28) YOUNG EARTH: Do the revelations teach a 7,000 year temporal existence of the earth? Can the scriptures and writings of the presidents of the church be harmonized with the scientific principle of Uniformitarianism?

See also: Ica Stones, Dinosaurs and Dragon Legends

Questions Answered: Do the revelations teach a 7,000 year temporal existence of the earth? Have latter-day Prophets supported this view? Can the scriptures and writings of the presidents of the church be harmonized with the scientific principle of Uniformitarianism?

Commentary

. . . as God made the world in six days, and on the seventh day he finished his work, and sanctified it, and also formed man out of the dust of the earth, even so, in the beginning of the seventh thousand years will the Lord God sanctify the earth, and complete the salvation of man . . .¹

. . . the revealed will, mysteries, and the works of God; the hidden things of his economy concerning this earth during the seven thousand years of its continuance, or it temporal existence.²

Here is a definite statement by revelation to us that this earth will go through 7,000 years of temporal existence. Temporal, by all interpretations, means passing, temporary or mortal. This, then, has reference to the earth in its fallen state, for the earth was cursed when Adam . . . transgressed the law. Before that time this earth was not mortal any more than Adam was.³

. . . we can hardly be justified in trying to harmonize the days of creation with the extended periods of millions of years according to the reckoning of so-called scientists.⁴

We have evidence beyond dispute that Adam was driven out of the Garden of Eden about 6,000 years ago, or perhaps a short time less. It is possible for us, by using the Bible chronology and that given by the Lord in the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants to figure this almost accurately.⁶

. . . a man is willfully blind who would push these days back tens of thousands of years, much less, hundreds of thousands of years.⁷

The world has had a fair trial for six thousand years; the Lord will try the seventh thousand Himself;⁸

The devil says, “I have had power over the earth for six thousand years, and do you think I am going to loose my grasp upon it? No, I will hold it, and before ever the Latter-day Saints obtain one foot of inheritance upon it they will have to contest it inch by inch.”⁹

The devil says, “I have had power over the earth for six thousand years . . .

After passing over the ages and generations of the children of men for about six thousand years, we will come to the present congregation . . . .¹⁰

. . . the ages and generations of the children of men [are] about six thousand years . . .

Let us ask what the nations of the earth have accomplished for the last six or seven thousand years. What great work have they achieved?¹¹
. . . nations of the earth . . . for the last six or seven thousand years.

The Lord Almighty never created a world like this and peopled it for six thousand years, as He has done, without having some motive in view.¹²
. . . created the world . . . and peopled it for six thousand years . . .

We are living in the dispensation and generation to which Jesus referred–the time appointed by God for the last six thousand years, through the mouths of all the prophets and inspired men who have lived and left their sayings on record, in which his Zion should be built up and continue upon the earth.¹³

If . . . [one] accepts the untrue theory that death has been present on the earth for scores of thousands or millions of years, he must reject the revealed truth that there was no death either for man or animals or plants or any form of life until some 6000 years ago when Adam fell.¹⁴

If we don’t irritate, which I fear that we may . . . we shall carry all with us. If you don’t triumph over them, but compliment the liberality and candor of the present age, the bishops and enlightened saints will join us in despising both the ancient and modern physico-theologians . . . I conceived the idea five or six years ago, that if ever the Mosaic geology could be set down without giving offence, it would be in an historical sketch . . . Let them feel it, and point the moral.¹⁵

I have always been strongly impressed with the weight of an observation of an excellent writer and skillful geologist who said that ‘for the sake of revelation as well as of science—of truth in every form– the physical part of Geological inquiry ought to be conducted as if Scriptures were not in existence’.”¹⁶

Many reverend Geologists, however, would evince their reverence for the divine Revelation by making a distinction between its historical and its moral portions; and maintaining, that the latter only is inspired and absolute Truth but that the former is not so. . . .”¹⁷.

