Science and Religion

This page addresses the question: What is the official position of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on evolution and the origin of Man?

"Leave geology, biology, archaeology, and anthropology, no one of which has to do with the salvation of the souls of mankind, to scientific research, while we magnify our calling in the realm of the Church." --Pres. Heber J. Grant to the General Authorities of the Church, quoted in the BYU Library Packet on Evolution

The Church's official position on the origin of man is compiled in the "BYU Library Packet on Evolution." It begins with this admonition:

"Various views have been expressed by other Church leaders on this subject over many decades; however, formal statements by the First Presidency are the definitive source of official Church positions. It is hoped that these materials will provide a firm foundation for individual study in a context of faith in the restored gospel."

--BYU Board of Trustees, 1992, Introduction to the BYU Library Packet on Evolution.

"When other items are distributed, they should be clearly separated and given as a supplement to this material and include a fair sampling of the diverse viewpoints among LDS leaders. For example, if one included statements by LDS apostles in a handout on evolution, the range of views would include some statements against evolution, some sympathetic to evolution and several shades of opinion in between. We want to avoid the implication that a greater sense of unanimity or resolution of this topic exists than is actually the case, and we are eager to avoid contention."

To provide only one side of the issue would be intellectually dishonest and would misrepresent the position of the Church.

The Library Packet demonstrates that the Church is not anti-science, neither is science anti-God or anti-religion as some would misguidedly argue. Thousands of faithful Latter-Day Saints are scientists (including General Authorities past and present) who embrace scientific truths along with revealed truths, believing that all truth has one source in God.

“Our religion will not clash with or contradict the facts of science in any particular. You may take geology, for instance, and it is a true science; not that I would say for a moment that all the conclusions and deductions of its professors are true, but its leading principles are; they are facts—they are eternal.” [JD 14:116]

Granted, Geology has learned a lot since then. The point is that the Church readily embraces scientific truths.

No one at BYU-Idaho who teaches that evolution is false is presenting the position of the Church or the University!

Click here to read the BYU Library Packet on Evolution, which represents BYU's official position and was approved by the BYU Board of Trustees in 1992. The Board of Trustees today--as then--includes the First Presidency, five members of the Quorum of the Twelve, and other General Authorities and Auxiliary leaders. BYU and BYU-Idaho share these board members.

The following links are documents I prepared to answer frequently asked questions. They will evolve with time (pardon the pun).

Click here to read a brief summary of the Church's official positions on the age of the Earth and the origin of Man.

Click here to read my answers to Frequently Asked Questions, for which the Church does not have an official position. These include the age of the Earth, Noah's flood, and the dividing of continents. These are just my conclusions, not necessarily those of the Church, BYU-Idaho, the BYUI Geology Dept., my wife, my kids, or any other living thing past or present. I prepared this document because I'm asked so frequently about these things.

A couple of important points required to have a rational discussion of these issues:

Science can only operate by observation, testing, experimentation, and detection. It requires evidence and proof. Science cannot say anything about God, faith, or belief.

Religion operates on faith in things not seen which are true. The scriptures were never intended to be a science text.

Evolution says nothing about God--it can't. Those who say "evolution denies God" are implying that science CAN conclude something about God, which would ascribe supernatural powers to scientists.

At its core, evolution is fact: life forms change through time. Change is observed today in rapidly-reproducing organisms like flies, bacteria, and viruses, as well as in abundant fossil evidence. The "theory" part is how those changes occur, and that's where the only contention is among the experts. Anyone who claims evolution is based on falsehoods or scant evidence is ignorant of the facts, and most likely has an agenda.