Alright! Today is the first day of Spring and Easter is upon us! Since we were discussing the Fall, and given the season, let's continue our discussion with the Atonement (as they go hand in hand). It would be totally appropriate to continue with thoughts on the Fall, especially in how it relates to the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Elder Bednar gives a beautiful lesson on the Atonement of our Savior and it can be found at the following site: http://www.byui.edu/Presentations/Transcripts/Devotionals/2002_01_08_Bednar.htm

Please share your references, thoughts, testimonies, etcetera and Happy Easter to you all!

Eve's Motivation

I am very intrigued by Eve's motivation in eating the fruit. She is an amazing woman. Satan's first temptation didn't seem to affect her (delicious to the taste and very desirable). She very insightfully questioned his motives (Who are you and why would you be tempting me to do this?) She wasn't fooled by his enticings or distracted by his offering. Perhaps she didn't feel the consequence was worth his offering of good taste and popularity.

It wasn't until he changed his tactic to something worth more to her that she considered his offer. When he offered knowledge she started taking his temptation seriously. Although by all accounts her life in the garden should have been idyllic, she desired to understand more. She made the decision with eyes wide open -- she knew the consequences and yet decided that the cost was worth it. This amazes me. She reassures Adam that the pain and sorrow they were about to go through was worth the knowledge they would gain. I don't know if I could handle a mortal life with all the challenges associated knowing that I could have stayed in the peaceful, pain-free garden. (I know I made a choice to accept this life and its challenges, but I don't remember that choice during mortality). Eve lived with the choice everyday and had the courage to say "it's worth it". I love her desire to learn and grow and especially her courage to be willing to take the difficult path.

Friendship

Camilla, I am studying and pondering on your fantastic questions- ones that I have also had for a long time. The answer, for me, has been pacified with the knowledge that they were completely innocent (the way I consider children innocent). However, I know there is much more to that answer and I will have more to contribute on that, hopefully as I study!

Another idea I had came last night. Paul so kindly gave me a blessing and one of the things he said was a line I have been told many times in my life, "do not let worthy goals escape your grasp." It might be that I have been thinking in context of our blog topic, but this line in relation to Adam and Eve became so very enlightening.

Sometimes our worthy goals are so very painful to acheive, but through these experiences we are closer to who our Heavenly Father intends us to become. I sometimes wish I could stay in the "garden" or in "ignorance," but that is impossible if I am to acheive my worthy and eternal goals. Eve was clearly aware of who she was to become, "the mother of all living" (verse 26, Moses 3) and was clear on what she needed to do to acheive the most worthy of goals (Genesis 3:6, Moses 4:12). I am so grateful I have her example at this time in my life. Even though it was difficult and the consequences were severe, she was obedient to the Plan- both the Plan of Happiness and her personal Plan for eternal life.

How do we make such amazing decisions? How was Eve able to do this? She made the decision alone. And then she went to Adam. That is such a vital part of the story. Don't we all have to ultimately make our life's choices by ourselves and have that personal confirmation? And then don't we inform those involved in that process what our choice is? Adam, at the creation of woman, had just stated that man leave his father and mother and "cleave unto his wife and they shall be one flesh" (Genesis 2:24). They were one flesh. They understood and supported and strengthened each other. What an amazing love, friendship and understanding Adam and Eve had in each other. And what a lesson they have taught me this morning.

There is pain. There are consequences. There must be sacrifice and choices. We each have a personal Plan of Happiness that accomplishes the greater Plan of Happiness. We can all know for ourselves who we were, are and will be. And we can be the friend that Adam and Eve were to one another! I am so grateful for my friends that teach me so much and my best friend, Paul, who helps keep worthy goals within reach! I love you!

Eve, Satan, and Enticements to Partake

Is there anyone else who thinks it is interesting that one of Lucifer's first enticements to partake of the fruit of knowledge of good and evil is that it is delicious to eat and very desirable. Hmmm, appealing to our carnal nature. . . . . To Eve's credit, this is probably not the reason that she partakes of the fruit, as was mentioned in earlier comments.

I haven't done my reading yet, but here are a few questions I am going to focus on: First, if Adam and Eve couldn't procreate in the garden, were their physical bodies also limited in terms of other things, like eating? Why did Lucifer use this enticement? I guess I never entirely understood why procreation was not possible in the garden of Eden. Since this is our "assignment" I hope I (and you'all) can tackle this question that has bothered me for some time.

Next (and this is probably linked to the first), why did Eve follow Lucifer's lead and use the same enticement to get Adam to eat (ie, "it is delicious to the taste and very desirable").

Finally, what can we learn from this scenario about Satan's tactics and our response?

Begin at the Beginning

Let's start with Adam and Eve. They started it all, why not start our blog discussion as well! Let's look at Genesis chapter 2 and Moses chapter 4 and 5. Please list your source for any other quotes or ideas from other resources!

Dear friends,
This blog was created to study! The other night a dear friend proposed a study group to learn the scripture stories. I have been thinking on this idea for a few days and asked myself, "why not?" I will begin the first story open for discussion and then we will see where we go from there.
I envision this blog being a place for word definitions, background information, concept clarity, personal experiences and insights, and most importantly- a place for learning. If you want to know more about a certain place, person, or principle... just suggest it! We can spend a week or so on each discussion and move on to the next suggested or requested idea! Please feel motivated to research the scriptures, read other resources and pray about the ideas presented!
And may we gain what the blog address is: studuim aeternus, an eternal love of learning!