In the temple yesterday I had an enlightening experience of further knowledge! For those who are not members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, as members if we choose, we can further our commitments and to God and go through the temple. :) One thing about doing a session at the temple, you have the opportunity to be taught the creation and the fall (creation of the world, Adam and Eve's experience in the garden of Eden, being tempted to eat the fruit of the tree, and being cast out).
This week, as I was sitting listening in the temple session, I realized how -truthful- Lucifer was! Up until a certain point, he never actually lied to Eve. The key difference was his intentions were not loving and with purpose for the greater good of mankind.
The debate is whether Eve sinned or not. (I've actually heard ridiculous notions that Eve is evil for her choice). So, some back story: Adam and Eve were placed in the garden. Jesus Christ and God (2 separate individuals for the record) placed them there in their paradisical state (not mortal, but not like God either) and said (not a direct quote clearly) 'please care for this garden and all that is in it, and I command you not eat the fruit from the tree of good and evil for you shall surely die' then he says 'nevertheless it is your choice'.
Many things dawned on me here:
1. Commandment vs Command
Commandments: when you look at the 10 commandments, they are non-negotiable laws. "Thou shalt not kill" "Thou shalt love they God..." "Thou shalt not commit adultery". If you do not follow these, they are a very distinct, very clear sin (needing repentance).
Command: Giving direction. Consider this comparison: when our children are young, we very clearly command them never to touch the stove. EVER. If you do you will die (lol dramatic for effect). But in reality, that is not true. We are parenting them in their lack of abilities/maturity. Clearly as they get older, we teach them to bake and to cook, etc.
2. Sin vs Transgression
Simply put, a sin is doing something wrong.
A Transgression means making a prohibited choice.
Both have consequences.
3. Forbidden
We know the fruit is called the "forbidden fruit" which confuses us as we study sin vs transgression. I think we need to consider the Lord was saying 'if you want to stay here in the garden, the fruit is forbidden' - for the sake of keeping Adam and Eve's agency in tact (a key component to Jesus Christ's plan for us vs Lucifers who wanted all the glory and power for himself). Once again Adam and Eve were not told "don't you dare ever eat this fruit" - they were given the choice - Life in the Garden of Eden=no fruit, Death/Mortality=eat fruit.
I also like to think that while they stayed in the garden, that they were receiving continual teachings for it has taken me 30 years to get this understanding of this part of the creation. ;)
So - taking Eve into account, she was given a choice. Heavenly Father did not give her a commandment to not partake of the tree, but gave her a command (see above). She transgressed, she did not sin - both of which have consequences. In order to have mortality and fulfill the actual commandment (to have children) she had to make a choice. The "fall" as we know it to be called, of Adam and Eve could not have happened if Eve hadn't chosen to partake.
She chose. She chose US. "Adam fell that men might be" is a truth. Now it is our job as women to be as brave and discerning as Eve in our lives today.