Prophetic Statements

Joseph Smith

The world has had a fair trial for six thousand years; the Lord will try the seventh thousand Himself;¹⁸

Brigham Young

The devil says, “I have had power over the earth for six thousand years, and do you think I am going to loose my grasp upon it? No, I will hold it, and before ever the Latter-day Saints obtain one foot of inheritance upon it they will have to contest it inch by inch.”¹⁹

After passing over the ages and generations of the children of men for about six thousand years, we will come to the present congregation and say the right of heirship is the same now that it was in the beginning.²⁰

John Taylor

Let us ask what the nations of the earth have accomplished for the last six or seven thousand years. What great work have they achieved?²¹

. . . after the flood, in the days of Peleg, the earth was divided.—See Genesis 10:25,—a short history, to be sure, of so great an event; but still it will account for the mighty revolution, which rolled the sea from its own place in the north, and brought it to interpose between different portions of the earth, which were thus parted asunder, and moved into something near their present form . . . ²²

And when I cast mine eyes over our own land, and see . . . rocks having been rent, and torn asunder, from centre to circumference; I exclaim, Whence all this?

“When I read the Book of Mormon, it informs me, that while Christ was crucified among the Jews, this whole American continent was shaken to its foundation, that many cities were sunk, and waters came up in their places; that the rocks were all rent in twain; that mountains were thrown up to an exceeding height; and other mountain became vallies: the level roads spoiled; and the whole face of the land changed.—I then exclaim, These things are no longer a mystery; I have now learned to account for the many wonders, which I everywhere behold, throughout our whole country; when I am passing a ledge of rocks, and see they have all been rent and torn asunder, while some huge fragments are found deeply imbedded in the earth, some rods from whence they were torn, I exclaim, with astonishment, These were the groans! the convulsive throes of agonizing nature! while the Son of God suffered upon the cross!²³

Wilford Woodruff

We are nearing the end of the 6th thousand years . We have the history, or a partial history, of the dealings of God with the nations from the day of Father Adam down as contained in the Bible and the Book of Mormon , from which we may learn many valuable lessons.²⁴

The Lord Almighty never created a world like this and peopled it for six thousand years , as He has done, without having some motive in view.²⁵

We are living in the dispensation and generation to which Jesus referred–the time appointed by God for the last six thousand years , through the mouths of all the prophets and inspired men who have lived and left their sayings on record, in which his Zion should be built up and continue upon the earth.²⁶

My mind reverts to the channels of communication from God to man. Here we have the Bible which gives a history and prophecy of the prophets from Adam down to our own day extending through a period of near 6,000 years .²⁷

Joseph F. Smith

Some . . . limit the power of God to the power of men, and we have some of these among us and they have been among our school teachers. They would have you disbelieve the inspired accounts of the Scriptures . . . but we know better . . . . And I say, beware of men who come to you with heresies that things come by laws of nature of themselves, and that God is without power. — Logan Journal, April 7, 1914. ²⁸

George Albert Smith

Adam and Eve were the children of God ; they were our first parents , and every human being that has lived upon the earth descended from them. God gave them their agency to decide for themselves in all matters and held them responsible for their conduct. They received their instructions in the Garden of Eden from our Heavenly Father and those teachings were preserved for succeeding generations.

Biblical chronology indicates that nearly six thousand years ago our first parents began their earth life. The Lord instructed them how they should conduct themselves, and his prophets divinely commissioned to speak for him, have taught Adam’s descendants through the ages how to live to be happy in mortality and so qualify that when the time comes for them to die, they may pass into immortality taking with them the riches of their characters and the knowledge they have gained here.²⁹

I wonder if we appreciate what it is to live today with all the advantages gained in the nearly six thousand years since our first parents came into the world .³⁰

Joseph Fielding Smith

Question asked of Joseph Fielding Smith: “Since reading your book, Man: His Origin, and Destiny , I have been troubled by your difference in view of organic evolution and the age of man and the teachings of some of our most outstanding scientists who maintain that scientific evidence prove the earth and man to be much older than you claim. Your statements are contrary to what I have been taught and believe.”

President Smith’s Answer : If what I have written is in criticism of the present theories in relation to organic evolution and the age of man upon the earth, in which you believe, then I can readily see why you disagree with what I have taught. 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.³¹

Here is a definite statement by revelation to us that this earth will go through 7,000 years of temporal existence. Temporal, by all interpretations, means passing, temporary or mortal. This, then, has reference to the earth in its fallen state, for the earth was cursed when Adam . . . transgressed the law. Before that time this earth was not mortal any more than Adam was. ³²

We have evidence beyond dispute that Adam was driven out of the Garden of Eden about 6,000 years ago, or perhaps a short time less. It is possible for us, by using the Bible chronology and that given by the Lord in the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants to figure this almost accurately.³⁴

