Beverley Campbell - Eve and the Choice Made in Eden

Libraryof Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Campbell,Beverly (Beverly Brough)

Eveand the choice made in Eden / Beverly Campbell.

p. cm.

Includesbibliographical references and index.

ISBN978-1-57008-883-4 (hardbound) ISBN978-1-60641-122-3 (paperbound)

1. Eve(Biblical figure) 2. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-daySaints

Doctrines. I. Title.

BX8643.E92 C36 2002

222'.11092dc21 2002015849

Printed in the United States of America

Malloy Lithographing Incorporated, Ann Arbor, MI

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Tomy beloved Heather and Heather Caitlin Carol, Julie, Celia, Gloria, and Alysa Shauri and Amy Lucile and Cathy Claire and Emily

Andto those men husband, sons, grandsons who bring joy, light, and purpose to my life Pierce Tom and Marc T. J., Robert, Bradley, Matthew, and Michael

Allhave touched my life profoundly in such individual and personal ways

In life all must choose at times.Sometimes, two possibilities are good; neither is evil. Usually, however, oneis of greater import than the other. When in doubt, each must choose that whichconcerns the good of othersthe greater lawrather than that whichchiefly benefits ourselvesthe lesser law. The greater must be chosenwhether it be law or thing. That was the choice made in Eden.

John A. Widtsoe

Preface

Theyear was 1986. Because of my work with womens issues, I had been asked toconsider writing a book about current challenges facing women and the choicesavailable to them. It seemed time for a moderate voice; much of the dialogue atthe time was strident, radical, and harsh. After some pondering and following asuggestion by my doctor that a personal health problem might be best addressedwith rest, I agreed to take a couple of weeks away from the pressures of a verybusy life in Washington, D.C. A friend, Mary Foulger, offered hervacation home in Palm Desert, California. I asked my good friend and formerassistant, Carol Petranek, if she would join me for a long weekend, suggestingwe would start on the book.

The evening after our arrival, with carefully tabulatedresearch all laid out and a then-hard-to-obtain computer atour fingertips, we paused to watch the sunset from the terrace, organize ourplan of attack, and pray for direction. During that half hour of quiet andprayerful musing, a thought pierced my heart. It was as clear and distinct asany thought I have ever had: You are on the wrong path. You are to write abook about Mother Eve and provide correct information about her role. Inherentin this message was a promise that many of the troubles now confronting womenand men would be laid to rest with a correct characterization of the events andmotivations of the great drama in and around the Garden of Eden.

The subject of Mother Eve was not one on which I hadfocused. I questioned Carol, What do you know about Mother Eve? Are youtroubled by what you know? We then began a search of the Bible, which, as mosthave found, addresses this subject in a cursory manner. Yet a careful review ofthe scriptures of the Restoration gave us important new knowledge. We poredthrough the well-stocked bookshelves of my friends home. A review oftwo books by Hugh Nibley revealed that he had thought extensively about this subject.I didnt know him, except by reputation, but nonetheless placed a call. Hegenerously responded, outlining scripture references, sources in literature,ancient manuscripts, operas, and apocryphal materials I should seek out. AfterI had studied all of these, I should feel free to discuss them with him. Hismind is one of the great treasures of our time. That evening I also called oneof the Brethren, whose mentorship I valued, and asked for sources and advice.He kindly referred me to several talks and sources that were not well known.Thus began my journey with Eve. I thank them both for setting my feet on acorrect course.

I have consulted and sought exchanges of ideas and materialswith hundreds of sources. To all who responded so generously, please accept myheartfelt thanks.

Because this work has been so long in process and has oftenbeen shelved for two or three years at a time, I will surely omit thanking someof those who were of great help. Those to whom this book is dedicated haveplayed a vital role, each in his or her own way. Early in the work, anotherbeloved friend, Clare Hardy Johnson, and I shared information, phone calls, andthoughts on this subject quite frequently. Later we were introduced to LucileTate, whose insights were illuminating and important.

But it is my husband, Pierce, whom I thank most of all. Fromthe night I called to tell him of this new direction to the present day, he hasbeen an invaluable sounding board, priesthood protector, voice of reason, andchampion of Mother Eve. He is and has been my partner in the truest sense, inthis and in all my endeavors.

Likewise, I thank our eldest son, Tom. It was his gentle(and not so gentle) prodding over the years that caused me again and again topull the work from the shelf. He would remind me that it wasnt fair thatothers not have this information and insight, particularly his four sons andhis daughter, Heather Caitlin.

To all who have so generously counseled with me, taken mycalls, searched for whatever obscure materials I might request, read themanuscript, or moved the manuscript to the next level by providingvaluable input or access, I say, Thank you. May the result in some way repayyour effort.

Lastly, there would be no knowledge of absolute truth wereit not for the words and writings of prophets and apostles, ancient and modern.I thank them reverently and with deepest gratitude for their lives, theirfaithfulness, their testimonies, and their belief in the women of this Churchand in our magnificent Mother Eve. I have diligently sought to discuss theessential truths of the Garden story by relying on their enlightened words andon revealed scripture.

Nonetheless, the responsibility is my own for the ideas,questions, thoughts, and conjectures presented in this book. And I doacknowledge that some of what is offered here must be consideredconjectureinformed, I believe, but conjecture nonetheless. Because it isessential to have a clear accounting of source materials for a subject sodoctrinally profound, you will find notes in the back of the book to documentthe quotations I have used.

Although much more is known on this subject than the secularworld would suspect, much is yet to be revealed. It seems likely thatclarification will continue to occur as prophets are inspired to speak furtheron these vital subjects.

In these pages I have occasionally referred to ancientrecords called the Apocrypha. When the Prophet Joseph Smith was engaged in hisinspired translation of the King James Version of the Bible, he inquiredwhether the books of the Apocrypha should be translated. He received this reply: Verily,thus saith the Lord unto you concerning the ApocryphaThere are manythings contained therein that are true, and it is mostly translated correctly;there are many things contained therein that are not true....Therefore, whoso readeth it, let him understand, for the Spirit manifestethtruth; and whoso is enlightened by the Spirit shall obtain benefit therefrom;and whoso receiveth not by the Spirit, cannot be benefited (D&C91:16). As readers, we must seek our own confirmation about ideas andinformation we receive.