Agency and the Fall of Adam and Eve

Adam and Eve were the first of God's children on this world.  God created them in His image and placed them in the Garden of Eden. (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:8)  Adam and Eve lived in a state of innocence without pain, sickness or sorrow.  But they also didn't have a full understanding of joy or happiness.

God gave them their agency, the ability to choose for themselves.  He also gave them commandments.  One of these was to not partake of the forbidden fruit -- the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. (2 Nephi 2:15-16)

Satan came and tempted Adam and Eve to trangress God's commandment.  They followed satan's temptings and partook. (2 Ne. 17-19)  Thus they trangressed and fell.  Pain, sickness and death came into the world.  Adam and Eve were able to sin.  Adam and Eve were now also able to choose good and right and to have children and raise a family. (2 Ne. 2:22-23)  They could be happy in this life. (see 2 Ne 2:25)

God knew Adam and Eve would fall. (2 Ne. 2:24)  God knew it was necessary for them so that they could fully know good from evil and choose for themselves.  He provided a way for the fall to be overcome.  He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the price for our sins and to die for us. (2 Ne. 2:26)

Because of the fall we have moral agency.  Good and bad are before us.  We "are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil." (2 Ne 2:27)  We can learn and progress in this life.  Through the plan of redemption we can exercise faith and repent and be brought back to our Father by Christ's grace. (Alma 22:12-14)