Please pass the fig leaves...

Peace and blessings to you my friends!

As we look at the illuminating Garden of Eden story, we see many layers of symbols and meanings. Of significant importance is the symbolism of the green fig leaves.
As you recall, Adam (Spirit) and Eve (Body) are told by God not to partake of the fruit of knowledge of good and evil. For most Nicodemus members of the church, the Fall is considered to be a purely positive event, necessary for the spiritual development of mankind. For most everyone else it is viewed purely as a negative event and most especially as "original sin." The Fall clearly has both negative and positive elements. It is important to have a balanced view of the Fall and to see it in totality.

One of the first effects of partaking of the fruit for Adam and Eve is recognition that they are naked and that this is an embarrassment (evil) even though Adam and Eve had been walking and talking with God in this manner. This essential part of the story punctuates the fear, anxiety, and worry that begin to corrupt the bodies of Adam and Eve. Partaking of the fruit begins a spiral into the physical or carnal world that is fragmented into seeing things as either good or evil. They become lost in the physical plane of existence. The first thing they saw as evil in addition to partaking of the fruit was their own naked bodies. This led to the first great "cover up" which most public relations firms and lawyers would agree is in many ways worse than the actual event you are trying to cover up.

Genesis 3:7 says that Adam and Eve's eyes (physical/carnal) were "opened" and they knew that they were naked. The superscript for "opened" in the LDS edition of the scriptures references "Fall of Man." This is very appropriate. As their physical eyes opened, their spiritual eyesight went dim. What they had once seen as normal and had been a symbol of their oneness with their surroundings, was now associated with shame, fear, anxiety and worry. They had forgotten that God had made all things and put them in the garden as they were. Genesis says: And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed" (Genesis 2:25). The partaking of the fruit, led to shame, fear, anxiety, fragmentation and a reliance on the physical.

To symbolize this event, the scriptures say that Adam and Eve made aprons of fig leaves. Why fig leaves? What do the fig leaves symbolize? In order to understand the symbolism it is important to understand the significance of figs. The LDS bible dictionary speaks of figs being "everywhere common in Palestine". The symbolism of this is that what Adam and Eve did is common. It happens to all of us. As has been mentioned before, this Garden of Eden story is not just a historical event but a symbolic circumstance that human beings engage in from moment to moment each and everyday. Thus a common symbol is very appropriate and fig trees as a very common fruit tree fit this concept. It also suggests that Adam and Eve went from having an uncommon, peculiar (treasured), spiritually centered perspective that recognized unity in all things, to a common, carnal, physically-dominated view on life that sees a fragmented world. Once again, the foliage of the common fig tree would fit this symbolism.

In addition, an apron made of fig leaves would tend to wilt very quickly. This tends to suggest that their "cover" will need to be constantly replenished. It is temporal. It is illusory and Adam and Eve will need to work very hard to keep up this facade. This anxiety and constant need to replenish the fragmentary belief system that Spirit and Body have fallen into will deplete them to the point of exhaustion and death.

Further evidence, that Adam and Eve were now spiritually blind is God's question to them before he pronounces the consequences of eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. He asks them a very important question: "Who told thee that thou wast naked?" This question should serve as a wake up call to Nicodemus Mormons everywhere. As a former Nicodemus Mormon, although I knew that Satan was the father of lies, I actually viewed him more as a spoiler or a spiller of beans. We must be careful not to take what Satan says at face value. We cannot trust any information that comes out of his mouth. Nicodemus Mormons often believe that Satan will tell 99 truths in order to perpetuate 1 lie. This is a dangerous assumption to make and can lead to ongoing spiritual blindness. We must be careful to not assume that anything he is saying is the truth or that we are somehow clever enough to see the distinction in his statements. A better approach, and one that is more accurate in deciphering the spiritual symbolism of the Garden of Eden event, is to simply see Satan for what he is: The father of lies. Start to look at each of Satan's statements as a falsehood designed to blind you. An essential step in becoming a Millennial Mormon is casting out Satan and no longer listening to anything he has to say.

Thus, the initial symbolism of the fig leaf aprons worn by Adam and Eve is a covering symbolizing blindness. Carnal man will view it as a symbol of chastity. This is a carnal interpretation that is not necessarily wrong. It is a superficial way of looking at it. Deeper symbolism suggests blindness. Additionally, the color green can be associated with and represent, sickness, poison, death and decay which is all appropriate with certain consequences of the Fall.

The color green can have very contradictory meanings and symbolisms. It can mean both life and death. It means both sickness and health. Thus fig leaf aprons are a very appropriate symbol of fragmentation. In some cultures, the color green, is symbolic of the devil. In Chinese, the symbol for cuckold (a man whose wife has committed adultery) is a man wearing a green hat. This is a nice parallel of how the body (Eve) seeks after forbidden fruit (carnal/physical desires) instead of cleaving to the Spirit (Adam).

