“Because of My Transgression My Eyes Are Opened”

Teach and discuss Moses 4; 5:10–11; 6:48–49, 55–56.

In the Garden of Eden, God commanded Adam and Eve to “be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth” (Moses 2:28). He also commanded them not to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Moses 3:17). As long as they did not partake of the forbidden fruit, they would remain in the garden and would not die. But they also would not be able to obey the command to multiply (Moses 5:11; 2 Nephi 2:23). Heavenly Father gave them agency to choose between the two commands.

Briefly review the account of the Fall of Adam and Eve from Moses 4:6–31, or have an assigned class member do so.

• What were the results of the Fall for Adam and Eve—and for us? (See Moses 4:22–29; 5:10–11; 6:48–49, 55–56; 2 Nephi 2:22–23; 9:6; Genesis 3:16–23.) You may want to list some of these results on the chalkboard. Point out that many of these truths about the Fall have been restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith and are not generally known in the world.

  1. 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).

  2. We experience physical death, or separation of the physical body from the spirit (Moses 4:25; 6:48; 2 Nephi 9:6).

  3. We experience spiritual death, or separation from God’s presence (Moses 4:29; 6:49; 2 Nephi 9:6).

  4. We are partakers of misery and woe (Moses 6:48; Genesis 3:16–17).

  5. We are capable of sinning (Moses 6:49, 55; 2 Nephi 2:22–23).

  6. The ground is cursed, causing us to need to work (Moses 4:23–25; Genesis 3:17–19).

  7. We can learn to recognize good and evil (Moses 4:28; 6:55–56; 2 Nephi 2:23; Genesis 3:22).

  8. We can have joy in mortality (Moses 5:10; 2 Nephi 2:23, 25).

  9. We can know the joy of our redemption (Moses 5:11).

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

  As you discuss these results of the Fall, emphasize how the Fall is beneficial to us. Latter-day revelation clarifies that even before the Creation, Heavenly Father intended our earth life to be a time of testing and proving so we could become more like him (Abraham 3:24–26). This required that we be mortals, able to learn to choose between good and evil, which was made possible through the Fall.

• How can a correct understanding of the Fall help us during mortality?

• Why is it important to understand that God foresaw the Fall and that it was a necessary part of his plan for our salvation?

• Satan hoped that by getting Adam and Eve to partake of the forbidden fruit, he would frustrate God’s plan (Moses 4:6). What does the account of the Fall teach us about Satan’s ability to frustrate the purposes of God? (See D&C 3:1–2.)

Teach and discuss Moses 5:14–15; 6:50–54, 57–62.

The Fall of Adam and Eve brought physical and spiritual death into the world. Physical death is the separation of the body and the spirit that occurs at the end of our mortal lives. Spiritual death is the separation from the presence of God, which occurred when Adam and Eve were cast out of the garden. Explain that we cannot overcome death by ourselves. For that reason, Heavenly Father sent his Only Begotten Son to redeem us from death through his atoning sacrifice (Alma 22:14).

• When prophets teach about the Fall of Adam and Eve, they often also teach about the Atonement of Jesus Christ (Moses 5:10–15; 6:48–62; 2 Nephi 9:6–10). Why is it important to teach the Atonement along with the Fall? (The Fall made the Atonement necessary in God’s plan for our salvation. Teaching the Atonement along with the Fall helps us understand how we are redeemed from physical and spiritual death.)

  President Ezra Taft Benson said: “The plan of redemption must start with the account of the fall of Adam. In the words of Moroni, ‘By Adam came the fall of man. And because of the fall of man came Jesus Christ, … and because of Jesus Christ came the redemption of man’ (Mormon 9:12). Just as a man does not really desire food until he is hungry, so he does not desire the salvation of Christ until he knows why he needs Christ. No one adequately and properly knows why he needs Christ until he understands and accepts the doctrine of the Fall and its effect upon all mankind” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1987, 106; or Ensign, May 1987, 85).

• How are we saved from physical death? (See 1 Corinthians 15:20–22; 2 Nephi 2:8; 9:6. Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we will be resurrected.)

• How can we be saved from spiritual death? (See Moses 5:14–15; 6:50–52, 59; Helaman 14:15–18; D&C 19:15–19. Because of the Atonement, we can be made clean and worthy to dwell with God through faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and obedience to the commandments.)

The Book of Mormon prophet Jacob rejoiced in the redemption from death that comes through the Savior’s atoning sacrifice (2 Nephi 9:10). You may want to read this passage and share your testimony and some of your feelings about the blessings we receive through the Atonement. Invite class members to do the same.

Teach and discuss Moses 5:1–9, 12.

• What did Adam and Eve do after they were cast out of the Garden of Eden? (See Moses 5:1–5, 12.) In what ways were the lives of Adam and Eve like our lives today? What can we learn from Moses 5:1–9, 12 about the purposes of our mortal lives?

• Review the account in Moses 5:5–9, or have an assigned class member do so. What commandment did the Lord give to Adam? (See Moses 5:5.) Why did Adam offer sacrifices even though he did not know the reason for doing so? (See Moses 5:6.)

  The Prophet Joseph Smith said, “Whatever God requires is right, … although we may not see the reason thereof till long after the events transpire” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 256).

• Why is it important to obey the Lord’s commandments even when we do not understand all the reasons for them? How have you been blessed for keeping a commandment you did not completely understand?

• What was the purpose of the sacrifices that Adam offered? (See Moses 5:7–9. They were a similitude, or likeness, of the sacrifice that Heavenly Father would make of his Only Begotten Son. Offering such sacrifices was a reminder to Adam and his posterity that all mortals can be redeemed from the Fall through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.) What reminders of this doctrine have we been given? How can we show our gratitude for the Fall and the Atonement?