Close Topic Options

Two Trees in Eden

Two Trees in Eden

Everyone always focuses on the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil that was in the Garden of Eden, but there was another tree... the Tree of Life.

The question here is... why was the Tree of Life also in the Garden? Were Adam and Eve able to eat of the Tree of Life prior to them eatting the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil?

Eden Trees Two

The tree of life was in the Garden of Eden as another test for Adam and Eve, to see if they would fulfill the Lord's commandment. Isn't interesting that when God talked to Adam and Eve he didn't tell them to NOT eat from the Tree of Life? He just told them NOT to eat from the Tree of Good and Evil. I guess that because Adam and Eve at that time didn't know what meant 'to live forever' since they didn't know what was 'death' they didn't care about eating the fruit of that tree. BUT after they took the fruit from the tree of good and evil, THEN God put a sword around the Tree of Life because now Adam and Eve knowing all things they may try to eat from it. No, there is no way they could eat from the fruit of the Tree of Life prior to them eating from the tree of good and evil.

Two Trees in Eden Studies Doctrine Mormon

As I remember God said they could eat the fruit of every tree in the garden except the tree of knowledge of good and evil.  After partaking of the forbidden tree God blocked kept them from the tree of life so they would not be given eternal life and remain in their state of sin. They needed time to procreate so that eventually the atonement could take place, and they could  take advantage of the atonement to repent of their transgression, through faith in the savior.  

Adam knew his wife after the fruit of the forbidden tree was eaten and cast out of the garden.  I am supposing that they did not multiply and replenesh the earth before that time while they were in the garden of eden, being in a state of innocence.

I am just guessing here,  but perhaps if they ate of the tree of life right after partaking of the forbidden fruit, they might not have had the opportunity to procreate and then the savior wouldn't have been born.

Eden Trees Two

I wonder if the other Trees had any significant value or if they were all merely 'Trees of Life' and then there was that curious one of the 'Knowledge of Good and Evil'.

Eden Trees Two

It has already been mentioned here that Heavenly Father gave no instructions to Adam and Eve concerning the Tree of Life in particular. They were told that they could eat from every tree in the garden save one, which would bring death into the world. We know that eating of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil caused physical changes in the bodies of Adam and Eve, making them mortal. It seems logical that before partaking of the fruit of the tree of knowledge, the bodies of Adam and Eve would not have had any significant reaction to the fruit of the tree of life. The Lord's comments as to why he barred Adam and Eve from the tree of life indicate that the effect would have been to make Adam and Eve immortal as they were before the Fall. So does eating a fruit that makes one immortal have any significant effect on an immortal being? The scriptures don't seem to indicate that it would.

bink, the scriptures teach that Adam and Eve were not physically able to have children until the physical effects of the Fall had taken place. So you're right on!

Message Edited! Persephone: Please run spell check before posting.

Two Trees in Eden

I was wondering about the following Scriptures. Lehi said the following in 2 Nephi about both trees:

We know the forbidden fruit was delicious to the taste and Lehi is saying that the Tree of life is bitter yet Nephi said the following in 1 Nephi 15:36

So how a fruit that Lehi described as bitter can be the most precious and desirable above all fruits?

Two Trees Eden

As to the Tree of Life, I think Adam and Eve was immortal beings before they partook of the forbidden fruit. So, partaking of the Tree of Life before that wouldn't make any difference since they were already immortal. BUT, after they partook of the forbidden fruit they became mortal, so God made it impossible for them to partake of the Tree of Life.

As to the difference in taste, my personal opinion is that almost everything you can't have seem to taste great. Or maybe our Heavenly Father changes the tastes on the things he wants us to have. It was necessary for Adam and Eve to partake of the forbidden fruit, so he made it taste great. Now, after we have become mortal, it is just the opposite way. We want eternal life, so now he assures us that the fruit of the Tree of Life tastes great. Does it make sense?

Two Trees Eden Mormon Doctrine Studies

LDS_Forever, I think you may have it backwards, the Fruit of the tree of knowledge of Good and Evil was in fact a very bitter fruit, here's one clue. The other name of the tree, one that isn't mentioned in the standard works but is still a name it is, "the Tree of Death".

The Tree of Death like death itself is a very bitter experience, where the Tree of Life (or Eternal life) is the sweetest thing we can receive, will be very sweet indeed. Or in other words, "...most desirable above all other fruits;"