Refuting and Correcting BYU’s False Doctrine on the Origin of Man #34 - Elder Mark E. Petersen Warns Against Evolution and Teaches Truth about the Origin of Man (Part A)

 (by Dennis B. Horne)

            Elder Mark E. Petersen was one of the more blunt and forceful apostles when writing and speaking about the doctrine of the origin of man and the false theories of evolution. Therefore, for evolutionary scientists he is one of the more disliked apostles. He did not mince words and told things are they really were, not worrying much about diplomacy.

 

Mark E. Petersen, “Chastity,” (also titled, “The Sacredness of Procreation,” BYU Speeches, February 3, 1953; (4 mins to 15 mins):

            I am so glad that you believe in God. I am so glad that you accept Him as the great Creator of all. He is the great Creator. He made all things. He made this earth on which we live. He made the light. The scripture makes it clear that the Gods decided to create this world. In the process of their work they did separate the light from the darkness. They put lights in the firmament of heaven. As they looked upon their work they said it was “good.” And then they separated the waters from the earth; and they said it was “good.”

Refuting and Correcting BYU’s False Doctrine on the Origin of Man #33 - President Ezra Taft Benson’s Warnings against Evolution

(by Dennis B. Horne)

            Below are a sampling of quotations from President Benson warning members not to believe the theory of evolution:

 

President Ezra Taft Benson:

            This University was built by the consecrated funds of the Church for the purpose that our youth could be taught the truth, both secular and spiritual. That commission places a great responsibility on both teacher and student. Of that unique commission, President Marion G. Romney has said:

            The unique commission of the Brigham Young University has always been and now is threefold. First, to help you recognize that there are two sources of learning—one divine, the other human; second, to urge and inspire you students to drink deeply from both sources; and third, to teach and train you to correctly distinguish between the learning of the world and revealed truth, that you may not be deceived in your search.

Refuting and Correcting BYU’s False Doctrine on the Origin of Man #32 - Elder Bruce R. McConkie’s Teachings on the Origin of Man (and evolution)

(by Dennis B. Horne)

            Elder McConkie’s son Joseph Fielding McConkie (a now-deceased former religion professor at BYU), wrote this about his father:

 

            Nothing made Bruce McConkie less popular in the academic community than his open objection to the theory of evolution as an answer to the question of man's origin. His 1982 article "Christ and the Creation," published in the Ensign and written at the request of the First Presidency, details some of the major scriptural conflicts between the theory of evolution and the scriptures. The publication of this article was preceded by a powerful speech entitled "The Three Pillars of Eternity," delivered in 1981 at a Brigham Young University devotional. In that address he illustrated the incompatibility of the theory of organic evolution and the doctrine of the Fall.

            Handwritten notes among his papers indicate he intended either to speak or to write more forcibly on this matter than he had. "Evolution," one note reads, "is not a science; it is a religion. It is not an objective analysis of what is found in a test tube; it does not involve experiments that all researchers can duplicate. It is, rather, a mass of theoretical postulates by which its devotees seek to explain the origin and destiny of man without reference to revelation."

Refuting and Correcting BYU’s False Doctrine on the Origin of Man #31 - President Boyd K. Packer’s Teachings on Evolution and the Origin of Man

 (by Dennis B. Horne) 

            Elder/President Boyd K. Packer was an undaunted foe of evolution and a powerful and persuasive teacher of the true doctrine of the origin of man. He often took occasion to speak on the subject with great earnestness and by the power of the Spirit.

            Of special consideration is a talk he gave at BYU in the summer of 1988 (at which I was present). His published address contained a disclaimer, which some evolutionists have tried to use to dismiss it entirely from serious consideration. Wave your hand at the disclaimer and Poof!, the talk is gone! Baloney. The idea that Brother Packer would teach 20 thousand BYU students doctrine he knew to be false is ludicrous. He taught truth by the Spirit to his audience. Virtually no BYU Speeches given by apostles at BYU are considered official declarations from the church, but every one of them believes the doctrine they are teaching to be true and inspired. I recommend all readers drink in Brother Packer’s teachings, and ponder and pray about what they are reading. Great is the reward for such diligent study.

