(Disclaimer: The following is my own personal interpretation of the information provided based on my own personal revelation and is not an official Church document.)
Another Sunday School lesson that has led me to a reflective mode.
In today's lesson the teacher said something like, "We did not bring about our own death - it is because of Adam. So we can't bring about our own redemption - only through the Savior."
First I'd like to talk about the first part of this quote - "We did not bring about our own death - it is because of Adam." I understand the fall of Adam, of his transgression but that statement made it a little clearer.
"Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy." 2 Nephi 2:25
Before the fall Adam and Eve lived in a state of innocence. Knowing no good because the knew no evil. Having no joy because they felt no sorrow. They were commanded to multiply and replenish the earth but were unable to do so because they did not have knowledge of good and evil. That is why the fall was necessary. Adam was a good man and willingly did everything the Lord commanded. I do have to interject this statement that Adam and Eve were chosen for their roles in the pre-existence. They knew what they were getting themselves into. They knew what had to happen but when they were brought to earth a veil was placed over their knowledge of the pre-existence (as it is with all of us) and they were no longer conscience of the decisions they had made in the pre-existence.
Adam was a good man. He willingly obeyed every command that the Lord set forth, including not partaking of the fruit of the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. I suppose that is why the "serpent" turned to Eve, after not being able to tempt Adam, but it is also why I consider Eve one of the strongest women in the bible. Although she was not conscience that she needed to make the decision to eat of the fruit, she also knew she had to. The fall had to happen and Eve took that first step and in so doing so did Adam.
"But of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." Genesis 2:17
As with not being able to bear children, Adam and Eve were unable to die before the fall. So by falling they not only were able to bring forth mankind but they also gave to man mortality. Both of which are invaluable gifts of the plan of salvation.
Now to the second part of the quote, "We cannot bring about our own redemption - only through the Savior."
Jesus Christ suffered for our sins in the garden of Gethsemane and on the cross. He paid the ransom for us. He gave us a way to overcome spiritual death which is separation of the spirit from the Father. However he also overcame physical death which is the separation of the spirit from the physical body by the resurrection. The resurrection is a free gift given to all those who have lived on the earth and who will live on the earth. In the days of the resurrections, we will all be reunited with our physical bodies regardless of our spiritual state. However only by accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior and by obeying the principles and ordinances of the gospel can we overcome spiritual death. We have to make that choice. We have agency - the ability to choose - as part of mortality, so to we have to choose to overcome spiritual death and we cannot do it alone. We have a partner to help us overcome spiritual death and we only have to accept Him as such, be obedient, and endure to the end and we can return to live with Heavenly Father and His son, Jesus Christ.
I testify of the truthfulness of these things, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen
For more information:
www.lds.org
www.mormon.org
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