Lexew1899 wrote: Tue Dec 17, 2019 4:11 pm
Here is a fuller explanation of what I believe.
JESUS CHRIST, THE CREATOR
The pre-mortal name, Jehovah, is the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, in the Old Testament. The grand manager of creation, he organized the matter that we see and know all around us.
“And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary." Mosiah 3:8
He was chosen to be both the Creator, and Savior, for mankind, (which I covered previously in volume II and III). The appointment as the Creator, would have a profound impact on all of creations love for him. Crowning him as perhaps the most universally loved entity we had known in the pre-mortal existence, besides God the Father. He worked under the direction of the Father, following his example. He organized the chaotic matter, into a universe of epic proportions.
CREATIO EX NIHILO VS CREATIO EX MATERIA
“Now, I ask all who hear me, why the learned men who are preaching salvation, say that God created the heavens and the earth out of nothing? The reason is, that they are unlearned in the things of God, and have not the gift of the Holy Ghost; they account it blasphemy in any one to contradict their idea. If you tell them that God made the world out of something, they will call you a fool. But I am learned, and know more than all the world put together. The Holy Ghost does, anyhow, and He is within me, and comprehends more than all the world: and I will associate myself with Him.” Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith 350
Matter doesn’t come from nothing. Whether this matter is visible matter, so called dark matter, or the otherworldly dark energy, it is formed from the same element; originating from the primordial realm outside the control of God, also known as unorganized space. The term “creatio ex nihilo” means creating the universe from abject nothingness. The Catholics would describe the origination mythos as “Logos” or the word, which brought everything into existence. Yet, matter did have an original habitation before this. It was brought forth out of that unorganized space, and set into order from a chaotic state, being organized in our physical universe. This theory of “creatio ex materia” or creation from pre-existent materials, sets Mormon theology apart from most Christian faiths. Yet we are told, time and time again that matter was indeed brought forth and organized by God, not created from nothingness.
“There is a Power that has organized all things from the crude matter that floats in the immensity of space. He has given form, motion and life to this material world; has made the great and small lights that bespangle the firmament above; has allotted to them their times and their seasons, and has marked out their spheres. He has caused the air and the waters to teem with life, and covered the hills and plains with creeping things, and has made man to be a ruler over His creations. All these wonders are the works of the Almighty ruler of the universe, in whom we believe and whom we worship. “The earth rolls upon her wings, and the sun giveth his light by day, and the moon giveth her light by night, and the stars also giveth their light, as they roll upon their wings in their glory, in the midst of the power of God.” “Behold, all these are kingdoms, and any man who hath seen any or the least of these hath seen God moving in his majesty and power.”
All people are conscious of the existence of a Supreme Being: they see Him or His power in the sun, in the moon and in the stars, in the storm, in the thunder and in the lightning, in the mighty cataract, in the bursting volcano, or in the powerful and disgusting reptile, etc.” Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 11:120-121
There is an inherent plasticity to matter. As a matter of fact (no pun intended), we can see from the Bible that God always verifies if the creation he has molded has followed the pattern given to it, in conforming to the specific nature and laws that apply to it. There is a process in verifying if matter is “good” or not in fulfilling the measure of its creation, and following the prescribed pattern it was given, which is seen numerous times in Genesis. Here I will list a few examples:
“And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.” Genesis 1:4
“And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:10
“And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:12
“And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:18
This create, check, and verify method is an obvious pattern for all to see. In the book of Genesis, we can see that the Earth, light, water, and plants all fulfilled the measure of their creation, and were thus considered by God to be good. This might make us wonder, is our Earth still good, just as it was in the account of Genesis?
“...the earth is very good in and of itself, and has abided a celestial law, consequently we should not despise it, nor desire to leave it, but rather desire and strive to obey the same law that the earth abides, and abide it as honorably as does the earth.” Brigham Young Journal of Discourses 2:302-303
So this brings us in retrospect to the first guide in this series, “Intelligences & the Pre-Spiritual Existence, volume I”, which details what an Intelligence is. If you aren’t familiar with the term of an Intelligence, and how it interacts with matter, I would suggest studying that guide, which is paramount in understanding Mormon doctrine adequately. But here, it sufficeth to say Intelligences have the ability to inhabit and control matter, and both are from the same eternal origins. Neither can they be created, or destroyed. So we are again left to ponder upon the fact, that both the intelligent sparks (Intelligences), which create the thinking parts of animals, as well as the physical bits of matter that make them up, are both from the same primordial realm, and are not created from nothing, but have always existed for all eternity. They were simply given form, direction, and a pattern to follow by their Creator, who organized and prepared them for life in the Spirit World.
This very idea was debated among the Greek and Roman philosophers of old, who subscribed to “creatio ex materia” as found in Mormon doctrine. Their common saying back then was “ex nihilo nihil fit”, or nothing comes from nothing. Titus Lucretius Carus opined on this very topic in his book, “On the Nature of Things”. His arguments are very amusing to me, and says if creations do indeed come from nothing, then why do seeds produce after their own kind, and why don’t birds randomly appear in the air.
“But by observing Nature and her laws. And this will lay
The warp out for us—her first principle: that nothing's brought
Forth by any supernatural power out of naught.
For certainly all men are in the clutches of a dread—
Beholding many things take place in heaven overhead
Or here on earth whose causes they can't fathom, they assign
The explanation for these happenings to powers divine.
Nothing can be made from nothing—once we see that's so,
Already we are on the way to what we want to know...
For if things were created out of nothing, any breed
Could be born from any other; nothing would require a seed.
People could pop out of the sea, the scaly tribes arise
Out of the earth, and winged birds could hatch right from the skies.
Born willy-nilly, every animal, both wild and tame,
Would inhabit cultivated land and wilderness the same.
The same tree would not always grow the same fruit—what might bear
An apple one time, might, the next, produce a quince or pear.
Since there would be no generating particles, then neither
Would certain things arise from only a certain kind of mother.
