Editor's Table: Age of the Earth

EDITOR'S TABLE. AGE OF THE EARTH. Several students have asked to know whether the ideas contained in the seventh Y. M. M. I. A. Manual lesson are in harmony with the teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith as found in section 77 of the Doctrine and Covenants. A careful reading of the 7th lesson, also of the Book of Abraham, and the section referred to in the Doctrine and Covenants will demonstrate that there is no conflict. The Manual, as I understand it, simply gives the scientific deductions concerning the geological age of the earth. It does not pretend to say how old the earth is, but points out the scientific conclusions on this subject. The Book of Abraham in the 3rd and 4th chapters, very distinctly points out, or conveys, the idea that the creative days or periods included long periods of time. This is plainly set forth on pages 56 to 59 in the Manual. We are not told how long these periods were. It is only demonstrated in the Manual that science declares the creation to have covered very long periods of time; and that Joseph the Prophet, through the Book of Abraham, also declared that long periods of time were consumed in the preparation of the earth for man; which the prophet did before the scientists or religious leaders had announced this truth. It seems to me unnecessary to discuss, much less try to decide, in class, the length of the time. The prophet declares it was long periods. Science, as is stated, gives millions of years as the length of time. There is positively and absolutely no definite solution of the problem given either in science or in revelation; but the fact is clearly expressed, and that is all that is sought to be done, that both science and

490 IMPRO VEMENT ERA . the Prophet Joseph ascribe long periods of time to the formation of the earth. As to the 77th section, 12th verse of the Doctrine and Covenants, I think that is misread when it is interpreted to mean that the earth is only to continue for seven thousand years. fUndoubtedly "temporal existence" means only the time set that the Lord has declared shall fulfil the measure of certain of his purposes regarding man; because we are plainly told that at the close of the seven thousand years "the Lord God will sanctify the earth and complete the salvation of man." This rather would lead us to infer that there is to be a continuance of earth existence in a more glorified condition. It does not imply that the earth is to be destroyed; any more than the beginning of man, or the beginning of the first thousand years, means or indicates that that was the beginning of the formation of the earth. It indicates simply a period of time between two epochs, and neither marks the beginning nor the end. There may have been numberless ages of our years between the time called "in the beginning" and until the time when God said "Let there be light; and there was light. " It is true that in this twelfth verse we are told that God made the world in six days, but the student will notice that there is a reference to the Pearl of Great Price, and we are there led to understand that days may mean long periods of time, as it undoubtedly does. In chapter three of the Book of Moses, we are further confirmed in the idea that day is used as a period, for it is there said: "In the day that I, the Lord God, made the heavens and the earth." Here day is made to cover the whole period of creation. As to a "day'' being a thousand years, (II Peter, 3: 8) that does not, therefore, seem to apply in this case. See also chapter four, Book of Abraham, where the period of light and darkness is called "time;" and Roberts' Gospel, p. 271, et seq, for a further discussion of the subject. The idea to be obtained out of our Manual in regard to these matters is not to settle upon things that are not revealed, and to decide things that cannot be decided; but it is the purpose of the Manual to show that, in a general way, Joseph Smith the Prophet, by the inspiration of God, announced truths then generally unknown but which have since been declared by men of science-

EDITORS TABLE. 491 It is not our prerogative to decide whether or not all the declarations of scientific men are true or false, but our purpose is to create faith in the divine mission of the prophet Joseph Smith. In this number of the Era Dr. John A. Widtsoe answers several questions that have come up in the discussion of this topic in various classes. Edward H. Anderson.