Question
Hello Gramps,
Apparentally, the creation of Adam and Eve took place outside of the Garden of Eden? Do you know any sources that tell us where Adam and Eve were before they were allowed to go into the Garden of Eden? Is the answer the Pre-mortal existence? Logic tells me this and I think I read some place, a long time ago, that they were created in the Spirit World and then transplanted to the earth/Garden of Eden. Does my memory fail me. If not, are you familiar with this source? Thanks for your time and for being a good go to person.
Jerry
Answer
Jerry,
A careful reading of Genesis 2:8 suggests that Eden is much more that just a garden. The fruitful garden is located “eastward in Eden”, meaning there’s more Eden off to the west somewhere. Man is first “formed” and then “placed” in this garden, suggesting that he was created outside the garden proper. So where then was Adam created? Perhaps elsewhere in Eden, but what does that really mean?
Brigham Young sometimes publicly speculated about a series of ideas including the creation of Adam and the meaning behind the symbols of the creation account. He shared some of his thoughts as follows:
“He [Adam] was the person who brought the animals and the seeds from other planets to this world and brought a wife with him and stayed here. You may read and believe what you please as to what is found written in the Bible. Adam was made from the dust of an earth, but not from the dust of this earth. He was made as you and I are made, and no person was ever made upon any other principle” -Journal of Discourses, 3:319.
This teaching is certainly worthy of pondering, but I should here note that it was never universally accepted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You don’t generally find it in our manuals and taught in our curricula. Other than equating the premortal Adam with Michael the archangel, I am not aware that we have any further knowledge as to Adam or Eve’s premortal status or activities.
Gramps