But since in fact each species rises from specific seeds,
Each thing springs from the source that has the matter that it needs,
The primary particles, and comes into the boundaries
Of light, and that's the reason every thing cannot give rise
To every other thing, because there is a separate power
In distinct things.” Lucretius, De Rerum Natura
EARTH AND STARS HAVE SPIRITS
“So we see that the Lord intends to save, not only the earth and the heavens, not only man who dwells upon the earth, but all things which he has created. The animals, the fishes of the sea, the fowls of the air, as well as man, are to be recreated, or renewed, through the resurrection, for they too are living souls.” Joseph Fielding Smith
Among the many impressive creations that were organized by Jehovah, were the very cosmos themselves; the planets and heavens- or stars we see scattered like sands of the seas, flickering in the night sky. Some of those twinkling stars, hundreds of times more massive than our own star, Sol, are unfathomable in their enormity. These true titans makes our Sun seem like a tiny speck in comparison.
Centered in the very hot, tumultuous part of our Milky Way galaxy, primitive, giant, primordial stars began to burn billions of years ago. The first stars born were known as population III stars, according to some astronomers. These stars were composed of simple gases- hydrogen, helium, and contained little, if any traces of lithium or other metals, known as a stars metallicity. According to scientists, not even oxygen would have existed at this ancient time.
These fast burning, short living stars suffered catastrophic failure over time, blowing up in massive supernova explosions, ejecting their contents in all directions. In the immensity of heat and pressures ensuing the moment of these supernovas, heavier elements are formed, called supernova nucleosynthesis. This process continues on to population II stars, which have slightly more metals (0.2% roughly), and more complex planets speckled with these elements. These planets and stars again are obliterated over time, in an ebb and flow of creation, and annihilation. Exploding and sending metal shrapnel, dust, and gas, outward from the inner core of aging, nebulous clouds inside our galaxy.
Our solar system is home to a population I star (2-3% metal roughly) found on the outer rim of our spiral galaxy, the Milky Way. A heavier core with many more metals. Our planet, Earth, also has a molten nickel core. Numerous heavy metals, and elements created in the cores of stars millions of years ago litter our world, from titanium, to uranium. From this cosmic soup of available material, our world and Sun were formed.
We are told that all creation procreates in some way. This mixing of seeds, or materials created our very own world and Sun as we can see according to this simple cosmological theory. Among these rocky planets, and burning stars, also exists an eternal spirit. Inside of our Earth is a thinking, feeling, intelligent entity, with an Intelligence at its core, requiring even the salvific, gospel ordinance of baptism.
“The earth, the Lord says, abides its creation; it has been baptized with water, and will, in the future, be baptized with fire and the Holy Ghost, to be prepared to go back into the celestial presence of God, with all things that dwell upon it which have, like the earth, abided the law of their creation.” Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 10:252
So we can see that these planets and stars follow a pattern, or laws that were given to them. They abide by the rules they were given, for whatever purposes they were created, which isn't always clear to us. I would imagine some planets or stars are made for their simple majesty, or for the beautifying of the universe, just as flowers are planted in gardens.
“And also, if there be bounds set to the heavens or to the seas, or to the dry land, or to the sun, moon, or stars—
All the times of their revolutions, all the appointed days, months, and years, and all the days of their days, months, and years, and all their glories, laws, and set times, shall be revealed in the days of the dispensation of the fulness of times.” Doctrine and Covenants 121:30-31
When these cosmic bodies are finished with their work they were commanded to do, whatever it is (though it seems to be as the vessel to house an Intelligence and spirit who were classified into that order of being primarily), they will then be renewed, just like our Earth, and receive a Paradisiacal glory. They would then be removed from their temporal habitation to a Celestial abode with glory. This is true for everything from our Moon, to the planets that exist in our own solar system.
“I mention these things to show that we have, in the revelations that God has given, many indications, that there are worlds beside our own that are fallen; also that we may see that the Lord has one grand method, for the salvation of the righteous of all worlds—that Zion is selected and taken from all of them. And reasoning from analogy, may we not, with propriety believe, that these fallen creations, after fulfilling their temporal destiny, will be changed, and become the celestial abodes of their respective Zions? Let us, for a moment, consider the planets of our solar system, namely, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune—the great primary planets of our system; are these made for nothing? No. What has the Lord said to us, Latter-day Saints, concerning these planets? He says, all these are kingdoms, to which he has given laws. And he likens these worlds, or kingdoms, unto a man having a field, and he sent forth his servants to dig in this field. To the first he said, “Go and labor in the field, and in the first hour, I will come unto you, and ye shall behold the joy of my countenance. And he said unto the second, go ye also into the field, and in the second hour I will visit you with the joy of my countenance; and unto the third and so on unto the twelfth. And the lord of the field went unto the first in the first hour; and tarried with him all that hour, and he was made glad with the light of the countenance of his Lord; and then he withdrew from the first, that he might visit the second also, and so on unto the twelfth.” Orson Pratt Journal of Discourses 19:293
WORLD CREATED OVER TIME
The preparation of our very beautiful and complex world is testament to the creative efforts of our God. The presence of various minerals and materials, such as gold, silver, diamonds, oil, uranium, iron, are formed through intricate processes that take millions or even billions of years, as well as specific sets of circumstances. The coal deposits for example, that began the industrial revolution, are derived from the rich carbon deposits of ancient trees and plant material that was covered, and buried in the depths of the earth long ago. Diamonds form when specific circumstances are met involving carbon dioxide. These deposits are put under enormous pressure and heat. Oil, is thought to be extinct lifeforms of millions of years ago, though some theorize it may have abiotic origins as well. Gold is thought to be formed from supernova, mixed with iron, and then expelled from the Earth's core, or rained down in space debris.
It becomes very clear that these materials, whether elements, oil, or whatever else, take a very long time to prepare. For God to create a rich world of plenty, it seems that he would allow the natural processes take place, of which he authored in the first place. This long process of preparing the Earth, was to establish a world where mankind, the children of Adam, would have enough resources to experience growth technologically, socially, and for our enjoyment.
Though some people like the young earth theory, and suppose perhaps God created this Earth out of preexisting worlds containing fossils, this does not seem to be the case to me. Our world was undoubtedly created over a very long, and arduous process. The fossils in the sediment are from creatures that existed on our own world.
