A Sunday citation ... or a few, actually

These quotes about creation and the theory of man's origin from the animal kingdom really struck me. I think they are definitely worth considering.

"It is held by some that Adam was not the first man upon this earth, and that the original human being was a development from from lower orders of the animal creation. These, however, are the theories of men. The word of the Lord declares that Adam was 'the first of all men, and we are therefore duty bound to regard him as the primal parent of our race. It was shown to the brother of Jared that all men were created in the beginning after the image of God; and whether we take this to mean the spirit or body, or both, it commits us to the same conclusion: Man began life as a human being, in the likeness of our heavenly Father." (First Presidency [Joseph F. Smith, John R Winder, Anthon H. Lund,], as cited in Clark, Messages of the First Presidency, 4:205.)

 I have often thought that we are just beginning to understand the processes of the earth, and that to think that the theory of evolution is the absolute, whole truth of the beginning of the earth is narrow-minded. We learn more every day in science. Here is a quote that supports my thoughts:

"Any theory that leaves out God as a personal, purposeful Being, and accepts chance as a first cause, cannot be accepted by the Latter-day Saints. ... That man and the whole of creation came by chance is unthinkable. It is equally unthinkable that if man came into being by the will and power of God, the divine creative power is limited to one process dimly sensed by mortal man." (Widstoe, Evidences and Reconciliations, 1:155.)

Here is another fascinating quote:

"I say most emphatically,  you cannot believe in this theory of the origin of man, and at the same time accept the plan of salvation as set forth by the Lord our God. You must choose the one and reject the other, for they are in direct conflict and there is a gulf separating them which is so great that it can not be bridged, no matter how much one may try to do so. ...

"Then Adam, and by that I mean the first man, was not capable of sin. He could not transgress, and by doing so bring death into the world, for, according to this theory, death had always been in the world. If, therefore, there was no fall, there was no need of an atonement, hence the coming into the world of the Son of God as the Savior of the world is a contradiction, a thing impossible.  Are you prepared to believe that?" (Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:141-142.)