Now That's Dedication.

This last week, we were asked to submit two inspired questions regarding the required reading in my “Teachings of the Book of Mormon” course.  One of the questions I turned in has been on my mind since I submitted it on Wednesday.

Is "the fall of Adam" a deceptive description for what took place after Adam ate of the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil?  If you could rename this event per your understanding of God's plan, what would you call it to help others really see its significance and worth?

First off, we need to talk about God’s plan.  Previous to eating fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, Adam and Eve were innocent, pure, had ongoing communications with God, and were living in a paradisaical state within the Garden of Eden.  They were given two commandments: 1) don’t eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and 2) procreate and populate the earth.  These are two commandments they had to choose between as it was impossible to follow both.  Their innocence was maintained by not partaking of the fruit, but that prevented them from even knowing they were naked; a huge hindrance to the whole “get busy and make me grandchildren” request from Heavenly Father.  Right?  Logic, people… logic.  In order to enter into a state of understanding that would allow them to procreate, they had to have their eyes and minds opened to full knowledge.  The way to do that, was to eat of the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 

Heavenly Father knew that Adam and Eve wouldn’t partake of the fruit on their own.  Without a push in the righ-… wron-… different direction, they would have lived forever in their innocent state and nothing would have come of the rest of us.  The serpent, or Satan, being in the garden wasn’t a fluke; if God didn’t want him there, He would have kept him out.  Perhaps the scriptural record describing Satan as a serpent was just a representation of him to illustrate his wiliness, trickery, manipulative nature, etc.  I wonder if Satan presented himself to Adam and Eve in the same way he presents himself to us – in a type of thought.  Picture the dialogue from the scriptures without the serpent, Adam and Eve deliberating with themselves, possibly in their own minds.  Here’s what I envision Eve’s self-dialogue might go:

Ah, the tree is very beautiful today, indeed.  I’m here hanging out with the new goat family and these cute bear cubs, but I just want another look at that tree.  Mmm, it really is a marvelous view.  I wonder what the fruit is like.  Since we were told not to eat it, it’s probably far less desirable than the fruit of the other trees we eat from.  Or maybe… it’s more desirable?  No, it couldn’t be.  Why would God make it so that desirable fruit grows on a tree that will cause us to die?  Well, we won’t surely die.  It’s probably not immediate.  Eventual death might be a worthy trade-off for the taste of that fruit, and the knowledge that comes with it.  Would a small bite hurt?  A nibble?  No, no, no, no, no!  We’ve been commanded not to.  Why am I even glancing at it?  It’s just so… beautiful.  And I want to know more!  Like how can we keep our second commandment?  The only things that are fruitful and replenishing anything around here are the plants and animals.  This is great, but what about us?  Perhaps a taste of the fruit will help me understand. 

[Eve walks up to the tree.]  Wow, it smells fantastic.  I just want to know more.  With more knowledge, I can navigate the disappointment Adam will have in me, and God… ooooh, He’ll be upset.  No, I shouldn’t do it.  [Looking back at the baby goats and bear cubs.]  Why am I drawn to the new little lives so much?  I’m missing something… I’m missing something big.  [Looks back at the tree.]  That’s it.  I won’t die, what will it hurt? [Takes a bite.]

I imagine Adam’s self-dialogue would be similar, ending with Eve (having full knowledge) helping him understand how breaking one commandment is necessary to fulfill the other.  If Adam wouldn’t eat of the fruit, Eve would be cast out of the garden, he’d be left in the garden, and they doubly wouldn’t be able to fulfill the commandment to procreate and replenish the earth.  Adam partook of the fruit in order to ensure our existence would come to be.  Now that’s dedication.

This also shows that Satan, be it him in a representative serpent or a influenced thought, played right into God’s plan all along.  God knew what needed to occur in order for mankind exist.