Of Grace and Gardens
©2010 Susan Noyes Anderson
image by Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
In Eden, one tree stood above the rest.
Its fruit, though sweet and luscious, was forbidden.
The serpent held out knowledge as a prize,
beguiling Eve with nuance, gently hidden.
“Eat of this fruit,” he counseled. “It is good.”
The Mother of All Living shook her head.
“I shall not eat, for surely I would die;
and I would not defy what Father said.”
“Nay, ye shall be as God,” the tempter vowed,
“discerning good from evil, as Gods do.”
But Satan did not know the mind of God.
No trickery would Father’s plan subdue.
His pieces of the truth won Eve’s consent.
She took the fruit and ate, then understood.
Sin would become a part of life on earth,
and evil would attempt to vanquish good.
“I know thee; thou art Lucifer,” she said,
“cast out for thy rebellion and thy pride.”
“Go now,” urged he, “for Adam must partake,
as it is meet that you stay by his side.”
And knowing this was so, Eve played her part.
“Take, eat,” she counseled Adam, and he fell.
In sorrow, they would multiply the earth;
no longer in God’s presence would they dwell.
But all was in accordance with His plan,
a plan of happiness and exaltation.
For Christ would be the Savior of mankind –
lifting souls to save them from damnation.
“Adam fell that man might be.” It’s true.
In Him shall all men die, but here’s the grace:
Christ died and rose that man might live again.
Those who accept His gift will see His face.
In Eden’s garden, Adam turned a key;
the door was opened at Gethsemane.
Two gardens. Count them holy ground indeed,
where life eternal garnered sacred seed.
∞§∞
If this poem resonates with you, you might also enjoy reading The Path of Discipleship and Easter: the Gift of Christ. More poems on related themes are pictured below.
Related Poems:
Tags: Adam and Eve, atonement, Christ, exaltation, Garden of Eden, grace, original sin, Redeemer, repentance, salvation, Savior, sin, The Fall
