New manual affirms NDBF
The LDS Church has published a new manual, "Doctrine and Covenants and Church History Seminary Teacher Manual," which affirms that the Creation was deathless until after Adam's transgression: "At the Creation, Adam, Eve, the earth, and all things on the earth were in a spiritual state. Even though Adam and Eve had physical bodies, they were not subject to death and could dwell in God’s presence forever. However, as part of Heavenly Father’s plan, all His creations would become temporal. In other words, they would become temporary and subject to death. Following the resurrection, they will return to a spiritual state—physical but also immortal." (p.123.)
"Temporal death [or] the death of the physical body ... is the separation of the spirit from the body [and] came because of Adam's transgression." (p.124.) This new manual joins a growing list of official LDS publications that teach No Death Before the Fall.
posted by R. Gary on 3/15/2014 02:42:00 PM
2 Comments:
Your list of "offical LDS publications" does not show the change to the Bible Dictionary entry on "Fall of Adam," which has been changed (at least online) to "Fall of Adam and Eve," and some key words were removed to make it less clear whether it includes non-humans.
I wonder what you think about this change?
Anonymous: Had there been death among any of the earthly creations, the statement that there was "no death" would require a qualifying phrase. But no qualification is necessary. Removing the phrase "among any of the earthly creations" does not suggest a new meaning. Here is the 1979 version, as I've been quoting it, compared with the 2013 version:
1979: Before the fall,... there was no sin, no death,
2013: Before the Fall, there were no sin, no death,
1979: and no children among any of the earthly creations.
2013: and no children.
1979: With the eating of the "forbidden fruit,"
2013: With the eating of the "forbidden fruit,"
1979: Adam and Eve became mortal, sin entered,...
2013: Adam and Eve became mortal, sin entered,
1979: and death became a part of life.
2013: and death became a part of life.
1979: Adam became the "first flesh" upon the earth,
2013: Adam became the "first flesh" upon the earth,
1979: meaning that he and Eve were the first to
2013: meaning that he and Eve were the first to
1979: become mortal. After Adam fell,
2013: become mortal. After Adam fell,
1979: the whole creation fell and became mortal.
2013: the whole creation fell and became mortal.
1979: Adam's fall brought both physical and
2013: Adam's Fall brought both physical and
1979: spiritual death into the world upon all mankind.
2013: spiritual death into the world upon all mankind.
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