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From the American Red Cross:
“Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel” – the common hymn in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints beckons people to not stand idly by and watch as conditions deteriorate, but to get involved and work to make the world a better place. The challenge is one the Church itself is living up to, exemplified most recently by its $3 million donation to the Measles Initiative.Continue reading...
A post from a few days ago dealt with the BYU Evolution packet. Little did I know that the link on my sidebar had become invalid. I'm not sure who put the pdf file together, but it was posted on a BYU server for a zoology class. That internet address has disappeared, perhaps because of reorganization that eliminated the zoology department.
Luckily I had saved the file so I sent it over to Gary at No Death Before the Fall, and he is kindly hosting it. My link (on the sidebar) has been updated appropriately.
The packet is available elsewhere on the internet, but I prefer the pdf file, which also has an explanatory article from the Daily Universe with it.
The draft sequence of the chimpanzee genome has been published in Nature this week. A news summary is available at Scientific American.com. Carl Zimmer has a little more analysis here. (And while you're at it, read this other article by Zimmer on chromosome structure.)
Continue reading...Michael Shermer raises some good questions about naturalism and God.
He writes:
Continue ReadingIf you attempt to reconcile religion and science on questions about nature and the universe, and if you push the science to its logical conclusion, you will end up naturalizing the deity, because for any question about nature—the origins of the universe, life, humans, whatever—if your answer is “God did it,” a scientist will ask, “How did God do it?, What forces did God use? What forms of matter and energy were employed in the creation process?” and so forth. The end result of this inquiry can only be natural explanations for all natural phenomena. What place, then, for God?
One could argue that God is the laws and forces of nature, which is logically acceptable, but this is pantheism and not the type of personal God to which most people profess belief. One could also argue that God created the universe and life using the laws and forces of nature as his creation tools, which is also logically fine, but it leaves us with additional scientific questions: which laws and forces were used to create specific natural phenomena, and in what matter were they used? how did God create the laws and forces of nature? A scientist would be curious to know God’s recipe for, say, gravity, or for a universe or a cell. For that matter, it is a legitimate scientific question to ask: what made God, and how was God created? How do you make an omniscient and omnipotent being? Finally, one could argue that God is outside of nature—super nature, or supernatural—and therefore needs no explanation. This is also logically consistent, but by definition it means that the God question is outside of science and therefore religion and science are separate and incompatible.
As a younger man, Shermer was an evangelical Christian and no doubt much of the opposition he deals with comes from evangelicals. A naturalized God would be anathema to orthodox Christianity, yet right at home in Mormon theology.
It seems to me that the tension between science and Mormon theology has much more to do with specific statements and scriptures and their bearing on prophetic authority, than with the big questions. We don't know many answers to the big questions, but we are not afraid to ask them and we expect different answers than our orthodox Christian brethren--something that I think that we sometimes forget.
I put this post together a couple of days ago. With the recent vigorous discussion at Millenial Star, now seems as good of a time as any to get it out.
I was poking around on BYU's Newsnet search archives and found just a few articles dealing with evolution within the last decade or so. The most significant ones are here and here. If you are familiar with the BYU Evolution Packet (available on the sidebar) and how it came about, then you won't learn much new.
Nevertheless, the articles are positive and the statements made by the faculty interviewed are reassuring. The articles also contain a few details that may not be well-known. For example, the second article contains information that I have only seen in an interview with Duane Jeffery that was published in Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, but is not yet freely accessible.
Continue ReadingWhen BYU started discussing an undergraduate evolution course in 1970 and 1971, Jeffery received a brief admonition from President Harold B. Lee, later to become president of the Church of Jesus Christ, and then in the church's First Presidency.
"You tell those guys to teach the best and most rigorous course you can," President Lee said. "Just don't get on any bandwagon and beat the church with it."
With President Lee's approval, Jeffery began teaching the evolution class in the 1971 Fall Semester.
