The Fall & the Atonement Lessons from the OT Moses 4 The Fall & the Atonement

Mark your Reading 1 Manna strip/chapter If you’ve been reading along with class, these are the chapters we’ve covered

The Essential Elements of Father’s Plan Yesterday we discussed the Essential Element of the Creation. Today we are going to focus on the other 2 Elements - the Fall & the Atonement and to start us off, Elder Holland - last April General Conference - explained how they are interrelated The Creation The Fall The Atonement These three events are the essential elements of God’s plan, and they are doctrinally interrelated

I express my gratitude for the Atonement and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and acknowledge events in the divine plan of God that led up to and give meaning to “the love Jesus offers us. In our increasingly secular society, it is as uncommon as it is unfashionable to speak of Adam and Eve or the Garden of Eden or of a “fortunate fall” into mortality. Nevertheless, the simple truth is that we cannot fully comprehend the Atonement and Resurrection of Christ and we will not adequately appreciate the unique purpose of His birth or His death—in other words, there is no way to truly celebrate Christmas or Easter—without understanding that there was an actual Adam and Eve who fell from an actual Eden, with all the consequences that fall carried with it. Where Justice, Love & Mercy Meet, Elder Holland, April 2015 Gen Conf.

There is no way to truly celebrate Christmas or Easter without understanding that …we cannot fully comprehend the Atonement and Resurrection of Christ and we will not adequately appreciate the unique purpose of His birth or His death—in other words, there is no way to truly celebrate Christmas or Easter—without understanding that there was an actual Adam and Eve who fell from an actual Eden, with all the consequences that fall carried with it. Where Justice, Love & Mercy Meet, Elder Holland, April 2015 Gen Conf. there was an actual Adam & Eve who fell from an actual Eden, with all they consequences that fall carried with it.

Freedom is not Free What does this phrase mean? WHY isn’t freedom free? What are examples of the COST of Freedom? “Freedom is not free” * What do you think that phrase means? * Why isn’t freedom free? * What does the term “free” mean as used in that statement? (Without cost.) What are examples of the cost of freedom.

“free agency” does not appear in scripture.” “The phrase “free agency” does not appear in scripture.” Elder Boyd K. Packer: “The phrase ‘ free agency’ does not appear in scripture. The only agency spoken of there is moral agency, ‘which,’ the Lord said, ‘I have given unto him, that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment’ ( D&C 101:78)” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1992, 92; or Ensign , May 1992, 67 Boyd K. Packer, Gen Conf. Apr 1992 The only agency spoken of there is moral agency, “which,” the Lord said, “I have given unto him, that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment” ( D&C 101:78)”

WHY do you think the scriptures never say that agency is “free”? read 2 Nephi 2:27 2 Nephi 2:27

While the gift of agency gives us the freedom to choose, we will be held accountable for each choice we make. We cannot make choices and also be free from the responsibility and consequences of those choices (unless we are not accountable because of age or mental capacity.)

The Lord ensured that Adam & Eve had Agency 2 Ne 2:15-16 Genesis 2 and Moses 3 tell how the Lord ensured that Adam and Eve would have agency. read Moses 3:9, 15–17 and find what God said to Adam about partaking of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Read 2 Nephi 2:15–16 What does this scripture teach us about agency and the fall? Moses 3:9, 15-17

To Partake or Not Partake 2 Ne 2:22-23 What if they hadn’t partaken? 2 Ne 2:24-29 What did this mean for us? * Why was it necessary for Adam and Eve to have a choice? * Read 2 Nephi 2:22–23 . What would have happened if Adam and Eve had not partaken of the forbidden fruit? * Read 2 Nephi 2:24–29 . What difference did their choice to partake of the fruit make for us? Why was it necessary to have a choice?

