In the Garden of Eden Satan tempted Eve to taste of a fruit, that was most delicious, and very desirable. “It will make you wise,” the serpent slithered. “You shall be as the gods, knowing good from evil.”
Eve was our Mother, the first of this mortal world. While I cannot remember her with my mortal eyes, my spirit knows her. She is brave, the kind of courage that takes to be the first of a whole world to step into the world of new beginnings, knowing that everything you are working for, to return to Father, starts with you, with your womb, with your ability to give your will to God’s and take that first breath. Eve was beautiful, I don’t know that her beauty is perfect beauty, because there has to be beauty of the exalted ones, that would exceed that of a human. But she radiated light. Her faith was perfect. Her submission to Heavenly Father, and to her husband was perfect. Would it not take great faith to knowingly walk away from the innocence of the Garden of Eden, eyes wide open to the possibilities of pain, frustration, obstacles, loneliness, and childbirth? I do not know, or think she could understand all that awaited her, I cannot see what lies ahead in my mortal probation, but I know there are challenges yet ahead. I am bouyed up by her faith, her willingness to sacrifice her comfort so that she could progress, and I along with her.
The beautiful fruit was from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Adam and Eve were commanded not to eat of this fruit. They were also commanded that they should multiply and replenish the earth, which they could not in their current state. After a conversation with the great tempter, even Lucifer himself, she came to know what action she would take. She would partake of the fruit. She had knowledge before she partook of the fruit, that it was to be, and then she ingested that fruit, the knowledge becoming part of who she was. And so Eve fell. With her beckoning, Adam too partook of the fruit. Alone his obedience would be fruitless to us all, and so he stayed with Eve, and they were cast out of the garden.
“It is better that we pass through sorrow that we know good from the evil.”
These spoken words are so humble, and so true.
Through trials of adversity we suffer pains of affliction, sometimes unto death. We experience hardship, loss, frustration, defeat. I could create a list of my personal afflictions, but I won’t. Words on a page cannot adequately describe the pain one feels at loosing the child in a miscarriage, or watching the spirit of a loved one flee their mortal frame. A bullet point doesn’t accurately portray the deeply penetrating wounds experienced because of absolute betrayal, or the loss of a always missing parent. Why does it hurt when I never knew him to begin with?
- It is better that I lose a child, that I lose a grandparent, and that I lose and regain a brother, that I might know true love from temporary loss.
- It is better that I experience financial insecurity through debt so that I may know prudence from foolishness.
- It is better that I experience the verbal assaults from an estranged soul so that I may know truth from error.
- It is better that I pass through sorrow, that I may know the good from the evil.
Three summers ago we spent countless hours and hundreds of dollars on our garden.
What once was a pile of huge weeds was now a beautiful garden, with irrigation, plants, and fruit, ready to be harvested. We were so happy planting, pruning and tending to our little bit of land. This project provided much needed grounding for my loved ones, a place to release the tensions, anxiety and stress of life. Mother Earth would generously and freely take the burdens at our feet, and fuel our souls with life; the fruit of our labors in every form that we planted. This garden brought to us great joy.
On a hot July Saturday afternoon, Jonny and I took our oldest daughter Anna to a play in South Jordan, our youngest kids stayed home with a babysitter. We arrived a few minutes before showtime, just enough time to visit with other family members who were congregating to watch a cousin who was playing the leading role in, “Les Miserables.” Not more than three minutes after we arrived Jonny received a phone call from a member of our bishopric. “Jonny, the field behind your house is up in flames. Your children are alright, they are at my house, but you should come home.”
Within 15 minutes we were home. Our circle was closed to traffic. Five fire stations beckoned the call to our house, and those others whose backyards backed up to the five acre field that went ablaze. A careless smoker cause the fire. Because of great neglect on the part of the landowers, the tall, dry weeds were quick tinder for the sparks. Within minutes the flames were easily ten feet tall, and breathing down the neck of our neighbor’s back porch. Our fence was destroyed. our beautiful garden was ash. I stood looking out at the scene. Our home was fine. Smelly, but fine. Our kids were great, they thought it was fun to go onto a field trip with the babysitter to her house. Months before I put an imaginary bubble around our house, to protect it from adversial forces. I knew without a doubt that angels were watching over my home, protecting it against loss. I could feel the fear, which descended down every vein, evaporate into thin air.
About twenty feet from the actual fire grew a small, newly planted peach tree. I love peaches!! Ever since I was a little girl peaches are my favorite fruit, and favorite all time food. I love the color peach. (It was one of three colors at my wedding.) I love the fruit, I love, love peaches. My beautiful little peach tree died because of the adversity, and exposure to the heat. The once vibrant little tree dried to a crisp. The emerald green leaves shriveled and fell to the earth. The thin trunk stood lifeless as a witness to the atrocities of the flames. I was so sad.
By the following spring we replanted our garden, and we rebuilt the fence.
My little peach tree that died, brought forth new life, with a new trunk growing from the roots. I was so excited! By the end of last year’s growing season that new tree was four feet tall. This spring, we pruned it, watered it and expressed gratitude to a loving Heavenly Father for the life within it.
Just this weekend Brennan picked three beautiful peaches from its branches. These peaches were heavy with moisture, soft with fuzz, and beautiful. During a simple Saturday lunch I cut the fruit to serve with lunch. I have to admit I am a peach connoisseur. My love for this fruit has enabled me to quickly assess the quality of the fruit. As I cut into the life again peaches I couldn’t believe the color. Usually clearly and plainly yellow, the flesh of this fruit was peach, a warm and vibrant juicy color. The skin almost peeled off on its own as I sliced the peach into slivers. Brennan and I were the only ones fast enough to grab a bite. But I have to say, hands down, these were the sweetest, juiciest, most delicious peaches I have ever eaten, ever, in my whole life.
This fruit was delicious to the taste, and very desirable. Out of the ashes grew this tree. This life wants to live, it wants to produce fruit. It wants to give what it was created to give. Out of adversity produces sweetness, if we will let it.
- It is better that my house almost burn down, that I know the protection of angels from the destruction of carelessness.
- It is better that my tree die, that I know that life is gifted from the Almighty from the fear of death.
- It is better that I pass through sorrow, that I know the good from the evil.
