Geneses 2 : Searching for Eden

I have always been enchanted by the four rivers that run out of Eden. I, (like many others) it turns out thought of them as a treasure map that would help find Eden. But like the chasing of rainbows Eden is not to be found. It is magical. It is not mystical. It is real.  It is not something you hold, but rather something deep and inspirational that holds you.  Eden comes to those who seek what Eden has to offer not- where is was originally found. 

I did some searching of my own. 

• I discovered that people have looked for centuries as to the whereabouts of the Garden of Eden.
•  I discovered that many believe it was in Africa, Mesopotamia, the Mountains near Iran, China, etc. 
• The 4 heads of the river were known as Pison, Gihon, Euphrates and Hidekkel
• There are as many speculative ideas as there are evidences for and against. So I decided not to be distracted by the exact whereabouts of Eden's Garden. 

When you consider there was a flood, etc.. it is unlikely that it is where it once was. Then I found a LDS reference to the Garden of Eden by Bruce A Van Orden, associate professor of Church history, BYU. Some key points he made concerning the whereabout of Eden are: 

• Before the fall of Adam (before he left the garden) the earth was in a paradisiacal form
• Before the fall, the Garden was the center of the paradisiacal earth. 
• After the fall there was no paradisiacal place. All of the earth fell. 
• Joseph Smith declared that (D&C 57) the ancient Garden of Eden was in Jackson Missiouri
• Brigham Young stated, "Joseph the Prophet told me that the garden of Eden was in Jackson Missouri."   (Journal of Wilfor Woodruff, vol. 5, 15 Mar. 1857 Archives Division, Church Historical Dept., Salt Lake City.) 
• President Joseph Fielding Smith said: “In accord with the revelations given to the Prophet Joseph Smith, we teach that the Garden of Eden was on the American continent located where the City of Zion, or the New Jerusalem, will be built. 
• When Adam and Eve were driven out of the Garden, they eventually dwelt at a place called Adam-ondi-Ahman, situated in what is now Daviess County, Missouri. … We are committed to the fact that Adam dwelt on [the] American continent.” (Doctrines of Salvation, 3 vols., comp. Bruce R. McConkie, Salt Lake City:Bookcraft, 1956, 3:74. Compare Answers to Gospel Questions, 5 vols., Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1957–75, 2:93–95, 4:19–24; and Alvin R. Dyer, in Conference Report, Oct. 1968, pp. 108–9.)

What I found more interesting is that Eden represents all that we hold dear. It's as if we are always searching for it, ever since Adam left Eden.  

Verse 9... talks about how God gave 

1. Beauty (trees that are pleasant to the sight)

2. Food (trees that are good for food)

3. Eternity (tree of life ) (Immortality)

4. Truth (tree of knowledge of good and evil) 

5. Water ( we know that a river ran out of Eden and divided into four branches.) 

 Think for a moment about your home. What do the common comforts of home offer? 

1. water 

2. food 

3. Beauty - for the soul.. visual, audio, touch, taste, thought (the 5 senses)

4. truth - for the spirit

5. knowledge of good and evil .. -for the experience of man that he might exercise his agency.

If a home has all of these things then you will have no need to leave. But they don't have them all and we must often leave our homes to find food, to find beuaty, to seek for truth and to learn about good and evil. 

It's as if we are always searching for the home we once knew as Eden's Garden. While we were there we did not have to work because all of our needs were provided for us. We did not have to fear because we did not know of evil.. or good.. we only knew of existence. 
As beautiful as the Garden of Eden was, I believe that I enjoy the experience of Eden much more than the place called Eden. For when we carry Eden in our hearts it can be with us everywhere we go. 

  

"In the beginning...to create is divine" Genesis 1

Just a few short weeks past, our family celebrated a ‘new beginning’. As my daughter gave birth to my grandson, we welcomed him to earth. His creation, his birth, represents new beginnings and renewed hope. Children help us renew our joy of family, of relationships, and in one another, but mostly children help us consider what the phrase  "to create is divine" truly means.

We all have a beginning, a time when we were not known to this sphere of existence. Did Zbaby (grandson) exist before he was created? What was my parent’s life like before they knew me? How did they, did God, did life converge to make me? Or did I converge with them?

The first book of Genesis is about creation. When I first read it I have to admit that I heard myself say, “Here we go again, the same old story of the earth’s creation”. I was certain I could recite it. But yesterday morning as I read carefully, I came upon the lines “to create is divine.” It changed something in me. My joy began to gurgle up within me like a spring of eternal truth.

