Testimony and Reason

Chris' Dad, Richard N. Williams, gave a BYU devotional in 2000. In his devotional he said something very profound to me. He said that the truth of Mormonism is not established by reason, nor is it justified by theology. "The truth of Mormonism rests on the occurrence of certain events.", he said. The events such as the Atonement, the first vision, the translation of the gold plates either happened or they didn't happen.

The truth of these events is established, not by reason, but by witnesses. There are many witnesses from those who handled the gold plates, to our modern day prophet and apostles who are special witnesses of the truth. The Book of Mormon is one of the most powerful witnesses that we have access to daily.

A testimony will starve if all we feed it is reason. Our testimony's need nourishment from witnesses that proclaim the truth of the gospel.

Evolution

In the past few months, I have been thinking a lot about economic processes such as markets. I believe that the theory is compelling that the free market is remarkably orderly. It coordinates information throughout an economy efficiently through prices. Prices convey information such as supply and demand which cause people to change their behavior. The idea that government can control the market or make the market more efficient is wholly arrogant and misguided. When the market process is left alone, it selects products and services that are the most valued by society. It also selects for beneficial behavior.

The concept of market process was incredibly similar to the idea of natural selection and evolution within biology. It seemed that I had to accept the process of biological evolution to maintain logical consistency. I knew so little about evolution that I decided to study it. Yesterday, I was studying evolution and I felt that what I was studying was true. I felt so much gratitude towards God for the wonderful feelings that I experienced. I hope to share more of what I am learning about evolution and how it fits into the gospel.

Here is a quote from Gordon B. Hinckley:
“I remember when I was a college student there were great discussions on the question of organic evolution. I took classes in geology and biology and heard the whole story of Darwinism as it was then taught. I wondered about it. I thought much about it. But I did not let it throw me, for I read what the scriptures said about our origins and our relationship to God. Since then I have become acquainted with what to me is a far more important and wonderful kind of evolution. It is the evolution of men and women as the sons and daughters of God, and of our marvelous potential for growth as children of our Creator.”
—President Gordon B. Hinckley, “God Hath Not Given Us the Spirit of Fear,” Ensign, Oct. 1984, 5