“Right down to the present day we have been the spectators of a foolish contest between equally vain and bigoted rivals, in which it is a moot question which side heaps the most contempt on God’s creatures. . . .

“. . . This futile quarrel should be no concern of ours.”

I suspect the truth is stranger and more wonderful than anyone realizes, especially those whose imagination is shaped mostly by the faith of the Darwinists, though I do take evolution as the most satisfying scientific explanation yet available. It does seem quite incomplete though. Some things are missing.

Greg Smith — did you serve a mission in Paris France? You seem like the guy.

“Hmmm. There aren’t enough people to go on splits with the fresh-off-the-plane Elders and Sisters at St. Germain-en-Laye…..Evans, Smith: you guys are from Canada, right? Bonne chance, freres.”

Greg, still recovering from the scars.
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P.S. Any claims that the two young barely-competent-in French Elders almost ended up in a cafe with two French women on that dark, frigid Paris night are vicious slanders and lies, likely spread by the TJs.

P.P.S. I only responded to this personal note because it looks like Steve E. has some measure of officialdom here. I assume he can delete this as needed.

Good point. You’ve furthered my belief that people (including me I suppose) are putting words in Elder Nelson’s mouth when they flatly state that he doesn’t believe in evolution. A better summary might be: Elder Nelson claims that he doesn’t comprehend evolution (or maybe how it could have happened.)

Julie: (#142) I’m not sure that a belief in prophets as having special insight into how literally to read the scriptures is entirely appropriate in the first place.

I actually think they do have a special insight. I just don’t think this entails that all claims are with respect to that insight. However I strongly feel that if nothing else their spiritual experience which is far, far greater than mine will lead them to see insights I don’t. It’s simply a better context in that respect from which to interpret.

What, you want pictures?

I’m not sure that a belief in prophets as having special insight into how literally to read the scriptures is entirely appropriate in the first place. They don’t write comprehensive academic commentaries on the scriptures–they use isolated passages in oral discourse in order to make an immediate application to the lives of their hearers. Not that there is anything wrong with this–there is everything right with this until/unless we expect it to do something it wasn’t designed to do.