. . . a man is willfully blind who would push these days back tens of thousands of years, much less, hundreds of thousands of years.³⁵

TIME ELEMENT IN THE CREATION. This earth was created on the Lord’s time, which is celestial time. By revelation we know exactly the nature of that time, and just how many days of celestial time were required to create this earth . Moreover, we know how long this earth has endured, approximately, and how long it will endure according to our present rate of reckoning. The Lord revealed to Abraham:

“And the Lord said unto me, by the Urim and Thummim, that Kolob was after the manner of the Lord, according to its times and seasons in the revolutions thereof; that one revolution was a day unto the Lord, after his manner of reckoning, it being one thousand years according to the time appointed unto that whereon thou standest. This is the reckoning of the Lord’s time, according to the reckoning of Kolob….

“And thus there shall be the reckoning of the time of one planet above another, until thou come nigh unto Kolob, which Kolob is after the reckoning of the Lord’s time; which Kolob is set nigh unto the throne of God to govern all those planets which belong to the same order as that upon which thou standest.”

CELESTIAL TIME USED IN CREATION. Also: “Fig. 1. Kolob, signifying the first creation, nearest to the celestial, or the residence of God. First in government, the last pertaining to the measurement of time. The measurement according to celestial time, which celestial time signifies one day to a cubit. One day in Kolob is equal to a thousand years according to the measurement of this earth, which is called by the Egyptians Jah-oh-eh.”

When this earth was created, it was not according to our present time, but it was created according to Kolob’s time , for the Lord has said it was created on celestial time which is Kolob’s time. Then he revealed to Abraham that Adam was subject to Kolob’s time before his transgression. “Now I, Abraham, saw that it was after the Lord’s time, which was after the time of Kolob; for as yet the Gods had not appointed unto Adam his reckoning.”

AGE OF THE EARTH SINCE ADAM. We have evidence beyond dispute that Adam was driven out of the Garden of Eden about 6,000 years ago, or perhaps a short time less. It is possible for us, by using the Bible chronology and that given by the Lord in the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants to figure this almost accurately.

In the Book of Revelation, chapters five to 10, we have the story of the opening of the seven seals by the Lamb, each seal representing 1,000 years of the temporal existence of this earth. In the Doctrine and Covenants, section 88:92-116, we have the confirmation of this with other detail in regard to the opening of the seals. In section 77:6-15, we have more information in relation to the opening of these seals, with the following significant detail:

Verse 6: “Q. What are we to understand by the book which John saw, which was sealed on the back with seven seals?

“A. We are to understand that it contains the revealed will, mysteries, and works of God; the hidden things of his economy concerning this earth during the seven thousand years of its continuance, or its temporal existence .”

TEMPORARY EXISTENCE OF EARTH. Here is a definite statement by revelation to us that this earth will go through 7,000 years of temporal existence. Temporal, by all interpretations, means passing, temporary or mortal. This, then, has reference to the earth in its fallen state, for the earth was cursed when Adam, who was given dominion over it, transgressed the law. Before that time this earth was not mortal any more than Adam was. This we learn from other scriptures; for instance, see 2 Nephi 2:22 .

In verse 12, section 77 the Prophet by inspiration from the Lord, sets days of a thousand years off against years of our measurement, in these words:

“We are to understand that as God made the world in six days, and on the seventh day he finished his work, and sanctified it, and also formed man out of the dust of the earth, even so, in the beginning of the seventh thousand years will the Lord God sanctify the earth, and complete the salvation of man, and judge all things, and shall redeem all things , except that which he hath not put into his power, when he shall have sealed all things, unto the end of all things; and the sounding of the trumpets of the seven angels are the preparing and finishing of his work, in the beginning of the seventh thousand years -the preparing of the way before the time of his coming.”

CREATION DID NOT TAKE MILLIONS OF YEARS. Here we have the Prophet comparing the days of creation with seven periods of 1,000 years each, corresponding to days, according to the Lord’s time, in harmony with the teaching of Abraham and the other scriptures. The earth’s temporal existence, according to this, is to endure for just one week, or seven days of 1,000 years each. Moreover, since the earth was built according to the celestial time, which is the Lord’s days, which he clearly defined to Abraham, we can hardly be justified in trying to harmonize the days of creation with the extended periods of millions of years according to the reckoning of the so-called scientists .

