Moses Walked On Lava!
How does the formation of the earth as described by science compare to that given in the scriptures? This article will answer the question as to whether there are conflicts between the revealed word and the discoveries of science.
The Science
Science has been able to piece together the formation of the earth and solar system, primarily from astronomical, geological, and biological evidence. The solar system started coming together about 4.6 billion years ago, about ⅔ of the way into the age of the universe. Our solar system is a gen 3 model. This means that it is composed of the remaining elements of two previous exploded star systems. We know this because as stars burn out and explode the remaining elements available for the next generation of stars are heavier, ...or technically speaking, our star is a high metallicity star. Conversely, earlier generation stars have higher hydrogen content, or low metallicity. Originally the hydrogen and helium in the Universe (as well as lithium) was mostly produced during the Big Bang. As time went on, this huge cloud of gas was enriched with heavier elements by supernovae and neutron star collisions that made up our system. So get used to it! You’re living in a 3rd hand home.
According to the Nebular theory, our solar system was formed by a protoplanetary disk, or the accretion of gaseous and dust particles into a massive rotating disk. Accretion is the accumulation of particles into a massive object by gravitationally attracting more matter, typically gaseous matter, into a disk. This is how most astronomical objects, such as galaxies, stars, and planets, are formed. The center of the disk gobbled up almost all of the surrounding mass (99.9%) which eventually formed a protostar that lasted for about ½ billion years. After critical mass was reached and it was large enough to cause nuclear fusion, the sun was formed. The outer solid materials of the protoplanetary disk collided with each other and accreted to form gradually larger bodies. The planets formed in orbits that depended on the distance from the protostar. The four terrestrial planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars) were formed closer to the center and the gas giant planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune) formed gradually through coagulation of smaller planetesimals much further from the sun.
The development of the planets was a violent time in the age of the solar system. Asteroid bombardment is written into the surfaces of all planets and moons that we have been able to observe. The moon was formed when one or more large asteroids smashed into the earth’s surface and flung molten material into an orbit around it. Over 3-10 million years, the earth developed its inner core at the planet's center, enveloped by the outer core, mantle, and crust. Molecules and particles outgassing by the hot magma formed the dense and opaque primordial atmosphere which consisted mostly of hydrogen sulfide, methane, and much more carbon dioxide than now. Finally after 100-200 million years the earth became somewhat habitable.
The Religion
The creation accounts in the revealed word can be found from three major sources; Genesis, Moses, and Abraham. Genesis and Moses are from the revelations of the prophet Moses. Abraham is from our ancient father Abraham through the use of the Urim and Thummim. Abraham and Moses are found in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints canonized scriptures. The order of the creative process periods is compared in the following table.
It is interesting that there doesn’t seem to be an account of the physical creation anywhere in the scriptures. All three accounts seem to give either the plan or spiritual creation before the actual creation took place. Note the underlined scriptures below:
(Abraham 5:3-5) “...And thus were their [the Gods] decisions at the time that they counseled among themselves to form the heavens and the earth. And the Gods came down and formed these the generations of the heavens and of the earth, when they were formed in the day that the Gods formed the earth and the heavens, According to all that which they had said concerning every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew; for the Gods had not caused it to rain upon the earth when they counseled to do them, and had not formed a man to till the ground.”
(Moses 3:4-5) “And now, behold, I say unto you, that these are the generations of the heaven and of the earth, when they were created, in the day that I, the Lord God, made the heaven and the earth, And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew. For I, the Lord God, created all things, of which I have spoken, spiritually, before they were naturally upon the face of the earth. For I, the Lord God, had not caused it to rain upon the face of the earth. And I, the Lord God, had created all the children of men; and not yet a man to till the ground; for in heaven created I them; and there was not yet flesh upon the earth, neither in the water, neither in the air;”
(Genesis 2:4-5) “ These [are] the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and [there was] not a man to till the ground.”
The underlined phrases, “in the day that…” seem to refer to a planning council event by God(s), and not the actual creation. This event preceded the “generations of the heavens and the earth, when they were created (formed)” which seem to refer to the actual physical creation of which there is no account.
The reference in Moses is particularly interesting since it seems to indicate that the scriptural accounts are a planning council and/or a spiritual creation. In either case, the scriptural “planning” accounts are close to the order of things revealed by science.
Conclusion
Science and religion give an “apples and oranges” review of the creation. Science gives an earth-centric model of “How?” and “When?”. It gives many details across many scientific disciplines (Biology, Geology, Archaeology, Chemistry, Astronomy, Physics) pertaining to just this terrestrial universe. It teaches us the following:
How stars, planets, and their moons are formed based on laws of physics.
The age, timeline, and steps of earth’s formation, including major events and transitions.
Mathematical models of the creation of the solar system with assumptions, variables, and probabilities.
Religion gives the big picture of “Why?” across multiple dimensions of creation, but few details. It teaches us the following:
There was a council of the Gods, decisions were made, an organized plan created, and then the plan was executed;
There was more than just a physical creation. Everything, including the sun, earth, moon, stars, grass, trees, fish, fowl, beasts, and man were first created spiritually;
God commands all dimensions of nature and it obeys.
Among God’s creations are many earths with inhabitants.
(Moses 1:29) “And he [Moses] beheld many lands; and each land was called earth, and there were inhabitants on the face thereof.”
God created everything by His Only Begotten Son.
(Moses 1:32-35) “And by the word of my power, have I created them [earths and their inhabitants], which is mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth. And worlds without number have I created; and I also created them for mine own purpose; and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten. And the first man of all men have I called Adam, which is many. But only an account of this earth, and the inhabitants thereof, give I unto you. For behold, there are many worlds that have passed away by the word of my power. And there are many that now stand, and innumerable are they unto man; but all things are numbered unto me, for they are mine and I know them.”
In summary, religion gives God’s spiritual plan of the creation of the earth. On the other hand, science theorizes the way that God’s physical plan was carried out. Both are mutually exclusive. However, both accounts seem to have the same progressive order of events.
Midford, Sarah, James, Sara, Hutchinson, Garrie, 2018/02/21, 9780995372733, “Key concepts in humanities and social sciences”, 10.26826/1006
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