Evolution—A Personal View

I have recently read about 1100 pages describing in great detail the
dating and progression called, evolution, of everything from the
universe to life itself. It has been a very interesting read.

Very early in the treatise, it was pointed out how unfortunate it is that
some persons will only believe what they can personally conceive.
The authors then proceed to put down any view that differs from
theirs or of which they appear not to be able to conceive.

As the authors presented their idea of evolution, one is required to
accept the following caveats:

• No intelligence, creator or god is required nor even welcomed

• The laws of thermodynamics, specifically the laws oft quoted as getting
  something for nothing and all things tend towards disorder, must not
  be applied to organic substances; that is, according to the well
  known dictum, “electrons do not start fads,” must be amended to
  state, “except in organic systems.”

• Occurrences that would require unimaginable concurrent circumstances will easily
  occur if one just throws in millions and millions of years.

• If the learned can conceive of it, it will occur—and in their manner.
  

It seems to me that it really does take more faith (a naughty word to
many evolutionists) to believe that blind chance or, as some put it,
evolutionary pressure, and differing behavior for organic substances
lead to the creation of life than to believe intelligence, that is, a
Creator or God.

Evolution, the Theory of—some zealots have suggested changing “Theory” to “Law”.

To be fair, it must be noted that evolution in the sense of selective
breeding, survival of certain strains under changing weather and even
man-made conditions, and over generations of fruit flies is easily
demonstrable, however this evolution theory, sometimes referred to as
the “special theory of evolution,” has some problems when
expanded into the more far reaching “General Theory of Evolution.”

Charles Darwin conceived of his popular theory after coming to the conclusion
that the story of creation as found in the Bible could not be true.
It was necessary, he felt, therefore to come up with a theory that
explained creation in a scientific (no God or Creator) fashion.
Unfortunately, the understanding that many persons had of the Bible
creation theory at that time (and many still have) are not what the
scriptures actually state.

Some of the interesting but not scriptural ideas that most likely
influenced Darwin’s thinking include:

• God created everything out of nothing.

• God created the universe in 6 days consisting of 24 of our present hours
  each. Yes, 6 days, the 7^th was for rest.

• God, a being having no body, parts or passions created man in his own
  “image.”

Theories, Theories, Theories

Spontaneous Generation of Life

One item of great interest to me is that one theory of life that
scientists thoroughly debunk is the old idea of spontaneous
generation of life. People had noticed that when trash or something
similar accumulated, suddenly there were cockroaches and other vermin
about that obviously were not there before, so, life must have
spontaneously generated. We now can readily explain how this seeming
anachronism can come about and know that life does not spontaneously
generate. Why then do the Evolutionists preach their own version of
spontaneous generation of life? Well, it just so easy, just throw in
millions and millions of years and life generates itself so
effortlessly out of some organic molecules in a salty ocean being
struck with lightning.

What do the Scriptures Really Say?

• God created everything from nothing?
  D&C132:33 … The elements are eternal, … [link]
  Abraham 4:1 And then the Lord said: Let us go down. And they went down at the beginning, and
  they, that is the Gods, organized and formed the
  heavens and the earth. [italics added] [link]

• God created the universe in six 24hour earth days?
  Many religious scholars have noted that the word, “day,” has many meanings.
  Many now recognize that “day” often specifies an undefined space
  of time with some beginning and some end, for example:
  Abraham 4:5
  And the Gods called the light Day, and the darkness they called
  Night. And it came to pass that from the evening until morning they
  called night; and from the morning until the evening they called
  day; and this was the first, or the beginning, of that which they
  called day and night. [italics added] [link]
  A quite possible way of describing the creation of this earth would be that it occurred in
  six creative periods; (1) gather the materials and make the planet,
  (2) give it a pleasing form, (3) Set up the moon and stars, (4)
  plant flora, (5) set up the fauna and (6) put man on the planet.
  Finally, in the seventh period, rest for a while.

