The Fall and the Enmity

I love teaching about the Fall. I love watching students’ eyes brighten with those “Aha!” moments as they understand the subtilties of the events.

Usually I have them explain the Fall to me, in their words, with their understanding. Without exception, everyone says something derogatory about Eve. “It was her fault,” “She was stupid,” and the list goes.

So I generally start by pointing out that Eve stood along side her husband, Adam, in greatness both on earth and in the pre-existence. God didn’t yoke a nag to a Thoroughbred to start mankind. He brought out the best He had and placed them on earth, together.

“Without question she was like unto her mighty husband, Adam, in intelligence and in devotion to righteousness, during both her first and second estates of existence.” (Bruce R. McConkie)

So, what happened?

The serpent appeared and ‘beguiled’ her. That means he used ‘artful deception’ to trick her. The term, artful deception is just perfect for what he did.

The scriptures tell us the serpent was more “subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made.” Today we look at subtle as being sly or crafty. However, the word comes from the Hebrew word ‘arum’ which also means prudent or wise. In other terms, the serpent was wise, smarter than all the other animals. And with intelligence comes respect. He was also highly respected.

Did we forget that the serpent has long been a symbol of healing and divine power? For that reason a serpent is found on our medical logo. The ancient Americans carved serpents into their temples to represent their God; and, in similitude of Christ, Moses lifted up a brass serpent to heal the children of Israel. So, it was not a mistake that Satan chose to involve the serpent in his plan.

When this wise, respected animal who symbolized healing and divine power, approached Eve, of course she paid attention. It wasn’t just that he was talking to her. It was everything about him and what he represented. He commanded respect and attention so, when he told Eve she wouldn’t die but “shall be as gods,” it made sense to her. Gods don’t die. If she became like the Gods how could she possibility die?

Thus, with artful deceit, Satan was able to beguile Eve and she eventually partook of the fruit. (The Book of Moses said the tree 'became' pleasant to the eye. That which we look at or dwell on eventually becomes enticing to us.)

Then, as the reality of her choice became evident to her, as she saw what would happen to her and her marriage because of her choice, Eve went to Adam.

The first and greater commandment given to Adam and Eve was to multiply and replenish the earth (Gen 1:28) “Adam had not yet fallen to the state of mortality, but Eve already had; and in such dissimilar conditions the two could not remain together…Adam deliberately and wisely decided to stand by the first and greater commandment.”

Marriage and family are worth every sacrifice! Eve knew that and went to Adam with her problem. Adam knew that and volunteered to endure the pain of the world beside her. They chose to stay together. For me, that is one of the most most powerful decisions made in the Garden of Eden.

Yet, after their epic decision to remain together, something changed inside of them. We know they didn't become mortal right away because the Lord chose not to allow them to die "as to the temporal death, until I, the Lord God, should send forth angels to declare unto them repentance and redemption through faith on the name of mine Only Begotten Son." (D&C 29:42)

The change, then, was something else.

They started worrying about other lesser things…like clothing.

Nowhere in the scriptures did the Lord tell them they would get in trouble for being naked or wearing leaves, but they got so caught up in these lesser worldly concerns that they hid from God when He came calling.

Worldly choices do that to us. We can get so involved in them we hide from Him, we don’t accept His calls, and we don’t show up at church.

But God found them anyway. (You can’t hide from God.) And He asked them to explain their situation. Then He listened.

Of course, Adam spoke first and said, “The woman thou gavest me, and commandest that she should remain with me, she gave me of the fruit of the tree and I did eat.” (Moses 4:18)

Is he blaming her or merely stating fact? He’s stating fact. I know, because he also clearly states 'and I did eat.’. He is forthright in what he did.

Eve is then questioned and she answers the same way--with honest fact. “The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.” (Moses 4:19)

So God follows up by calling forward the serpent. Scriptures don’t record what the serpent said but they do tell us that God punished the original instigator first. (Parents would do well to follow this pattern when dealing with their children.)

From being the wisest and most respected of all creatures, the serpent was the first to fall…and he fell hard—to his belly, to live in and eat the dust “all the days of thy life,” cursed and hated above all other animals.

Then, God said something very interesting to the serpent. “I will put enmity between thee and the woman, between thy seed and her seed; and he shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”

God promised to protect Eve and her children because she was worth protecting!

Today, we think of enmity has hatred and hostility. It comes from the Hebrew word 'eyah' which also means an active defense, especially in reference to times of war. An apt description.

In order to protect Eve from further attacks by Satan, God vowed to put a defense between Satan and the woman, between the followers of Satan and the children of man. In that verse He promised all of us protection from Satan. This protective defense would have power to bruise the head of the serpent--Satan, himself.

Scholars all say this enmity, this powerful defense that would protect Eve and her children, was Christ—and they are right. Christ held this pre-eminent position of Protector and Savior by virtue of the power he received from his Father. The Priesthood power.