Refuting and Correcting BYU’s False Doctrine on the Origin of Man #30 - President Marion G. Romney Refutes Evolution and Teaches the True Doctrine of the Origin of Man

(by Dennis B. Horne)

            Today, and for some 50 years previous, the Church has used something called “correlation” or “correlation review” to evaluate and ensure the doctrinal correctness and accuracy of gospel teachings and instruction it produces. Correlation review has other purposes than this, but such is its main use. It has not always worked perfectly; it has had some annoying side-effects; in some cases it has dumbed-down the Church; but over-all it has been very helpful and necessary and its origins and continued use has been declared inspired by many of the Brethren. Before 1960s-1970s its purposes were the same but were called by other names, such as reading or publication committees. The below items and information will give the reader a feel for the creation of these processes and their internal church usages. First is the text of an official letter from the Heber J. Grant First Presidency appointing and explaining the duties of a new reading (correlation) committee. Those who don’t enjoy learning about such matters might skip to the next item, which is a definite and substantial quotation taken from a general conference address given by Elder Marion G. Romney. In this address he discusses his work and feelings as part of that reading/review committee as it pertains to the origin of man and the mission of Adam. (As far as I am concerned, Elder Romney spoke by pure inspiration.) Then excerpts from letters written by Elder Romney and by Elder Harold B. Lee are given, in support of and explaining some reaction from President McKay to his conference message refuting evolution. These powerful teachings won’t persuade biology teachers of evolution, who know more than the Lord, but they do represent the position and feelings of the leading Quorums of the Church—which is all that matters.

Refuting and Correcting BYU’s False Doctrine on the Origin of Man #29 - Creating the Earth: The Keys of Creation and Controlling the Elements

 (by Dennis B. Horne)

            We quote two prophets to open this discussion:

President Kimball:

            We remember when the Lord Jesus was in the hinder part of the ship and was sleeping on a pillow, and his disciples awakened him and said unto him, “Master, carest thou not that we perish?

            “And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. …

            “And they … said [to themselves], What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:38–39, 41.)

Refuting and Correcting BYU’s False Doctrine on the Origin of Man #28 - The Sealed Portion of the Book of Mormon

 (by Dennis B. Horne)

            While putting this piece together, I at first planned to quote Ether 4:4-5 and 2 Nephi 27:10-11, but those scriptures are found in the below quotations from apostles explaining what they mean, so I suffice with this: “I have written upon these plates the very things which the brother of Jared saw; and there never were greater things made manifest than those which were made manifest unto the brother of Jared.” And: “They reveal all things from the foundation of the world unto the end thereof.” And lastly from Ether 3:25: “he showed unto the brother of Jared all the inhabitants of the earth which had been, and also all that would be; and he withheld them not from his sight, even unto the ends of the earth.”

            For our purposes, the two key phrases are “all things from the foundation of the world”—the beginning of this earth—and, “all the inhabitants of the earth. . . .” This means the creation of the earth and mankind; all of the children of God assigned to this earth. So the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon contains a detailed revelation of the period that scientists would say that evolution happened.

            While I find that a number of apostles and prophets have made reference to the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon in their teachings, most of those references are not detailed. As far as I can tell, Elder Bruce R. McConkie seems to have dwelt on the subject of what is written on the sealed portion of the plates the most among his apostolic associates. His views are stated in a number of quotations below, and amount to the fact that the sealed portion contains the vision of the brother of Jared in detail, including an account of the creation of the earth and all things by Jehovah, Michael, and their helpers among the noble and great spirits in the pre-mortal existence.

Refuting and Correcting BYU’s False Doctrine on the Origin of Man #27 - Professor Josiah E. Hickman’s Dream-Vision about Science/Evolution

 (by Dennis B. Horne)

            Dr. Josiah E. Hickman was a well-educated college professor that taught several disciplines over his lifetime at both BYU and Utah State University (before either were universities). He was a prominent teacher with considerable influence in church education. He was also Elder Orson F. Whitney’s best friend, as was his sister, Laura Hickman.

            Josiah watched what we would today call troubling liberal/progressive influences infiltrate both universities to various extents, and he fought hard against these encroachments. He became so discouraged that he eventually left the teaching profession to sell insurance. In his early years, as he was obtaining his education, he became so frustrated with evolution in particular that he prayed with great faith and the Lord sent an angel to him to show him a vision about evolution. Josiah kept a diary in which he recorded many particulars of his life, of which the below relate to the subject at hand, including a lengthy narration of his vision, which, as far as I know, if virtually unknown in the Church—but needs to be known:

Refuting and Correcting BYU’s False Doctrine on the Origin of Man #26 - George Brimhall’s Dream-Vision of the Snow-White Birds

 (by Dennis B. Horne)

            Elder Boyd K. Packer referenced this dream or vision given to a past Superintendent of Church Schools in his 1995 address to BYU students. It directly relates to teaching evolution and other false doctrines to BYU students; the same thing warned of in this dream is going on now as BYU biologists today repeat the egregious errors of their former associates:

 

            I remember as well Sunday, January 8, 1956. To understand why that is memorable to me, we must go back to 1910.

            George Brimhall, having already served 19 years as president of BYU, determined to establish a recognized teachers college. He had hired three professors: one with a master’s degree from Harvard, one with a doctorate from Cornell, and the other with a doctorate from Chicago. They hoped to transform the college into a full-fledged university. They determined that practicality and religion, which had characterized the school, must now give way to more intellectual and scientific philosophies.

