Making the connection to Jesus, Part 2

I’ve just realized that the Adam and Eve story plays out in our lives over and over and over again. That is, the Garden of Eden, the Fall, and the Atonement.

When we’re children, we’re in our home Garden of Eden—taken care of, limited responsibilities, parents who can fix any problem. Gradually—or suddenly—we’re on our own facing things that are hard to face. That’s the Fall. And if we’ve been taught and we’ve paid attention and developed a little faith along the way, we pray and latch onto a heavenly power to see us through the trouble—be it a test that’s really important to us or a friend that’s hurt us or a big decision that needs to be made.

A mission has its own Garden of Eden in the MTC. The reality when you hit the mission field demands a strong tether to Him whose Work it is.

When we’re first married, we’re in a Garden of Eden state for a time. We’re so in love…but the Fall is inevitable. And when it comes, we have to rely on the Savior. We have to rely on His teachings and example of how to get along with other people in a peaceable manner. We have to rely on His Atonement for mercy and forgiveness and more enduring love for each other.

Before Freddie was born was a time of bliss (a Creation and Garden of Eden)—Britain and Andrew glowing with anticipation of this little guy in their family. The only way to face losing him was to know of the love of a Savior and the power of His Atonement to bind families beyond the grave.

But big or little…every time we face a loss, a disappointment, a change, a sin, a hurt, a challenge, we can know the teachings of a Savior and an Atonement and bless God and feel glad.

(Moses 5:10-11)
And in that day Adam blessed God and was filled, and began to prophesy concerning all the families of the earth, saying: Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy, and again in the flesh I shall see God.
And Eve, his wife, heard all these things and was glad, 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.

So, to fully arm our children for life, we could teach them about Gardens of Eden, Falls, and the power of Jesus Christ's Atonement to overcome all Falls. We could teach it over and over again.

Wow! Listen to what Adam and Eve did when they realized how great the Plan was:

(Moses 5:12)
And Adam and Eve blessed the name of God, and they made all things known unto their sons and their daughters.