Both from the Bible and from the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, we know that the flood came in the year 1600 from the driving of Adam out of the Garden of Eden. We know that Abraham was living in the days of Shem, son of Noah, if not in the days of Noah himself. Profane history corroborates the history of Israel and Abraham. So a man is willfully blind who would push these days back tens of thousands, much less, hundreds of thousands of years.

MEANING OF THE MERIDIAN OF TIME. Moreover, our Savior came in the meridian of time. That dispensation is called the dispensation of the meridian of time. This means that it was about half way from the beginning of “time” to the end of “time.” Anyone who desires can figure it for himself that our Lord came about 4,000 years from the time of the fall. The millennium is to come some time following the 2,000 years after his coming. Then there is to be the millennium for 1,000 years, and following that a “little season,” the length of which is not revealed, but which may bring “time” to its end about 8,000 years from the beginning.

We have seen that the Lord had not given to this earth its present time until after the fall. Before that time it was subject to Kolob’s time, which is eternal time. After the temporal existence of the earth is finished, it will again go back on celestial time, and there shall be “time no longer.” This does not mean that the inhabitants of the earth, who will be celestial beings, will not reckon by time, but by a different time-Kolob’s time which the Lord says is his time.

If men prefer to believe the strong delusions taught by evolutionists, rather than what the Lord has revealed, we cannot help it, but it certainly shows in them a lack of faith, which is not to their credit.³⁶

In respect to President Joseph Fielding Smith’s words on this subject President Ezra Taft Benson added his testimony (Please see the reference for context): It is also apparent to all who have the Spirit of God in them that Joseph Fielding Smith’s writings will stand the test of time.³⁷

APOSTASY COMES WHEN TRUTH NOT TAUGHT. Modern education declares that there never was such a thing as the fall of man, but that conditions have always gone on in the same way as now in this mortal world . Here, say they, death and mutation have always held sway as natural conditions on this earth and everywhere throughout the universe the same laws obtain . It is declared that man has made his ascent to the exalted place he now occupies through countless ages of development which has gradually distinguished him from lower forms of life.

Such a doctrine of necessity discards the story of Adam and the Garden of Eden, which it looks upon as a myth coming down to us from an early age of foolish ignorance and superstition. Moreover, it is taught that since death was always here, and a natural condition prevailing throughout all space, there could not possibly come a redemption from Adam’s transgression, hence there was no need for a Savior for a fallen world.

Is it any wonder, under such circumstances, that churches are deserted; that more than half of the population of this country has become indifferent, if not antagonistic, to religion? This, also, is just as true of other lands.³⁸

Darwinist and Neo-Darwinist Statements

Charles Lyell

If we don’t irritate, which I fear that we may . . . we shall carry all with us. If you don’t triumph over them, but compliment the liberality and candor of the present age, the bishops and enlightened saints will join us in despising both the ancient and modern physico-theologians . . . I conceived the idea five or six years ago, that if ever the Mosaic geology could be set down without giving offence, it would be in an historical sketch . . . Let them feel it, and point the moral.³⁹

I have always been strongly impressed with the weight of an observation of an excellent writer and skillful geologist who said that ‘for the sake of revelation as well as of science—of truth in every form– the physical part of Geological inquiry ought to be conducted as if Scriptures were not in existence’.⁴⁰

Scriptures

D&C 77:12
. . . as God made the world in six days , and on the seventh day he finished his work, and sanctified it, and also formed man out of the dust of the earth, even so , in the beginning of the seventh thousand years will the Lord God sanctify the earth, and complete the salvation of man . . .

D&C 77:6
. . . the revealed will, mysteries, and the works of God; the hidden things of his economy concerning this earth during the seven thousand years of its continuance , or it temporal existence.

D&C 77:6-7
Q. What are we to understand by the book which John saw, which was sealed on the back with seven seals?

A. We are to understand that it contains the revealed will, mysteries, and the works of God; the hidden things of his economy concerning this earth during the seven thousand years of its continuance, or its temporal existence.

Q. What are we to understand by the seven seals with which it was sealed?
A. We are to understand that the first seal contains the things of the first thousand years, and the second also of the second thousand years, and so on until the seventh.

D&C 88:108-110
And then shall the first angel again sound his trump in the ears of all living, and reveal the secret acts of men, and the mighty works of God in thefirstthousand years. And then shall the second angel sound his trump, and reveal the secret acts of men, and the thoughts and intents of their hearts, and the mighty works of God in the second thousand years— And so on, until the seventh angel shall sound his trump; and he shall stand forth upon the land and upon the sea, and swearin the name of him who sitteth upon the throne, that there shall be time no longer; and Satan shall be bound, that old serpent, who is called the devil, and shall not be loosed for the space of a thousand years.

