04 - Atonement and Rebirth

Introduction to the Pearl of Great Price

  • Focus on the revelation of the gospel to Adam.

  • Panel members from BYU’s Department of Ancient Scripture: sisters and brothers introduced.

  • Central theme is the eternal gospel taught from the days of Adam.

Eternal Gospel

  • Idea that Christian prophets taught doctrine and administered ordinances from the beginning of time.

  • Contrast with views of other faiths, highlighting the unique contribution of the Restoration.

  • Quote: "from the days of Adam, the gospel was taught, [and people understood] the need for a savior and a plan of redemption."

The Book of Moses

  • The sixth chapter of Moses is used for the study.

  • Explained as Joseph Smith’s translation of Genesis, specifically focusing on Enoch's account of Adam.

Verse-by-Verse Study of Moses Chapter 6

Verse 47

  • Enoch speaks forth the words of God, causing trembles among the people.

Verse 48

  • "Because that Adam fell, we are."

    • Links to 2 Nephi 2:25: "Adam fell that men might be," suggesting a paradox between joy (Lehi) and misery/woe (Enoch).

    • Misery and woe necessary to understand joy.

    • Introduction of the doctrine of the "fortunate fall", affirming the fall's role in the foreordained plan and the necessity of the atonement.

Verse 49

  • Reference to Satan's temptation, leading men to become carnal, sensual, and devilish.

    • Discussion on the nature of carnal impulses.

    • Differentiation between actions deemed carnal vs. those justified in leisure.

    • Importance of agency and the roots of sin through temptation to worship Satan.

Verse 50

  • God reveals to Adam that all men must repent.

    • Adam hears God affirm His role as creator before fleshly existence.

    • "Before they were in the flesh" implies a spiritual state prior to the fall.

Verse 52

  • Command for repentance, faith, and the necessity of baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for salvation.

    • Simple yet profound doctrine: must believe, repent, and be baptized.

  • Introduces the gift of the Holy Ghost as contingent on repentance and baptism.

Verse 53

  • Adam questions why repentance and baptism are necessary.

    • God reassures Adam of forgiveness for the transgression in the Garden of Eden.

    • Emphasis on the term 'transgression' over 'sin' to differentiate types of actions.

Discussion on Forgiveness and Revelation

  • Ethical implications of misunderstanding the Garden of Eden and transgression.

  • Explanation of 'sin' vs 'transgression' within the doctrine.

    • Sin: willful disobedience.

    • Transgression: breaking laws, often necessitating a higher law's observance.

Verse 54

  • Clarification that the fall brought inevitable consequences but does not result in original sin passed down through generations.

    • Further discussion on the retroactive application of the atonement, invoking Mosiah 3:16 and the topic of infant innocence.

    • Concept: children are whole from the foundation of the world through Christ’s atonement.

The Fall and Agency

Verse 55

  • Humans are introduced to both good and evil.

    • Agency is paramount; they must choose between good and evil, which leads to crucial teaching of redemption.

Verse 56

  • Instruction to teach that all must repent to inherit the kingdom of God, invoking the idea that no unclean thing can enter God’s presence.

Verse 57

  • Teaching of the fall leads to the necessity of spiritual rebirth.

    • Birth involves elements of blood, water, and spirit as necessary for salvation, sanctification, and eternal life.

Verse 59

  • Tracing the connection between the physical birth and spiritual rebirth: one must be reborn of water and spirit to enjoy eternal life.

Conclusion of the Chapter

Verse 63

  • Summary statement: all things bear witness of God; significance in understanding the doctrine of creation, fall, and atonement.

Final Verses

  • Adam’s baptism described in detail, marking his transition to becoming a son of God after being spiritually quickened.

The Plan of Salvation

  • Final discussion on the commandments to teach children about the plan of salvation, including faith, repentance, baptism, and the Holy Ghost.

  • Reiteration of the importance of teaching these principles freely and frequently.

Institutional Implications of Adam’s Act

  • Discussion on how Adam entering the priesthood connected him to a legacy of eternal families, ultimately linking to the dispensation of the fullness of times and the cycle of apostasy and restoration of the gospel.

  • Important to recognize both Adam and Eve in foundational roles within a framework of eternal family structures.

Theological Insights

  • Emphasize that the process of being born again is necessary for rejoining with God, rooted in an understanding that the fall has ramifications but also implications for the necessity of atonement, and ultimately, returning to the family of God in a more exalted state.

Ethical and Practical Applications

  • The overarching goal of teaching these doctrines is to help individuals understand their divine potential and the necessary steps to access the promises of God.

  • The consistent theme underscores the need for clarity in the doctrines of faith, repentance, baptism, and receiving the Holy Ghost to navigate life's spiritual journey effectively.