Mormon Dilemma 521

Plan of Salvation: Men Appointed to Die

Alma 42:5-6; “For behold, if Adam had put forth his hand immediately, and partaken of the tree of life, he would have lived forever, according to the word of God, having no space for repentance; yea, and also the word of God would have been void, and the great plan of salvation would have been frustrated. 6 But behold, it was appointed unto man to die—therefore, as they were cut off from the tree of life they should be cut off from the face of the earth—and man became lost forever, yea, they became fallen man.”

Genesis 1:28; “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”

Genesis 3:14; “And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life.”

There’s nothing in scripture indicating the word of God would’ve been void if they hadn’t sinned and there’s nothing in His word stating the plan of salvation would’ve been frustrated.

The Lord was fully aware of what would happen before they sinned just as He was fully aware of the consequences they incurred for not obeying Him.

Because they had sinned they were separated from God. This didn’t happen because they needed to help God fulfill His plans. Sin is not a godly attribute and not from God. If Adam and Eve had obeyed the Lord there wouldn’t be any need to repent! Sin is not from God and not part of His plan.

Death was only appointed to men after they sinned, not before, thus the whole don’t eat from the tree of knowledge lest ye die saga…

Genesis 1:31 pretty much sums up what God thought of His plan after He finished creating the universe and man. 

“And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.”