New FREE BYU Book on LDS and Evolution

[The_Monk]

This has been several years in the making. Free pdf available from https://lifesciences.byu.edu "read more." Hardcover coming soon from BYU. 

Lots of chapters in here from LDS and a few non-LDS scholars, on the science, yes, but also LDS history and scripture.  I have two chapters, one on the contexts of the 1909 and 1925 First Presidency statements (which did not intend to put evolutionary science out of bounds) and one on death before the fall. 

[Calm]

Very exciting…

[Buckeye]

Very cool. How long until your book comes out? 

[The_Monk]

Not on the calendar yet. AT least 1-2 years. 

 

[JVW]

17 hours ago, The_Monk said:

This has been several years in the making. Free pdf available from https://lifesciences.byu.edu "read more." Hardcover coming soon from BYU. 

Lots of chapters in here from LDS and a few non-LDS scholars, on the science, yes, but also LDS history and scripture.  I have two chapters, one on the contexts of the 1909 and 1925 First Presidency statements (which did not intend to put evolutionary science out of bounds) and one on death before the fall. 

Thanks for sharing this. I've already started reading it. Already I'm having some questions so the book is helping me develop my critical thinking. 

[OGHoosier]

19 hours ago, The_Monk said:

This has been several years in the making. Free pdf available from https://lifesciences.byu.edu "read more." Hardcover coming soon from BYU. 

Lots of chapters in here from LDS and a few non-LDS scholars, on the science, yes, but also LDS history and scripture.  I have two chapters, one on the contexts of the 1909 and 1925 First Presidency statements (which did not intend to put evolutionary science out of bounds) and one on death before the fall. 

Looks fantastic. Thank you very much.

[Ragerunner]

On 4/16/2025 at 5:46 PM, The_Monk said:

This has been several years in the making. Free pdf available from https://lifesciences.byu.edu "read more." Hardcover coming soon from BYU. 

Lots of chapters in here from LDS and a few non-LDS scholars, on the science, yes, but also LDS history and scripture.  I have two chapters, one on the contexts of the 1909 and 1925 First Presidency statements (which did not intend to put evolutionary science out of bounds) and one on death before the fall. 

Can’t wait to read.

Edited April 20 by Ragerunner

[Kenngo1969]

9 hours ago, Ragerunner said:

Can wait to read. [sic]

Can ... or cannot?   

(Just asking! )  On phone, perhaps?

[The_Monk]

On a related note, the Church has four new short responses to questions on religion and science. https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/new-gospel-library-resources-answer-questions-race-women-science 

I was asked to write about those in historical context, here. https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2025/04/20/lds-church-science-religion-can-be/

[Ragerunner]

11 hours ago, Kenngo1969 said:

Can ... or cannot?   

(Just asking! )  On phone, perhaps?

Phone - my bad.

[Stargazer]

On 4/16/2025 at 10:46 PM, The_Monk said:

This has been several years in the making. Free pdf available from https://lifesciences.byu.edu "read more." Hardcover coming soon from BYU. 

Lots of chapters in here from LDS and a few non-LDS scholars, on the science, yes, but also LDS history and scripture.  I have two chapters, one on the contexts of the 1909 and 1925 First Presidency statements (which did not intend to put evolutionary science out of bounds) and one on death before the fall. 

Nice! I may read this sometime.

As it turns out, however, my own outlook on this topic evolved (LOL) from Young Earth Creationism in my youth to full agreement with a 13.5 billion year old universe, 4.5 billion year old solar system, and evolution. God still created it all, and just because Archbishop James Ussher calculated that the day of creation was the creation "...happened at the start of the evening preceding the 23rd day of October in the year..." 4004 BC, doesn't mean I have to accept that as gospel. 

I'm not an absolute literalist.

[Calm]

Series of interviews about the book starting here:

https://www.fromthedesk.org/what-should-latter-day-saints-know-about-byus-evolution-book/#more-18667

Quote

The Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and Evolution is designed to help students reconcile faith in the Savior with scientific understanding of evolution. Published by BYU Life Sciences, the book affirms the Church’s neutral stance on evolution, corrects common misconceptions, and offers practical tools for bridging religion and science. In this interview, co-editor Jamie Jensen shares the book’s origins, purpose, and why this kind of reconciliation matters

Quote

Table of Contents

Origin and Purpose of the Book

Institutional Context and Church Endorsement

Faith, Doctrine, and Evolution

Misconceptions and Student Questions

Scripture and Context

Broader Implications and Educational Value

Final Reflections

 

Edited May 10 by Calm

[The_Monk]

Now available for ordering in print. https://www.byustore.com/9781611662252-YMTNF-The-Restored-Gospel-of-Jesus-Christ-and-Evolution-PB