Elder Eyring told a story in this recent General Conference.
My father… was a seasoned and wise holder of the Melchizedek Priesthood. Once he was asked by an Apostle to write a short note about the scientific evidence for the age of the earth. He wrote it carefully, knowing that some who might read it had strong feelings that the earth was much younger than the scientific evidence suggested. I still remember my father handing me what he had written and saying to me, “Hal, you have the spiritual wisdom to know if I should send this to the apostles and prophets.” I can’t remember much of what the paper said, but I will carry with me forever the gratitude I felt for a great Melchizedek Priesthood holder who saw in me spiritual wisdom that I could not see.
A few of my friends thought this put a nail in the coffin of the anti-evolutionists, but it doesn’t really. See, we need to talk about the different kinds of creationism and define some terms, before we do the backstory to Elder Eyring’s comment.
We can break up different kinds of creationism based on two factors: the age of the earth and the degree of “special creation,” which refers to the creation of a species (animals or humans) in their current form, i.e. no evolution, no changes. Some creationists hold to the evolution of animals, but a special creation of Adam and Eve. Here’s a simplified generalized taxonomy.
- (Natural) Evolutionists say the earth is billions of years old, and humans and animals evolved.
- Theistic Evolutionists say the earth is billions of years old, and humans and animals evolved as part of God’s plan, under his control or influence.
- This, I believe, was Henry Eyring Sr.’s position, and is the most compatible theistic position with generally-established science, because it doesn’t dispute any of the scientific details.
- Old Earth Creationists (OEC) agree the earth is billions of years old but hold to “special creation” of humans (and sometimes animals) in the last few thousand years. This appears to be the unofficial position of the LDS Church and has some conflict with generally-established science. It’s the explicit position of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and Ben Carson (see my article here and follow-up here.)
- Young Earth Creationists (YEC) hold to special creation of humans and animals (usually), in the last few thousand years. This was Joseph Fielding Smith’s position and has the most conflict with generally-established science. (More on this below.) It’s based on the assumption that revelation consists of scientific facts, because that is what Truth is, and God cannot lie. Prophets are mere conduits, and their humanity in no way affects or influences the divine message. We should understand scriptural and prophetic statements, whether 50, 100, or 2000 years ago, as if they were all spoken within the worldview and knowledge horizon of today. YEC views come from applying these assumptions to Genesis (with a little Paul or Nephi mixed in) and then reworking the science to fit.
I find those assumptions to be more the unconscious intellectual inheritance of the scientific revolution and Enlightenment than good scriptural theology, and largely indefensible on several grounds. I spend a good bit of time in my book talking about the nature of revelation, prophets, and scripture. Back to Elder Eyring and his father.
Henry Eyring Sr. was a brilliant chemist, teaching at his PhD alma mater Princeton from 1931-1946. To quote from Wikipedia,
Henry Eyring (February 20, 1901 – December 26, 1981) was a Mexican-born American theoretical chemist…. A prolific writer, he authored more than 600 scientific articles, ten scientific books, and a few books on the subject of science and religion. He received the Wolf Prize in Chemistry in 1980 and the National Medal of Science in 1966 for developing the Absolute Rate Theory or Transition state theory of chemical reactions, one of the most important developments of 20th-century chemistry. Several other chemists later received the Nobel Prize for work based on it, and his failure to receive the Nobel was a matter of surprise to many.
I’ve written about him before here. Eyring wrote Faith of a Scientist explaining some of his views, and the more recent volume Mormon Scientist: The Life and Faith of Henry Eyring is a quasi-biography that is well worth reading. The latter contains thoughts like this on the nature of science, religion, and assumptions or “postulates.”
[In both science and religion,] you set up some basic postulates from your experience or your experiments and then from that you start making deductions, but everything that matters is based upon things you accept as true. When a man says he will believe in religion if you prove it, it is like asking you to prove there are electrons. Proof depends upon your premises….Every proof in science depends on the postulates one accepts. The same is true of religion. The certitude one has about the existence of God ultimately comes from personal experience, the experience of others, or logical deductions from the postulates one accepts. People sometimes get the idea that science and religion are different, but they are not different at all. There is nothing in science that does not hinge on some primitive constructs you take for granted. What is an electron? I can tell you some things about the electron we have learned from experiment, and if you accept these things, you will be able to make predictions. But ultimately you will always get back to postulates.I am certain in my own mind of the truthfulness of the gospel, but I can only communicate that assurance to you if you accept my postulates.
Joseph Fielding Smith (1876-1972) did not attend university (his two years at the LDS College were equivalent to two years of high school), and was a Young Earth Creationist from early on in his life. His reading of scripture put him at odds with science and in serious conflict with other General Authorities like B.H. Roberts, James E. Talmage, John Widtsoe, David O. McKay, Reuben Clark, and others. He was not afraid to express his views.
