Before us...

[Koizito]

So, I am an atheist, but I am curious about this religion... Therefore, I am trying to know a little more about it...
What I want to know is this: I heard that mormons believe in a diferent origin for mankind than the one that appears in the bible, even though the bible makes part of your scriptures... If this is true, then I want to know how can this be... If it isn't, do you mind telling me which one do you believe in and, if it is diferent from the one in the bible, then how do you explain the origin of mankind?

Thanks for your patience...

Peace...

[ztodd]

We believe the story of Adam and Eve from the Bible is true. We also have an even greater understanding of the creation and the origin of man and woman on the earth, because of modern day revelation. Modern day revelation means we have prophets who receive revelation from the Lord for us in our day, just like the prophets in the bible did in their day.

You can find out more here -
Agency and the Fall of Adam and Eve

or here -
LDS.org - Topic Definition - Creation

[the Ogre]

Originally Posted by Koizito

So, I am an atheist, but I am curious about this religion... Therefore, I am trying to know a little more about it...
What I want to know is this: I heard that mormons believe in a diferent origin for mankind than the one that appears in the bible, even though the bible makes part of your scriptures... If this is true, then I want to know how can this be... If it isn't, do you mind telling me which one do you believe in and, if it is diferent from the one in the bible, then how do you explain the origin of mankind?

Thanks for your patience...

Peace...

Koizito:

Are you asking if we, as Latter-day Saints, accept evolution? If you are, then I would say it is very much a personal decision. There isn't a formal position issued by the church on it (be warned: there are quibble mice out and about). I would say that there are a great many members who are comfortable with evolution, after all G-d does not say how H- created the cosmos. H- only mentions in the OT, Abraham, and Moses that H- did.

There are members who are not comfortable with evolution. I'm not sure why, but it might be because some evolutionists have used this theory as an excuse to oppose religion.

I do not think evolution and the Genesis account are mutually exclusive. I still do not think evolution has been 100% explored, but then it is a scientific theory that is still quite contentious and controversial amongst the scientific community. Science believes in it, but does not agree yet on how life came about. Science still can not explain how the earth was created, how life was created on the earth or in space, how life creates itself independent of other life, or how we as humans evolved into intelligent, reasoning animals. Because of the amount of doubt on the topic, I am free to be comfortable with both noting the exact process of creation is still unknown to both science and religion. I am also free to be curious, question, and have doubts (particularly about the science aspects of creation as envisioned by imperfect humans).

Welcome to LDS.net. I hope you post more and often.

Aaron the Ogre

[ztodd]

Hmm, why did you think he was asking about evolution? We don' teach anything about evolution in the church.

[the Ogre]

Originally Posted by ztodd

Hmm, why did you think he was asking about evolution? We don' teach anything about evolution in the church.

We do not teach for it or against it. I mentioned there is no stated position on it by the church, however I think evolution is an aspect of his question that many atheists question about religion in general: "What is the role of science in your faith?"

[Koizito]

Originally Posted by the Ogre

Koizito:

Are you asking if we, as Latter-day Saints, accept evolution? If you are, then I would say it is very much a personal decision. There isn't a formal position issued by the church on it (be warned: there are quibble mice out and about). I would say that there are a great many members who are comfortable with evolution, after all G-d does not say how H- created the cosmos. H- only mentions in the OT, Abraham, and Moses that H- did.

There are members who are not comfortable with evolution. I'm not sure why, but it might be because some evolutionists have used this theory as an excuse to oppose religion.

I do not think evolution and the Genesis account are mutually exclusive. I still do not think evolution has been 100% explored, but then it is a scientific theory that is still quite contentious and controversial amongst the scientific community. Science believes in it, but does not agree yet on how life came about. Science still can not explain how the earth was created, how life was created on the earth or in space, how life creates itself independent of other life, or how we as humans evolved into intelligent, reasoning animals. Because of the amount of doubt on the topic, I am free to be comfortable with both noting the exact process of creation is still unknown to both science and religion. I am also free to be curious, question, and have doubts (particularly about the science aspects of creation as envisioned by imperfect humans).

Welcome to LDS.net. I hope you post more and often.

Aaron the Ogre

No I wasn't refering to evolution...I heard a very diferent version of mankind's creation that according to some people was the mormon version... Actually I disagree with you but that's for another topic...
BTW why didn't you write God but G-d instead? And H- instead of He?



@ ztodd: Even though I find it hard to believe just in other people's words alone ( I am an atheist for some reason right? ), thanks for those links and brief explanation ztodd

[the Ogre]

Originally Posted by Koizito

No I wasn't refering to evolution...I heard a very diferent version of mankind's creation that according to some people was the mormon version... Actually I disagree with you but that's for another topic...

Okay, I can't answer you about what other people said. There are so many of those other people. I can tell you we do have a far more detailed belief in the preexistence and life before the creation than many other religions and yet it still requires faith that it was G-d who did the creating.

Originally Posted by Koizito

BTW why didn't you write God but G-d instead? And H- instead of He?

Out of respect.

[the Ogre]

Originally Posted by Koizito

@ ztodd: Even though I find it hard to believe just in other people's words alone ( I am an atheist for some reason right? ), thanks for those links and brief explanation ztodd

I know you addressed this to Z, I want to point out it is not in a human or human-conception of G-d that you should believe in, it is G-d H-mself.

If I were Z, I do not think he would be comfortable with you taking his word or having faith in him. This is the same for every leader of the LDS church. I think they would rather you have faith in G-d rather than in another person.

[ztodd]

Originally Posted by Koizito

No I wasn't refering to evolution...I heard a very diferent version of mankind's creation that according to some people was the mormon version... Actually I disagree with you but that's for another topic...
BTW why didn't you write God but G-d instead? And H- instead of He?



@ ztodd: Even though I find it hard to believe just in other people's words alone ( I am an atheist for some reason right? ), thanks for those links and brief explanation ztodd

No problem - I don't expect you to just believe my words or anyone else's. The only way to come to believe and to know that God exists is by having personal spiritual experiences with Him. This can be achieved by the power of the Holy Ghost. This passage gives a promise of how you can know the Book of Mormon is true, and also how you can know the truth of all things -

From Moroni 10 -

3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.

4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

6 And whatsoever thing is good is just and true; wherefore, nothing that is good denieth the Christ, but acknowledgeth that he is.

7 And ye may know that he is, by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore I would exhort you that ye deny not the power of God; for he worketh by power, according to the faith of the children of men, the same today and tomorrow, and forever.

[bmy-]

Originally Posted by ztodd

We believe the story of Adam and Eve from the Bible is true. We also have an even greater understanding of the creation and the origin of man and woman on the earth, because of modern day revelation. Modern day revelation means we have prophets who receive revelation from the Lord for us in our day, just like the prophets in the bible did in their day.

You can find out more here -
Agency and the Fall of Adam and Eve

or here -
LDS.org - Topic Definition - Creation

To be clear.. word for word we do not subscribe to the Adam/Eve story as true. We do not believe Eve came from his rib for example.

Mormons do not believe in creation ex nihilo either. If you want to discuss any deeper issues.. feel free to PM me. Certain things cannot be discussed in these public areas.. but I hold no punches in private