In the Dialogue interview, Jeffery says about that class: ...over the years, so far as I am aware, we have had two complaints from students to the administration. Both of those have been from students who were rather interested in cultivating a relationship with people upstairs and thought this was a good way to do so. One of them wrote to our president [I assume this is the University president--LDS-SR] and said, "My grandfather and I have done a pamphlet that clearly sets this whole story straight, and we'd be happy to meet with you, after you have chastised these faculty members here, and show you how God really did things." Our president was not particularly interested in being so instructed, so that sort of died there, but I know of only two such cases.
Our introductory biology course, where students have less background, often generates more negative response. One of the instructors of the course is a former mission president, and he makes certain that his students get a solid exposure to evolution. One of our vice presidents told me he can always tell when that instructor gets to the evolution part of the course, just from the letters he receives from parents. But so far as I know, we've only had those two complaints about the evolution class itself. (Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 35:4)
One of the articles contains a reference to the article in BYU Magazine, Things of the Earth.
In contrast to his views on space travel, Joseph Fielding Smith became a flying enthusiast. Through some friendships with members of the National Guard, he was able to take some flights in jets.
Continue ReadingThe news of Elder Smith's avid interest in jets circulated around Church headquarters with lightning speed. Everyone was surprised; most seemed delighted; a few were probably envious; and at least one was appalled. That one was President J. Reuben Clark, who was obstinately opposed to flying and who used his considerable influence and authority to keep all his brethren out of the air. On one notable occasion, following a meeting where it was decided that one of the brethren would fly to Washington, D.C., President Clark sought out the brother, who was one of his protégés, and said "Look, kid, you go by train." (As related to the author.) President Clark had flown in a plane only once, which was apparently enough to convince him that it was dangerous and not an acceptable way for him or anyone else to travel. So, when the president of the Twelve took up flying in jets, President Clark launched a campaign to get him to stop. While he was reluctant to order his apostolic senior, President Smith, to cease and desist as he had done with his protégé, President Clark hinted that he ought to give it up. It was then that Elder Smith sought to turn the tables and convince President Clark of the safety and the joys of jetting. How he did it remains a mystery, but two years after President Smith began to fly in jets, he persuaded President Clark to accompany him to the airport to at least check the plane out...
One thing led to another and both Elders Smith and Clark went on a plane ride that day.As far as is known, President Clark never again went up in a plane, carrying his aversion to flying to his grave. President Smith, on the other hand, continued to enjoy his hobby as often as he could find time to do so.
...Elder Smith never attempted to reconcile the inconsistency of that view [that man should stay on earth] with his carefree enjoyment in flying at 30,000 feet above the planet in a sabre jet. Undoubtedly, President J. Reuben Clark would have immensely enjoyed his attempts to do so.
(Joseph Fielding Smith: Gospel Scholar, Prophet of God, by Francis Gibbons.)
(Any ideas on who that protégé of Clark's was?)
In the last post I speculated that Joseph Fielding Smith may have believed that the moon was in a terrestrial state. I do not know whether this was the case or not, but the following passage shows his belief concerning the sun.
I found the passage in The Life of Joseph Fielding Smith, by Joseph Fielding Smith Jr. and John Stewart. The context is a letter written by the then Elder Smith to one of his sons serving a mission.
Continue ReadingJoseph Fielding offers it as his opinion, for instance, that glorified beings live on the sun. It was a hot summer day in Salt Lake City, July 18, 1948, the day before his 72nd birthday anniversary, when he was writing to Milton in Argentina, and his interest had turned to the sun: "The weather here for several days has been really warm. . . . We have no complaint coming, however, for we depend upon the sun for most everything. If it were not for the sun we would have no rain, no water to drink, for it is the sun which draws the water up into the sky and then lets it down again. The grass would not grow; the trees would not bloom and there would be no fruit. Everything would wither up and die. . . . We know that we could not exist if we did not have the good old sun to warm us and provide us with what we have. . . .
