The Prophet, the Atonement, and evolution's wiggle room

The effects of the Fall are overcome by the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The Atonement saves all men, Adam and Eve and all of their posterity. This view leaves a small amount of wiggle room in the search for harmony between the truths of revealed religion and the theories of organic evolution.

But alas, there is no wiggle room for evolution in the April 2011 Ensign. It teaches a more complete understanding of the Atonement. It teaches that all things were created in a paradisiacal state, without death and without procreation. Then came the Fall, by which Adam and Eve became the first mortal flesh on earth, and by which procreation and death entered the whole creation. The Atonement of Jesus Christ saves all things, not just the human race. As in Adam all things die, even so in Christ shall all things be made alive. (Bruce R. McConkie, Ensign, April 2011, 59; summarized.)

The Atonement of Jesus Christ saves "all things"

Confirming this point of view, today's living prophet teaches that the Atonement of Jesus Christ saves "all things: the human race, the earth, and all the life that ever inhabited it." (President Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, April 2011, 4.)

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Additional reading

Wilford Woodruff: "We acknowledge that through Adam all have died, that death through the fall must pass upon the whole human family, also upon the beasts of the field, the fishes of the sea and the fowls of the air and all the works of God, as far as this earth is concerned." (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Wilford Woodruff, 81.)

Harold B. Lee: "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." (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Harold B. Lee, 20.)

LDS Bible Dictionary: "After Adam fell, the whole creation fell and became mortal." (Bible Dictionary, Fall of Adam.)

Thomas S. Monson: "At the last moment the Master could have turned back. But He did not. He passed beneath all things that He might save all things: the human race, the earth, and all the life that ever inhabited it." (President Thomas S. Monson, "He Is Not Here, but Is Risen," Ensign, April 2011, 4.)

Bruce R. McConkie: "As we read, ponder, and pray, there will come into our minds a view of the three gardens of God — the Garden of Eden, the Garden of Gethsemane, and the Garden of the Empty Tomb where Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene.

"The Creation, Fall, and Atonement

"In Eden we will see all things created in a paradisiacal state — without death, without procreation, without probationary experiences.

"We will come to know that such a creation, now unknown to man, was the only way to provide for the Fall.

"We will then see Adam and Eve, the first man and the first woman, step down from their state of immortal and paradisiacal glory to become the first mortal flesh on earth.

"Mortality, including as it does procreation and death, will enter the world. And because of transgression a probationary estate of trial and testing will begin.

"Then in Gethsemane we will see the Son of God ransom man from the temporal and spiritual death that came to us because of the Fall.

"And finally, before an empty tomb, we will come to know that Christ our Lord has burst the bands of death and stands forever triumphant over the grave.

"Thus, Creation is father to the Fall; and by the Fall came mortality and death; and by Christ came immortality and eternal life.

"If there had been no fall of Adam, by which cometh death, there could have been no atonement of Christ, by which cometh life." (Bruce R. McConkie, "The Purifying Power of Gethsemane," Ensign, April 2011, 59.)