Why Adam Lost His Agency in the Garden – Chapter 1

Why Adam Lost His Agency in the Garden
and Why His Fall Matters to Us

Prepared by
Elder Dwight Burford
November 30, 2024, Printing
[pdf copy]

Genesis 7:40-43 IV – And in the garden of Eden gave I unto man his agency; and unto thy brethren have I said, and also gave commandment, that they should love one another; and that they should choose me their Father. But, behold, they are without affection, and they hate their own blood; and the fire of mine indignation is kindled against them; and … Satan shall be their father, and misery shall be their doom; and the whole heavens shall weep over them, even all the workmanship of my hands.

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Chapter 1: Introduction

This study is about the agency[1] and the duty[2] of agents based on Adam and his agency. Adam was the first man created in God’s image and likeness from the dust of the earth and given his agency initially in the garden of Eden.[3] He was created by God to inhabit and be inhabited by God’s glory,[4] and was placed in the garden to dress and keep it.[5] But when temped, Adam transgressed the command of God.[6] As a result, the scope and location of his agency was decidedly changed.[7]

God had created Adam in the image of His light and the likeness of His love,[8] yet Adam sinned against God by disobeying His command to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.[9] Consequently, God took the agency of Adam and his family and their posterity from the garden and gave them their agency in a temporary life of probation, called Today, to prepare them to meet Him and be placed in a kingdom where they will receive their agency in eternity.[10]

To promote a sound understanding of our agency in the life of probation, this study begins with a discussion of principles and definitions and what it means to be agents unto ourselves. In subsequent chapters, the agency of those who either fulfilled their agency or had it taken from them in this life is reviewed. For some who had been entrusted with the Lord’s work, disqualified themselves from continuing as agents in a particular role or capacity because of transgression.[11]

Included in this study is a review of free will[12] and why we must reconcile our wills to our Creator’s will to express free will. To be truly free, we must be liberated from all sin by faith in His Word.[13] Those who do not reconcile their will to God’s will as revealed in Jesus Christ[14] will remain bound (without free will) in sin as captives of Satan, the enemy of all righteousness.[15] Whereas, those who reconcile their will to God’s will may exercise free will by the power of His Spirit of truth.[16]

I John 2:15-17 – Love not the world, neither the things that are of the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all in the world that is of the lusts of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof; but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.

II Nephi 7:40-44 – Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves—to choose the way of everlasting death, or the way of eternal life; Wherefore my beloved brethren, reconcile yourselves to the will of God and not to the will of the devil and the flesh. And remember, that after ye are reconciled unto God, that it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved; Wherefore, may God raise you from death by the power of the resurrection, and also from everlasting death by the power of the atonement, that ye may be received into the eternal kingdom of God, that ye may praise Him through grace divine. Amen.

[1] cf. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/agency with http://1828.mshaffer.com/d/word/agency

[2] e.g. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/agent.asp

[3] Genesis 1:27-32, Genesis 2:18-30 & Genesis 7:40-43 with Psalm 103:14, Mosiah 1:61 & Moroni 4:78

[4] I Corinthians 3:16,17, 6:19,20 & Ephesians 2:19-22, 3:14-19 with Isaiah 43:7, Romans 8:9-21 & Alma 3:27-70

[5] Genesis 2:18-30 with Genesis 1:27-32 & Genesis 7:40-43

[6] Genesis 3:7-31, Romans 5:1-21, Alma 19:81-111 & D&C 28:9a-14b with D&C 85:5a-9b

[7] II Nephi 1:105-111 & Alma 9:38-61 with Genesis 3:7-31 & Hebrews 3:7-19

[8] I John 1:5 & I John 4:7,8,16,17 with I John 1:1, I John 2:7 & II John 1:5,6

[9] Genesis 2:18-30 with II Nephi 1:95-128

[10] Hebrews 3:7-19–4:1-16 & Revelation 2:21,22 with Romans 5:1-21, Alma 9:41, Alma 19:82-106 & D&C 85:5a-9b

[11] cf. I John 3:4 with II Nephi 1:66-72, Mosiah 11:166 & Alma 19:99-106

[12] cf. Mosiah 9:60-64 & D&C 58:6c-6i with II Nephi 1:95-128