Who was it that tempted Eve to eat the forbidden fruit? God? Adam? Who?Serragon wrote: ↑April 5th, 2017, 10:39 amD&C29:39 is explaining why God allows Satan to tempt us. I don't see that it says Satan was or is necessary.Robin Hood wrote: ↑April 5th, 2017, 3:48 amI think you sum it up well inho.inho wrote: ↑April 5th, 2017, 2:32 am There are now two different things to discuss:
1) Was God once a mortal man like us? Robin Hood does not believe this. Most LDS will disagree with him.
2) Was a devil necessary? D&C 29:39 says so. I have hard time understanding this. I understand that opposition is necessary. It is necessary for us to live a mortal life out of the presence of God, which allows the possibility of sinning. However, do we really need a personal evil? According to my understanding there was no evil being tempting Lucifer in the pre-existence and yet he and others choose to rebel.
1. I do believe God was once a mortal man; we can read all about him and his mortal life in the gospels.
2. A devil is not necessary. If so, all those born during the millenium are doomed.
God's work and Glory is to bring to pass the eternal life and immortality of man. This did not hinge on Lucifer choosing to rebel. God's wisdom allows for all choices by all of His children.
If you don't think Satan is necessary, then just how would we have come into being without him?
God gave two opposing commandments, 1) multiply and replenish the earth, and 2) do not eat of the forbidden fruit. Adam and Eve had to break one commandment in order to obey the other.
2 Nephi 2:22,23,25
22 And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden. And all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; and they must have remained forever, and had no end.
23 And they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin.
25 Adam fell that men might be; and men care, that they might have joy.
Moses 6:48
48 And he said unto them: Because that Adam fell, we are; and by his fall came death; and we are made partakers of misery and woe.
Sorry, folks, but Satan is and was necessary. God uses him for his purposes. Even Jesus was tempted in all ways as us, but he heeded them not.
Heb 4
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Doctrine and Covenants 20:22
22 He suffered temptations but gave no heed unto them.