"But there is something still more important than all of this about the sun. Contrary to the teachings of the astronomers and men of science-these great men who think they know it all-the sun is not gradually throwing off its heat and eventually after eons of years it will [not] become a cold dead world like the moon. I do not know just how dead the moon is, but that is another question. . . . It is my judgment and belief that the sun is a celestial body. It has previously passed through its death and had its resurrection, just as it is decreed that this earth shall do. No man ever saw the face of the sun, so far as I know, for it is surrounded by a cloud. This cloud is what the astronomers see. It is very apparent during an eclipse, but the sun is veiled so that we cannot see its surface. Moreover, I believe that it is inhabited. Why not? If we ever have the privilege of dwelling on a celestial earth-and this earth will become such-we will have to endure 'everlasting burnings.'
"If you have a copy of Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith turn to page 347 and read what the Prophet said. The Lord dwells in 'everlasting burnings.' If we are worthy of celestial glory we will do the same. In Heb. 12:29, we read 'For our God is a consuming fire.' This means that anything mortal, corruptible, could not endure his presence. Joseph Smith could not have stood the presence of the Father and the Son, when he saw them in glory, except he was protected by the Spirit of God. It was the presence of that power that protected the three companions of Daniel when they were thrown into the fiery furnace. Moses said that if the Spirit of the Lord had not been with him he would 'have withered and died in his presence, but his glory was upon me; and I beheld his face, for I was transfigured before him.' (Moses 1:11.)
"Of course the scientists know so much about this earth and the universe, so much more than the Creator of them knows, that all this is foolishness to them, but I tell you, son, what I have written is true. . . . We know nothing of the spiritual forces and conditions existing in the spiritual world, or existence, except that which the Lord has revealed. But we know this, that eventually, based upon the atonement of Jesus Christ, everything which is now mortal will after the resurrection become spiritual. Beings that become celestial will also shine like the sun and they will radiate energy from their bodies, not like radium, but with a radiation that will never end. This is the condition of the sun. It radiates energy, but that energy is not diminishing and will endure forever. After the resurrection our bodies, if we are faithful, will radiate and have a luster that would be blinding to mortal eyes, unless the power of the Lord protected them." He then quotes rather extensively from Brigham Young regarding the celestial state of the earth in a distant day, and adds the comment, "Well, son, such doctrine is foolishness to the wise men of this world, but it is true!" (p.294-296)
You may have heard that Joseph Fielding Smith once said that man would never get to the moon. The topic came up on another blog recently, so I thought I would assemble what I could find on the topic.
Continue Reading
1. Joseph Fielding Smith's Answers to Gospel Questions Vol. II contains the following passage: When man was placed on this earth it became his probationary, or mortal home. Here he is destined to stay until his earth-life is completed, subject to all the mortal conditions outlined in the beginning. There is no prophecy or edict ever given that mortals should seek dominions beyond this earth while they dwell in mortality. Here we are, and here we should be content to stay. All this talk about space travel and the visiting of other worlds brings to mind vividly an attempt long ago made by foolish men who tried to build to heaven.
The question that he was responding to asked about whether space travel might play a role in the fulfillment of prophecy, such as the return of the ten tribes. The answer should be read in that context.