The meaning of the green fig leaves changes and evolves over time as Adam and Eve take the long hard road to return to the Tree of Life (Jesus Christ, or seeing the unity of all things or At-One-Ment). With God nothing is impossible. And so the color green and fig leaves can become a positive symbol in the end. The color green also has reference to the tree of life, resurrection, eternal life and immortality. For instance, the Egyptian god of the resurrection, Osiris, was depicted as having green skin.

OSIRIS with Green Skin

Other important symbolisms of fig leaves is that when a fig tree has leaves there should always be fruit (see Bible Dictionary for Fig Trees). Thus, the leaves also symbolize fertility and the ability to produce offspring. This includes children but it also symbolizes our 5 senses of smell, taste, sight, hearing, and touch. Additionally, it also suggests that we have the power to create not just children but anything else we want. It suggests that we can make things that are "man-made" to help us feel comfortable and avoid the pain of a fragmented world where the natural man and woman sees death, sickness, grief and loneliness. We then can become dependent on our "man-made" creations and get lost in them. We can create "Towers of Babel" that are man-made which tend to be self-serving, give an illusion of security, and are carnally inspired. Just as in the tower of Babel story, this leads to confusion and fragmentation. On the other hand, we can create that which is inspired of God through which all the nations of the earth will be blessed. This is our agency.

With God nothing is impossible and in spite of the Fall, a remedy is given to Adam and Eve that will help them to work through their blindness. Messengers are a big part of this. All true messengers represent and symbolize Jesus Christ. It is through studying His life and taking upon His name that we come to see clearly and are able to banish Satan from our midst. As a result the green fig leaves become a symbol for renewal and resurrection. It becomes a symbol of physicality that will always be with us. Ideally, our physical natures and the physical world are brought into their proper perspective and are viewed as a small but significant part of the totality of eternal life and reality. The spiritual world is much larger and can't be seen with physical eyes. Once this is grasped, the physical body becomes a submissive vessel to create that which edifies, and generates beauty, peace and blessings to the world.

The physical plane of existence is only part of our lives. It is significant but easy to become lost in. While the spiritual must take priority over the physical, the physical is not to be completely abolished. The physical remains with us and provides a fullness of joy (see D&C 93:33-34). The physical is not evil or bad.

My best to you as you make the journey to becoming a Millennial Mormon. Please continue to send me your e-mails and update me on your journey. Until next time my friends.

Garden of Eden: Give me literalism and give me death

One of the most profound points in my life is when I woke up (spiritual sight) and recognized that viewing the Garden of Eden story as a purely literal (physical senses) event was limiting me and perhaps even harming me to a degree. It is the temple endowment that has given me the opportunity to see everything not just with physical eyes but spiritual eyes and I have been blessed ever since. I thank God for the prophet Joseph Smith. The temple endowment is amazing! It is the school of the prophets. A spiritual uni-verse-ity.

One significant precept that I have learned is that the nearest temple is YOU! The Apostle Paul said it best: "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16). I often like to ask members of the church where the nearest temple is for them. Usually they say Salt Lake, Provo, Idaho Falls, etc. Then I point to their body and say: "did you forget about this one?" The usual response is one of shock and surprise and they go away with a ponderous look on their face.

Once you recognize that the temple and the physical body are synonymous then the endowment takes on a whole (holy) new meaning! I had forgotten that everything in the temple is symbolic and that the temple is saturated with symbolism. The natural man or woman has a tendency to view things in a surface, superficial, literal, and physical manner. As a result, the temple endowment is not internalized (within our temple-body) until the spiritual man or woman is presiding.

King Benjamin said it best: "For the natural man is an enemy (alienated) to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit . . ." (Mosiah 3:19). When did that natural man become an enemy to God? It happened at the moment of the fall of Adam. But wait you might say! I thought Adam and Eve were great heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice so we could be born! Why is King Benjamin saying that they became an enemy to God when they fell? I thought the Fall was 100% positive and a good and necessary step in our eternal journey! Are you and King Benjamin agreeing with certain orthodox or fundamentalist Christians who say Adam and Eve were evil horrible sinners who deserved to be thrust down to hell and are the worst of the worst?

I was one of the reactionary natural minded individuals who put Adam and Eve on a pedestal probably because so many others did it and because those who persecute us tend to cast Adam and Eve in an equally opposite light. For some, Adam and Eve are the most villainous individuals to have walked the planet. I disagree with that as well as putting them high on pedestals or even worshipping them as some fundamentalists do. Adam and Eve would not want you to see them as more than they are. The natural man would either want you to hate them or worship them. So now I see them as they truly are. Like me. In fact, they have everything to do with me.

As I read the scriptures and went to the temple, it never occurred to me that Adam and Eve could be symbolic in any way. For me, they were my literal "first parents". Or my common ancestor. But if we are the temple of God then perhaps Adam and Eve have something to do with us. I tried to liken myself to Adam and Eve. Perhaps they represent some aspect of ourselves that is important to understand.

