Certain GA's have mentioned that aspects of the st...

2009-12-24T11:35:47.068-07:00

Certain GA's have mentioned that aspects of the story of the Garden of Eden are figurative. For instance, Pres. Spencer W. Kimball, in “The Blessings and Responsibilities of Womanhood,” Ensign, Mar. 1976, wrote:

“And I, God, created man in mine own image, in the image of mine Only Begotten created I him; male and female created I them. [The story of the rib, of course, is figurative.]“

Brigham Young had this to say:

You believe Adam was made of the dust of this earth. This I do not believe, though it is supposed that it is so written in the Bible; but it is not, to my understanding. You can write that information to the States, if you please, that I have publicly declared that I do not believe that portion of the Bible as the Christian world do. I never did, and I never want to. What is the reason I do not? Because I have come to understanding, and banished from my mind all the baby stories my mother taught me when I was a child. (from Journal of Discourses, vol. 2, p.6-7.)

There's a discussion on the literal/figurative views at the New Cool Thang blog here:

http://www.newcoolthang.com/index.php/2007/06/tree-of-life-literal-or-figurative/403/

Also, the temple endowment makes it pretty clear that each child of God is a respective Eve or Adam, as well, extending the allegory. So I think it is safe for any LDS to believe in some mix of literal/figurative, as long as they remain flexible and do not seek to force others to their perspective and cause trouble.

Larrin, it doesn't really come up in temple recomm...

2009-12-24T11:13:57.222-07:00

Larrin, it doesn't really come up in temple recommend interviews or baptismal interviews. Some general authorities have taken a more allegorical approach and others a more historical approach. Some have taken a mix of those two approaches. I think a person who takes a literal historical view of Genesis could still benefit from reading different interpretations of it. Perhaps Coats could have done a better job "bracketing" the question, which he does try to do, but overall I still think his reading shows an interesting way for people to interact with scriptures. We LDS have a tradition that encourages "likening the scriptures" unto us.

I think there are some aspects of faith that we should have a historical faith in, such as the resurrection of Christ or the revelations to Joseph Smith and reception of priesthood keys. Where to draw the line over what must be accepted as literal and historical is difficult though.

Comments on Life On Gold Plates: Review: John R. Coats, "Original Sinners: A New In...

Certain GA's have mentioned that aspects of the st...

Larrin, it doesn't really come up in temple recomm...