I will state frankly and positively that I am opposed to the present biological theories and the doctrine that man has been on the earth for millions of years. I am opposed to the present teachings in relation to the age of the earth which declare that the earth is millions of years old. Some modern scientists even claim that it is a billion years old. Naturally, since I believe in modern revelation, I cannot accept these so-called scientific teachings, for I believe them to be in conflict with the simple and direct word of the Lord that has come to us by divine revelation.- Answers to Gospel Questions, 5:112, my italics.
At one point, he accused President Clark of “rejecting the scriptures,” because they disagreed over how to read creation. Talmage, a PhD in geology, challenged him on a geological basis. To fend off those arguments, Smith turned to self-taught Seventh-day Adventist “creation science” pioneer George McCready Price, exchanging several letters with him. In one, Smith wrote,”I am of the firm opinion, perhaps I could almost say conviction, that the dinosaurs lived here with man less than six thousand years ago.” (A recent New Era article disagrees.)
In 1954, Smith published Man, His Origin and Destiny, a broadside against evolution. Into this maelstrom came Henry Eyring, not as a General Authority, but a well-respected LDS scientist serving as Dean at the University of Utah.
A concerned David O. McKay asked Adam S. Bennion, an apostle and former superintendent of church schools, to solicit responses to Elder Smith’s book from qualified LDS scientists. Elder Bennion invited the opinions of Henry Eyring, geologist William Lee Stokes, and chemist Richard P. Smith. Eyring wrote to Bennion: “‘I can understand ‘Man—His Origin and Destiny’ as the work of a great man who is fallible. . . .It contains many serious scientific errors and much ill humor, which mar the many beautiful things in it. Since the gospel is only that which is true, this book cannot be more than the private opinion of one of our great men.‘” Then in a 1973 interview, Eyring, when asked about the age of the Earth controversy, cited his disagreement with Smith’s book, but added:
I would say that I sustained Brother Smith as my Church leader one hundred percent. I think he was a great man. He had a different background and training on this issue. Maybe he was right. I think he was right on most things and if you followed him, he would get you into the Celestial Kingdom—maybe the hard way, but he would get you there.
The Church, according to a letter from President McKay, has no position on organic evolution. Whatever the answer is to the question, the Lord has already finished that part of His work. The whole matter poses no problem to me. The Lord organized the world and I am sure He did it in the best way.
This, I believe, is the story referred to in General Conference. It was not the only time Eyring was called upon to weigh in, but this post is long enough already.
For further reading, see
- Henry Eyring and Joseph Fielding Smith chapter in The Search for Harmony, which has the full letters.
- Some of President McKay’s views.
- Why YEC isn’t really science-based, and so scientific arguments against it do little.
- Mapping the Origins Debate: Six Models of the Beginning of Everything
I have dozens of my own posts dealing with this topic and lots of book recommendations, so if you’re new to the site, let me know and I’ll point you to them. As for now, I’ve got Mircea Eliade to read for class.
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October 9, 2016 at 3:14 pm
The earth is, as it it now organized, is only a few thousand years old. The remains of beast, giant lizards, microbes that date back to millions of years did not move upon this earth. Jehovah has said “Worlds without number have I created.” The remains of the great serpents, saber tooth tigers,giant fishes, and birds were in the matter that Jehovah used to organize our world. He brought this matter, millions of years old to test our faith. There must be opposition in all things. Is the earth millions of years old or did the Gods organize (create) the earth in 6 thousand years, a day of the Gods being 1000 years? You choose. For me I have a testimony of the creation. The earth was created id 6 thousand years and on the 7 day the Gods rested.
October 15, 2016 at 6:50 am
You are using technology that relies on science to say that science doesn’t work. Just think about how that looks.
October 15, 2016 at 10:16 am
Randy, I have not stated any technology of any kind. How can you not understand my words? The science you replied to is not there. I have stated my testimony, not of technology or science. My knowledge is based on spirit, knowledge gained in the testimony of Jesus who stated ” Worlds without number have I created.” Some worlds were created millions of years ago. Of these worlds God took of this ancient matter containing the remains of all the prehistoric beasts, etc. that were upon these ancient worlds. This earth is only a few thousand years old. I hope I have explained to you that “Their must opposition in all things.
October 15, 2016 at 10:36 am
You are making factual claims (claims about the physical universe) that can be – and are – tested with the scientific method. You are saying that science doesn’t work because you have an old story you like. And, science is the same thing that makes it possible for you to communicate with people around the world on a digital messaging system. You are saying that science and the scientific method are nonsense, because haven’t you heard this ancient story about wizards and magic?
It ain’t magic that explains how the Internet works. It’s science. It ain’t magic that explains how life diversifies. It’s science. It ain’t magic that explains how the universe works. It’s science.
If I told you magic was behind the Internet, you’d think I believed silly things. You believe magic was behind life, the universe, and everything. I think you believe silly things. Just like there’s no good reason to accept magic behind the Internet, there’s no good reason to accept magic as the explanation for anything else.