Choices To illustrate what Adam and Eve’s choice meant for us, imagine you are inside this border with a big bowl of M&Ms - But there is also a beautiful decadent chocolate cake nearby as well. “You may eat as much as you want from the bowl of M&Ms as long as you stay inside the boundary line. You can only eat the piece of chocolate cake outside the line, but once you cross the line, you cannot reenter. But if you take the special chocolate cake back to your seat to eat, the entire class will also get to have a piece of the same cake.” Review the situation: The student can stay within the limited area and eat as much as desired from the bowl of M&Ms, or the student can take the piece of cake, leave the area, and earn a reward for the entire class. * In what ways is agency present in this situation? * How does this situation compare to Adam and Eve’s? & Agency

Watch video segment From minute 4:11 to min 8:11 4:36 min segment https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1993/10/the-great-plan-of-happiness?lang=eng 4:36 min segment https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1993/10/the-great-plan-of-happiness?lang=eng

Before the Fall 2 Ne 2:22 Alma 32:21 2 Ne 23 Moses 2:8-9 Read each scripture and note the conditions which were present before the fall.

Before the Fall No physical death; Adam and Eve would have lived forever No spiritual death; they lived in God’s presence… faith was not required No progression toward godhood possible because of limited agency They could not have children They were innocent, knowing neither good nor evil, joy nor misery They lived in a paradise where everything was provided without effort Before the Fall 1. No physical death; Adam and Eve would have lived forever 2. No spiritual death; they lived in God’s presence—faith was not required 3. No progression toward godhood possible because of limited agency 4. They could not have children 5. They were innocent, knowing neither good nor evil, joy nor misery 6. They lived in a paradise where everything was provided without effort

After the Fall 2 Ne 9:6 D&C 29:40-42 Moses 5:11 Moses 4:23-25 although the Fall seemed to be a step down, it was an essential step forward After the Fall Read each scripture and note the conditions which were present before the fall.

Not a step down, but a step forward All things became mortal and could die physically Adam and Eve were cast out of God’s presence and became spiritually dead Eternal progression according to Heavenly Father’s plan became possible They could have children They knew good and evil and could experience joy and misery The earth also fell, so we must work for what we need although the Fall seemed to be a step down, it was an essential step forward After the Fall 1. All things became mortal and could die physically (see 2 Nephi 9:6 ). 2. Adam and Eve were cast out of God’s presence and became spiritually dead (see D&C 29:40–42 ). 3. Eternal progression according to Heavenly Father’s plan became possible (see Moses 5:11 ). 4. They could have children (see Moses 4:22 ; 5:11 ). 5. They knew good and evil and could experience joy and misery (see Moses 5:11 ). 6. The earth also fell, so we must work for what we need (see Moses 4:23–25 ).

What is Spiritual Death? Currently, we are all in the state of spiritual death. We are separated from God. He dwells in heaven; we live on earth. We would like to return to Him Elder Earl C. Tingey of the Seventy: “Currently, we are all in the state of spiritual death. We are separated from God. He dwells in heaven; we live on earth. We would like to return to Him” (“The Great Plan of Happiness,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2006, 73). Elder Earl C. Tingey of the Seventy Ensign, May 2006

Consequences of the Fall ways they have personally experienced the consequences of the Fall. To help them begin, you might suggest they describe the death of a loved one, dealing with sickness, or how it feels to be separated from their Father in Heaven. And we all have to deal with Satan and his methods tricks How did Satan convince Eve to partake of the Fruit? So are we all stuck? Did God set Adam & Eve and us up to fail? How can we resist Satan & his methods? We have all experienced the effects of the Fall

Agency, Mercy & Grace It is all about Agency, Mercy & Grace Agency is central to the Father’s plan. We needed the ability to choose Adam & Eve, in exercising their agency, acted in our behalf in bringing about the Fall, making mortality possible “that men might be” ( 2 Nephi 2:25 ); And God bestowed upon us His Grace & Mercy so we would be able to return to Him again. So Jesus used His agency & acted in our behalf and brought about the Atonement, making resurrection and forgiveness possible (see 1 Corinthians 15:22 Our Father never set Adam and Eve - or us - up to fail. His whole plan and the whole point was to enable us to choose to follow him and choose to return and to provide us a way to do just that Enable us to choose to follow and choose to return & provide us a way to do just that!

