Lifelong Mormon here, scriptorian, and Fairmormon.org explains these hard questions well. I have studied both Pre-adamites and Noah's flood localized not worldwide and have been of both. Adam was the first civilized man and probably he, along with Noah later taught technology and farming to the preadamite cultures. God created preadamites (hunter gatherer) on the 6th day Genesis 1:26-27, then rested, then after untold years, created "Man to till the earth" and enlighten the entire world cultures on technology and the gospel and how to return to God.
karell BinghamAugust 16, 2018
There were pre Adamites, they were just not of the family of Adam.
MarkAugust 7, 2017
The quote attributed to David O. McKay is actually mostly from Charles Darwin. The first part of the quote is from McKay's 10 Oct 1952 BYU Speech, but from "...it is just as noble a conception of the Deity to believe that he created a few original forms..." onward is from the writings of Charles Darwin.
RichardOctober 31, 2014
Where does James 1:5 fit into this?
GreatScotMay 9, 2014
Where do we find a definitive doctrine that Adam is our "only" parent (as opposed to our "primal" parent). What does it mean that "the sons of God married the daughters of men"?
Nathan RichardsonApril 11, 2014
Nice article. One correction. From what I've read, it's incorrect to present B. H. Roberts's view as "pro-evolution," as this article does. Just because he believed in pre-Adamites does not mean he believed they appeared through evolution. The difference between Elders Roberts and Smith was a different facet of the topic.
https://ndbf.blogspot.com/2014/03/no-dispute.html
MaralynApril 8, 2014
Read Lynn Hilton's "The Kolob Theorem" for some interesting theories about where the earth was created.
Thanks for your sharing these interesting theories and very clear gospel doctrine about the creation.
Warren AstonApril 2, 2014
There is yet another possibility for what we assume are pre-Adamites. Since the skeletons of these people are indisputably older than 6000 years, just as the physical earth is beyond doubt millions of years old, they could simply be the remains of earlier civilizations that have lived on earth but who self-destructed or were otherwise destroyed. Thus Adam and Eve would be the first people of THIS final civilization or age, inheriting a world cleansed of other intelligent life. This would reconcile hard science and scripture.
Guy L StephensonApril 2, 2014
President Gordon B. Hinckley stated the following:
tapirriderApril 2, 2014
It is disturbing when the ancestors of American Indians prior to 6,000 years ago are dehumanized. But that is what happens when there is "no official position".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHXZ9QJVADg
CindyApril 2, 2014
Rather than speculating on other unfounded theories, why not acknowledge what has been revealed and provided for us in the book of Genesis?
Brad W.April 2, 2014
Great article. If you haven't already, you should read Dr. Eric Skousen's book, "Earth, in the Beginning". It's a very well researched book (both scientifically and scripturally) and answers all of these questions in depth.
sueApril 2, 2014
I have some questions about the effectiveness of carbon dating. In the past I read that it was based upon the idea of gradual change in the earth, and not taking account of cataclysmic events. Have also read that it is not effective for long periods of times, such as millions of years. I have quotes from many prophets saying that Adam and Eve were born to parents, just like every one is and were placed upon the earth. In the garden they had to eat of the plants to absorb the minerals of this earth. I would like to hear more information about the accuracy of carbon dating in these matters.
Garfield CookApril 2, 2014
Although I believe other things could have been added by the author to this paper to help clarify how seemingly contradictory teachings of various prophets on matters of science and religion may not actually be in conflict, I believe William Dargan has done a fairly credible job and has presented the material in a concise and understandable manner.
WendyApril 2, 2014
Fascinating study. Thank you for presenting it in Meridian.
BryanApril 2, 2014
Excellent article! It is good, from time to time, for people to realize that the church does not, nor will not, offer an answer to every question. There are, when you get down to it, only a couple of 'undeniable' truths of the Gospel, and the rest is up for grabs. Unfortunately, too many try to pass of personal opinion as doctrine and, as you stated, hurt others with a weaker testimony. Thank you once again for a great article.
DavidDApril 2, 2014
Another possibility -- Adam and Eve were the first "humans" to be spiritual offspring of our Heavenly Father. There would have been plenty of other humans running around, but their spirits, like those of other creatures at the time, simply were not spirits descending directly from God the Father as His children.
Bonnie HamiltonApril 2, 2014
Thank you so much for this enlightening article. It clarifies many things for me. I can be very content with accepting the answer that we simply don't know. It opens the possibility of accepting new knowledge as it comes available.
Ron MillettApril 2, 2014
A wonderful job in this article bringing together these important issues. As we compare this summary list with the beliefs from the Nye/Ham debate, we should be very grateful for modern revelation so well quoted by Brother Dargan. As Latter-day saints, we don't have to fall into the serious contradictions and difficulties that both of the Nye/Ham polar opposite views experience. --RM
Susan April 2, 2014
Thank you. This article and the one before helped organized my thinking about a subject I had wondered about for years and left my faith intact. I look forward to either direct revelation from the Lord before or during the Millenium to reveal the whole truth about this matter. Good things to come!
