The Fall and Our Father

I think that one of the key results of a major event in the progression of mankind is a new and better understanding of our Father in Heaven. For example, the restoration, and specifically the first vision taught us as a people more about the Father than anyone had been able to gather on their own.

Today's Sunday School lesson was on the Fall, and it struck me that the Fall in a sense did the same thing. It revealed, or perhaps more appropriately redefined, our relationship with our Father. After the Fall and expulsion from the garden Adam and Eve walked no more with God in the same manner that they had before. The spiritual death brought about a separation between them and God. I remember years ago when Dad took that training trip to Oklahoma. He had never been gone that long before, and out of necessity, our relationship with him changed. We could no longer talk with him whenever we wanted, in the same manner as before. We communicated via mail or telephone, but the personal interaction was no longer there. The love still existed, but the manner in which we approached him had changed.

I think that in the same way, our relationship with our Father in Heaven was redefined by the Fall. Because of its effects, we find ourselves outside of our previous association with Him. I can see then why Adam rejoiced when he learned of the atonement, and that through sacrifice and righteousness he could one day again approach his Father as he once had. What a blessing it is to know that through the Savior we can have restored that personal direct association which was once ours.