“Hence when we go back to the history of the creation, we find that the Lord was not in such a great hurry as many suppose, but that he took indefinite periods of long duration to construct this world, and to gather together the elements by the laws of gravitation to lay the foundation and form the nucleus thereof, and when he saw that all things were ready and properly prepared, he then placed the man in the Garden of Eden to rule over all animals, fish and fowls, and to have dominion over the whole face of the earth.” Orson Pratt, Journal of Discourses 15:264
The preparation of this Earth, also known as Gaia in Greek, was not only to have great variety with elements so we could one day use oil for automobiles for example, but also designed to have enough resources for all mankind to grow and thrive. Our current exploitative economic systems of the world are obviously not the design of God. He has told us explicitly that he created a world full of abundance for mankind to enjoy, which is designed to care for all of his children, including the poor and needy.
“For the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare; yea, I prepared all things, and have given unto the children of men to be agents unto themselves.
Therefore, if any man shall take of the abundance which I have made, and impart not his portion, according to the law of my gospel, unto the poor and the needy, he shall, with the wicked, lift up his eyes in hell, being in torment.” Doctrine and Covenants 104:17-18
PLANTS AND ANIMALS BROUGHT FROM OTHER WORLDS
Life was kickstarted on this planet, not in pools of scum and muck through abiogenesis, or the mixing of polluted waters and murky debris with electricity (as suggested by Stanley Miller), but by actually bringing live samples from other worlds to seed life on Earth. These alien life forms would have then spread over the planet over time, where the environment was suitable for them, and agreeable enough for them to thrive. Looking at the fossil record of our planet, it seems this was done first with very simple bacteria or prokaryote cells, followed by other types of single-cellular life in eukaryotes, such as algae and amoebas.
Once a stable environment was established in the Archean Eon (approximately 4 billion years ago), and these various bacteria began to colonize more areas of the planet, even more life could be brought over, in a continual introductory process. Leading to more and more complex organisms being introduced, or allowed to evolve into more advanced creatures over millions of years. This slow process, was done in various periods, epochs, or “days”. It wasn’t rushed, or hurried in the slightest degree, but was allowed to gently coalesce into a beautifully constructed world. Containing a tremendous variety in geological features, as well as a varied web of life, interconnected, yet independent in their own uniqueness.
“All this vast creation was produced from element in its unorganized state; the mountains, rivers, seas, valleys, plains, and the animal, vegetable, and mineral kingdoms beneath and around us, all speaking forth the wonderful works of the Great God. Shall I say that the seeds of vegetables were planted here by the Characters that framed and built this world—that the seeds of every plant composing the vegetable kingdom were brought from another world? This would be news to many of you. Who brought them here? It matters little to us whether it was John, James, William, Adam, or Bartholomew who brought them; but it was some Being who had power to frame this earth with its seas, valleys, mountains, and rivers, and cause it to teem with vegetable and animal life.” Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 7:285
THE DINOSAURS
There has been a great mischaracterization in scripture interpretation, that there was no death before the fall. People assume dinosaurs therefore could not have existed, because they feel nothing died before the fall of Adam. Yet, we have a tremendous amount of fossilized dinosaur bones, which are said to be hundreds of millions of years old, that have captivated the imaginations of young children all over the world, who wonder what these creatures were like. It also makes them wonder as they see these great fossils, depicted in books and movies, why their own religions seem to suggest to them that they could not, or did not exist, and are somehow inconsistent with what we know of Earth’s history according to scripture. Something here is not square with fact.
“And he said unto them: Because that Adam fell, we are; and by his fall came death; and we are made partakers of misery and woe.” Moses 6:48
This verse is simply talking about Adam and Eve, as well as their posterity inheriting the seeds of death, not the entire Earth, or life prior to man being placed in the Garden of Eden. We can say, with reasonable confidence, that indeed dinosaurs, and many other prehistoric animals did exist on the Earth, and died for probably millions and billions of years prior to the fall.
“I cannot agree with your conception that there was no death of plants and animals anywhere upon this earth prior to the transgression of Adam, unless we assume that the history of Adam and Eve dates back many hundreds of thousands of years. The trouble with some theologians—even including many of our own good people—is that they undertake to fix the date of Adam's transgression as being approximately 4000 years before Christ and therefore about 5932 years ago. If Adam was placed upon the earth only that comparatively short time ago the rocks clearly demonstrated that life and death have been in existence and operative in this earth for ages prior to that time.” James E. Talmage
There is no reason there could not have been dinosaurs, wooly mammoths, saber-toothed tigers, and every other incredible prehistoric megafauna we have a fossil record of. These majestic creatures ruled this world for hundreds of millions of years. Besides, it was probably rather exciting to visit this world during the late Jurassic epoch, and witnessing a ninety-eight foot long Brachiosaurus. Or witnessing the giant, ten ton carnivore, the Spinosaurus during the Cretaceous period. These creatures would have truly been magnificent to behold, and likely fulfilled the measure of their creation to the utmost degree.
PRE-ADAMIC BEINGS
The race we know as humans is not simply called “homosapiens”, but we are actually classified as “homosapien sapiens”. There have been some very similar creatures to humans on this planet beforehand. The most famous among these is probably the neanderthalensis”. Their DNA is said to be a 99.7% match to modern humans, with many humans having chunks of neanderthal DNA in their genome today. They are thought to have gone extinct 40,000 years ago, but their DNA seems to have been preserved to some extent, by crossbreeding with humans. Some of the other known pre-Adamic beings would be; in sequential order to humans: homo habilis, homo erectus, homo antecessor, homo heidelbergensis, neanderthal and denisovan, and finally homosapiens.
It seems to me that although these “pre-Adamic” beings may have looked, acted, bred, and seem very similar to us, even on a genetic level, they are clearly a distinctly separate form of intellect. Among modern humans, there was a definitive zeitgeist moment, when we began to herd animals, plant crops, speak and write language, developed culture, astronomy, mathematics, science, and understood religion. If anatomical homosapiens have supposedly existed on Earth for 315,000 years, there is clearly a massive deficit in those early homosapiens intellectual abilities.