With prophets ancient and modern, I testify that “all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things.” Thus, from the moment those first parents stepped out of the Garden of Eden, the God and Father of us all, anticipating Adam and Eve’s decision, dispatched the very angels of heaven to declare to them—and down through time to us—that this entire sequence was designed for our eternal happiness. Where Justice, Love & Mercy Meet, Elder Holland, April 2015 Gen Conf. 2:04 segment With prophets ancient and modern, I testify that “all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things.” Thus, from the moment those first parents stepped out of the Garden of Eden, the God and Father of us all, anticipating Adam and Eve’s decision, dispatched the very angels of heaven to declare to them—and down through time to us—that this entire sequence was designed for our eternal happiness. It was part of His divine plan, which provided for a Savior, the very Son of God Himself—another “Adam,” the Apostle Paul would call Him5—who would come in the meridian of time to atone for the first Adam’s transgression. That Atonement would achieve complete victory over physical death, unconditionally granting resurrection to every person who has been born or ever will be born into this world. Mercifully it would also provide forgiveness for the personal sins of all, from Adam to the end of the world, conditioned upon repentance and obedience to divine commandments. As one of His ordained witnesses, I declare this Easter morning that Jesus of Nazareth was and is that Savior of the world, the “last Adam,”6 the Author and Finisher of our faith, the Alpha and Omega of eternal life. “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive,”7

It was part of His divine plan, which provided for a Savior, the very Son of God Himself—another “Adam,” the Apostle Paul would call Him—who would come in the meridian of time to atone for the first Adam’s transgression. That Atonement would achieve complete victory over physical death, unconditionally granting resurrection to every person who has been born or ever will be born into this world. Where Justice, Love & Mercy Meet, Elder Holland, April 2015 Gen Conf. 2:04 segment With prophets ancient and modern, I testify that “all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things.” Thus, from the moment those first parents stepped out of the Garden of Eden, the God and Father of us all, anticipating Adam and Eve’s decision, dispatched the very angels of heaven to declare to them—and down through time to us—that this entire sequence was designed for our eternal happiness. It was part of His divine plan, which provided for a Savior, the very Son of God Himself—another “Adam,” the Apostle Paul would call Him5—who would come in the meridian of time to atone for the first Adam’s transgression. That Atonement would achieve complete victory over physical death, unconditionally granting resurrection to every person who has been born or ever will be born into this world. Mercifully it would also provide forgiveness for the personal sins of all, from Adam to the end of the world, conditioned upon repentance and obedience to divine commandments. As one of His ordained witnesses, I declare this Easter morning that Jesus of Nazareth was and is that Savior of the world, the “last Adam,”6 the Author and Finisher of our faith, the Alpha and Omega of eternal life. “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive,”7

Mercifully it would also provide forgiveness for the personal sins of all, from Adam to the end of the world, conditioned upon repentance and obedience to divine commandments. As one of His ordained witnesses, I declare this Easter morning that Jesus of Nazareth was and is that Savior of the world, the “last Adam,” the Author and Finisher of our faith, the Alpha and Omega of eternal life. “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive,” Where Justice, Love & Mercy Meet, Elder Holland, April 2015 Gen Conf. 2:04 segment With prophets ancient and modern, I testify that “all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things.” Thus, from the moment those first parents stepped out of the Garden of Eden, the God and Father of us all, anticipating Adam and Eve’s decision, dispatched the very angels of heaven to declare to them—and down through time to us—that this entire sequence was designed for our eternal happiness. It was part of His divine plan, which provided for a Savior, the very Son of God Himself—another “Adam,” the Apostle Paul would call Him5—who would come in the meridian of time to atone for the first Adam’s transgression. That Atonement would achieve complete victory over physical death, unconditionally granting resurrection to every person who has been born or ever will be born into this world. Mercifully it would also provide forgiveness for the personal sins of all, from Adam to the end of the world, conditioned upon repentance and obedience to divine commandments. As one of His ordained witnesses, I declare this Easter morning that Jesus of Nazareth was and is that Savior of the world, the “last Adam,”6 the Author and Finisher of our faith, the Alpha and Omega of eternal life. “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive,”7

Given the price paid for your agency, how are you using it?