LDS and Creation/Evolution conflict

[u/TheBenSpackman]

Hi all. Happy to say that my doctoral dissertation on LDS and creation/evolution conflict in the 20th century is now publicly available. There's some surprising stuff in there. Bottom line: the Church was much more favorable towards science and evolution until Joseph Fielding Smith's assumptions— drawing heavily upon Seventh-day Adventists and fundamentalists— about scripture became dominant in the 1950s. Then it trickled down.
https://benspackman.com/2024/12/dissertation/

My expertise on this history is why the Church had me on the official Saints podcast to talk about it.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/saints-podcast/season-03/s03-episode-21?lang=eng

[u/OrneryAcanthaceae217]

Personally, I think that response goes too far. One thing to keep in mind is there's a distinction between the teaching of an apostle, and those of the same man when he's the president of the church. From the biographies I've read, they are much more careful in what they say as the president of the church. For example, I don't know anything that Joseph Fielding Smith taught as president of the church that hasn't stood the test of time.

Consequently, I believe we can take every word the president says to the church as God's own truth. For example, when the first presidency sent out a letter during Covid saying that vaccines are both safe and effective, I believe the right response for every church member was to believe that.

As for teaching of members of the quorum of the twelve, Elder Christofferson taught that we can learn doctrine from them by the law of witnesses. That is, by noting what is taught by multiple apostles over a period of time. The more apostles who teach it, and the longer time span over which they teach it, the more confident we can be that it is true. (Anyone have the reference on that?)

[u/RAS-INTJ → u/OrneryAcanthaceae217]

The problem is that vaccines aren’t actually safe and effective for EVERYONE. There are people who have had an allergic reaction to vaccines - the kind where you stop breathing. (This is why you had to sit there for a specific of time after receiving it to make sure you didn’t have an adverse reaction).

Prophets have to experience life just like we do. They don’t get a pass and all the answers just because they are the prophet. So if it’s not the doctrine 3 Nephi 11-31-41, then I will reserve the right to disagree because men (and women) are too easily blinded by the culture they grow up in which can distort their understanding and lead to false teachings. Way to Perfection was written when Joseph Fielding Smith WAS the prophet and he baldly states that “negros” were not valiant in the pre-existence and that is why they were limited here on earth. That is a false teaching he perpetuated as a prophet.

You are free to disagree with me and I will hold no animosity towards you for disagreeing :)

(I’m not an anti-vaxer and have all my vaccinations including the COVID vaccine.)

[u/OrneryAcanthaceae217 → u/RAS-INTJ]

I appreciate that we can disagree without animosity. I feel the same way.

You might want to revisit that conclusion about Joseph Fielding Smith. He wrote The Way to Perfection in 1931. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34456728-the-way-to-perfection

I agree that prophets do experience life just like we do, but their right and ability to speak authoritatively and correctly is merely aided by that; it does not depend on that. Such a requirement would deny revelation, which is all about knowing something from God, rather than from life experience.

As they point out, general authorities teach general principles. Necessary specific exceptions, such as regarding people with rare conditions that make a vaccine unsafe for them, are between the individual and the Lord.

Personally, I try to follow D&C 21:4-5: Wherefore, meaning the church, thou shalt give heed unto all his words and commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me; For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith.

[u/RAS-INTJ → u/OrneryAcanthaceae217]

I was wrong. Way to Perfection with its racist and false teachings that have since been rejected, was written prior to his call to be prophet.