Line upon Line

Editor’s Note: This is the fourth in a series of articles suggesting greater appreciation of the doctrines of the restoration. The first focused on the concept of pre-mortal life, the second on the spirit world, and the third on judgment—heaven and hell.  To read the first article, CLICK HERE; the second CLICK HERE, and the third, CLICK HERE.

An early apostle of the restoration, Orson F. Whitney, recounted the following experience:

Many years ago, there came to Salt Lake City a learned Doctor of Divinity, a member of the Roman Catholic Church…… One day he said to me: “You Mormons are all ignoramuses. You don’t even know the strength of your own position.”

The account focuses on the question of the true church, but it can also be applied to the doctrines of the restoration. Too often, church members are ignoramuses because we fail to appreciate the unique and powerful implications of the principles that were restored. Inspiring doctrine doesn’t just tell us what to believe, it shows us how to live.  

This article considers the restored doctrine of the fall of Adam and Eve—what it teaches us and why that knowledge is so important.  The basic question will be “So What?” Why does the correct knowledge of the Fall matter? I review the teachings of other faith traditions and suggest 12 important reasons why our understanding and behavior is or should be influenced by this key doctrine.

What Does the Restored Gospel Teach About the Fall?

In restoration theology, the Fall of Adam and Eve is viewed as a necessary and planned step in the Plan of Salvation, rather than an unplanned, tragic accident. Latter Day scriptures emphasize that the Fall provided the conditions necessary for mortal life, progeny, agency, and eventual joy.  Elder Orson F. Whitney taught that “Adam fell, but he fell in the right direction. He fell toward the goal. … Adam fell, but he fell upward.” (quoted by Bruce C. Hafen, The Broken Heart).  This perspective—often called the “fortunate fall” differs significantly from the teachings of other faith traditions.” 

The Book of Mormon is a rich source of understanding about the Fall. Probably the most illuminating verses on the subject are found in 2 Nephi 2 which explain the implications of the Fall.

22 And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden. And all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; and they must have remained forever and had no end.

23 And they would have had no children⁠; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy⁠, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin⁠.

24 But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things.

25 Adam fell that men might be; and men are⁠, that they might have joy⁠.

Verses 11 and 27 highlight the critical role of opposition and agency.

11 For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so… righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad.

12 Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh⁠; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life⁠, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.

The Second Article of Faith states: “We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.” This means that individuals are not held personally accountable or condemned for what Adam and Eve did in the Garden of Eden. It explicitly repudiates the concept of “original sin.” Note that it refers to Adam’s “transgression”—which was a violation of a commandment—rather than an inherently wrong “sin.”

What Do Other Faith Traditions Teach About the Fall?

The Fall is often viewed as a monumental failure, changing the nature of Adam and Eve and all their posterity. Because of the Fall, every human being is born into a state of sinfulness and is morally “broken” or “bent” before they ever commit an individual act of wrongdoing. 

From this perspective came the doctrine of original sin.  Mankind suffers inherited guilt.  Because Adam acted as representative of the human race, his “guilt” for disobeying God was imputed to all of his descendants. Consequently, we are inherently depraved and have a sinful nature because the human will was corrupted from birth. 

The primary biblical justification for original sin is found in the writings of Paul in Romans 5:12: 

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—” 

King David’s confession in Psalm 51:5 is also frequently cited to argue that sinfulness begins at the very start of mortal life: “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.”

Paul seems to teach that one act of disobedience by Adam resulted in the condemnation of all men, making everyone sinners. Although the seeds of the idea come from Paul, the formal doctrine was shaped primarily by Augustine (who is a frequent source of wrong ideas) in the 4th and 5th centuries. He argued that humanity is a “damned mass” and that sin was like a hereditary disease passed down through generations.

Protestant reformation leaders like Martin Luther and John Calvin expanded on the teachings of Augustine, developing the idea of “Total Depravity”—the belief that sin has affected every part of a person (reason, emotions, and will) so thoroughly that they cannot choose to follow God without an infusion of enabling grace.

Not all branches of Christianity or other faith traditions interpret the Fall the same way as Roman Catholics and traditional protestants. The Eastern Orthodox church prefers the term “Ancestral Sin” which suggests that we inherit the consequences of Adam’s sin (mortality and a tendency toward passion) but not his personal guilt. In this view, we are only guilty of the sins we personally commit.

Judaism and Islam also don’t accept the doctrine of original sin. Both traditions teach that humans are born with a “clean slate” or a neutral inclination and are fully responsible for their own choices. In Judaism, the account of the Fall in Genesis is often interpreted as a story for the human condition, explaining the presence of mortality, the need to work, and the painfulness of childbirth. In Islam, Adam and Eve are seen as a model for humanity—people sin, recognize their mistake, sincerely repent, and are forgiven by God’s infinite mercy.