JST 2 Peter 3:3-6; 8
Knowing this first, that in the last days there shall come scoffers, walking after their own lusts. Denying the Lord Jesus Christ, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things must continue as they are and have continued as they are from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that of old the heavens, and the earth standing in the water and out of the water, were created by the word of God; And by the word of God, the world that then was, being overflowed with water perished; . . . But concerning the coming of the Lord, beloved, I would not have you ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. ”

Supporting Statements

Henry Cole

Many reverend Geologists, however, would evince their reverence for the divine Revelation by making a distinction between its historical and its moral portions; and maintaining, that the latter only is inspired and absolute Truth but that the former is not so. . . .⁴¹

Bruce R. McConkie

If . . . [one] accepts the untrue theory that death has been present on the earth for scores of thousands or millions of years, he must reject the revealed truth that there was no death either for man or animals or plants or any form of life until some 6000 years ago when Adam fell.⁴²

1. ↑ D&C 77:12
2. ↑ D&C 77:6
3. ↑ Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:79-80
4. ↑ Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:80
5. ↑ 2 Nephi 2:22 , also see FAQ on Fall
6. ↑ Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:79
7. ↑ Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:81
8. ↑ Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Section Five 1842-43 p.252
9. ↑ Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 12, p. 271, August 16th, 1868
10. ↑ Journal of Discourses, Vol.6, p.307, Brigham Young, April 8, 1853
11. ↑ Journal of Discourses, Vol. 8, p. 2, John Taylor, February 19, 1860
12. ↑ Journal of Discourses 25:9, January 6, 1884. The Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, p. 8
13. ↑ Journal of Discourses, Vol. 14, p. 5, Wilford Woodruff, January 1, 1871
14. ↑ Bruce R. McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1965-1973], 3: 97.
15. ↑ Letter written to George Poulette Scrope in 1830, then published in Life, Letters and Journal of Charles Lyell, Mrs. Charles Lyell, ed. (London: John Murray, 1881), pp. 270-271
16. ↑ Charles Lyell, quoted in M.J.S. Rudwick, “Charles Lyell Speaks in the Lecture Theatre,” Brit. J. Hist. Sci., IX:2:32 (July 1976), p. 150
17. ↑ Henry Cole, Popular Geology Subversive of Divine Revelation (London: Hatchard and Son, 1834), p. ix-x, 44-45 (footnote)
18. ↑ Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith , Section Five 1842-43 p.252
19. ↑ Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith , Section Five 1842-43, p.252
20. ↑ Journal of Discourses , Vol. 12, p. 271, Brigham Young, August 16th, 1868
21. ↑ Journal of Discourses , Vol.6, p.307, Brigham Young, April 8, 1853
22. ↑ Journal of Discourses , Vol. 8, p. 2, John Taylor, February 19, 1860
23. ↑ John Taylor, The Government of God [Liverpool: S. W. Richards, 1852], 110.
24. ↑ John Taylor, The Government of God [Liverpool: S. W. Richards, 1852], 105.
25. ↑ Wilford Woodruff, Journal of Discourses , 26 vols. [London: Latter-day Saints’ Book Depot, 1854-1886], 24: 53
26. ↑ Journal of Discourses 25:9, January 6, 1884. The Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, p. 8
27. ↑ Journal of Discourses , Vol. 14, p. 5, Wilford Woodruff, January 1, 1871
28. ↑ Wilford Woodruff, Journal of Discourses , 26 vols. [London: Latter-day Saints’ Book Depot, 1854-1886], 22: 331
29. ↑ Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine: Selections from the Sermons and Writings of Joseph F. Smith, compiled by John A. Widtsoe [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1939], 372.
30. ↑ President George Albert Smith, Conference Report, April 1945 , Third Day—Morning Meeting 135
31. ↑ President George Albert Smith, Conference Report, October 1949 , First Day—Morning Meeting 4
32. ↑ Joseph Fielding Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, 5: 112.
33. ↑ Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:79-80
34. ↑ Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:79
35. ↑ Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:81
36. ↑ Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 3 vols., edited by Bruce R. McConkie [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1954-1956], 1: 81.
37. ↑ Ezra Taft Benson, This Nation Shall Endure [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1977], 26.
38. ↑ Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:315.
39. ↑ Letter written to George Poulette Scrope in 1830 , then published in Life, Letters and Journal of Charles Lyell , Mrs. Charles Lyell, ed. (London: John Murray, 1881), pp. 270-271
40. ↑ Charles Lyell, quoted in M.J.S. Rudwick, Charles Lyell Speaks in the Lecture Theatre, Brit. J. Hist. Sci., IX:2:32 (July 1976), p. 150
41. ↑ Henry Cole, Popular Geology Subversive of Divine Revelation (London: Hatchard and Son, 1834), p. ix-x, 44-45 (footnote)
42. ↑ Bruce R. McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1965-1973], 3: 97.

