The Testimony of Adam and Eve

[Anonymous]

In my response to the topic “The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil” I wrote that Eve was probably the more capable one of understanding that we could not know good, or have joy without knowing the Evil (well not in these exact words but this is the picture). This I think we can glean from her testimony in the Book of Moses, after all it is there for us to study and ponder, why Adam would say, “I and mine” and Eve speaking in “We”, why Adam would only talk of his transgression, Were as Eve would talk of having seed, redemption, and eternal life.

I have had and also heard several thoughts on this:

1) From President Hinckely, this one is used to justify the patriarchal order, and why Adam spoke in “I”: It is because Adam was declaring his presiding role, and accepting his role at the head. And where Eve spoke concerning “We” was because she was in the role of wife, and mother and therefore didn’t have an “I” role, but rather a “We” role.

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My Thoughts: This seemed a rather lacking explanation, I don’t even think I have the correct paraphrase of what he said. But I don’t think this is exactly what is going on. I think Adam was finally accepting he also did transgress. He was stating that because of his transgression, he was able to experience sorrow and repentance and finally his eyes where opened. I think he knew he could not, and was not in the position to speak for both of them Were as Eve was. Eve knew that is was both of them, understood that they could do nothing without each other. She understood it was both of them. Considering all she had been through up to this point.

Also: The Book of Moses though more complete then Genesis is still an abridgment of record it seems to me. We do not have the entire conversation. We only have the conversation deemed appropriate through a male-gaze.

2) As I said, I feel Eve was more capable of speaking for the Both of them. I also have a sneaky suspicion, that she was overwhelmed with joy that Finally Adam was not blaming her (Of which I believe happened, considering their mortal fallen state) for their fallen state, but she also probably thought “He said “I”, him? It was all him? He did all of this by himself?” And she corrected him. Just because our scriptures don’t capture the complexity of human thought and feeling, doesn’t mean it wasn’t there. I do not believe this contradicts with my other thought on this.

3) The third thought that I have had on this, is that Eve’s testimony is a continuation, a completion, a culmination of Adam’s testimony. Just as Eve was a completion, a more perfect whole picture of the universe, so too is her testimony a whole more perfect completion of Adam’s.

So in the end, I ultimately believe that Eve far from being the one who was in the submissive, everything is we role, and Adam being in the leadership, Everything is “Mine” role, I think the Testimony goes a bit deeper in meaning then that. It is symbolic even, of the relationship between Husband and Wife, Man and Woman.

To me that means, that 1) Men must accept acts based upon his actions, not any action that a woman does. 2) Men must learn from women, it is not about “I”, but about “We” in a marriage relationship (the subsequent coupling of “Adam and Eve” through out all the other scriptures in the Book of Moses is telling), and 3) Here it is symbolic again, that Adam could really do nothing without Eve, not even share a complete full understanding of what had happened. Eve’s testimony completes Adam’s. It is interesting in that, Eve seems to have the final word not Adam. I think that is also telling. Even if the rest is ultimately patriarchal.

[Anonymous]

Interesting thoughts. Thanks.

Quote:

It is interesting in that, Eve seems to have the final word not Adam.

That’s how it usually works in my marrige.

I also would add that it appears to me that Adam had two choices:

1) Remain totally obedient to the command to not partake and end up alone in the presence of God forever;

2) “Break the commandment” that had been so important to him up until that point and end up with his wife, separated from God.

Adam chose the second option, so, in practical terms, Adam chose Eve over God. I think we can say he did so in faith that God would allow them back together into his presence – but the promise of an atonement happened only AFTER Adam made that fundamental choice. Iow, based strictly on the words we have in the accounts, Adam chose his wife over God without any promise of eventual return first.

That is incredibly profound to me. Adam had to choose to leave God and cleave unto his wife before God would give the promise of an atonement – I think because an atonement can’t be realized for individuals alone.

[Anonymous]

Well that is a good thought. I liked that.

Okay I’m really done with this conversation. I am okay if its locked.

[Author]

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