MORMON BELIEFS

We are each responsible for our own sins

Article of Faith #2 in the Mormon Church states that: "We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression."

When Adam and Eve were placed in the Garden of Eden, Heavenly Father gave them two commandments: 'to have children and to control the earth.'1 God told them they could eat of every tree in the garden except for one, which was the tree of knowledge of good and evil. But, He also told them that they 'could choose for themselves; but if they did eat of it, they would die.'1

Satan, who is our Heavenly Father's son, was cast out of His presence due to rebellion. After the two commandments were given to Adam and Eve, Satan tempted Adam and Eve into partaking of the forbidden fruit. Satan told Eve that if she ate of the fruit, she would not die, but she would know good and evil. Eve succumbed to Satan's temptation and ate the fruit. When Adam learned of what had happened, he chose to partake of the fruit as well. Because of this, changes came upon Adam and Eve, which is known as The Fall.

Before the Fall there would be no power to procreate, no knowledge of good and evil, no physical death or no spiritual death. After and because of the Fall, there would be power to procreate, knowledge of good and evil in a world of opposition, physical or spiritual death. 

The Prophet Joseph Smith said that, "Adam was made to open the ways of the world."2 Mormons believe that the main purpose of earth life is for Heavenly Father's children to prove themselves in 'doing all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them'.3 In order for each to prove themselves, there must be a choice between good and evil, wickedness from righteousness, and happiness from misery. Because of the partaking of the forbidden fruit, the world of opposites was opened and every person that gains a mortal body will be able to have their own experiences in which to know, and learn, good from evil.

At the time of the Fall, physical death was introduced into the world. All people and forms of life that live on the earth must suffer a physical or temporal death. This is the separation of body and spirit.

The Garden of Eden was a place where Adam and Eve were able to walk and talk with God. By partaking of the fruit, Adam and Eve were subject to the temptations of Satan and consequently were cast out of Heavenly Father's presence. In the Mormon Church this is referred to as 'spiritual death'. Latter-day Prophet Joseph F. Smith explained this spiritual death: "When Adam, our first parent, partook of the forbidden fruit, transgressed the law of God, and became subject unto Satan, he was banished from the presence of God, and was thrust out into outer spiritual darkness. This was the first death. Yet living [physically], he was dead – dead to God, dead to light and truth, dead spiritually; cast out from the presence of God; communication between the Father and the Son was cut off. He was as absolutely thrust out from the presence of God as was Satan and the hosts that followed him. That was spiritual death."

Many believe that Adam and Eve were wicked people. But, with the understanding of the Fall, we would not exist in our mortal state and we would have no need for a Savior and His Atonement. The fall of man is a blessing to all that gain bodies and reside on this earth. We are able to fulfill the plan of our Heavenly Father's, in working and progressing towards eternal life.

For more information about the Mormon Church and their beliefs, please see the following websites:

Mormon Church

Basic Beliefs