Human progress has propelled forward at an unbelievable pace, only within the last few thousand years, or from the estimated time that Adam emerged from the Garden of Eden. To say perhaps that the neanderthal walked with a heavy club, wore crude animal skins, stuck feathers in their hair, and spat paint on a cave wall may be true, yet they never wrote poetry, developed cities, created motors, or traveled to the Moon and back. These are only attributes of modern humans. This advent of progress was described beautifully by President John F. Kennedy in the following speech, which highlights the fact that human creativity is a new phenomenon.
“No man can fully grasp how far and how fast we have come, but condense, if you will, the 50,000 years of man's recorded history in a time span of but a half-century. Stated in these terms, we know very little about the first 40 years, except at the end of them advanced man had learned to use the skins of animals to cover them. Then about 10 years ago, under this standard, man emerged from his caves to construct other kinds of shelter. Only five years ago man learned to write and use a cart with wheels. Christianity began less than two years ago. The printing press came this year, and then less than two months ago, during this whole 50-year span of human history, the steam engine provided a new source of power.
Newton explored the meaning of gravity. Last month electric lights and telephones and automobiles and airplanes became available. Only last week did we develop penicillin and television and nuclear power, and now if America's new spacecraft succeeds in reaching Venus, we will have literally reached the stars before midnight tonight.
This is a breathtaking pace, and such a pace cannot help but create new ills as it dispels old, new ignorance, new problems, new dangers. Surely the opening vistas of space promise high costs and hardships, as well as high reward.” John F. Kennedy
Thus, it can be reasonably assumed that Adam was not derived from these dumber, pre-Adamic lifeforms. He was brought forth to this world that had been prepared for the exaltation of his children. He was the first true, “thinking man”, or human, which participated in the Plan of Salvation for the ennoblement of mankind. As to why these other creatures existed we don’t know, and when or why they were extinguished from Earth, we also don’t know. It would be reasonable to suggest that their Intelligences were almost at the same level of Adam's intellect, yet fell just short of being in the image and likeness of God.
“And that he created man, male and female, after his own image and in his own likeness, created he them;” Doctrine and Covenants 20:18
Having something in an image, would seem that man is formed in the physical appearance of God. Likeness would appear to mean we are like him, in the way we think, feel, act, and understand information. Adam and Eve then, were the first creatures that were both in the image, and likeness of God in my opinion. I do not feel both of the descriptive terms are merely speaking of physical appearance alone, which would be redundant.
Those pre-Adamic life forms however, seem similar enough to the children of Adam that crossbreeding was possible. We don’t know if there were still homosapiens on the Earth, when Adam and Eve were placed in the garden, but it would seem there were. We have evidence to suggest that there was indeed a mixing of their DNA with ours, which seems to suggest that some primitive homosapiens, or humans, may have bred in some capacity with the children of Adam, considering neanderthals went extinct approximately 40,000 years ago. But, we know that Adam was the first man placed on Earth, who was of the correct stock to be worthy of exaltation. His intellect was obviously mightier, and likeness similar, to God himself. For hundreds of thousands of years, so called homosapiens hadn't even supposed to stick a circular wheel on a cart to carry heavy items. Their mental defect compared to ours should be obvious. So we can conclude that indeed, Adam, was the first man, in these regards, and did not evolve from the lower lifeforms.
“It is held by some that Adam was not the first man upon this earth and that the original human being was a development from lower orders of the animal creation. These, however, are the theories of men. The word of the Lord declared that Adam was “the first man of all men” (Moses 1:34), and we are therefore in duty bound to regard him as the primal parent of our race. It was shown to the brother of Jared that all men were created in the beginning after the image of God; whether we take this to mean the spirit or the body, or both, it commits us to the same conclusion: Man began life as a human being, in the likeness of our Heavenly Father.” First Presidency of the Church Improvement Era, Nov. 1909
EVOLUTION
Cells are a complex assortment of individualized parts, such as organelles and nuclei, each working in a perfect order like microscopic machines that have been programed with DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) code. They aren't simply blobs of goo, controlled by moldy bits and pieces with a static charge, like a primordial Frankenstein. Even with astronomical odds, it doesn't seem reasonable that life spawned thorough random abiogenesis of a single, self replicating cell, containing fully formed cell walls, and DNA necessary to function, without creative intervention of some sort.
Even the theory of panspermia (life brought to Earth by various means, such as comets, or cosmic dust), with biogenesis (simple cells changing into more varied forms, such as gaining organelle) is more believable to abiogenesis, which has never been fully demonstrated in any laboratory on Earth. For abiogenesis (cellular life spontaneously occurring from inorganic substances) to occur, you would have to have too many random events happen, in a perfect sequential order, resulting in even the most basic cell functioning properly. These steps would have to happen simultaneously, or each individual part wouldn’t function on its own. Just looking at the DNA structure to randomly popup out of goop is unfathomable. The simplest cells, prokaryotes, have a DNA structure with between 160,000 to over 12.2 million base pairs, requiring this structure to be perfectly created in a long chain, a few missteps, and the entire chain could be worthless. So we would need millions, upon millions of random events occurring simultaneously in perfect harmony, with the perfect coding of a DNA chain, the perfect formation of a cells reproductive abilities, with a perfectly formed cell wall, the perfect environment for this cell to thrive, the perfect chance for this cell to somehow have preexistent machines to break down energy into usable units, such as ATP (adenosine triphosphate), with some kind of source of food, or way to acquire this energy, just to name a few of the requirements. With all of that being said, it seems science can only realistically relly on the theory of panspermia, yet even that is flawed, in there is no reasonable explanation to the original genesis of life, besides to attribute it to intelligent design. To observe extremely minor changes in life over extremely long amounts of time however, is feasible.
The idea that small changes to species can occur over extended periods of time isn't incompatible with the gospel. In fact, true religion embraces truth, whatever it is. Whether scientist or priest, stubbornly holding on to our own preconceived notions is unbecoming a scientist or priest. We should be willing to lay down any false idea, if it is false. I see all the time on the news about scientists rigging their scientific experiments and results to fit their narrative. That isn't a scientist, that is an ideological zealot and probably a shill to boot, who is an insult to true science.
