From the book ‘Eve and the Choice Made in Eden’ (Chapter 6) Beverly Campbell wrote:
Some have been confused about whom God is addressing as He walks and talks with His beloved children in the Garden of Eden. As we read scripture designating Adam as the addressee, many assume that God is speaking only of or to the man Adam. Such an assumption would lead to the belief that Eve stood by throughout the entire Garden period without a voice, without acquiring knowledge, without a significant role. Fortunately, as Latter-day Saints we know that such was not the case. Eve was neither a silent nor a silenced partner nor, taught President Spencer W. Kimball, should Latter-day Saint women be any less.1
President Kimball gave us further insight from the scriptures: “‘And I God, blessed them [Man here is always in the plural. It was plural from the beginning.] and said unto them: Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it, and have dominion over [it].’ (Moses 2:27-28.)
“And the scripture says, “‘And I God said unto mine Only Begotten, which was with me from the beginning: Let us make man [not a separate man, but a complete man, which is husband and wife] in our image, after our likeness; and it was so.’ (Moses 2:26.)”2
Moses 6:9 tells us: “In the image of his own body, male and female, created he them, and blessed them, and called their name Adam” (emphasis added). Elder Bruce R. McConkie explained: “The name of Adam and Eve as a united partnership is Adam. They, the two of them together are named Adam. This is more than the man Adam as the son of God or the woman Eve as a daughter of the same Holy Being, Adam and Eve taken together are named Adam, and the fall of Adam is the fall of them both, for they are one.”3
Unless the scripture speaks of the man Adam individually, the reference is to both Adam and Eve. When a scripture speaks of the man Adam individually, the reference is to both Adam and Eve. When a scripture refers to Adam, or mankind, as plural, the pronoun used is they or them. It also appears that when the Lord is speaking of man or mankind, He is referring to both men and women. In the two places in Genesis where the singular word form for Adam is found, the singular becomes plural—exclusive becomes inclusive—with the simple use of the pronoun them: “Let us make man in our image . . . and let them have dominion. . . . So God created man . . . male and female created he them” (Genesis 1:27-27; emphasis added).
There can be no question but that Eve was included in the dialogue in Eden and in Eden’s teaching. She, with Adam was to have dominion. Hers was to be not a passive but rather a pivotal role in this phase of the plan. Being aware of the inclusive language, we can feel confident that God’s instructions, concerns for, and advancement of principles and laws were directed to Eve as they were to Adam.
Similarly, God’s words today are directed to women as well as men. His teachings are for female and male alike. He is just as concerned today that women understand the scriptures, that they teach and articulate spiritual principles in their families and church callings, and that they apply them to their own lives and extend them to the larger community. He has a great interest in His daughters learning and respecting the meaning and use of the priesthood and in claiming this power for their good. ~Beverly Campbell, Eve and the Choice Made in the Garden (Salt Lake City, Deseret Book, 2003), 101-105 (Dwarsligger edition) . . . continued
