Of course the problem is always me.
I take out of CONTEXT
I tell a SCANTY version
I am PREJUDICED
 
The problem is not that I do not understand LDS doctrine
The problem is I understand it too well
 
I quote your authorities, and you guys backpedal, deny, obfuscate and deflect
I am surprised you have not complained of my grammar.
Always something wrong with the messenger, Always focus on anything BUT the message.


Blaine Borrowman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Blaine:  Kevin is telling us a scanty version of Mormon doctrine.  Hopefully I can fill in the gaps, giving you a more complete understanding. 
 
As I understand it, the doctrine of the LDS Church is, basically, that the earth and all therein was first created spiritually.  This means that all things living and not, have a spirit counterpart.  (see Genesis 2: 4-6)  It also means there are many spirits yet unborn, and many that will never be born due to premortal wickedness--these latter spirits chose to be followers of Lucifer, the once-enlightened archangel who stood in the presence of God  in the courts on high, and was our spirit brother. Due to envy and deceit, he was renamed Satan ( "the slanderer"), and he along with 1/3 of the hosts of heaven who followed him  were cast down, to be our opposition on earth as we take upon ourselves mortal bodies, and live our lives out in a probationary state, wherein we are tested to see if we will live according to God, or according to the power of the opposition. 
 
Later, the earth  was created physically, and as part of this physical creation,  Adam was created from the dust --elements--of the earth.  Eve was then created from Adam's own flesh--his rib.  They had the memory of their previous existence as spirits taken from them.    God  planted a garden for them to live in, in the midst of which were two trees--the tree of life, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.  They could eat of any of the fruit, including the fruit of the tree of life, but they were commanded not to eat of the fruit of the other tree.   This commandment was given for their own good, with the understanding if they broke it, there would be a consequence--they would surely die.  On the other hand, they were also given a commandment to "multiply, and replenish the earth."  (Genesis 1:28).   Since they were in a state of innocence, being spiritual in their nature, they apparently did not understand at that time how this second commandment was to be kept, so they continued eating the fruit of the tree of life,  which in turn continued to give them a spiritual,  as opposed to a carnal, nature.  (It should be clearly understood however, that their bodies were tangible--e.g., they were not spirits.) 
 
At this point, enter Satan, the deceiver.  (:>)  He tries to get Eve to partake of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, because he knows if she does so, her body, which is now endowed with pristine innocence, will become carnal, devilish, and MORTAL, subject to his temptations!!!   He has already proven himself to be hooked on a power trip, so, he tells her a lie--that if she eats of the forbidden fruit, SHE WILL NOT SURELY DIE!!!  Since Satan is the master of deceit that he is, he pairs this untruth with a truth, that if she does eat this fruit, her eyes will be opened, and she will be like the Gods  (God the Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ), knowing the difference between good and evil.  (Satan does this since he knows that pairing the truth with a lie gives the lie credibility.)  So, Eve, focusing on the truth, ignoring the lie, believes him, and succombs to the temptation to eat of the forbidden fruit.  Her eyes are then opened, so to speak, and she realizes she has been duped, and that she will eventually die.  But she likes the fruit, takes it to Adam, who at first refuses to eat it.  She tells him it is desirable and sweet, and together they reason that if he does not eat it, Eve will die and Adam will be a lone man in his pristine innocence in the Garden, and they will not be able to keep the greater commandment to multiply, and replenish the earth.  So Adam reluctantly--knowingly-- partakes of it.  (What else could he do?)
 
Afterwards, they both realize, among other things, that they are naked, so they make aprons to cover their nakedness, and when God appears to them as he has done in the past, they feel shame and hide themselves.  God curses Satan, tells him his newly gained power will eventually be overruled by a descendant of Adam and Eve  (Jesus, the Messiah), tells Eve she is to be subject to Adam, and will bring forth her children in pain.  So, Adam and Eve resign themselves to their fate, but in order to prevent them from continuing to eat of the fruit of the tree of life, they are expelled from the Garden, with an angel placed at its entrance to insure they do not return, partake of the tree of life, and live forever in their lost and carnal state and the sinfulness that this state will surely bring upon them. 
 
Since by one man, Adam, mankind fell from a spiritual condition to a carnal one, even so by one man,  Jesus Christ, may all be eventually redeemed from dying, and may  regain the spiritual condition for their physical bodies which was lost in the Garden of Eden.  But man must repent of his sins, and learn to keep the commandments of God in order to accomplish this.  In doing so, he will gain through experience the knowledge of good and evil he was promised.  Therefore, the first principle of the gospel is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and the second, repentance. 
 
DaveH, look this over, and tell me if this is all true--I may have gotten carried away and taken some liberties in interpreting Mormon doctrine--probably caused by my imperfect nature endowed to me by the Fall of Adam.   (:>)
 
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Miller" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Monday, January 12, 2004 1:50 PM
Subject: RE: [TruthTalk] Adams FALL UPWARD

> Kevin wrote:
> > ... according to the LDS Apostles the FALL of Adam
> > was actually obedience & was not a sin
>
> Blaine and DaveH,
>
> Does Kevin have this right?  Do you Mormons believe that Adam and Eve
> walked in obedience, and that their eating of the fruit of the tree was
> not a sin?
>
> Peace be with you.
> David Miller, Beverly Hills, Florida.
>
> ----------
> "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man."  (Colossians 4:6)
http://www.InnGlory.org
>
> If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to
[EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed.  If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed.
>


Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Hotjobs: Enter the "Signing Bonus" Sweepstakes

Reply via email to