Jehovah’s Witnesses teach a concept of the Fall that differs significantly from other traditions. Adam’s sin was an act of willful disobedience. As a result, he lost his original perfection and the right to everlasting life on Earth. His descendants inherit imperfection and death. This is seen as a condition similar to a genetic defect. Adherents believe God does not blame individuals for Adam’s act, but everyone suffers the results (imperfection, sickness, death).

The Restored Doctrine of the “Fortunate Fall Upward” vs. Traditional Christian Views of the Fall

So What?  Why Does It Matter?

Following are 12 reasons why the enlightened restoration doctrine of the Fall is important. The list is suggestive rather than comprehensive.  

1. It was a step forward, not backward. The Fall transformed humanity from a static state of innocence to a dynamic state of growth.  President Ezra Taft Benson observed that “Without the Fall, our spirits would have remained in the presence of God, but we would have been denied the schooling and the refinement that only a mortal experience can provide.” (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson)
2. It enables “joy” rather than just “innocence.” Without the Fall, Adam and Eve would have remained in a state of innocence, incapable of experiencing true joy because they knew no misery.
3. It initiated Moral Agency. While Adam and Eve had “free will” in the Garden, their agency was fully activated only when they gained the knowledge of good and evil. True agency requires choice between opposing forces, which the Fall provided.
4. It shows that choices can be more complicated than just good versus evil. Adam and Eve faced the dilemma of not being able to simultaneously obey two of God’s commandments—to multiply and replenish the earth and to not partake of the forbidden fruit. We are often in similar situations. President Dallin H. Oaks observed that “We have to forego some good things in order to choose others that are better or best.” (General Conference, October 2007)
5. It teaches that trials can evolve into blessings. Adam’s life in the lone and dreary world wasn’t easy, but he acknowledged the wisdom and love of God—“Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy and again in the flesh shall I see God (Moses 5:10).  In Little Women, Louisa May Alcott wrote, “I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning to sail my ship.” 
6. It provides a positive perspective on the inherent nature of men and women. Although humanity inherits the consequences of the Fall (death and separation from God), they do not inherit the guilt or depravity of it.
7. It celebrates Eve’s wisdom and elevates women. Unlike traditions that vilify Eve as being duped by Satan, restoration theology views her act as courageous and wise. She perceived that staying in the Garden meant stagnation and that partaking of the fruit was necessary to initiate the human family. The temple endowment and the teachings of Church leaders provide perspective about Eve:

“Informed by revelation, we celebrate Eve’s act and honor her wisdom and courage in the great episode called the Fall.” — President Oaks (Ensign, Nov. 1993)

“Eve was the first to venture into the unknown, to take the step that would lead to mortality and motherhood. Her choice was visionary, not rebellious.” — Elder Robert D. Hales (General Conference, April 1993)

8. It made procreation possible. In the Garden, Adam and Eve could not have children. The Fall introduced the physical changes necessary for reproduction, allowing the billions of waiting spirits to obtain physical bodies.
9. It created a need for the Atonement. The Fall introduced death and sin; the Atonement conquers both. Without the Fall, there would be no need for a Savior, and thus no opportunity to experience His redeeming love and enabling grace.
10. It focuses on the goal. Redemption is not just returning to the Garden of Eden; it is being raised to a higher state of glory than Adam and Eve initially possessed. The Fall allows for exaltation, not just restoration.
11. It explains the problem of evil. A correct understanding of the Fall helps explain why evil and suffering exist. They are not evidence of God’s failure or lack of love, but necessary environmental conditions for the development of divine attributes.
12. It confirms God’s nature as a Father. Just as a parent sends a child away to college to learn and grow, Heavenly Father allowed Adam and Eve to fall so they could mature. It frames the relationship between God and man as parent-child focused on development rather than ruler-subject fixated on obedience.

Finally, Elder Bruce R. McConkie labelled Creation, Fall, and Atonement the Three Pillars of Eternity. That puts the Fall in good company. President Oaks taught that it was a “glorious necessity to open the doorway toward eternal life.” (Ensign, Jan. 2002) 

When I attend the temple, the most exhilarating part of my endowment experience is hearing the enlightened reaction of Eve after she was cast out of the Garden, having been taught the gospel by heavenly messengers. As recorded in Moses 5:11, she testifies: 

Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient.

Adam and Eve understood their pivotal role in the Plan of Salvation. Today, latter-day scriptures and prophets have opened the eyes of our understanding. Paul was misunderstood, Augustine was predictably wrong, and the sectarian world inferred the wrong conclusion about the Fall. Our First Parents fell Up, not down. We should take humble but righteous pride in the sublime doctrines of the restoration and realize the “strength of our position.”