I Know Not, Save the Lord Commanded Me

            In the beginning of mankind when Adam dwelled upon the earth he was commanded to offer sacrifices unto the Lord after being driven out of the Garden of Eden. While this portion of history is not covered in the book of Genesis but only hinted at when the Lord made coverings of skin for Adam and Eve to wear. It is also further hinted at in a Jewish pseudepigraphical book left out of cannon known as “The Life of Adam and Eve” or “The Apocalypse of Moses” when Adam is allowed to take sweet spices (to offer sacrifices) and seeds for his food (chapters 22-30).

            However in LDS theology, we have an additional book of reference known as the “Book of Moses” which is a restored translation of the first few chapters of Genesis. In it we read about a clear commandment to Adam and Eve to offer sacrifice:

4 And Adam and Eve, his wife, called upon the name of the Lord, and they heard the voice of the Lord from the way toward the Garden of Eden, speaking unto them, and they saw him not; for they were shut out from his presence.

5 And he gave unto them commandments, that they should worship the Lord their God, and should offer the firstlings of their flocks, for an offering unto the Lord. And Adam was obedient unto the commandments of the Lord. (Moses 5:4–5)

Initially Adam and Eve offered sacrifice simply because they were commanded to do so, but later on an angel came to explain the purpose of the law of sacrifice:

6 And after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me.

7 And then the angel spake, saying: This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth.

8 Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thou doest in the name of the Son, and thou shalt repent and call upon God in the name of the Son forevermore. (Moses 5:6–8)

            For the reader, this span of time is but just a couple of minutes of time but for Adam and Eve, they did this for some time before and angel of the Lord came to ask why they did it and Adam’s response speaks volumes, “I know not, save the Lord commanded me.”

            I do not know about you but for me I have always wanted and needed to know why I am to do something and not knowing eats me up inside but God does not often tell you why He wants you to do something until after you have done it. The reason why I believe is for us to be able to obtain faith, being that it is both a gift and an action. The Lord more often leads by example and having His chosen leaders doing the same. Did Adam really need to build faith or did he need to be the example to all of us, his descendants how faith is done. Why we take action when commanded, knowing that one day we WILL know why, and how, and all the mysteries in our lives and in this world will be answered.

Until then we will need faith, and we will need to take some, no, a whole lot of steps in the dark before we see the light and that is ok. If we did not need faith, we would not have things like science and religion. We would not have a choice in our lives, not really because we would already know what the road ahead had in store for us. Life would not be worthwhile and lose its flair. I hate not knowing, hate it, but I am glad that I have chosen to have faith in my life so help me through the dark time, as well as the lighter.