The plan of salvation, or code of laws, which is known as the gospel of Jesus Christ, was adopted in the heavens, before the foundation of the world was laid. It was appointed there that Adam our father should come to this earth and stand at the head of the whole human family. It was a part of this great plan, that he should partake of the forbidden fruit and fall, thus bringing suffering and death into the world, even for the ultimate good of his children. By many he has been severely criticized because of his fall, but Latter-day Saints, through modern revelation, have learned that such was necessary in order that man should have his agency and, through the various vicissitudes he has to pass, receive a knowledge of both good and evil, without which it would be impossible for him to gain the exaltation prepared for him.

It was also necessary because of Adam's transgression for the only Begotten Son of the father to come to redeem the world from Adam's fall. This was also part of the plan chosen before the earth was made, for Jesus is called the Lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world. He came and redeemed us from the fall—even all the inhabitants of the earth. Not only did he redeem us from Adam's transgression, but he also redeemed us from our sins, on condition that we obey the laws and ordinances of the gospel. "And Adam and Eve blessed the name of God, and they made all things knwon to their sons and daughters."

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These principles [baptism, repentance, and sacrifice] were taught to Adam after he was driven from the Garden of Eden, who repented and was baptized in water for the remission of sins, and received the Holy Ghost. And Eve, when she heard the gospel plan, rejoiced, saying: Were it not for our transgression, we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient.