Campbell's main claim in this book is that if we--as in, everyone in the world--had a truer and better understanding of Eve, there wouldn't be as many problems, particularly between men and women. She makes the case that Eve knew exactly what she was doing, that she had been tutored in her role before the earth, and that of course gives a lot of discussion to the LDS doctrine that Eve's choice to partake of the fruit was essential to the entire plan of salvation. I liked how she addressed the apparent contradiction between the two commandments Adam and Eve were given: to multiply and replenish the earth, and to not partake of the fruit of that tree. She talks about how agency has always been the central element of the Plan of Salvation, and Heavenly Father wouldn't force the Fall to happen without someone making that choice, and he wouldn't force us to come to earth in imperfect bodies and in an imperfect world without us, or our predecessors, choosing it. She also makes some very interesting points about how the Garden was a place of preparation, and all of the training that Eve and Adam when through there. I loved reading all of those chapters about Eve and learning more about her life and some very smart guesses as to what may have happened there.
However, I felt like this book could have been way better. There are so many parts of the story that Campbell doesn't discuss fully--like the actual confrontation between Eve and Satan, and Satan himself. I also was a little annoyed with the last third of the book, which was more about "general principles that are good LDS doctrine" and not really related to the story of Eve and Adam, which was the reason why I was interested in this book. I love, love, love Eve's courage and have a strong testimony about her choice in the Garden of Eden. (Eve is actually one of the names I am thinking about for our baby.) And I love pondering their story and gaining strength from her amazing choices.
No comments:
Post a Comment