Primary sources regarding Church leaders' statements about organic evolution

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

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"