So if a large cat for example, over millions of years can shrink slightly in size due to environmental pressures (being stuck on an island for example, with less food sources), I don't feel that is in any way a violation of gospel principles. The gene for that cat to be smaller was already present, or was modified through genetic mutations, and became so advantageous to the animals niche that the smaller animals thrived, passing their newly adapted DNA on to a new generation. That is all evolution addresses. Sometimes these genetic mutations can be very disadvantageous also, causing deformities. Two headed monstrosities, a missing eye socket, or whatever strange concoction imaginable; resulting in most cases to a premature death of the animal or miscarriage, which will not pass on these maladies. There is no forethought or planning involved in evolution. The animal doesn’t think really hard, and wish it had a harder skull, as to thrash its horns against another, and poof, it has a harder skull. There is no planning whatsoever with evolution, simply genetic changes that are slightly advantageous; resulting in an animal who either hunts better, runs faster, or in some way lives a longer and more healthy life. Thus allowing them more opportunities to breed and pass this new gene on.
Evolution is taught at our church owned colleges, Brigham Young University. I don't see why anyone should feel either ashamed to study, and understand biology. It would be a foolish notion that Latter-day Saints should feel they must abandon the pursuits of such knowledge, when we recognize God as the Creator of these biological systems. Should we then be shy about learning about the pre-mortal existence, or life after death, or any other such topic, because the world disagrees with us? Should we be foolish in chemistry, engineering, medicine, and astronomy as well? I would encourage students to study whatever their interests are. A true understanding of the way in which God operates, rectifies any foolish notions some feel trapped by, when studying such topics. Our understanding of these things is always subject to change, whenever new knowledge is gained that contradicts formerly misunderstood beliefs.
We do argue, however, that although homosapiens may indeed follow a similar path to great apes, and pre-Adamic beings may have branched off from them in some capacity, Adam, and his posterity are not from this stock of creature. But were unique, and placed in the Garden of Eden. We then can agree with science, that lifeforms may change through a slow processes, (typically taking thousands, or sometimes millions of years), with their available genetic materials, in adapting to their environment, or specific niche.
“There is a theory put forth by Mr. Darwin, and others, that is the school of modern philosophers, which is termed in late years, the theory of Evolution, that man in our present state upon the earth, is but the sequence and outgrowth of steady advancement from the lowest order of creation, till the present type of man, and that we have advanced step by step from the lowest order of creation till at last man has been formed upon the earth in our present sphere of action; in short, that our great-grandfathers were apes and monkeys. And how much satisfaction these philosophers have in the contemplation of their grandfather monkeys, we are left to conjecture; but such are the theories put forth by some of our modern philosophers. But we find nothing on the earth, or in the earth, nor under the earth, that indicates that any of these monkeys or apes, or any other orders of creation below man have ever accomplished any great exploits. So far as the history of this earth is known, whether written or unwritten, or whether written in volumes of books, whether engraven upon metallic plates, or whether found impressed in rocks, neither geologists, nor any other scientists have ever been able to show us any great exploits of any of these inferior grades of being to indicate that there was any such vitality in them, as to develop in their future progress, the present order of beings we call man. But if there is any truth in the history given us by Moses, this being we call man, is only God in embryo. And Moses tells us that the Creator conversed with this man whom he called Adam, consisting of male and female. He conversed with them, showed himself to them, spoke with them at different times, gave them instructions, gave them his law, visited them repeatedly in their new home, in the place we call the Garden of Eden, the garden that the Lord planted for man—eastward in Eden. And after he was driven out from the face of his Creator, from the Garden, and the veil was drawn between him and his Creator, yet from time to time God was wont to draw aside that veil and show himself, and we not only find that Adam and Eve had frequent intercourse with their Creator and talked with him personally as we talk with our children and they with us; but we find many of Adam's descendants obtained like privileges of seeing their Creator, and speaking with him, receiving instructions from him.” Erastus Snow, Journal of Discourses 19:270-271
ALIENS
One of the things I like about these guides, is I have complete freedom to write about any subject, without the restraints of being edited, censored, or told anything is taboo and too controversial. With that spirit in mind, I know a subject most people are interested in, is the possibility of aliens from another world. A lot of people seem to think if alien life was disclosed to the general public, it would destroy religions worldwide, causing mayhem and pandemonium to boot. Such is not the case whatsoever with Mormonism, since we essentially believe that, God, himself is an alien, in that he is neither from our Earth or even or own solar system. His place of residence is said to be near the star “Kolob”.
“And I saw the stars, that they were very great, and that one of them was nearest unto the throne of God; and there were many great ones which were near unto it;
And the Lord said unto me: These are the governing ones; and the name of the great one is Kolob, because it is near unto me, for I am the Lord thy God: I have set this one to govern all those which belong to the same order as that upon which thou standest.” Abraham 3:2-3
I think the big question isn't is there life on other planets, which should be obvious to any intelligent person considering the vastness of space, but does intelligent life exist out there. As I described the reality of pre-Adamic beings, I think it is reasonable to assume there are other intelligent beings on other planets that are not humans. These beings were likely created by our God for a specific purpose unbeknownst to us. The extent of God's domain, has been said to be anything that light touches, otherwise known as our observable universe.
We also know that other creatures gave glory and honor to God, and have records of this in the scriptures. Whether these creatures are simply animals we are familiar with, alien life we are unfamiliar with, or something in between, we don't know. But we do know that life was brought to our planet, and seemed to change over long periods of time into slightly different animals, of the same kind.
So I'm not opposed to the mere thought that there could be alien beings out there who are very intelligent, like us, who may not look entirely like us. Perhaps they even have technology far superior to ours as well. We simply don't know what their purpose would be, considering we only have a record of this world.
In the early days of the church’s founding many leaders expressed their opinion that there was life on other celestial bodies within our own solar system. Here is one interesting quote from Brigham Young.
