Monday, August 23, 2021

Adam and Eve in the scriptures, part 3

This is the final post in a series about references to Adam and Eve in the scriptures. Part 1 offered a numerical overview. Part 2 looked qualitatively at references to Adam and Eve in the Bible and the Doctrine & Covenants. This final part will first look at references to Adam and Eve in the Book of Moses and Book of Abraham, and then we'll conclude with a look at the Book of Mormon.


Book of Moses

Moses 1:34 -- The first man of all men is called Adam.

Moses 3:19-23 -- Adam named all living things; Eve was created from one of Adam's ribs.

Moses 4:6-31 -- Satan beguiles Adam and Eve; the ground is cursed for their sake; they are clothed with coats of skins; they are driven out.

Moses 5 -- Adam and Eve obey the law of sacrifice and are taught by angels. Cain slays Abel and secret combinations are formed.

Moses 6 -- Adam and Eve hearken unto the voice of the Lord and repent. They teach their children the Gospel. Adam is baptized.

Moses 7:1 -- 

And it came to pass that Enoch continued his speech, saying: Behold, our father Adam taught these things, and many have believed and become the sons of God, and many have believed not, and have perished in their sins, and are looking forth with fear, in torment, for the fiery indignation of the wrath of God to be poured out upon them.




Book of Abraham

Abraham 1:3, 26 -- The priesthood came to Abraham through Adam.

Abraham (Facsimile 2) -- Key-words of the Holy Priesthood were given to Adam in the Garden of Eden.

Abraham 5:13-21 -- Creation account.



Book of Mormon


Doctrinal topics found in connection with references to "Adam" or "Eve" or "first parents" abound in the Book of Mormon. It's impressive to see how often and how deeply the doctrine connects.  There is also a conspicuous amount of overlap with doctrinal concepts in the Book of Moses.


2 Nephi 2:15-26 (Lehi)

  • God created all things “to bring about his eternal purposes in the end of man” including opposition in all things. 

  • Satan seeks our misery.

  • In mortality mankind is given the opportunity to repent.

  • Men are that they might have joy.

  • Christ came to redeem mankind.


2 Nephi 9:9,21 (Jacob)

  • Satan seeks our misery.

  • Satan beguiled our first parents.

  • He “transformeth himself nigh unto an angel of light”

  • Christ suffered the pains of all mankind.



Jacob 4:3-5 (Jacob)

  • “All the holy prophets” had a hope of Christ’s glory.




Mosiah 3:11-26; 4:7 (King Benjamin -- quoting an angel in ch. 3)

  • The natural man in each of us can be “put off” through:

    • The Atonement of Jesus Christ

    • Yielding to the enticings of the Holy Spirit

    • Becoming submissive meek, and humble

  • The atonement was prepared “from the foundation of the world for all mankind who ever were, are, or will be.




Mosiah 16:3 (Abinadi)

  • Satan beguiled Adam and Eve and caused their fall


Alma 12:21-26 (Alma-2)

  • Death came about by the fall.

  • Space was granted unto man to repent

  • The purpose of life is to prepare to meet God and prepare for the endless state that comes after the resurrection.



Alma 42:2-7 (Alma-2)

  • Becoming cut off from God’s presence allowed mankind to “[become] subjects to follow their own will”




Helaman 14:16-18 (Samuel the Lamanite)

  • Adam’s fall cut us off from the presence of the Lord.

  • Christ brought about the resurrection and conditions of repentance to bring us “back into the presence of the Lord”


Mormon 3:20 (Mormon)

  • Every soul must stand before the the judgment seat of Christ to be judged



Mormon 9:11-14 (Moroni)
  • The fall came by Adam, the redemption of Adam came by Christ


Ether 8:25 (Moroni)

  • Satan beguiled our first parents.


Moroni 8:8 (Mormon -- quoting the word of the Lord)

  • The curse of Adam is taken from little children through Christ.




Moroni 10:3 (Moroni)

  • God was merciful to Adam


Conclusion


I can't help but marvel at the amount of deep yellow in that Book of Mormon list.  There is a tight connection between references to deep gospel doctrine and Adam and Eve.  This is essentially absent from the Old Testament.  Why? Was it because the temple doctrines once had by ancient Israelites ended up suppressed and stripped away?  Was this doctrinal tradition preserved on the brass plates?