• God, a being having no body, parts or passions—what a concept! (Why
  does John say, “God is Love?” How could such a God be angry?)
  created man in his own “image?”
  Moses 6:9 In the image
  of his own body, male and female, created he them, and blessed
  them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created
  and became living souls in the land upon the footstool of God. [link]
  D&C 130:1 When the Savior shall appear we shall see him as he is. We
  shall see that he is a man like ourselves. [italics added] [link]

Strengths in the Evolutionist’s Views

• The Special Theory of Evolution (See Above) is readily verifiable.

• There are many fossils and other evidences to lend credence to their
  views.

• It represents the best thinking of many very intelligent persons.

Weaknesses
in the Evolutionist’s Views

• A lot of anachronisms [items out of time line order] remain
  unexplained. For example, young carbon dated wood fibers embedded
  in very old rock, the sedimentation of major rivers shows thousands
  of years of accumulation as opposed to billions or even millions.

  Not wishing to expand to 1100 pages, let this small sample
  suffice. A good many other examples can be found on the internet.

• No evidence exists that, as required by the theory of evolution,
  micro-evolutionary results can accumulate forever, leading to new
  species. Another way of saying this is that after breeding
  (selectively forcing evolutionary changes—that is, acting as a
  creator) a tremendous number of fruit fly generations, the latest
  generation is still are easily identified as fruit flies, not a new
  species.
  Abraham 4:12 And the Gods organized the earth to
  bring forth grass from its own seed, and the herb to bring forth
  herb from its own seed, yielding seed after his kind; and the earth
  to bring forth the tree from its own seed, yielding fruit, whose
  seed could only bring forth the same in itself, after his kind;
  and the Gods saw that they were obeyed. [italics added] [link]

• The Theory of Evolution requires uniformity in the processes so that
  accurate dating can be accomplished.
  Some scientists are now claiming that time is “slowing down”. What has happened in the
  past?
  Many theories even show that basic nuclear forces change /
  changed with time.
  It doesn’t take much thinking to realize that
  changes in time and basic forces of the universe can wreck havoc
  with any type of carbon or other dating techniques.

Where does all the above Leave Us?

Hopefully, it leaves us with a willingness to consider that the tale told in the
scriptures concerning this planet, earth.

Abraham 4:1 And then the Lord said: Let us go down. And they went down at
the beginning, and they, that is the Gods, organized and
formed the heavens and the earth. [italics added] [link]

Who Do You Think You Are?

As mentioned above science appears to make fun of the idea of the
spontaneous generation of life, but preaches the spontaneous
generation of, for lack of a better term, personality. Obviously, if
life is an accident of the universe, the sense of self-awareness that
I certainly have has no meaning. You, if there is a you, are just a
chance combination of neurons and “buzzing electrons” according
to one source.

I, personally, cannot accept that I am nothing but chance. So, I invite
you to consider accepting the following as I do. Therefore, again
calling upon the scriptures for greater understanding:

D&C 93:29 Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or
the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be. [link]

Abraham3:22 Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were
organized before the world was; and among all these there were many
of the noble and great ones;

23 And God saw these souls that they were good, and he stood in the
midst of them, and he said: These I will make my rulers; for he stood
among those that were spirits, and he saw that they were good; and he
said unto me: Abraham, thou art one of them; thou wast chosen before
thou wast born. [link]

So (not) Alone!

It must be obvious from the foregoing that I sincerely believe that
there is intelligent life in the universe and that we are not alone.
Those of us who have experienced contact with the spirit can attest
that it is just as real as the matter around us. Let me finish this
“rant” with a few more scriptural references:

D&C 131:7 There is no such thing as immaterial matter. All
spirit is matter, but it is more fine or pure, and can only be
discerned by purer eyes;

8 We cannot see it; but when our bodies are purified we shall
see that it is all matter. [link]

Moses 1:11 But now mine own eyes have beheld God; but not my
natural, but my spiritual eyes, for my natural eyes could not
have beheld; for I should have withered and died in his presence; but
his glory was upon me; and I beheld his face, for I was transfigured
before him. [italics added] [link]

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