Elder Dallin H. Oaks, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said: It was Eve who first transgressed the limits of Eden in order to initiate the conditions of mortality. Her Act, whatever its nature, was formally a transgression but eternally a glorious necessity to open the doorway toward eternal life. Adam showed his wisdom by doing the same. ... ... We celebrate Eves act and honor her wisdom and courage in the great episode call the Fall. ... Elder Joseph Fielding Smith said: I never speak of the part Eve took in this fall as a sin, nor do I accuse Adam of a sin. ... This was a transgression of the law, but not a sin.... This suggested contrast between a sin and a transgression reminds us of the careful working in the second article of faith: We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adams transgression. It also echoes a familiar distinction in the law. Some acts, like murder, are crimes because they are inherently wrong. Other acts, like operating without a license, are crimes only because they are legally prohibited. Under these distinctions, the act that produced the Fall was not a sin--inherently wrong--but a transgression--wrong because it was formally prohibited. These words are not always used to denote something different, but this distinction seems meaningful in the circumstances of the Fall.
Posted on: Mon, 27 Jan 2014 03:56:07 +0000
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