“Who can tell us of the inhabitants of this little planet that shines of an evening, called the moon? When we view its face we may see what is termed "the man in the moon," and what some philosophers declare are the shadows of mountains. But these sayings are very vague, and amount to nothing; and when you inquire about the inhabitants of that sphere you find that the most learned are as ignorant in regard to them as the most ignorant of their fellows. So it is with regard to the inhabitants of the sun. Do you think it is inhabited? I rather think it is. Do you think there is any life there? No question of it; it was not made in vain. It was made to give light to those who dwell upon it, and to other planets; and so will this earth when it is celestialized. Every planet in its first rude, organic state receives not the glory of God upon it, but is opaque; but when celestialized, every planet that God brings into existence is a body of light, but not till then.” Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 13:271
So it can be said that Brigham Young felt there were not only inhabitants on the Moon, but also life on the Sun. I am not sure if this theory applies to all stars, but it seems interesting to contemplate, being an interesting concept to think about, since we regard the Sun as wholly uninhabitable. That isn’t to say of course that all of his theories were true either, but perhaps our typical narrow view of what constitutes life, or the requirements of it, could explain this theory as well.
Another interesting view the early church leaders had were that there were many Celestialized bodies in space also, not just Telestial, fallen worlds like our own, yet we could not view them, unless of course with a vision, considering we can’t behold Celestialized matter with our naked eyes.
“They are stretched out in the immensity of space, are infinite in every direction, and they are inhabited. I doubt very much, whether any of these worlds are celestial. I do not think we could behold them, unless by vision, if they were celestial. They are worlds in various stages of progression, some more glorious than others, inhabited by beings prepared to dwell upon them, beings who are the sons and daughters of God, or the sons and daughters of his children. If God is our Father, and we become like him, we may have our attributes greatly enlarged, sufficiently to prepare us to occupy a greater sphere of existence, to become rulers and creators under the command of God, being one with him, as the Father and the Son are one, to carry out his law and eternal purposes. Not only are present worlds existing, but worlds without number have existed from all ages of eternity, in their various stages of progress from the infinite duration of the past, and are peopled by the children of God—his own offspring, or the offspring of those who have become Gods. Besides, these worlds will exist forever, and there still remains no end, as it were, to the materials which will yet be organized into worlds, for the materials are infinite in quantity; they cannot be exhausted.” Orson Pratt, Journal of Discourses 19:291
Brigham Young said that Celestialized bodies have a veil, or curtain around them, which shield them from outsiders view, and give light to other planets. This protective barrier, also seems to apply to Celestialized beings, who can only be viewed when quickened by the Spirit.
“In regard to eternal things, they are all out of sight to them, and will so remain, unless the Lord lifts the curtain. The only reason why I cannot see the heavy range of mountains situated in the Middle States of the American Confederacy, is because of the natural elevations that raise themselves betwixt me and them, above the level of my eye, making them out of sight to me. Why cannot we behold all things in space? Because there is a curtain dropped, which makes them out of sight to us. Why cannot we behold the inhabitants in Kolob, or the inhabitants in any of those distant planets? For the same reason; because there is a curtain dropped that interrupts our vision. So it is, something intervenes between us and them, which we cannot penetrate. We are short sighted, and deprived of the knowledge which we might have. I might say this is right without offering any explanation.
But there are many reasons, and much good sound logic that could be produced, showing why we are thus in the dark touching eternal things. If our agency was not given to us, we might, perhaps, now have been enjoying that we do not enjoy. On the other hand, if our agency had not been given to us, we could never have enjoyed that we now enjoy. Which would produce the greatest good to man, to give him his agency, and draw a veil over him, or, to give him certain blessings and privileges, let him live in a certain degree of light, and enjoy a certain glory, and take his agency from him, compelling him to remain in that position, without any possible chance of progress? I say, the greatest good that could be produced by the all wise Conductor of the universe to His creature, man, was to do just as He has done—bring him forth on the face of the earth, drawing a veil before his eyes. He has caused us to forget everything we once knew before our spirits entered within this veil of flesh.” Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 1:351
Hyrum Smith also had some interesting things to say about this very subject as well. While commenting about the creative efforts of God, he makes statements very similar to Brigham Young, in his beliefs that stars are inhabited to some degree.
“Now I say unto you that there are lords many and gods many. But to us there is but one God the Father and Jesus Christ the first begotten, who is made equal with God so that he himself is a god. And now the work that the Father done did he do also so there is a whole train and lineage of gods, and this world was created by faith and works. The same as if a man would build a house. He knows where the materials are and believes he could do the work of that building, for he understood the science of building and by faith he gained the work with his own hands and completed that building. The same way was this world by faith and works and by understanding the principle. It was made by the hands of God or gods. It was made of element or in other words of chaos. It was in chaotic form from all eternity and will be to all eternity, and again they held council together that they might roll this world into form as all others are made, showing you by the building of a house as a sample or as figure in my Father's house are many mansions, or in my Father’s world are many worlds. I will go and prepare a place for you, and then if there are many world then there must be many gods, for every star that we see is a world and is inhabited the same as this world is peopled. The Sun and Moon is inhabited and the stars and Jesus Christ is the light of the Sun, etc. The stars are inhabited the same as this Earth. But many of them are larger than this Earth, and many that we cannot see without a telescope are larger than this Earth. They are under the same order as this Earth is undergoing and undergoing the same change. There was and is a first man Adam and also a Savior in the meridian of times, the same computing times and all things in order. Many things are to be considered that will bring knowledge to our understanding, but the foolish understand not these things for this world was patterned after the former world or after mansions above.” Hyrum Smith “Concerning the plurality of god and worlds” April 27th, 1843 (Note: Spelling and punctuation corrected by author.)
So I don't think Mormons should be concerned about aliens in any degree, as a matter of fact I think aliens, or life not from Earth, exists and is part of our official doctrine. If God made them, fine, that is his prerogative to do so. He made many works, we aren't a singular effort that was performed once and then complete. Creating and peopling worlds is an eternal effort. There are many mansions in God's kingdom, not only a mansion to humans, and forget all other life.
Joseph Smith allegedly made one very similar comment that fits this topic. This third hand account of what was said originated from Philo Dibble, and was repeated by Oliver B. Huntington. It was very common in those days to believe aliens lived on the Moon. Here is what he had to say on the subject.
“As far back as 1837, I know that he [Joseph Smith] said the moon was inhabited by men and women the same as this earth, and that they lived to a greater age than we do -- that they live generally to near the age of a 1,000 years.
