It sounds like you are pondering this question quite a bit. I have too. As you keep thinking and praying I know the Lord will open your mind to the truths you seek. But I’m afraid the Lord hasn’t made that stuff widely known because He intends to teach us each as we ask Him in faith. Good luck.

Bonnie, great questions. Sometimes I think a bit of our bravery in challenging God as to why He does things the way He does is because we aren’t looking Him in the eye when we challenge Him. Adam and Eve were as innocent as little children, so I don’t see them being confrontational about God’s decisions.

As to the two “contradictory” commandments, it may not have seemed contradictory to them since they were clueless as to what the whole procreation thing was about. They may have figured they had (literally) all the time in the world to getting around to that commandment. And fulfilling the commandment to care for the garden, but not eat from the one tree was so easy to obey – simple and direct.

Eve, in my mind, did for her simple husband what many wives through the centuries have had to do. They are given a command, and they keep it. To help him see the bigger picture she had to appeal to his desire not to be left behind. Whether he could see what she thought she saw in her own actions is completely debatable, but by partaking of the fruit she forced his hand, hoping he would choose her, and he did.

I believe the Lord was very careful about His selection for the head of the human family. Adam and Eve are right up there in majesty and greatness with the Savior. Adam still holds the priesthood role of being the head of God’s family in mortality, and as such is still orchestrating the work to bring to pass our immortality. I think the Lord knew full well how these two would react given their situation. He needed that reaction, so he put two of his most trustworthy children at the head of the human family.

Hope this helps a little.

Hi Evelyn! We’d love to answer any questions we can! What are you wanting to know?