“Lamentation” is a poem written by Arta Romney Baliff. The poem is written from the perspective of Eve and how she “traded the fruit of the garden for the fruit of [her] body” (Baliff). She expresses her love for her children as she teaches them about God and the wonders of His creation. Suddenly, her joy turns into immense sorrow as she hears about Abel’s murder and Cain’s banishment. Her heart is broken, and she begins her lament over the loss of her sons. As I read Baliff’s interpretation of Eve’s grief, I felt her deep sorrow too. Any mother who loves her children with all of her heart would mourn along with Eve as she loses both Cain and Abel.

There are many lessons that we can learn from the story of Adam and Eve. Following, are just a few of the messages that I took from their story and how you and I can apply these lessons in our own lives and families.

A Message of Sacrifice

One of the commandments that Adam received from the Lord after his banishment from the Garden of Eden was to offer animal sacrifice (Moses 5:5). This sacrifice was symbolic of the atonement of Jesus Christ—who gave his life to atone for the sins of all mankind. In our day, we have been commanded to be a living sacrifice to the Lord (Romans 12:1).  We do this by giving our whole souls, both spirit and body, to the Lord as a token of our love for Him.

This commandment of sacrifice reaches every aspect of our lives, including that of a spouse and a parent. As a mother, I have sacrificed my body, my heart, and all that I have to raise godly children. As I put their needs before my own, they too learn the principle of sacrifice. In marriage, it’s no different. We don’t just lay a portion of our bodies upon the altar of sacrifice, we give our spouse all that we have. How much we sacrifice for our spouse and children is symbolic of our love for the Lord. If we don’t give all that we have to our family, then we are holding back from the Lord too.

A Message of Seeing the Good

As Adam and Eve progressed, they saw how abundantly the Lord had blessed them. They praised God for His goodness and mercy. They understood that their expulsion from the garden was for their benefit and that their sorrows were only for a moment. They saw the good that would come from their trials and tribulations. They understood their eternal potential.

We too can see the good in all things if we love and serve God with all of our heart. We will look past the faults of our spouses. We will see the possibilities and goodness in our children. We won’t dwell on faults and trivial weaknesses, but will instead say and do things to build our family members up and help them see their divine potential. In turn, our love for God and our family will increase.

A Message of Unconditional Love

Baliff’s Eve is a woman who loves her children unconditionally. As she hears of Abel’s murder and Cain’s betrayal, she mourns for the loss of both sons. She wonders how her son Cain is the person responsible for death of Abel. After Cain is banished, she worries about his well-being and his happiness. The love she has for both of her sons is evident in her mournful expressions.

Adam and Eve loved God with all of their hearts and were obedient to His commandments. Their love for one another and their love for their children was proportionate to their love for God. 

How willing we are to sacrifice for our Father in Heaven; how willing we are to see the blessings that God gives us; and how unconditional our love is for God, is proportional to how we willing we are to do the same for our families. If we look to Adam and Eve as our examples of a son and daughter of God, as married partners, and as parents, we see that their first priority was their love and obedience to God.

If we love God with all of our heart, might, mind, and strength, then we will be able to show that same type of love to our spouses and our children. That kind of love comes from sacrifice. It’s demonstrated as we acknowledge the blessings God has given us and as we look for the good in our family members. It slowly develops into the pure love of Christ as we faithfully continue to love and obey God and serve our family.  

I know that as we demonstrate our love to God through our obedience and sacrifice, He will bestow upon us an ability to love our families more fully. I also know that as we develop this love, our family will be strengthened by it. 

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Works Cited

Baliff, Arta Romney. “Lamentation.” Covenant Hearts: Why Marriage Matters and How to Make It Last, by Bruce C. Hafen, Deseret Book, 2013, pp. 67–70.