I remembered my own children, my own creations, my own unique thoughts, ideas, inventions, perspectives and as I continued to read I realized that the first book of Genesis is not just a book that describes the world’s creation. The first book of Genesis is God’s gift to us that serves as blueprint for all creation, and for all new beginnings.

My joy was great. I realized that God intended this to be more than a history lesson, he intended (for hearts that will listen) to instruct. And I rejoiced to read positive, inspirational, directional and joyful scripture.

Consider this:
Creation = Declaration + Inspiration Intelligence + Contrast + Grouping of purpose + Gathering through naming + degrees of energy + Organization by implementation + Delegation of Leadership. 



Vs 1 Declaration – God declares what it is he intended to do: create the earth and heavens.

Vs. 2-Inspiration  intelligence  - (step one)    After he created the earth... it was without form. (shape, structure). It was void (empty, barren, blank, invalid, no purpose). so... what did God do? He moved his spirit upon the face of the earth. He gave the earth life. Life comes from God's spirit.
This is a good point.Without life creation just is. Life brings purpose and direction to creation.
Also before God's spirit, what was there? only darkness Where was the darkness? upon the face of the deep. Take anything new... add the elements of God's spirit (faith, hope, love, patience, joy, tolerance, truth) ... and you will have life.

vs 3 First Day(Step One) :Organization through Opposition- God saw that within his creation there was no form... no purpose.. no structure.. no validity for his creation and that this creation exists solely within darkness. What do we have when we do not have contrast in our lives? We have darkness. Artist understand that the way to accentuate your creation is to use contrast. Musicians use contrasting dynamics, notes, instruments, etc. Painters use contrasting color, etc. Contrasts help to create purpose and direction for your creation.
So God creates (with the power of his word) Light. Now he has darkness that is where? (upon the face of the deep(space?) and light that is where? (upon the face of the waters as he moved upon the face of the waters). He is continuing to create.. but must divide the two.
At the end of the first day ... after he created the earth.. he has now added light (to contrast the darkness)


vs 6 Second Day (Step 2)Organization through Grouping of Purpose  firmament. okay.. I will go out on a limb here and say that throughout all of my youth I thought firmament referred to the terra firma.. the ground the earth.. It doesn't. Firmament refers to the sky. God had to further separate out "earth" by dividing once again the waters.
Firmament: the sky, heaven; the heavens, the skies; literary the empyrean, the welkin.
Keep in mind that as he is dividing, he is assigning purpose. The Heavens now work to keep the waters separated. The sky works to create atmosphere so that life can exist.
I think it's interesting that the first evening and the first morning were accounted as the second day. And that it went in that order... evening and then morning. night before dawn.

Vs 9 Third Day (Step 3) Organization through Gathering and Naming- God called a gathering of the waters under the heavens. By so doing he was able to allow the earth to come forth. The waters were therefore given rules as to where they could be. By so doing he could begin the next phase...the naming.
Where do you suppose he came up with ideas for names? What is the value of a name to a creation? What is the value of a name within a culture. He named: earth, sea, grass, herb, fruit,
But what is important is that these things either already existed... (because he created them in verse one) and he (when he moved upon the face of the water) caused them to find life or at this time on the third day he creates them anew and now names them.
This is significant.. because it plays to our existence before our creation. If God knew of these things and merely created them anew in the earth by bringing them from somewhere else then we can begin to think of ourselves as eternal beings, with a name, a purpose, and a reason for living out time here on this earth.

vs 14 Fourth Day (Step 4) Organization through degrees of light- Energy -
I think it is important to note that Light existed before the Sun. Light came on the second day when God moved upon the face of the waters, but the Sun did not come until the fourth day when God put it and the moon into the firmament. Is is safe to ask, Are light and Sun the same? Is light maybe something more than we imagine? Or maybe he took the light from the 2nd day and organized it by degrees?

vs 20 Fifth Day (Step 5) Occupation of Life's action. (organization by purpose)  -  Just like on the 3rd day when he called forth the life from within the dry earth, he calls for the life.. "let the waters bring forth abundantly the living creatures who have life."
God understood the purpose of order. If he had created the sun first (before the waters) what might have happened? If he had created the earth without waters what might have happened? I believe that life has always existed and God was merely putting into place the organization, order and structure that life required to exist under the energy of the Sun.

