Today was Genesis chapters 1 and 2, Alongside Patriarchs and Prophets, pages 14-19.
Genesis 1&2 go over the basis of creation, not yet covering the fall until chapter 3. In Patriarchs and Prophets, there's a lot to unpack in these two chapters alone:
"But the hills and mountains were not abrupt and rugged, abounding in terrific steps and frightful charms, as they do now" (PP 14) The beauty of the earth today appears to not stand anywhere close to the way it looked back then. It looks beautiful and natural to us but little do we know that the effects of sin has changed the appearance of the earth as well as us.
"God created them, male and female he created them" (Genesis 1:27) Ellen says that there's no mystery to our origins, That it's stated plainly, however she also says the idea of evolution and mankind being formed over the courses of developments actually strips us of our dignity and defrauds us of our origins. Relating back to the identity problem. (PP 14 Paraphrased).
"But to the Creator. Though formed from dust, Adam was "the son of God' (PP 15). This relates to how all of us are God's children. Adam is called the son of God, however we also know Jesus as the Son of God and the Son of man. These are two different kinds of sonship's relating to God. One by creation, the other begotten.
"Man was to bear God's image, resemblance in character, Christ alone is 'the expressed image' (Hebrews 1:3) Of the Father, but Man was formed in the likeness of God" (PP 15).
"It is not good for man to be alone, I will make a help meet fit for him" (Genesis 2:18).
Later in page 15, Ellen states that Man is not meant for solitude, but companionship. Without it, Eden wouldn't be able to yield perfect happiness. Thus today, without companionship, the world God made won't be able to yield happiness either.
Ellen also notes that Eve was taken from the rib not to stand over Adam or be trampled at his feet, but to stand beside him as an equal. As she is his second self as showed their close union and attachment.
"Marriage is honorable" (Hebrews 13:4) It was one of the first gifts of God to man...one of the two institutions that Adam brought with him beyond the gates of Paradise (PP 16). Ellen shows here how important the gift of marriage and companionship are to humanity. One of the few gifts that went with us outside of Eden and stays with us for all of humanity.
"The Sabbath was committed to Adam...It's observance was to be an act of grateful acknowledgement on the part of all who should dwell upon the earth. That God was their creator and rightful sovereign. They were the work of His hands and subject to His authority. Institution was wholly commemorative, given to all mankind." (PP 16-17). This is the importance of Sabbath after the fall.
"God designs that the Sabbath shall direct the minds of men to the contemplation of His created works. Nature speaks to their senses, declaring that there is a living God. (PP 17).
Ellen, later on page 17 states the freewill epidemic, where God forces us to make the right choices would be contrary to His character and His plan to deal with the inhabitants of the earth.
"Although Adam struggled with the soil...Work was a safeguard against temptation" The importance of why work is good for us after the fall, although the meaning of it is different now, God repurposes it for our safety against temptation and sin.