The priesthood is that enmity, that wall of defense that God promised to erect between Satan and the children of men.

And this is what I love to point out...that 'Aha' moment....

Every man who holds the priesthood is part of this line of defense that was promised to the world in the Garden of Eden. And I firmly believe those men who hold the priesthood stepped forward in the Pre-existence and, in a small way similar to the Savior, said “here I am, send me. I will be part of that defense. Put me on the very front lines. I will stand between my wife and children, between all the children of men and the buffetings of Satan. I will hold that line strong.”
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Priesthood blessings

My son did something today I didn’t do until I was much older. He asked an older man, who is not a member of our church, if he would like his son, Brian, to receive a priesthood blessing. The man said yes.

We believe that worthy men can be called and ordained to the receive the priesthood. Christ had the priesthood. He was a high priest in the Melchezidek priesthood. (See Hebrews 5.) He gave this authority to his disciples. That priesthood authority is the power of God to officiate in His name and enact the ordinances of salvation. Another function of the priesthood is to give blessings to the sick, downtrodden and seeking.

A year and a half ago, Brian played on the same football team as two of my sons. One son, in particular, formed a close friendship with Brian. Together they worked to improve as football players year-round. They also went snowmobiling in the winter, floated the creek in the summer, and played video games often. Brian spent a lot of time at our house. He was always polite and fun. When I opened the door and saw him standing on our back step I always had to return his smile. He brightened everything with his fun, quiet nature.

After graduation, Brian received a scholarship to play football at college. He came to our house when he could but we didn’t see him as much as before. I missed him. I also worried about him. So did my son.

We knew Brian had begun drinking. He told my son several times he liked hanging out at our house and around his LDS friends because he didn’t feel he needed to drink to have fun. It was a different kind of fun. It was clean fun. He didn’t have to worry about what he did.

We asked Brian if he wanted to learn more about what we believed. He said, ‘definitely’ but we were slow in our follow-through and one lonely night Brian was involved in a drunk-driving accident. The accident left him in a coma for a month and now he is permanently brain-injured.

Recently, while visiting Brian, my son explained priesthood blessings to Brian’s father. He then asked his father if he would like Brian to receive a priesthood blessing. The man said yes. My son called, excited that we could help Brian and his family in a way no doctor or therapist could.

The call touched my heart. It took courage for my son, who is still in high school, to ask an adult such a question and explain priesthood blessings to him. It also took faith. How grateful I am that my son has faith in the power of the priesthood—faith enough to know that it can bless the lives of others--and faith enough in its importance to share that knowledge with a non-member.

I also feel very strongly the blessing won’t just bless Brian. It will bless my son and all those people who deeply love Brian, both on this side of the veil and the other. Furthermore, I strongly feel that there are those on the other side of the veil who have prayed that someone would offer to give their beloved Brian a priesthood blessing.

Priesthood blessings always touch more lives than one. And that is so appropriate, because Brian has also touched many more lives than one.

A Father's blessing

I watched a father give a blessing to his baby today. It was very touching, in part, because three years ago the father was not a member; and he and his wife could not have children. He is now sealed to his wife in the temple and last month his wife gave birth to a healthy boy. The change I have seen in his life and the life of his family has been amazing and touching.

So today he--a special man in his own right--took that miracle infant in his arms and, as a new member and a new father, gave his precious son a name and a blessing.

In our church we do not baptize infants. We wait until they know the difference between right and wrong and can choose to follow the Savior. Usually young members choose to be baptized by immersion about the age of eight years old. However, when they are infants their full name is officially recorded and they are given a special a blessing in front of the congregation.

As this father, surrounded by family and close friends, held his infant in his arms and gave him a blessing I was also touched by this fact: We are the only church I know of that allows fathers the opportunity--and the eternal priesthood authority--to officiate in key spiritual ordinances during the life of their family members. What a wonderful, bonding blessing for the recipients and the givers. This opportunity and right falls to the fathers.

God does not expect or require paper diplomas, certificates or theological training to do His work. He doesn’t require status, wealth or education. Through the restoration of the priesthood God has given true authority to worthy fathers, worldwide, to bless the lives of their families. Why? Because He wants us, imperfect as we are, to experience a portion of the love for our children that He holds for us. He wants us to feel a small piece of what He feels. All things are in similitude of Him.

Therefore, in our church, fathers holding the priesthood are able to bless their infants. That sacred, special ordinance and bonding moment can belong to them. It is their privilege and their cherished memory forever. These special moments help unite the family forever and for right now.

If their children desire to be baptized unto the remission of sins and a new life following the Savior, again a family member holding the priesthood can take them down into the waters of baptism. How special!

The gift of the Holy Ghost can also be bestowed upon them by a family member. Blessings of comfort, guidance or healing can be given to them, all by those who love them and know them best.

It is the perfect way in an imperfect world. After all, who holds more right to preside over the lives of their family than a loving, righteous father?

Our Father in Heaven knows that perfectly.