Διὰ τοῦτο ὥσπερ δι᾽ ἑνὸς ἀνθρώπου ἡ ἁμαρτία εἰς τὸν κόσμον εἰσῆλθεν καὶ διὰ τῆς ἁμαρτίας ὁ θάνατος καὶ οὕτως εἰς πάντας ἀνθρώπους ὁ θάνατος  διῆλθεν ἐφ᾽ ᾧ πάντες ἥμαρτον (Romans 5.12). KJV: Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. Augustine, a man many consider to be the father of Christian theology,1 and the mastermind behind the ideaContinue Reading

The Hymn of the Pearl and the Cosmic Myth The Cosmic Myth is a story that teaches of eternal truths even though it may or may not be totally historically accurate.[1]Michael Fishbane, Biblical Myth and Rabbinic Mythmaking, Oxford University Press, 2003, p. 11. Fishbane stated, “we shall understand the word ‘Myth’Continue Reading

THE PROBATIONARY TEST OF MORTALITY Elder Bruce R. McConkie Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Address given at the University of Utah Institute of Religion January 10, 1982 I’m very pleased and honored to have this opportunity to meet and worship with you on this special occasion. Earlier, PresidentContinue Reading

Understanding the Fall brings a deeper appreciation for the Atonement of Christ One cannot fully appreciate the need for medication until he is aware of a malady. One does not pant after the cooling draught until he has nearly died of thirst. In the same way, as President Ezra TaftContinue Reading

According to Christ’s original doctrine as restored through Joseph Smith, the Fall made both possible and necessary the Savior’s atoning for our sins. Human nature is neither inherently evil nor inherently good. We become evil or good based on interaction between the Lord’s influence and the choices we make-choices unavailableContinue Reading

Bruce R. McConkie What is original sin? This is the false doctrine that the sin of Adam passes upon all men and that, therefore, all men-infants included-must be baptized to be saved. It is, however, a fundamental principle of true religion “that men will be punished for their own sins,Continue Reading

There is an interesting contrast between Enoch’s teachings and Lehi’s. Both declare that Adam fell so that mankind could experience mortality. But consider the doctrine that follows: Lehi: Adam fell that men might be, and men are that they might have joy. (2 Ne. 2:25) Enoch: Because that Adam fell,Continue Reading