FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Array
Evolution/Official stance: Difference between revisions
mNo edit summary |
|||
| Line 15: | Line 15: | ||
Other Church authorities and members have seen much of value in evolutionary theory, even if they have not endorsed every aspect of it. Examples include [[Primary_sources/Evolution#James_E._Talmage | James E. Talmage]], [[Primary_sources/Evolution#_John_A._Widtsoe|John A. Widtsoe]], and LDS chemist [[Primary_sources/Evolution#Henry_Eyring|Henry Eyring]]. | Other Church authorities and members have seen much of value in evolutionary theory, even if they have not endorsed every aspect of it. Examples include [[Primary_sources/Evolution#James_E._Talmage | James E. Talmage]], [[Primary_sources/Evolution#_John_A._Widtsoe|John A. Widtsoe]], and LDS chemist [[Primary_sources/Evolution#Henry_Eyring|Henry Eyring]]. | ||
Gordon B. Hinckley: | |||
:What the church requires is only belief 'that Adam was the first man of what we would call the human race.' Scientists can speculate on the rest.{{ref|hinckley.1}} | |||
==Summary== | ==Summary== | ||
| Line 29: | Line 33: | ||
=={{Endnotes label}}== | =={{Endnotes label}}== | ||
#{{note|brm_md}}{{MD1|start=256}} ([[Evolution:Primary_sources:Mormon_Doctrine#10._EVOLUTION_AND_SPIRITUAL_THINGS_IN_GENERAL|read quote in context]]). | #{{note|brm_md}}{{MD1|start=256}} ([[Evolution:Primary_sources:Mormon_Doctrine#10._EVOLUTION_AND_SPIRITUAL_THINGS_IN_GENERAL|read quote in context]]). | ||
#{{note|hinckley.1}} Gordon B. Hinckley in 2002; cited in Elaine Jarvik, "[http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,635177399,00.html Beliefs on Darwin's evolution vary from religion to religion]," ''Deseret Morning News'' (19 January 2006). | |||
#{{note|mormonorganon1}}David H. Bailey, [http://sciencebysteve.net/?p=379 Latter-day Creationism–A guest post by David H. Bailey!], ''Mormon Organon'' (Oct. 28, 2008) | #{{note|mormonorganon1}}David H. Bailey, [http://sciencebysteve.net/?p=379 Latter-day Creationism–A guest post by David H. Bailey!], ''Mormon Organon'' (Oct. 28, 2008) | ||
#{{note|lee.29}} {{THBL1|start=29}} | #{{note|lee.29}} {{THBL1|start=29}} | ||
Revision as of 05:03, 26 November 2012
| Answers portal |
| Creation |
|
 RESOURCES
|
|---|
| Adam and Eve: |
| Creation: |
| Evolution: |
 PERSPECTIVES
|
 MEDIA
|
| OTHER PORTALS
|
This page is based on an answer to a question submitted to the FAIR web site, or a frequently asked question.
==Questions
== What is the Church's stance on the theory of organic evolution?
Answer
The Church's response: Official statements regarding organic evolution
- First Presidency letter, "The Origin of Man" (November 1909) This was reprinted in 2002 (“The Origin of Man,” Ensign, Feb 2002, 26)
- First Presidency statement, "Words in Season" (December 1910)
- First Presidency letter, "'Mormon' View of Evolution" (September 1925)
Debate within the Church
Despite the fact that the Church has no official position on evolution beyond those expressed by the First Presidency (above), some general authorities and lay members have considered evolution to be at variance with scriptural teaching. This view is well summarized by Elder Bruce R. McConkie's statement, "There is no harmony between the truths of revealed religion and the theories of organic evolution."[1] Other authors, including Joseph Fielding Smith, held similar views.
Other Church authorities and members have seen much of value in evolutionary theory, even if they have not endorsed every aspect of it. Examples include James E. Talmage, John A. Widtsoe, and LDS chemist Henry Eyring.
Gordon B. Hinckley:
- What the church requires is only belief 'that Adam was the first man of what we would call the human race.' Scientists can speculate on the rest.[2]
Summary
The Church has no official position on evolution, and each member is entitled to his or her own personal views on the subject. In the evolution debate, difficulties have arisen when readers assume that statements by certain leaders represent an official position beyond that expressed by the First Presidency as a body. As expressed by David H. Bailey, a researcher at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory and author of numerous articles on the relationship between Mormonism and science,
- The LDS Church has a great scientific tradition, including notable, respected researchers in virtually event field of modern science. Indeed, our motto is “The glory of God is intelligence.” Why not just acknowledge that science and religion address two very different sets of questions, and that the methodology in one arena cannot settle controversies in the other? [3]
Harold B. Lee's plea may be the wisest stance:
- Perhaps if we had the full story of the creation of the earth and man told to us in great detail, it would be more of a mystery than the simple few statements that we have contained in the Bible, because of our lack of ability to comprehend. Therefore, for reasons best known to the Lord, He has kept us in darkness. Wait until the Lord speaks, or wait until that day when He shall come, and when we shall be among the privileged either to come up out of our graves and be caught up into the clouds of heaven or shall be living upon the earth likewise to be so translated before Him. Then we shall know all things pertaining to this earth, how it was made, and all things that now as children we are groping for and trying to understand.
- Let's reserve judgment as to the facts concerning the Creation until we know these things for sure.[4]
== Notes ==
- [note] Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2nd edition, (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1966), 256. GL direct link (read quote in context).
- [note] Gordon B. Hinckley in 2002; cited in Elaine Jarvik, "Beliefs on Darwin's evolution vary from religion to religion," Deseret Morning News (19 January 2006).
- [note] David H. Bailey, Latter-day Creationism–A guest post by David H. Bailey!, Mormon Organon (Oct. 28, 2008)
- [note] Harold B. Lee, Teachings of Harold B. Lee (Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft, 1996), 29.