273.2: The Fall of Humanity (OT Gospel Doctrine Lesson 4, Sunday School)

“Because of My Transgression My Eyes Are Opened”

 

We can appreciate the story of Adam and Eve on many levels. It is a story about human nature, about making hard choices, about growing up. This episode explores the role of the Fall in LDS culture and theology, contrasts it with the idea of “original sin”, and comments on the assigned reading, focusing on the themes of agency, maturing, and overcoming the weaknesses of human nature.

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Class Member Reading:Moses 4; 5:1-15; 6:48-62; 2 Nephi 2:22–23; 9:6-10; Genesis 3:16–23

Additional Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:20–22; 2 Nephi 2:5–30; Helaman 14:15–18; D&C 19:15–19; 29:34–44; Articles of Faith 1:2; “Fall of Adam,” Bible Dictionary

Other Reading: Genesis 2; 3

 

Heidi and Justin contribute a rewarding discussion.

 

You can access the Annotated Reading here (or PDF)

You can access the Lesson Notes here (or PDF)

 

Timeline

Lesson Part 1

0:00 Introduction

9:01 Assigned Reading

19:55 Adam and Eve Reflecting on the Fall

24:13 Theodicy and Living in a Fallen World

Discussion Part 1

30:49 Discussion Intros and Associations with the Fall

45:17 LDS understanding of Paradoxical Commandments

55:57 Meanings taken from the Fall

Resources

The Fall

• Elder McConkie’s talk on the Pillars of Eternity
• “The Fall” in the Encyclopedia of Mormonism
• Adam, Eve, and the Plan of Happiness by Elder Scott
• Discovering the Old Testament on the Fall
• Mormon Matters on the Fall

Human Nature, Morality, and Free Will

• The Moral Mind, Jonathan Haidt
• Common Ground, Jonathan Haidt
• Our Buggy Moral Code, Dan Ariely
• Lying, Dan Ariely
• Bonobo and the Atheist, Frans de Waal
• Yale Course on Philosophy and Science of Human Nature

• Morality I, RadioLab
• Morality II, RadioLab
• Free Will Worth Having, Dan Dennett
• Documentary on Happiness

Change

• Phil McLemore on change through meditation from a Mormon perspective
• Happiness Hypothesis by Jonathan Haidt
• Mindsight, by Daniel Goleman (introductory video) and website
• Mindsight (the book)

 

Thanks to William Newman for content editing and James Estrada for audio editing, and to to Steven Nelson for the beautiful bumper music.