After Eve had partaken of the fruit, let us see what happened. James tells us, and so do the revelations of the Doctrine and Covenants, that Eve was deceived, but Adam, intelligently, knowingly, understanding the consequences, with his eyes wide open, realizing that if he did not partake of that fruit Eve would go down to her death, she would be separated form him forever, they never could fulfill the command “Multiply and replenish the earth and subdue it,” and she never could have her body again. He realized that, and he, with his eyes wide open, partook of the fruit of the tree, and by partaking of the fruit of that tree, there were elements in that fruit that in some way at least brought about the seeds of death to that body of Adam. Spirits cannot die. Then what was it that died in Adam? I believe it was that fruit that changed and modified Adam’s resurrected body, and again made it subject to death. Is that clear? At least, I want you to get my idea.

I said a little while ago that Adam was an immortal, glorified, resurrected being, and that part of the body picked up on an earth, resurrected, the fundamental part of it now became subject to the effects of this tree that modified his body. I prefer to have you believe Adam was a law keeper; but he really did break a law. I want to make myself clear as I go along, and ma I say the church does not teach this as doctrine. Many of the authorities do. Others teach that a body was prepared, in some way for Adam and Eve.

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It is evident, not only from this passage, but from the records on this subject, that if Adam and Eve had been obedient, they could not rise under their present condition. It is evident that without a knowledge of good and evil man would be incapable of exercising free agency, and therefore not capable of independent action; that the children of Adam have no right to bring accusation against the patriarch of the race, and this is the thing I think we should dwell on among our boys and girls, that through the fall and the atonement of Jesus Christ the way of eternal life is opened to us. It is after the angel had administered to Adam, and made known to him the atonement that he and Eve gave expression to their joy in view of the glorious future of the race.

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Adam fell that man might be, and man is that he might have joy.

Christ redeemed Adam from the physical and spiritual death.

Adam opened the way for the pre-existent spirits to take upon them earth bodies. Christ opened the way for the redemption of mankind and the glory of eternal life.

Adam is the father of our bodies; Christ becomes the adopted father and the redeemer of all men. Through the fall Adam opened the way for mortality to man, to plant and animal life, and the death of the earth. Through the atonement Christ opened the way for immortality, for glory and for eternal life. Christ was before Adam, is greater than Adam, redeemed Adam. We do not worship Adam, but we honor him as the first great patriarch for our race. Adam transgressed one law of an immortal world, while Christ never broke a law. Adam was called Michael in the spirit world; Christ, Jehovah. Adam opened the way for eternal death while Christ opened the way for eternal life.

In closing, may I say, one the greatest blessings that ever came to mortal man was the Fall of Adam.