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- Author(s): Beverly Campbell
- Genres: LDS Books
Is the way that women evaluate their own worth affected still by the biblical story of Mother Eve? Author Beverly Campbell suggests, “In much of the literature and in most of the histories referring to women there is an undercurrent of apology, as though there is something not quite ‘all right’ about being a woman. In looking for the source of this unease, I came to recognize that it could be traced to accounts of the Creation and to the ever-prevalent and negative characterizations of Eve.”
She writes of three levels from which the story of Eden must be viewed: as historical fact, as a series of symbols and metaphors, and as a place for a beginning our own search for spiritual understanding and relevance in life. This compelling book may change forever your perception of our first parents and the choice they made.
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My Thoughts
This book gave me an even greater appreciation for the temple and the role the creation story plays in temple ordinances. I’ve always been fascinated by Eve and knew there was more to her story than the limited details we get in the standard works. Campbell combines scriptures, the words of modern church leaders, and historical context to present a more complete picture of Mother Eve, Father Adam, and the choice to partake of the forbidden fruit. She argues (convincingly) that chronic oppression and mistreatment of women throughout the ages comes from an incorrect understanding of the Fall and Eve’s role in it. Campbell also celebrates both men and women and their divine differences in a way that is refreshingly different from the divisiveness the world wants us to subscribe to. While I did feel the narrative made a few leaps, overall, I found it enlightening, empowering, and uplifting.
