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1936 —
The Progress of Man
In 1936, when Joseph Fielding Smith's book The Progress
of Man was published by The Genealogical Society of Utah, Heber J. Grant
was still President of the Church. In this book, Elder Smith explained
the doctrine of no death before the fall as follows:
"When the earth
was prepared for the advent of man, the Lord declared that the earth
itself and all these creations were 'very good.' Things did not remain
'very good,' however, for a great change came. Man fell from his station
where there was no death, pain, sin, or sorrow, but where he was unable
to distinguish between good and evil, for he had not received the
knowledge which the earth-life was destined to bring. In the wake of his
fall there came a great change in and upon the earth. Mortality replaced
immortality, temptation, misery, sin and death were ushered in and spread
over the face of the earth." (pp. 62-63.)
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