Savior & the Serpent: Unlocking the Doctrine of the Fall [Hardcover]

Alonzo L. Gaskill (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 31, 2005

Perhaps no doctrine has been more misunderstood, and no historical event more misinterpreted, than the Fall of Adam and Eve. Many Christians assume it was an evil, unnecessary act. Even among Latter-day Saints, there are competing views and questions about what happened in Eden: Why did God give Adam and Eve conflicting commandments in the Garden? How much of the story is literal and how much is symbolic? Relying on scriptures and statements from the prophets, Alonzo Gaskill carefully distinguishes between settled LDS doctrine on this subject and popular interpretations. He teaches that the Fall was foreordained to be part of the Plan of Salvation and shows how insights we have gained about the Fall help us find our bearings in dealing with the challenges of everyday life.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Alonzo L. Gaskill was reared near Independence, Missouri, and joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the fall of 1984. Approximately a year after his conversion he served a mission to England. He holds a master's degree in theology and a Ph.D. in biblical studies. He taught courses in religious education for the Church Educational System for 14 years. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Church History and Doctrine at Brigham Young University. He and his wife, Lori, are the parents of four children and reside in Payson, Utah.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 239 pages
• Publisher: Deseret Book Co (December 31, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590385217
• ISBN-13: 978-1590385210
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #774,415 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Fall for all., April 18, 2006

By 

Bethany (Provo, UT USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Savior & the Serpent: Unlocking the Doctrine of the Fall (Hardcover)

This is the second book I've read by Alonzo Gaskill. I find his writing style easy to read and rich in information. The Savior & the Serpent is about the fall of Adam and Eve and attempts to decipher the difference between the literal and symbolic happenings. He covers the whole story pulling from all known accounts and expertly cross referencing whilst highlighting the important parts and mentioning things I'd never thought of before. It is very well researched and Mr. Gaskill is quick to point out the differences between LDS doctrine and opinion (although the opinions are all backed up by impressive sources). Why only 4 stars? There are a few topics that could have been laid out a little more clearly but having said that, I truly learned so much about myself; about how the fall is really a metaphor about our own lives. Well done.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Shipping, September 25, 2010

By 

Mark - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Savior & the Serpent: Unlocking the Doctrine of the Fall (Hardcover)

If this review is about the book, the book is awesome. If this review is about the service, it has something to be desired. It is now 16 days past the latest date given for my product to arrive and I still have not received the book. But yet, the charge cleared my bank more than a month ago. What's with that?