Did animals die in Garden of Eden?

22 January 2018 - Alma 42 – Alma continues his talk with Corianton. 

I’m always in awe when I read that Alma perceived that his son was still somewhat worried about something he didn’t understand.  This is so different from my journey.  I didn’t spend a lot of time chewing on things I didn’t understand.  I mostly wanted to get back on track.  I’m still not bothered by much.  The Spirit made it known to me early on in my return that this is God’s true church upon the earth and that works for me.  I love it when I learn new things and when I have something to really chew on that is gospel meat, but I don’t stew.

As Alma explains the Lord’s plan concerning the justice of God as it pertains to punishment of the sinner, it generates in me some questions that I have concerning the fruit of the tree of life?  Cherubim was placed around that tree to keep Adam and Eve from eating it and living forever in their sins.  Does is seem obvious that the fruit of this tree prevents a person from dying?  Had they been eating it freely before the fall?  These questions don’t bother me.  We know the Lord didn’t tell them not to eat it.  So did it perhaps have something to do with the fact they existed, not knowing anything about death? 

In SS yesterday, someone mentioned that there was no death in the Garden of Eden.  Even the animals did not die.  But we know the animals and every living thing procreated.  They obeyed the Lord.  They had been told to be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters.  This was to the life in the waters.  He doesn’t make the same command on the beasts of the field.  Were they commanded to be fruitful and multiply as well?  These questions come from Moses 1:20-25.  If there was multiplying, was there also death?  Were the animals eating freely of the Tree of Life?  Just some interesting questions that take me nowhere, and it doesn’t matter.