This earth is our destined earth home. With this in mind, wise men will be content and will wait until the time comes when this earth is cleansed and purified from all sin for heavenly visits, and in that day they will come. (p.191-192)
2. According to Francis Gibbon's biography, Joseph Fielding Smith: Gospel Scholar, Prophet of God, [Elder Smith] took a dim view of space travel. During a stake conference held in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on May 1 and 2, 1962, a reporter questioned him about the plans of the United States to put a man on the moon. "I answered that they might, but evidently if so he might have difficulty to get back again." This comment was picked up and reported by the national wire services, producing a wholly unexpected reaction. "I am flooded by letters in relation to it," wrote the apostle, "with some editorial criticism." Although he never answered publicly, he confided this response to his diary: "The fact is . . . mortal man has no business trying to get on the moon, for earth is a probationary state and in mortality we are expected [to stay on] this earth." (p.371)
3. The Life of Joseph Fielding Smith, by Joseph Fielding Smith Jr. and John J. Stewart, treats the same episode as #2 above. President Smith questioned the wisdom or worth of the government's expensive efforts to place men on the moon. In recent years the rumor has circulated around the Church that President Smith once prophesied that men would never reach the moon. The falsity of this report is apparent from the fuss that was raised back in 1962 when he commented on the moon venture. In his journal for May 1 and 2, 1962, he observed, "When in Tulsa, Oklahoma, I was interviewed by a reporter. He asked me about the endeavor to place men on the moon. I answered that they might, but evidently if so he might have difficulty to get back again. This was sent out as a dispatch to newspapers all over the U.S., and I am flooded by letters in relation to it, with some editorial criticisms. Why such a fuss? . . . This remark apparently disturbed a great many people. The fact is, however, although I did not say it, man-mortal man-has no business trying to get on the moon, for earth is a probationary state and in mortality we are expected [to stay on] this earth." He did not say whether the letter writers were upset because he said that man might get on the moon, or because he said they might have a difficult time getting back. Perhaps there was some criticism from each side. (p. 322-324)
4. Quinn's biography of J. Reuben Clark contains this note: As an example of Apostle Smith's rejection of science, he instructed a stake conference in 1961: "We will never get a man into space. This earth is man's sphere and it was never intended that he should get away from it. The moon is a superior planet to the earth and it was never intended that man should go there. You can write it down in your books that this will never happen." See E, 848 (entry for 14 May 1961), with commentary a few days later in George S. Tanner diary, JWML. Smith wanted this view to be taught to "the boys and girls in the Seminary System." (Chapter 7 note 79)
This is also in Quinn's Extensions of Power, a book I do not have. I understand that the book does not give a source for the quotation. If anybody knows the ultimate source, please provide it.
5. An essay attributed to Joseph Fielding McConkie contains this: I was present on at least one occasion when President Smith said it. It was a Sunday dinner at our house. My grandfather, Oscar W. McConkie, had asked President Smith if he thought the Lord would allow us to get to other worlds and communicate with the people on them. President Smith indicated that he did not. He reasoned that because the atonement that Christ worked out on this earth applies to all the creations of the Father, that our getting to other worlds and discovering that they had the same Savior and the same plan of salvation would dispense with the necessity of our accepting the gospel on the basis of faith. To dramatize the point he said, "I don't even think the Lord will let men get to the moon."
I concurred with President Smith's reasoning then and do so now. What he said, in my judgement, was right. The illustration he used to dramatize his point has since proven to be in error. It, however, has nothing to do with the point he was making.
6. [Edited to include quote provided in comments below]"Now I say this is a probationary existence. We are placed here on probation. The people in our land, as well as in foreign lands, are all going crazy over getting to the moon, setting up headquarters there, and so forth. I think the Lord sits in the heavens and laughs at our foolishness. He does not have to do like He did in the days of the building of the Tower of Babel, come down to take a look. But I think he sits in the heavens and smiles at the foolishness of mortal men." ("We Are Here to Be Tried, Tested, Proved," BYU address, October 25, 1961.)
Pres. Smith's skepticism about space travel seems to come from the silence of the scriptures on the matter. He was not the prophet when the statements were made, and his sentiments were apparently common at the time. An additional thing to consider is that some of his commentary was apparently in response to talk of colonizing the moon or other planets. In that regard, his opinon has not been contradicted yet.
It is interesting to note that Pres. Smith seems to have believed that the moon was in some way superior to the earth--perhaps in a non-mortal state. Given the scriptural symbolism, he may have thought that the moon was a terrestrial world (in the sense of the degrees of glory). This may be likely, as will be seen in a forthcoming post.
(FAIR has an article on the nature of prophets that touches on Pres. Smith's view of space travel.)
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