Primary sources regarding Church leaders' statements about organic evolution

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This page collects the text of various statements about evolution made by a variety of Church leaders and members. These are unofficial statements, but serve to show the variety of opinions that have been expressed on the topic.

Encyclopedia of Mormonism

• "Creation, Creation accounts"
• "Earth"
• "Evolution"
• "Origin of Man"

Ensign

• "I Have A Question," 1987

Henry Eyring

(LDS chemist)

• Letter to Adam S. Benion (1954)
• Reflections of a Scientist, (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1983).
  • Selections: p. 53–62.

Improvement Era

• Unsigned editorial, 1910

Juvenille Instructor

• Joseph F. Smith, 1911

Bruce R. McConkie

(apostle)

• Mormon Doctrine
• Seven Deadly Heresies address

David O. McKay

(apostle and President of the Church)

• Letter 1957
• Letter 1959
• Letter 1959 from secretary

Boyd K. Packer

President Packer's views on the subject are available in:

Boyd K. Packer, "The Law and the Light," in Jacob through Words of Mormon: to Learn with Joy: papers from the Fourth Annual Book of Mormon Symposium, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, (Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, distributed by Bookcraft, 1990), {{{pages}}} [1–31]. ISBN 0884947343. ISBN 978-0884947349. GL direct link

Then-Elder Packer expresses the strong view that evolutionary processes do not apply to human beings, while being relatively unconcerned about the application of evolutionary concepts to other living things. He argues that accepting an evolutionary model for the creation of humans leads to the conclusion that the moral law can have no legitimate claim on human action.

Elder Packer notes:

Disclaimer: Only the Standard Works and statements written under assignment of the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles are considered official declarations by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The talk which follows was given without such assignment and no such approval has been sought or given. The author alone is responsible for the views set forth therein. They do not necessarily represent the Church.(p. 1}

He also notes at the beginning of the essay that:

The article may not be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the author.

Out of deference to Elder Packer's request, no quotation from this article is included here, but the reader is encouraged to consult it in print form.

Stephen L Richards

(apostle and counselor in the First Presidency)

• Open letter to college students

Joseph Fielding Smith

(apostle and later President of the Church)

• Man, His Origin and Destiny, (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1954).GospeLink
  • Selection: p. 360–361
  • Selection: p. 453–455

James E. Talmage

(apostle)

• "The Earth and Man"