He described the men as averaging nearly six feet in height, and dressing quite uniformly in something near the Quaker style.” Oliver B. Huntington Young Woman's Journal 1892 3: 263
I think it is very clear, even according to our scientists today that there are many Earth-like planets that exist in their stars “Goldilocks zone”, or inhabitable space in their solar system. We are told that the Lord from time to time visits these various inhabited worlds, just as he visits our world from time to time. We of course expect him to personally reign upon the Earth during the Millennium. We could expect that he visits other fallen worlds, and abides with them for a season as well, then withdraw from it and visit another world of his creation.
“This withdrawing from one, to go to another is something which I will explain. Why was it necessary, that there should be a withdrawal of the presence of the Lord in visiting the different worlds? I think it was necessary, so far as mortality is concerned, and indicates that the inhabitants of these different planets are fallen, as we are. It does not say so, in so many words, but I can see that they must be fallen, and for that reason the Lord withdraws his presence from them, and visits them in their hour, and time, and season, and then withdraws from them, leaving them to ponder in their hearts the commandments given them. If they were immortal beings and celestial in their nature, the Lord would not act with them thus, for then they would always be in his presence, whether they are beings of one world or another, or whether the worlds upon which they dwell are as numerous as the sands upon the seashore; when they become celestial the veil that obscures the view of mortals is removed, and it makes no difference whether a world be one million, a hundred million, or a million million of miles distant from another, if the veil is taken away, they are still in each other's presence.
There is a spiritual faculty of seeing, different from that of the natural sight, a power of discerning through space, by which celestial beings can see innumerable millions of miles in distance, just as easy as mortals can see ten feet with their natural vision. To be in the presence of God, then, is simply to have the veil withdrawn, which will be done when we prove ourselves worthy of celestial glory. If the worlds of which I have spoken, pertaining to the planetary system, were celestial worlds, occupied by celestial inhabitants, they would all the time be in the presence of their Father, and there could be no withdrawing from the first, to visit the second, etc., according to the revelation from which I have quoted. His method of conveying intelligence is far more rapid than that of light. Light, how slow! Only 185,000 miles in a second. It would take three and a half years at that rate for light to come from one of the nearest fixed stars. A long time to wait, especially if you were in a hurry to get an answer to any message you may send; you would have to wait three and a half years for the message to go, and probably for the same time, for the returning answer. Now, the Lord has powers beyond those with which we are acquainted. He has almighty powers. He has only entrusted us his children of mortality with a knowledge of some of the more gross principles and laws of this fallen creation, and when we, through hard study, search out the relation of one law to another, we think we are learned men; but I think when we learn in that great university the sciences of which the Lord our God is the great Teacher, we shall learn more rapidly and comprehend more easily the things of his kingdom, than we now do the things of time.” Orson Pratt, Journal of Discourses 19:293-294
This faster than light form of travel and communication would be essential to navigate the vast reaches of our universe. While we of course don't understand the methods of operation, it would be perhaps the single most important thing that God would need to oversee the handiwork of his labors.
So I think it is very reasonable to believe in aliens with the understanding we have of our doctrine. Perhaps some even do have big head, large eyes, and grey skin. If scientists of the world ever disclose alien life, intelligent or not, it doesn't discount the likelihood of an intelligent creator. Nothing comes from nothing, and we are evidence of an intelligently crafted body on a perfectly prepared and situated planet.
GOVERNED WITH PRIESTHOOD POWER
Understanding the nature in which God operates is important. He uses a very definite and methodical form of governance, which controls all things in the universe. From the tiniest particle, to our spirit, to the Sons of Perdition, while at the same time allowing those intelligent creatures exhibit and exercise their own, natural, free will. God doesn’t simply wave a magic wand to make things happen. He isn’t snapping his fingers like a witch or wizard, and things appear. He uses what we would refer to as principles of nature and science to accomplish many of his tasks, through the power of the Priesthood. These tasks are performed, in some cases, over millions or even billions of years. God is in no hurry. If he wants a new star to form, he simply waits for the hydrogen and helium atoms in a gas cloud to coalesce and the physics inherent in our universe do the rest. Gravity takes hold of that gaseous matter, and forms a massive burning ball of gas, giving off light, called a star. Although God has the capacity to perform these works much faster, this seems to be the typical pattern he allows to play out in our universe, as is evident in our telescopes.
“He is a God of system, order, law, science, and art; a God of knowledge and of power.” Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 13:309
So called natural laws govern our observable universe. Yet these laws are no accident. They were contemplated, and formulated to follow a precise order eons before the advent of spacetime. How were these laws decided? By decree of the Priesthood. With the power of the Priesthood, all of creation would have received laws in order to operate correctly. Water doesn’t follow a completely different set of rules of governance when you enter a different galaxy for example, it is still water and follows the exact same pattern it was given on our world. It will freeze when cold, liquify under certain parameters, and turn into steam when hot enough.
“God has made certain decrees which are fixed and immovable; for instance, God set the sun, the moon, and the stars in the heavens, and gave them their laws, conditions and bounds, which they cannot pass, except by His commandments; they all move in perfect harmony in their sphere and order, and are as lights, wonders and signs unto us. The sea also has its bounds which it cannot pass. God has set many signs on the earth, as well as in the heavens; for instance, the oak of the forest, the fruit of the tree, the herb of the field, all bear a sign that seed hath been planted there; for it is a decree of the Lord that every tree, plant, and herb bearing seed should bring forth of its kind, and cannot come forth after any other law or principle.” Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith 197-198
These laws of science, physics, or nature would have been a precise guide for each particle or atom to observe in whatever sphere it exists. Yet, physical matter is also capacitated to receive an Intelligence, which can guide or make it act a certain way when necessary “by His commandments”. In other words, matter can ignore these laws of physics when commanded, because each particle is also filled with an Intelligence.
God, with the Priesthood, is in essence the grand architect of not only creation, but of the very laws we witness in creation, or the strings behind the puppets of physical matter. Light, sound, and gravity, were organized with precision, by authority of the Priesthood. From the very speed of light, which travels at the astounding rate over 670,616,629 miles per hour, to the constraints of gravity on spacetime.