In ancient cultures, the physical, or the Earth, was always represented as a female, whereas the sky was represented in a masculine way. We still understand the concept of "Mother Earth" and "Father Sky" (Father in Heaven). I personally had previously connected myself to Adam since I am a man. That is an obvious parallel. I would assume that women tend to identify with Eve. It never occurred to me that Eve would have something to do with who I am right now or that she is a part of me. Symbolically, she is me! Like "Mother Earth" she is the physical me. She is the natural me. She came from Spirit (the rib of Adam). She is my body! Through literal eyes and perspective, she is my first parent. On a spiritual and symbolic level, she takes on a different meaning. She is our physical natures.

Adam on the other hand is symbolic of our spirits. For men and women, he is symbolic of the male or female spirit within our physical body. Just as Adam came first so our spirits came first before our bodies. This is also symbolized perhaps in what Jesus said to his Apostles in Gethsemane: The Spirit (Adam) indeed is willing (to follow God's commandments)but the Flesh (Eve) is weak (succumbs to temptation) Matthew 26:41. (I can see you. You're ready to pick up some stones for me calling Eve weak. Remember Nicodemus Mormons, we are talking about spiritual symbolism here. Just hang in there.)

This symbolism also plays out in our actual physical natures. Generally, men are known to be physically stronger than women (although this would be debatable in my case) and women are archaically known as the "weaker" sex. (I think I saw someone picking up stones. Maybe I should duck.)

The story of Adam and Eve, therefore, should not just be interpreted as literal but it can be a powerful parable about the relationship between our spirits and our bodies. So when the prophet Abinadi talks about the "old serpent that did beguile our first parents, which was the cause of their fall; which was the cause of all mankind becoming carnal (physically dominated), sensual (sensory dominated), devilish (prone to temptation and tempting others), knowing evil from good (the opposite of the oneness and unity of the tree of life), subjecting themselves to the devil. Thus all mankind were lost (blinded); and behold they would have been endlessly lost (blinded) were it not that God redeemed his people (through the At-one-ment of Christ) from their lost (blinded) and fallen state" (Mosiah 16:3-4), then you will look upon it with new eyes in a spiritual way and not want to cast the first torch to the prophet Abinadi for insulting the reputations of our first parents!

What went on in the Garden of Eden happens in the temple (you) each (this) day. Each day you wake up and look at the world in a fragmented way. Your physical nature is tempted in a sensory dominated manner (the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes Genesis 3:6) to categorize and label every-thing you physically see, touch, hear, smell and taste as either good or evil. Everything is either a threat to our peace and security or it provides comfort and escape from the illusory threats of a lone and dreary world. Thus you partake of the tree of knowledge of good and evil moment to moment. This leads to the curse (consequences) that are explained to Adam (Spirit) and Eve (Body). It leads to the "Woe-man" (woe means misery from affliction) ruling over Adam (spiritual man or woman in bondage to the natural man or woman).

God, in his mercy, gives a future remedy for this significant problem, not the least of which is that Adam (Spirit) is to rule over Eve (Body). A literal-centric individual would view Adam presiding over Eve as either patriarchy or the (natural) priesthood order. This literal perspective misses the whole (holy) point of the story in my opinion. It's about what is going on inside you!

When we look at every-thing through the lens of good or evil we (physically) see a fragmented, hostile, dreary, harsh and lonesome world. It is filled with fear, dread and death. You might say we live a Telestial existence as we look for ways to survive this hostile environment. We go from Adam and Eve being in a garden, naked and "not ashamed" to running, hiding, feeling ashamed, feeling guilty, making aprons of fig leaves, blaming, and disconnecting (making ourselves an enemy as Mosiah said) from God. In the ultimate irony, we become spiritually blind even though our physical eyes have been opened by partaking of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. This spiritual blindness and physical-sight-reliance leads to fear, anxiety, worry, stress, alienation, loneliness, depression, despair, nervousness, guilt, and trauma. The fear often leads to competitiveness, selfishness, covetousness, greed, pettiness, anger, rage and violence. It is anything but peace of mind. It is a very heavy yoke. It causes physical and spiritual havoc on us each day. Would it surprise you that more and more research is coming out about how these chronic feelings can actually have a profound degenerative effect upon our bodies (not to mention our spirits)?! These feelings connected with the Fall are truly killing us as God had warned! We die a little more each day because of those feelings. This FALLEN perspective is one of the greatest barriers in ushering in the internal Millennium. Thus we see, that understanding the Garden of Eden story is of profound importance. You might say it is a matter of life or death! Thankfully Jesus Christ (Truth) came and showed us the WAY back home. Back to the Garden. Eastward (towards the light). Back to the Tree of Life. Are you ready?