On this 5th day he calls forth what was within his spirit.. from all living creatures.

vs 26 Sixth Day (Step 6)organization through leadership-  the final step of his kingdom. From the beginning he has created the base for life. Light, Water, Air, seed, creatures from the sea, air, and now the earth. Each had its own purpose in the cycle of life. Each has its own place in the earth's cycle. Their physical bodies both require and return to the earth. Their spiritual natures, their beauty and purpose nurture the spirits that God will place here.
All are commanded to multiply and replenish... the earth... an earth that God created for them and through them.
God will create man so that someone will consider the beasts, name them and care for them. God will create all these things for what purpose? for amusement?

2 Timothy 4 ( Preach the word)

Elder Robert Shaw and his companion with fellow saints in the 

Angeles, Philippines Mission 2002-2004

In May of 2002, my son Robert left the United States for the Philippines. He took Paul's charge to Timothy to "preach the word".(2)  He took to heart and chose to serve two years preaching, so that like Paul, he could work to thwart the turning away of honest ears from the truth(4). He worked to keep the truth from turning "into  fables"(4). 

As I read Paul's words to Timothy this second time before he is brought before Nero(footnote), I could hear in his plea a sense of for-longing for his missionary companions that forsook their mission of Christ for "this present world"(10-15) I could hear his faith resounding in his words of hope that reminded himself and Timothy of the "crown of righteousness"(8) that awaits those who "reprove, rebuke and exhort with long-suffering and doctrine"(2). 

I thought of the visit that my husband and I paid to our son at the close of his mission. He introduced us to all of his dear friends that he had taught and loved. I remembered the sacrifices and the lives that he saw changed as he helped those who "withstood  words"(15)  learn how to "endure sound doctrine"(3). 

Serving a mission for Christ is not an easy choice. It requires learning how to "do the work"(v5) and an ever watching "in all things"( 5). Paul prepares Timothy and all who choose to serve that you will need to learn how to "endure afflictions"(5) and work to "make full-proof of they ministry" (5), or finish the work. It requires learning how to separate "lusts" from "love", to put a stop to "itching ears", and how to say like Paul with conviction, "I have kept the faith" (vs 7). 

     My son learned to love his companions as well as those whom he taught. While there we met the Go family, whose son was an endeared companion of our son. From Elder Go, my son learned the nuances of the  Philippine culture, the Tagalog language, how to prepare the food, and so many life long lessons that only Elder Go would be able to teach him. From the people of the Philippines my son learned humility, grace, strength, and what it means to live on faith. He saw lives changed, covenants made, and the light of hope take refuge within the eyes of those who believed in Christ. 

While in the Philippines, he built great friendships with other missionaries who supported and did the work "diligently"( 9). But I believe the greatest relationship that he or anyone who embarks on this course is with our Savior. Paul speaks of how though so many of his companions had forsaken him while he was in prision, he still was able to pray that it "will not be laid to their charge"(16). But mostly he learned that "the Lord stood with me", and the Lord "strengthened me"(17). 

Now as our son has returned and as many of us have gone on with our lives "in this present world", it is Paul's hope that Timothy and all of those who serve God, will understand that in serving we are promised to be "delivered from every evil work"(18).  We are promised our "heavenly kingdom"  where Christ Jesus will reign in glory "for ever and ever." It is here that we must learn to forsake the present world and seek that truth that Paul suffered for. 

Paul had a mission to teach to the Gentiles, "that the Gentiles might here". 

Each of us has a mission, "a charge" to "be instant in the season" and not let the truth pass us by. 

Today I will ponder what is my charge? Is it not to do as Paul did and preach and endure sound doctrine? 

 Breakdown of verses 

1-2 - Paul charges to preach the word 

3-5  He speaks of an upcoming apostasy where men will seek after their own lusts 

6-7  Reconciliation for his fight 

8-9 Reward

10-15 Lonliness Loyalty, forsaken 

15- Enemy 

16- Alone 

17- 18 Lord's Support

19-22 Directions 

2 Timothy 3 (Perilous times)

What our eyes behold often determines what we think. 

Henry B. Eyring said, "The prophets of God have foreseen the times in which we live. The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.” 1 Anyone with eyes to see the signs of the times and ears to hear the words of prophets knows that the peril is great. The peril comes from the forces of wickedness. Those forces are increasing. And so it will become harder, not easier, to keep the covenants we must make to live the gospel of Jesus Christ."

Why does Paul describe the last days as perilous? 
What does he want Timothy to understand? 
Perilous means fraught with danger. What is in jeopardy? How do our covenants protect us?

In looking at the definition of perilous, I wondered how it related to Paul's description of the last days.
Are not we living in blessed time? Can we not do all that we need with lightening speed? Is there a reason to fear? I think it is important to understand that all pleasures, all advances come at a price. All too often we realize the prize is greater than we first thought. What do the prophets say of these times?

