No death before the fall now accepted by Church members

The voice of the Church since First Presidency publication of Joseph Fielding Smith's book Selections from Answers to Gospel Questions has been clear and unified and continuous. The creation was paradisiacal. There was no mortality. Death for all forms of life began when Adam fell.

Today's post titled "No Death Before the Fall taught in True to the Faith" is the companion to a previous post titled "No death before the fall taught in Gospel Principles manual." Both of these posts reinforce what I've discussed in some detail at ndbf.net, especially the section titled "The 1972 First Presidency Publication" which concludes with this paragraph:

Publication of the book Selections from Answers to Gospel Questions was enough to resolve the question of death before the fall. It was not necessary that a special announcement be made. An official pronouncement by the First Presidency might have been more satisfactory to some Church members but the fact remains that President Smith quietly settled the question and the majority of Church members have quietly accepted his decision.

How many Church members, experienced or new, would argue against the doctrine of no death before the fall if it were taught in Sunday School or any other Church meeting out of the Gospel Principles manual? And how many Church members, experienced or new, would stand up and argue against the doctrine of no death before the fall if it were taught in sacrament meeting out of True to the Faith?

In support of my statement that "the majority of Church members have quietly accepted his decision," I've also quoted five entries here from the LDS Bible Dictionary which clearly show that the doctrine of no death before the fall is now accepted by the Church (see Death, Fall of Adam, Flesh, Paradise, and Restitution; Restoration). Millions of Mormons carry the LDS Bible to Church with them every Sunday. How many of these Church members would stand up in Church and argue against the doctrine of no death before the fall if it were taught in Church out of the Bible Dictionary?

In support of my statement that "the majority of Church members have quietly accepted his decision", I've also quoted a paragraph here which was written by President Harold B. Lee and which clearly teaches the doctrine of no death before the fall.

"Besides the Fall having had to do with Adam and Eve, causing a change to come over them, that change affected all human nature, all of the natural creations, all of the creation of animals, plants—all kinds of life were changed. The earth itself became subject to death.... How it took place no one can explain, and anyone who would attempt to make an explanation would be going far beyond anything the Lord has told us. But a change was wrought over the whole face of the creation, which up to that time had not been subject to death. From that time henceforth all in nature was in a state of gradual dissolution until mortal death was to come, after which there would be required a restoration in a resurrected state." (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Harold B. Lee, 2000, p. 20.)

Millions of Mormons carried Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Harold B. Lee with them every Sunday for an entire year. How many of these Church members would stand up in Church and argue against the doctrine of no death before the fall if it were taught in Church out of Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Harold B. Lee?

Aaronic Priesthood manual

The doctrine of no death before the fall is also taught by the Church in its Aaronic Priesthood Manual 3 (34822). There is no ambiguity in this paragraph.

"Physical death, known also as temporal death, was introduced into the world as a consequence of the Fall. As a result of the Fall, all people and all forms of life upon the earth must suffer a physical death, a separation of spirit and body" (Chapter six, "The Fall of Adam," Aaronic Priesthood Manual 3, 19; italics added).

Criticizing one of the Prophets

I feel it is wrong to openly criticize the Church's tenth Prophet regarding death before the fall when his successors haven't—when, in fact, on the subject of death before the fall his point of view has been carried forward, as the above sources clearly demonstrate.

Other Church published sources likewise affirm this doctrine. The voice of the Church since First Presidency publication of Joseph Fielding Smith's book Selections from Answers to Gospel Questions has been clear and unified and continuous. The creation was paradisiacal. There was no mortality. Death for all forms of life began when Adam fell.