Comments | Return to Story
GaryAugust 26, 2018
Lifelong Mormon here, scriptorian, and Fairmormon.org explains these hard questions well. I have studied both Pre-adamites and Noah's flood localized not worldwide and have been of both. Adam was the first civilized man and probably he, along with Noah later taught technology and farming to the preadamite cultures. God created preadamites (hunter gatherer) on the 6th day Genesis 1:26-27, then rested, then after untold years, created "Man to till the earth" and enlighten the entire world cultures on technology and the gospel and how to return to God.
karell BinghamAugust 16, 2018
There were pre Adamites, they were just not of the family of Adam.
MarkAugust 7, 2017
The quote attributed to David O. McKay is actually mostly from Charles Darwin. The first part of the quote is from McKay's 10 Oct 1952 BYU Speech, but from "...it is just as noble a conception of the Deity to believe that he created a few original forms..." onward is from the writings of Charles Darwin.
RichardOctober 31, 2014
Where does James 1:5 fit into this?
GreatScotMay 9, 2014
Where do we find a definitive doctrine that Adam is our "only" parent (as opposed to our "primal" parent). What does it mean that "the sons of God married the daughters of men"?
Nathan RichardsonApril 11, 2014
Nice article. One correction. From what I've read, it's incorrect to present B. H. Roberts's view as "pro-evolution," as this article does. Just because he believed in pre-Adamites does not mean he believed they appeared through evolution. The difference between Elders Roberts and Smith was a different facet of the topic. https://ndbf.blogspot.com/2014/03/no-dispute.html
MaralynApril 8, 2014
Read Lynn Hilton's "The Kolob Theorem" for some interesting theories about where the earth was created. Thanks for your sharing these interesting theories and very clear gospel doctrine about the creation.
Warren AstonApril 2, 2014
There is yet another possibility for what we assume are pre-Adamites. Since the skeletons of these people are indisputably older than 6000 years, just as the physical earth is beyond doubt millions of years old, they could simply be the remains of earlier civilizations that have lived on earth but who self-destructed or were otherwise destroyed. Thus Adam and Eve would be the first people of THIS final civilization or age, inheriting a world cleansed of other intelligent life. This would reconcile hard science and scripture.
Guy L StephensonApril 2, 2014
President Gordon B. Hinckley stated the following:
tapirriderApril 2, 2014
It is disturbing when the ancestors of American Indians prior to 6,000 years ago are dehumanized. But that is what happens when there is "no official position". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHXZ9QJVADg
CindyApril 2, 2014
Rather than speculating on other unfounded theories, why not acknowledge what has been revealed and provided for us in the book of Genesis?
Brad W.April 2, 2014
Great article. If you haven't already, you should read Dr. Eric Skousen's book, "Earth, in the Beginning". It's a very well researched book (both scientifically and scripturally) and answers all of these questions in depth.
sueApril 2, 2014
I have some questions about the effectiveness of carbon dating. In the past I read that it was based upon the idea of gradual change in the earth, and not taking account of cataclysmic events. Have also read that it is not effective for long periods of times, such as millions of years. I have quotes from many prophets saying that Adam and Eve were born to parents, just like every one is and were placed upon the earth. In the garden they had to eat of the plants to absorb the minerals of this earth. I would like to hear more information about the accuracy of carbon dating in these matters.
Garfield CookApril 2, 2014
Although I believe other things could have been added by the author to this paper to help clarify how seemingly contradictory teachings of various prophets on matters of science and religion may not actually be in conflict, I believe William Dargan has done a fairly credible job and has presented the material in a concise and understandable manner.
WendyApril 2, 2014
Fascinating study. Thank you for presenting it in Meridian.
BryanApril 2, 2014
Excellent article! It is good, from time to time, for people to realize that the church does not, nor will not, offer an answer to every question. There are, when you get down to it, only a couple of 'undeniable' truths of the Gospel, and the rest is up for grabs. Unfortunately, too many try to pass of personal opinion as doctrine and, as you stated, hurt others with a weaker testimony. Thank you once again for a great article.
DavidDApril 2, 2014
Another possibility -- Adam and Eve were the first "humans" to be spiritual offspring of our Heavenly Father. There would have been plenty of other humans running around, but their spirits, like those of other creatures at the time, simply were not spirits descending directly from God the Father as His children.
Bonnie HamiltonApril 2, 2014
Thank you so much for this enlightening article. It clarifies many things for me. I can be very content with accepting the answer that we simply don't know. It opens the possibility of accepting new knowledge as it comes available.
Ron MillettApril 2, 2014
A wonderful job in this article bringing together these important issues. As we compare this summary list with the beliefs from the Nye/Ham debate, we should be very grateful for modern revelation so well quoted by Brother Dargan. As Latter-day saints, we don't have to fall into the serious contradictions and difficulties that both of the Nye/Ham polar opposite views experience. --RM
Susan April 2, 2014
Thank you. This article and the one before helped organized my thinking about a subject I had wondered about for years and left my faith intact. I look forward to either direct revelation from the Lord before or during the Millenium to reveal the whole truth about this matter. Good things to come!
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