"And the Gods formed man from the dust of the ground, and took his spirit (that is, the man’s spirit), and put it into him; and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul.
And the Gods planted a garden, eastward in Eden, and there they put the man, whose spirit they had put into the body which they had formed.
And out of the ground made the Gods to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food; the tree of life, also, in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil."
Abraham 5:7-9
In this selection we learn about the creation of man, creating the body, and then putting the spirit inside it, those two parts becoming "a living soul." We also learn about planting the garden of Eden, which included every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food, and also the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
I find it interesting that the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was included at all. If God really didn't want anyone to partake of it, then it's really simple... just don't plant it there. No access, no mistakes. But it *was* planted. The fall had to happen and death had to come into the world as part of that plan, to allow us all to exist as living souls as well as giving us free agency and space between our choices and our consequences so that we could learn to repent and become better before being judged. The atonement was also necessary, and provided for.
We often think that a lot of life is random chance, probably because that is the way we live, with no deep plans... just playing it by ear and trying to get through. God doesn't do that though. He always has a plan, and he always knows what happens next for us. He knew what he was doing then, and he knows what he is doing now. Let's turn to him for help and answers when we need them, and not to other people who are just as clueless as we are. :) There is a way for us to succeed... God always provides a way to salvation, just as he planned from the beginning.
And the Gods planted a garden, eastward in Eden, and there they put the man, whose spirit they had put into the body which they had formed.
And out of the ground made the Gods to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food; the tree of life, also, in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil."
Abraham 5:7-9
In this selection we learn about the creation of man, creating the body, and then putting the spirit inside it, those two parts becoming "a living soul." We also learn about planting the garden of Eden, which included every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food, and also the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
I find it interesting that the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was included at all. If God really didn't want anyone to partake of it, then it's really simple... just don't plant it there. No access, no mistakes. But it *was* planted. The fall had to happen and death had to come into the world as part of that plan, to allow us all to exist as living souls as well as giving us free agency and space between our choices and our consequences so that we could learn to repent and become better before being judged. The atonement was also necessary, and provided for.
We often think that a lot of life is random chance, probably because that is the way we live, with no deep plans... just playing it by ear and trying to get through. God doesn't do that though. He always has a plan, and he always knows what happens next for us. He knew what he was doing then, and he knows what he is doing now. Let's turn to him for help and answers when we need them, and not to other people who are just as clueless as we are. :) There is a way for us to succeed... God always provides a way to salvation, just as he planned from the beginning.
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