The Prophet Joseph Smith declared the Garden of Eden was near a place in Missouri he called “Adam-ondi-Ahman.” It is located in central upper Missouri. I’ve been there. It’s a pretty place. According to another blog post I’ve read, once long ago, the upper Midwest was more lush and verdant than it is now. It could’ve been this idyllic region described in the scriptures. I’m certain Eden was as much a state of mind as a finite location. The post is lengthy, so I’ll just leave a link here. It deals mostly with Noah’s flood, but it hints at Eden’s location. The author makes some valid points.
My final thoughts on the creation have to do with Adam and Eve. I’ve been going to the temple quite a bit lately and I’m fascinated by what isn’t said in the session that bears on what happens. I can’t help but wonder what the actual events surrounding the fall were. In the session, Adam and Eve’s dialog is heavily edited to touch on just the important elements being taught. I’m inclined to think the actual dialog went something like this…
Eve: We’ve been here so long. Day after day after day, it’s the same thing. Wake up. Eat fruit. Walk around the garden. Say, “hi” to Adam while he does whatever he does. Eat lunch. More of the same. Eat dinner. More of the same. Sun sets. Sleep under the stars. Alone. Again. Do it all again the next day. And the next. And the next. And… well, you get my point. Surely there’s more to life than this? If this is what it’s going to be forever I’ll die of boredom. Wait, I can’t.
Eve gives a guttural scream.
Time passes.
After getting no where with Adam, along comes Satan’s representative, the snake. He saved Eve for last because he wanted her “well cooked” with frustration before he made the pitch.
Snake: Tired of this are you?
Eve: Yes!!
Snake: Want to see what else life can offer?
Eve: Absolutely!!
Snake: Well, there’s a way you can experience a lot more than you can wandering around this place forever.
Eve: Really? I’d love to know.
Snake: See that tree over there?
Eve: The one Father said not to eat?
Snake: The very one. Eat its fruit.
Eve: But Father said not to.
Snake: What did he really say? Didn’t he say it was up to you?
Eve: Yes, but…
Snake: Well, do you want to do more than this or don’t you?
Eve: I do, but by eating the fruit?
Snake: There’s no other way.
Eve: How do you know?
Snake: Trust me, there isn’t. Besides, God said it’s your choice. So what are you going to do?
I suspect, Eve thought about that and kicked the idea around a LONG time. She didn’t talk it over with Adam, because he was off doing his thing in the Garden. He was content with the status quo. She wasn’t.
Finally…
Eve: Okay. I’ll try it. Just a bite.
Snake: You’re going to like it. It will open your eyes to a lot of new things.
Eve bites the fruit. She finds out it really tastes good and eats the whole thing. Then she feels the changes. She experiences a new emotion: fear of the consequences of disobeying God. It gnaws at her.
Eve: Snake… I don’t feel so good about this any more.
Snake: It’s too late. You ate it.
Eve: But I don’t like the changes.
Snake: I did tell you, you’d learn new things. The change is part of it.
Eve: Can I go back?
Snake: You want to go back? Besides the other fruit is nasty tasting.
Eve: :You’re right. And I don’t.
Snake: You do know you’re going to be kicked out of the Garden now, right?
Eve: I am? You didn’t mention that.
Snake: Heh… I am a snake. Not only that, you’re going to be all alone out there. When God finds out, it won’t go well for you.
Eve: Why didn’t you tell me this?
She begins to cry.
Snake: Why should I tell you what you already know? Don’t blame me. You’re the one who forgot the obvious.
Eve: But I’ll be cast out now.
Snake: Tough luck kid.
Eve: I’ll be alone.
Snake: There is a way you won’t be.
Eve: How?
Snake: You gotta convince Adam to eat the fruit too. Get him cast out with you.
Eve: But he won’t do it.
Snake: You don’t have a choice. If you don’t convince him, you better learn to like being alone.
Eve: I don’t like you snake.
Snake: Boo hoo. I’m all broke up. You wanted this. Don’t blame me for your problems. Good luck out there by the way. I hear it’s dark and cold too.
Eve: I really don’t like you, Snake.
She throws a rock in frustrated anger at the snake.
Snake: You know. I go out of my way to help you gain more experience and you dump on me. I’m out.
He slithers away. She throws another rock at him.
Eve: Oh, what do I do? I've made such a mess of things!
She cries a lot. Finally…
Eve: Adam.
Adam: Hi Eve. Hey, you look different. More… I don’t know. Different though. You’ve changed. What happened?
Eve: I ate some of the fruit of that tree.
Adam: That tree!!? Why? The one God said not to eat? That one?
Eve: Yes. Yes. Yes! That one. It tastes amazing by the way. Would you like to try it?
Adam: No. God said not to.
Eve: Are you going to do everything God told you?
Adam: Of course!
Eve: How?
Adam: What do you mean?
Eve: I’ve eaten the fruit. I’ve changed. I’m going to be cast out by Father. Even if I stay, I’ll die here and you’ll be alone by your self. It takes the two of us to replenish the Earth, Adam. How will you do that alone?
Adam: But the other commandments?
Eve: How are you going to do it? You can’t by yourself.
Adam: I can’t?
Eve shakes her head.
Eve: You’ll be all alone. Is that what you want? Is that what God really wants?
Adam: I see what you mean, I can’t keep them all without you. But maybe there’s a way around this if I just eat the fruit and then stay with you.
Eve smiles. It causes all kinds of emotions in Adam he hadn’t expected. She takes his hands in hers.
Eve: I’ll be here with you. I’ll help you. It really does taste good. And we’ll be together wherever God sends us.
Enchanted by her charm, Adam resigns to the argument.
Adam: Okay. I’ll eat it.
He does.
The beauty of this whole episode is God knew it was going to happen before it did and He’d made plans for it. For what it’s worth, I don’t see Eve as evil. She was frustrated with the status quo and wanted something more while Adam was content with it. Not knowing the full ramifications of eating the fruit, she ate it. The fear of being alone and Satan’s urging motivated her to persuade Adam to join her. She knew fear was something Adam wouldn’t comprehend, so she used his commitment to obedience against him. He bought the argument, for which we should all be grateful. To use the cliche, the rest is history.
Final word: All this, the whole series, is speculation on my part. For me, the science and the dogma taught in the Bible and by living prophets fit together as I’ve written. I look forward to the day I won’t see through glass darkly and remember it all. In the mean time, I’m determined to take advantage of the Atonement and become the best I can be.. To be what God intended for me through this experience we call “Mortality.” Join me.
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