Lessons on the Plan of Salvation
Lesson No. Fifteen
The Doctrine of Creation Must be Taught at Home
Our children must develop strong testimonies – The scientific community and the public generally believe that mankind evolved from lower forms of life. People who believe in creation are often considered uninformed and even backwards. Our children need strong testimonies of the doctrine of creation, which begins at home, because they will learn about evolution at school and elsewhere. They will likely experience opposition if they profess a belief in divine creation.
Parents are commanded to bring up their children in light and truth (D&C 93:40) – The responsibility of parents to teach their children begins early and continues throughout life. A child’s age and understanding determines what can be effectively taught and understood. For example, children can be taught very early that they are children of Heavenly Father and they lived with Him in heaven before they were born on the Earth.
Mankind is different from all other animals – A young child sees that we are different from all other animals. Parents can explain that while other animals were created we are begotten children of Heavenly Parents, and therefore we have inherited Their likeness and image.
All life brings forth after its own kind – Children will observe that all life reproduces after its own kind. Through the power of the Holy Spirit they will understand the scriptures that teach “every seed bringeth forth unto its own likeness” (Alma 32:31), and that all animals reproduce after their kind. (Moses 2:21) They will know in their hearts that mankind did not evolve.
They will learn that there is improvement within individual species. We can produce better fruits and vegetables and other crops. We breed more productive cows and faster horses. Mankind lives longer and is healthier. But they will believe this fundamental doctrine of the gospel that all life brings forth after its own kind.
When off-spring develops normally it becomes like the progenitor – When properly taught older children can understand that this truth is fundamental to the plan of salvation. The plan of salvation is the way our Father in Heaven has provided for all of His children to grow and mature, both physically and spiritually, and become like our Heavenly Parents.
The limitations of science – Scientific knowledge is a most wonderful blessing, however, there are limitations of what science can explain and prove. We know that our children will be taught the scientific method. In this way science attempts to learn truth by studying what is observable in the physical world and then it draws conclusions from the evidence it has collected. These conclusions or theories change from time to time based on new observations and evidence. The continuing development of evolutionary theory is a good example of the scientific method.
Truth is absolute and unchanging – if our older children are properly taught they will understand that the theories of men may be only partly true or not true at all, and that the gospel embraces all truth wherever found. They will desire to learn “even by study and also by faith” (D&C 88:118) They will conclude that the true doctrine of creation cannot be learned by observation, but that it must be revealed from God.
Adam and Eve and their posterity where commanded to multiply and replenish the earth –This commandment is widely ignored as many countries are experiencing negative population growth. This brings great demographic problems which will only get worse. Most developed nations have an increasing number of seniors and fewer children. These facts when discussed with our older children can bring enlightenment and increased testimony of this truth: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your way my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9).
“For the beauty of the Earth” (LDS Hymns # 92) – The great diversification we see in both plant and animal life throughout the earth is the creation and handiwork of God. If we believe and remember this, it will bring into our lives a unique and special joy when we see and marvel at the beauty of the earth and extent of our Father’s creation.
Testimony – The important issue concerning the question of “evolution or creation” is not what is being taught in school, but what is being taught at home. The most schools will ever be able to do will be far short of what is required for our children to develop a testimony of the doctrine of creation. It is only in the home, with the help of the Church, that the revealed doctrine of creation can be taught, remembered, and applied by our children.