being met through the sweat of the brow. Wars and the shedding of blood would soon become the norm in this sphere of existence. Probably the greatest would be the inauguration of man's probation here, as he utilizes his agency to prove himself worthy of Father's presence through the triumph over trials and tribulations.

What do we learn from all this? God knows all, and has made plans and preparations for the salvation of all His spirit sons and daughters. He loves each and every one of us, and has room and much more to spare for all of us to come and dwell with him. He is the Almighty who has no limits to space and time and the many mansions prepared for all the vast numbers that will prove themselves worthy. What of the second law? Though transgressed, the second law was upheld with the aid of the cherubim and the flaming sword. They had the freedom and agency to partake of the fruit again. However, the consequences would have been disastrous. Adam was instructed not to partake of the fruit again or he would live forever thus frustrating the entire Plan of Salvation.

This article has spoken of the plans and preparations made in the pre-Earth life. Chief among these was the need of a Savior, a Redeemer or One to make that Infinite Atonement. The fall of man was necessary and a vital part of the Plan for the exaltation of all God's children. However, because of man being cut off from the presence of the Father, a mode or way had to have been laid out whereby that presence could, once again, be gained. Jesus Christ, the Eldest who's favor was seen in the eyes of God over that of the pride of Lucifer, was the only one perfect enough and was foreordained to the holy calling to serve as that one true Sacrifice for and in behalf of all fallen man. He would be the One who would fulfill many of the precepts of the Law of Moses. If God and man were on two plateaus separated by a massive deep canyon, Jesus Christ would be that bridge of opportunity. Through Him, all mankind have been given the opportunity to prove their way back to the Father. That “mere” opportunity is cause enough to rejoice evermore. That mere opportunity is realized and fulfilled through our own personal agency and freedoms to choose in this life. It is realized through our faith. It is realized through our works. It is realized through our love in the discharge of faith, hope and charity.

Adam and Eve were and are model parents. Yes, they transgressed a law – a law that was planned to be transgressed before the foundations of the Earth were even laid. This, to bring about and instill the process of man and his progression thereof. Through the great ransom provided by Jesus Christ we now have a bridge back to the Father – if we dare strive to walk the path. May we honor and continue to recognize all those who were, and continue to be, the chief architects of the Plan of Salvation and may we walk in the light of His love.