“We might, if we had time, point out a great many other laws. The law of light, for instance, and the law of the velocity of light, or the manner in which light is permitted to go from world to world, and in touching upon these and similar subjects we should be describing to you the power, wisdom, greatness and majesty of the Creator, who has constructed all these things according to law, and all of them are governed by his laws. It would seem almost impossible to untutored minds, if we were to tell them that a motion could be transferred from world to world at the rate of one hundred and eighty-five thousand miles every second of time. Wonderful. We almost start back at the declaration, and almost doubt the possibility of the velocity thus indicated. But incredible as it may seem to the uneducated, it is a certain thing; it does not rest upon the imaginations of the children of men; it is just as certain that light travels at nearly that rate from one creation to another, as it is that men can time the speed of horses with a watch held in their hands, and the most ignorant will admit that it is perfectly easy to do that. Well, it is just as easy to demonstrate the velocity of light, and it has been done not only by one law, but by many laws; not only by one phenomenon, but by many phenomena, and it is a thing that cannot be disputed by those who have investigated and are capable of understanding the methods of demonstration that have been given.
What causes this immense velocity, and who constructed the great ethereal medium that intervenes between all worlds, by means of which a jar can be carried from world to world with that immense velocity? It was God, that Being who is said to be in all things, not by his person, but by his Spirit and his agency. He constructed this great medium so that it should communicate vibrations or jars, from world to world at that rapid rate.
We see an illustration, on a small scale, here on the earth, in connection with our atmosphere. Who constructed this atmosphere and gave it its elasticity, and all its principles and powers, by which sound is communicated from place to place at a very rapid rate? God. He constructed all these things. Sound, we are told, flies at the rate of ten hundred and ninety feet in a second. How does it travel with that velocity? Do the particles from a sounding body—for instance a bell that is ringing—travel all that distance? Oh no, it is merely the vibration, or wave that is sent through the great mass of the atmosphere, from the sounding body to the organ of the ear; and it is sent at the rate of speed I have mentioned—over one-fifth of a mile in a second—and we call that very rapid velocity; but what is it compared with a hundred and eighty-five thousand miles a second.
When you study all these things you are learning lessons concerning God. He it is who has thus organized all these materials of nature, has given them their properties, endowed them with their elasticities, placed them in certain proportions; or, as one of the inspired writers says—“He has weighed the mountains in a balance.” Everything is adjusted in the best possible manner, to carry on his operations throughout the great universe which he has constructed. But I do not wish to dwell lengthily upon these subjects; of more importance than all these laws which govern the materials of nature, are the intelligent beings who inhabit these creations. God, in constructing these materials into creations and worlds, has done it for a wise and noble purpose. The great purpose that he had in view was the intelligent beings who should occupy these creations. No law was given to our earth and its materials, or to the planets, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and the various asteroids, merely for the sake of giving laws; but the Lord had a useful design in view, namely to add to his own glory and to the happiness of millions of his sons and daughters who should come to people these worlds I have named, that they might be prepared to be redeemed from their fallen condition, as the people of this creation are to be redeemed from theirs.” Orson Pratt Journal of Discourses 17:329-330
An interesting aspect of this quote by Orson Pratt is he uses the term “jar”, and vibration of elements, in describing the method, or vehicle of travel Celestialized beings employ to travel the vast distances of space. Today we would use the term ship, to describe such things. We also learn that all of these things, natural observances, gravity, speed of light, rotation of planets, etc. are governed by laws, which are directed from the Priesthood.
The Priesthood best understood, is an order which organizes the universe. The beginnings of this effort occurred before we even left the abode of the primordial realm, or unorganized space. Our little Intelligence, was nothing more than a fledgling sphere of light, hoping for something more. And the organizing efforts of the Priesthood are scheduled to continue, long after the expiration of our current abode, here on Earth.
“Its institution was prior to the “foundation of this earth, or the morning stars sang together, or the Sons of God shouted for joy,” and is the highest and holiest Priesthood, and is after the order of the Son of God, and all other Priesthoods are only parts, ramifications, powers and blessings belonging to the same, and are held, controlled, and directed by it. It is the channel through which the Almighty commenced revealing His glory at the beginning of the creation of the earth, and through which He has continued to reveal Himself to the children of men to the present time, and through which He will make known His purposes to the end of time.” Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith 167
Gilgal Stones and Titanium Gifts]
Gilgal + Titanium Search Result
OTEC Video Post
Spy’s Spanish Service Memory]
Language can divide, but the Spirit unites.Spy attended church there once while there for training, but didn’t understand a lick of the Spanish service.Fifty Seven Again]
57 is a mirror of 75.Funny, there’s a potential number fifty seven anomaly for anyone keeping track.Gilgal = circle
Titanium = unbending
57 = the frequency of witness.
“Once upon a time…” becomes “twice if rightly read.”
Joshua as Spy and Leader]
Gilgal Stones and Titanium Gifts]
Gilgal + Titanium Search Result
OTEC Video Post
Spy’s Spanish Service Memory]
Fifty Seven Again]
Gilgal = circle
Titanium = unbending
57 = the frequency of witness.
“Once upon a time…” becomes “twice if rightly read.”
Joshua as Spy and Leader]
When the Seals Shake and the Spirit Stirs 
]
As BeNotDeceived and The Wicker Man testified, these tremors were not just geological events, but divine timestamps. One stirred the son. Another the daughter. And if you count the signs — Flag Day, the First State, a 6.5 tremor, and a reversed 13 — you begin to hear the hidden rhythm of the scrolls unsealed.
Where does this lead?
The trumpet fell. The ground shook.
June 11–12 may ring again.
“And a record shall be kept among them… and the record shall be found in the shaking.” (Unwritten FrogScript 1:7)
¢1: CamelCase ≠ SnakeCase ≠ Screaming_SNAKE_CASE
SlogBog Archive: 
Interesting dates near the present time 
Spy-World Weekly Post (SW.1923)
. I just start playing Sepultura on a loop and like magic, they scatter back to the house, setting up their craft tabling in the kitchen where they belong!!!! 
