Failure is the only option

Failure is the most powerful learning force we know.  We are here to learn to obey God's commandments.  We must obey in order to be trusted stewards of He who created the universe.  Using failure to teach requires two key components:

Failure is not Fatal
If failure in a particular endeavor kills the relationship/job/person/health/etc, then the price is too high.  Often, the fear of such Fatal Failure causes the learner to avoid even trying, thus preventing any lesson from happening.

Failure has Consequences
Failure cannot be free.  If it is, then the learner becomes cavalier about his actions.  Effectively communicated consequences can cause the learner to pay attention.

The Garden of Eden is a perfect example of failure as a learning mechanism.  When God put Adam and Eve in the Garden, he gave them the commandment to not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.  He clearly explained the consequences of failing to keep this commandment, and he provided a mechanism to keep their failure from being fatal.  This experience sparked our life on this earth.

"And the days of the children of men were prolonged, according to the will of God, that they might repent while in the flesh; wherefore, their state became a state of probation, and their time was lengthened, according to the commandments which the Lord God gave unto the children of men.  For he gave commandment that all men must repent: for he showed unto all men that they were lost, because of the transgression of their parents."

"And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden.  And all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; and they must have remained forever, and had no end.

"And they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin."  (2 Nephi 2:21-23)
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