1. D&C 77:12
2.  D&C 77:6
3. Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:79-80
4. Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:80
5. 2 Nephi 2:22 , also see FAQ on Fall
6. Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:79
7. Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:81
8. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Section Five 1842-43 p.252
9.  Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 12, p. 271, August 16th, 1868
10. Journal of Discourses, Vol.6, p.307, Brigham Young, April 8, 1853
11.  Journal of Discourses, Vol. 8, p. 2, John Taylor, February 19, 1860
12.  Journal of Discourses 25:9, January 6, 1884. The Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, p. 8
13.  Journal of Discourses, Vol. 14, p. 5, Wilford Woodruff, January 1, 1871
14.  Bruce R. McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1965-1973], 3: 97.
15. Letter written to George Poulette Scrope in 1830, then published in Life, Letters and Journal of Charles Lyell, Mrs. Charles Lyell, ed. (London: John Murray, 1881), pp. 270-271
16. Charles Lyell, quoted in M.J.S. Rudwick, “Charles Lyell Speaks in the Lecture Theatre,” Brit. J. Hist. Sci., IX:2:32 (July 1976), p. 150
17.  Henry Cole, Popular Geology Subversive of Divine Revelation (London: Hatchard and Son, 1834), p. ix-x, 44-45 (footnote)
18.  Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith , Section Five 1842-43, p.252
19.  Journal of Discourses , Vol. 12, p. 271, Brigham Young, August 16th, 1868
20. Journal of Discourses , Vol.6, p.307, Brigham Young, April 8, 1853
21. Journal of Discourses , Vol. 8, p. 2, John Taylor, February 19, 1860
22. John Taylor, The Government of God [Liverpool: S. W. Richards, 1852], 110.
23.  John Taylor, The Government of God [Liverpool: S. W. Richards, 1852], 105.
24. Wilford Woodruff, Journal of Discourses , 26 vols. [London: Latter-day Saints’ Book Depot, 1854-1886], 24: 53
25. Journal of Discourses 25:9, January 6, 1884. The Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, p. 8
26.  Journal of Discourses , Vol. 14, p. 5, Wilford Woodruff, January 1, 1871
27. Wilford Woodruff, Journal of Discourses , 26 vols. [London: Latter-day Saints’ Book Depot, 1854-1886], 22: 331
28.  Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine: Selections from the Sermons and Writings of Joseph F. Smith, compiled by John A. Widtsoe [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1939], 372.
29. President George Albert Smith, Conference Report, April 1945 , Third Day—Morning Meeting 135
30. President George Albert Smith, Conference Report, October 1949 , First Day—Morning Meeting 4
31. Joseph Fielding Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, 5: 112.
32.  Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:79-80
33. Joseph Fielding Smith, Signs of the Times [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1952], 23 – 24.
34. Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:79
35. Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:81
36.  Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 3 vols., edited by Bruce R. McConkie [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1954-1956], 1: 81.
37. Ezra Taft Benson, This Nation Shall Endure [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1977], 26.
38. Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:315.
39.  Letter written to George Poulette Scrope in 1830 , then published in Life, Letters and Journal of Charles Lyell , Mrs. Charles Lyell, ed. (London: John Murray, 1881), pp. 270-271
40. Charles Lyell, quoted in M.J.S. Rudwick, Charles Lyell Speaks in the Lecture Theatre, Brit. J. Hist. Sci., IX:2:32 (July 1976), p. 150
41.  Henry Cole, Popular Geology Subversive of Divine Revelation (London: Hatchard and Son, 1834), p. ix-x, 44-45 (footnote)
42. Bruce R. McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1965-1973], 3: 97.