Lesson 4: "Because of my Transgression, My Eyes are Opened" or "I Rejoice"

MOSES 4; 5:10-15; 6:48-62

We started with an explanation of Heavenly Father's three part plan to bring about our salvation or "immortality and eternal life" (see Moses 1:39). The first part, the creation, we spoke of last week. This week we focused on The Fall and The Atonement.
We watched a video of Elder Nelson talk of God's commandments to Adam and Eve. The first was to "be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth" (Moses 2:28). The second was "not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil" (Moses 3:17). By keeping the first commandment, they would have to transgress the second commandment to find out HOW to multiply and replenish the earth.  By keeping the second commandment, they would transgress the first by living in innocence forever. Hmmm. A conundrum. This conundrum however, brought about the opportunity for agency, choice and accountability. It is important to note that we consider Eve, and then Adam to be courageous and noble, not foolish and sinful by choosing to transgress the second commandment in order to be obedient to the first. I love that Elder Nelson described "the fall" as a "fall forward, not a fall down".

We next discussed Elder Oaks description of transgression vs. sin.  He states: “… We celebrate Eve’s act and honor her wisdom and courage in the great episode called the Fall. … Elder Joseph Fielding Smith said: ‘I never speak of the part Eve took in this fall as a sin, nor do I accuse Adam of a sin. … This was a transgression of the law, but not a sin.’ …

“This suggested contrast between a sin and a transgression reminds us of the careful wording in the second article of faith: “We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression” (italics added). It also echoes a familiar distinction in the law. Some acts, like murder, are crimes because they are inherently wrong. Other acts, like operating without a license, are crimes only because they are legally prohibited. Under these distinctions, the act that produced the Fall was not a sin—inherently wrong—but a transgression—wrong because it was formally prohibited. These words are not always used to denote something different, but this distinction seems meaningful in the circumstances of the Fall” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1993, 98; or Ensign, Nov. 1993, 73).  I finally GET it!

We were then reminded of the results of the Fall for Adam and Eve - and for us.

a. Adam and Eve were able to have children, which allowed us to come to earth and receive mortal bodies (Moses 5:11; 6:48; 2 Nephi 2:23, 25).

b. We experience physical death, or separation of the physical body from the spirit (Moses 4:25; 6:48; 2 Nephi 9:6).
c. We experience spiritual death, or separation from God’s presence (Moses 4:29; 6:49; 2 Nephi 9:6).
d. We are partakers of misery and woe (Moses 6:48; Genesis 3:16–17).
e. We are capable of sinning (Moses 6:49, 55; 2 Nephi 2:22–23).
f. The ground is cursed, causing us to need to work (Moses 4:23–25; Genesis 3:17–19).
g. We can learn to recognize good and evil (Moses 4:28; 6:55–56; 2 Nephi 2:23; Genesis 3:22).
h. We can have joy in mortality (Moses 5:10; 2 Nephi 2:23, 25).
i. We can know the joy of our redemption (Moses 5:11).

j. We can obtain eternal life (Moses 5:11).

Of course, there's always the comment about having children and misery and death are in the same consequence category. I thought about the word "cursed" and how that is an interesting word to use for a consequence that so clearly brings self-worth. I also thought it was interesting in the testimony of Adam in Moses 5:10 he began to "be filled and to prophesy". By choosing to have knowledge and therefore temptation, he chose to feel the Holy Ghost. By choosing knowledge and trials, he chose to "open his eyes and know joy in this life". In Moses 5:11, Eve testifies that by choosing knowledge and pain, she chose to "have seed" - have family. By choosing knowledge and sacrificing innocence, she chose to know good from evil and therefore brought about the atonement and the "joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient."

We finished by quickly (ran out of time as always) touched on the Atonement (how can you quickly talk of the Atonement???). We basically reminded ourselves that as the Fall brought on physical and spiritual death,  through the Atonement then, all are freely resurrected or receive a restoration of physical life. However, for those that choose  to pay the price of faith on Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, then there is the opportunity to restore spiritual life or eternal life - life WITH Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ again.  One is a freebie, one we have the opportunity to choose to pay for.

There were testimonies borne of  love for the Savior, for the Atonement and gratitude to our first parents for their courageous and righteous choices. There was also the recognition and understanding that this life requires challenges, trials, and pain. If we didn't have those things, we wouldn't come to Christ and really know Him. It was stated that it's important to not just gloss over difficulties. They should be acknowledged and felt.  When we allow ourselves the pain of trials, we allow ourselves to need healing. The Atonement, when truly utilized with a broken heart and contrite spirit, does not just cover up pain like a band-aid or a sedative, it heals the wound completely, so you are made whole and then able to bless the life of the next person that faces that trial and pain. It's part of our mortal journey, part of the plan.

Words to the song "I Rejoice" by Sharlene Wells Hawkes (Sung by Katie Gurney, Accompanied by Michelle Sundwall)

I used to walk with God, I used to sing with angels
My feet were bare on the sweet tender grass, I was sure of a world I knew well.
I'd never been afraid, no harm had ever touched me;
Then I put out my hand and at once, there was darkness where light used to be.

There on a hill; it was as if the wind stood still,
Holding a breath, as I walked the pathway - from life to death
Tears run down, and I know the pain of my choice
But not for those tears, with my eyes now clear
I Rejoice!

Our children we will hold, through all our joy, our sorrow.
No longer will the earth care for us, now we'll make it a home on our own
And we'll call on our God even stronger than before
He'll lift us from our fall to be greater than we were...when we were...

There on a hill; it was as if the wind stood still,

Holding a breath, as I walked the pathway - from life to death

Tears run down, and I know the pain of my choice
But not for those tears, with my eyes now clear
I Rejoice!