October 15, 2016 at 3:19 pm
Randy, I’m tired of bantering with you on science verses revealed religion. You, as all people will eventually come to the truth. In the meantime just seek the Lord and repent. You are also a child of God and perchance you will also receive revelation on “How things were, how they are now, and how things are to be” There is no magic..
October 15, 2016 at 3:59 pm
Why should I seek your preferred deity above all other proposed deities? For that matter, why should I pursue any deity at all?
October 15, 2016 at 4:01 pm
Gentlemen, I’m about to shut this down and ban you both. You’re on opposite extremes, and I generally don’t tolerate that kind of escalation here.
October 15, 2016 at 11:17 am
Bob, this is simply restating a tradition that both doesn’t make any sense (God carefully aligns all those other bits in careful geologic layers?), lacks good history (the matter was recycled, not chunks of other worlds, as the quote goes), and is still defending a highly problematic and modern OEC reading. I don’t believe in the trickster god you’re suggesting.
October 10, 2016 at 9:05 pm
Thanks for the insightful article!
October 14, 2016 at 12:57 pm
I have been waiting for someone in the bloggernacle to address this comment. Thank you for the insightful analysis, as well as linking Eyring’s letter to Elder Bennion. I very much appreciate the idea of supporting the Brethren, while accepting that they have flaws. I think it makes for a stronger theology and appreciation of God’s work, rather than the inverse.
Pres. Eyring’s conference comment essentially confirms the unspoken assumption that oftentimes “experts” have to be careful in how they present information to the Brethren. As with any other group of high priests, a few strongly-held opinions can quickly stifle the discussion.
The intellectual humility evident from Henry Eyring Sr in “The Search for Harmony” makes ME want to be more humble. We truly can only “dimly understand” God. Awesome resources here – thank you again.
October 15, 2016 at 6:49 am
#2 is not most compatible with the current science, as it introduces supernatural elements. #1 is the most compatible, as it is the scientific proposition. If you mean it’s the most compatible of the supernaturally-affected explanations, I suppose that’s true, although the most scientific supernatural explanation is a bit like the most persuasive argument to use in conversation with a cantaloupe.
October 15, 2016 at 11:14 am
Right, the science between #1 and #2 is identical, but #2 asserts that there’s a deity in there somewhere.
October 15, 2016 at 12:38 pm
And, the deity part negates the science part, just like 2 + 2 + (God says so) = 4 isn’t math. It’s either science or not science. If a supernatural element is involved, it is not science. Ever.
October 15, 2016 at 12:44 pm
Science can’t disprove deity. If science is methdologically naturalistic, by definition it can’t investigate or prove the supernatural.
October 15, 2016 at 12:47 pm
Right, which is why anything that involves anything supernatural is not scientific.
October 15, 2016 at 12:51 pm
I see. My assertion in #2 is generic, that evolution does not rule out the existence of God, and it’s perfectly acceptable to believe in God and all the science as well. I’m not making any claims about if, when, or how deity might have generated or intervened in the process.
October 15, 2016 at 12:53 pm
That is, of the theistic #s 2,3,4, it’s #2 that is most compatible with science because it largely doesn’t contradict it at any major point.
June 10, 2017 at 11:59 am
Largely…major…so, it does, but in ways you are willing to overlook. Again, that is not science. Not compatible with science. Not related to science. Not in any way pertinent to science.
October 15, 2016 at 1:21 pm
But, is somehow involved, otherwise it’s just #1. #2, therefore, is not science. No matter how it’s involved, as long as it’s something other than “in no way at all,” it is not science. A supernatural element that is in no way involved with a phenomenon is irrelevant to the phenomenon, and not necessary to mention regarding the phenomenon, the same way we don’t mention the formation of diamonds when discuss sandwiches. If your deity is treated as relevant to the phenomenon, you’re not doing science. If your deity (or any supernatural element) is in not treated as relevant to the phenomenon, you are doing science.
June 9, 2017 at 6:54 pm
You have a very narrow minded view, Randy. God knows science better than anyone and is very good at using it. Science is science regardless of who or Who is using its principles.
June 10, 2017 at 11:57 am
Your ignorance of how and why science works is not my shortcoming. Google “Dunning-Kruger effect,” then look in a mirror.
October 19, 2016 at 1:00 pm
Ben, thank you for writing on this topic. I am partial to Hugh Ross’s Old-earth creationism. It is a bit different than the old earth creationism you describe. It holds that there was special creation of animals, but over a long period of time, with some evolution happening along the way. Ross believes in an actual Adam and Eve, but puts them at (I think) 250 thousand years ago, with Noah also being pretty far back.
April 21, 2017 at 10:16 pm
Thank you Ben… I wish more members knew some of these neat details rather than just assuming some polarized viewpoint.
June 9, 2017 at 6:52 pm
Excellent insights. Thank you.
June 7, 2020 at 5:24 pm
Ben, I usually don’t comment here but just want to thank you for your amazing work. I’m excited to read your book on Gen 1 !