That Man May Be

I have a pretty quick thought for this week.  It starts with this scripture in the book of Moses:

"And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it became pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make her wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and also gave unto her husband with her, and he did eat." - Moses 4:12

Eve didn't make this decision in ignorance.  That's one of the most unique things our church teaches about the fall.  She didn't know everything, and there was certainly deception involved (we can trust she was being honest when she said that the serpent beguiled her), but through modern revelation, it's clear that she knew what she was giving up, and more importantly, what she gaining.

Many religions teach that Eve's decision was an act of selfishness.  Of course, we teach differently, however I don't think I'd realized how big that sacrifice was for her.  She knowingly broke the law of Eden, and knew that by breaking Eden's law, she couldn't remain there.  She chose to face suffering, pain, and heartbreak rather than continue living in ease and comfort.

She did it for one reason.  It's the same reason her daughters still choose to go through pain and heartbreak.  She did it to give life to God's children.

I had never noticed the parallels between Eve and Christ until recently.  Eve was in the Garden of Eden, Christ was in the garden of Gethsemane.  Eve partook of the fruit to give us life, Christ drunk of the bitter cup to give us eternal life.  Eve and her daughters shed their blood to give us mortal bodies, Christ shed His blood to give us immortal bodies.  Eve and her daughters preside over the door to mortality, Christ presides over the door to Eternal Life.

That's why motherly love is the closest thing to Christlike love that exists on the earth.  We love the things that we're willing to sacrifice the most for.  Sacrifice is a demonstration of love.  Eve sacrificed more than we may give her credit, and our mother's sacrificed more than we may give them credit.  And now that they brought us through the door to mortality, we have the choice to come to Christ to be joined with them throughout our immortality.  Because of Him, we can enjoy perfect, glorified bodies, united for eternity in the family of Adam and Eve.

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

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