Perilous: dangerous, fraught with danger, hazardous, risky, unsafe, treacherous; precarious, vulnerable, uncertain, insecure, exposed, at risk, in jeopardy, in danger, touch-and-go; informal dicey.

Paul gave a series of words that he felt were connotations of the word perilous. As I  read them I imagined if I could see: one person, one situation, one circumstance. The newspapers are fraught with examples.

Perilous times:                                    

• lovers of their own selves  -  I wondered what the world would be like without mirrors, photographs,  media, video, face book, How would it be to have to go to another individual to find the love within our selves? Isn't is a different experience to discover a self love based on service as opposed to one based on self grandeur? 
• covetous - o In our 30 years of economic growth have we learned to accept or to covet? How do we define success? with gratitude or discontent? 
• boasters- politicians, athletes, 
• proud- powerful, wealthy, successful, educated, religious, ethnic 
• blasphemers Are there not those who would defame another, or God. Show no respect?
• disobedient to parents- Can we see that there are many who no longer respect the wisdom of the older generation? This is sad b/c the older generation live longer now more than ever before. Do not our parents perspectives bring great blessings of lessons learned. 
• unthankful - Who has not known a man who has shown no gratitude. 
• unholy 
• without natural affection  lust is not love. Love is pure natural affection. Or is there another interpretation? Unable to feel? Unable to understand another's pain? 
• trucebreakers 
• fasle accusers 
• incontinent 
• fierce 
• despisers of those that are good = Who wants to see prayer done away with? Who wants to see all that is good gone. Can we say Merry Christmas anymore? What has happened to our country?
• traitors, 
• heady - Are there those who will refuse comment on their work? difficult to work with?
• highminded 
• lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God - Given the choice to serve another or watch entertainment, which do you choose? What does this say about us? 
• denying the power of God - when God gives us a miracle do we recognize the power of his hand in our lives or do we chalk it up to coincidence? What is coincidence but the power of God in our lives. REvelation comes to those who seek it. Yet there are many who say it does not occur anymore. Why? 
• creep into houses - What creeps into our houses that we don't open the door wide open and let it in? Could it be said that television, internet, music, etc. creep into our houses? 
• divers lusts - lusts that are unholy, unseemly, lusts for the most wicked and preverse things? 
• ever learning .. never able to come to a knowledge of the truth - who has gone to school for years. found wisdom, respect, intelligence and yet they are unsettled because of their lack of faith. Who can know the truth if they do not seek it? Does truth come from the learning of man's words or the practicing of God's wisdom? Where does curiosity end? 
• men of corrupt minds - Where do corrupt minds come from if not from the practicing of unstable living? If you are jealous, covetous, and ungrateful, how can you expect to find peace? Peace comes from putting into practice the  solid understanding of truth.
• reprobate concerning the faith - Who knows of God's love? Who knows of God's faith but he whom will practice it? 

Now.. what to do? What to choose? How to live? 

Man of God  Paul was all of these. Can we too choose one and practice it? 

• manner of life Paul Mother Theresa, Prophets, Apostles, Bishops, 
• purpose - I think of so many who after a lifetime of work, have no purpose to their lives? Is the purpose of life to eat or should we eat so that we might discover the purpose of life. What should we eat that will bring us the greatest satisfaction? 
• faith - believing in what we cannot see
• long-suffering -living for what we cannot always understand
• charity 
• patience 
• persecutions, 
• affliction 
• live godly in Christ 
• suffer persecution 
• from a child thous hast known the scriptures
• wise unto salvation 
• continue in the things which thou hast learned 
• knowing whom thou hast learned them
• by inspiration 
• profitable for doctrine 
• for reproof 
• for correction 
• for instruction in righteousness 
• perfect 
• throughly furnished unto all good works

After reading this list, I have to ask? Did Christ miss any of these? I don't believe so? 

Paul chose to contrast the evil with the good so that we could all see clearly what we fight in order to maintain our faith. The battle is not easy. It is long. It is not for the weak. It is for the loving, the kind, and the sure. Persecution will mark our paths. Why? Because darkness disdains light. Because those who are in pain seek to destroy the peace of others. Because no one likes to be told they made a mistake. 

The times are perilous because the hearts of men steer clear of correction, reproof, or instruction. Without a ruder to guide any ship will surely face the ragged rocks and certain demise. But with a guiding oar to guide, we can all find our way to calm and sure waters.