Refuting and Correcting BYU’s False Doctrine on the Origin of Man #25 - President Russell M. Nelson’s Teachings about Evolution and the Origin of Man

(by Dennis B. Horne)

            President Nelson’s teachings on the creation of man and his rejection of evolution are the most important of our time simply because he is the prophet of the Lord right now. Yet pro-evolutionists like Ben Spackman and others in the BYU biology department seek to marginalize his voice and views. Of President Nelson, Spackman said:

 

            He’s said some things on occasion, and it has never been enough to be able to pin down what camp he falls into. He’s very obviously against the new atheist camp that says science and evolution disprove that there’s a God. That’s not a surprise. Whether he would be in favor of say, Steven Peck’s views of evolution, a BYU biology professor who talks about evolution a lot, or theistic evolution or, the kind of evolution in the way the Catholic Church has gone for it, he’s never really said enough to pin down his views. . . .

Refuting and Correcting BYU’s False Doctrine on the Origin of Man #24 - The False Scientific Theories of Men and Women

(by Dennis B. Horne)

Elder James E. Talmage:

            Science, if properly taught in our associations, cannot fail to add to the testimony and devotion of the members. If false science be taught it will tend to lead astray. A very proper question is, “How may success be acquired and danger avoided?” See that a clear line of distinction be drawn between fact and theory. Truth is of divine origin; theories are man-made. I would urge that no discussion of the latter be introduced under the name of science in our associations. Theories are invented to explain mysteries, and they do so oftentimes mysteriously, and mysteries are not easily assimilated in the human mind. To the members of the associations I would say, for the present, let us leave such matters alone, and deal only with the things about us. To be informed upon the things with which we are personally brought in contact is the characteristic of a useful education. . . .

Refuting and Correcting BYU’s False Doctrine on the Origin of Man #23 - Joseph F. Smith Discourses on the Theories of Men/Women

 (by Dennis B. Horne)

            One of the best and strongest reasons to interpret the First Presidency document “The Origin of Man” (see #12 & 13) as it is written, being a clear refutation of evolution and superb teachings about the origin of Adam and Eve, is because when you look at everything else President Smith taught on the subject, it all agrees and harmonizes. President Joseph F. Smith knew the true doctrine of the origin of man and the falseness of evolution—and often said so.

 

President Smith:

            I believe, too, that the most of the Latter-day Saints are wise enough, that they have sufficient intelligence and a sufficient portion of the Spirit of the living God in their hearts, to decide between truth and error, between right and wrong, and between light and darkness; and I will say I believe they have sense enough to abide by the simple, pure, truthful principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ, in preference to all the vagaries of philosophers, or of scientists, or of anybody else. There is no science, nor philosophy that can supersede God Almighty's truth. The Lord has said, "My word is truth," and indeed it is and I believe that the Latter-day Saints know enough about the word of God to know it is His word when they see it and shun whatever is not; and that they will abide by the word of God, for it is truth. As the Savior said, "If ye will abide in my word, then are ye my disciples, indeed; ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." I believe that the Latter-day Saints, and especially the leading men in Israel, have sufficient knowledge and understanding of the principles of the gospel that they know the truth, and they are made free by its possession—free from sin, free from error, free from darkness, from the traditions of men, from vain philosophy, and from the untried, unproven theories of scientists, that need demonstration beyond the possibility of a doubt. We have had science and philosophy through all the ages, and they have undergone change after change. Scarcely a century has passed but they have introduced new theories of science and of philosophy that supersede the old traditions and the old faith and the old doctrines entertained by philosophers and scientists. These things may undergo continuous changes, but the word of God is always true, is always right. (Conference Report, April 1911, 7-8.)

Refuting and Correcting BYU’s False Doctrine on the Origin of Man #22 - Elder Joseph Fielding Smith’s article, “The Origin and Destiny of Man with a side-light on Evolution”

 (by Dennis B. Horne)

            In 1920 there appeared in the Improvement Era a long treatise by Elder Joseph Fielding Smith on “The Origin and Destiny of Man.” From today’s perspective, it has the same weakness as his book of similar name—the scientific quotes he used are now over 100 years old and becoming obsolete. But what else was he to do? Today’s scientists will be obsolete in the future also.

            An editorial comment accompanying the article noted that Joseph Fielding Smith, “Whose dissertation in this number, on ‘The Origin and Destiny of Man,’ with a side light on evolution, and telling arguments showing its inadequacies and inconsistencies, is worth careful study and a double reading.” We reproduce this document here because its doctrinal teachings remain strong and true, and because BYU biologists need to dismiss President Smith’s teachings else their theories are groundless nonsense:

            My Brethren and Sisters:—Throughout the discussion of this topic, I would like you to keep in mind the following passages of scripture: