Being married to a scientist, and being surrounded by other Latter-day Saint scientists even in my neighborhood, my experience has been quite different.

I encourage you to learn more about our faith and beliefs at ComeUntoChrist.org.

Then, 2 seconds later:

“There are times when I think I might have reached a plausible conclusion about an issue or question, but I carefully protect myself from the tendency to deal in absolutes.”

Although I can see why some might conclude that Mormon doctrine and evolution are incompatible, such a conclusion doesn’t square with the way most of us as Mormons feel.

You might find the following articles of interest:

http://www.jefflindsay.com/LDSFAQ/science.shtml#spec

That article includes some thoughts on the verse in D&C 77.

This article was written by an LDS geologist:
Do we know how the earth’s history as indicated from fossils fits with the earth’s history as the scriptures present it?

And this one by a Mormon biologist.

Here’s the Encyclopedia of Mormonism entry on Evolution

And as is noted in the post, there are many perspectives from Latter-day Saint scientists at Mormon Scholars Testify. They explain more about how Mormon doctrine and science are not incompatible. Mormon doctrine leaves plenty of room for science, evolution, the fossil record, and more.

I’m sure you have already read statements and thoughts on this subject. I think the following quoted in the Encyclopedia of Mormonism sums things up nicely, though.
“Upon the fundamental doctrines of the Church we are all agreed. Our mission is to bear the message of the restored gospel to the world. Leave geology, biology, archaeology, and anthropology, no one of which has to do with the salvation of the soul of mankind, to scientific research, while we magnify our calling in the realm of the Church….”

I think it’s also important to note that just because a scientist has faith in God does not mean that he/she tries to use faith directly in their work. The links above show that it is possible to have faith in God and be a scientist, but that shouldn’t threaten their credibility within their fields.

Yes, our faith in God is informed by every means of learning, including “book” knowledge, scientific processes, experiential learning, and so on. But I am hoping that in your last paragraph you aren’t implying that if you find out a scientist is religious that you dismiss them as not credible. I would hope that you would let their scientific work stand on its own scientific merit, which in my experience with religious scientists is what they would expect.

~Michelle
Editor

No rational person would claim that science and religion are compatible. Science is a method of discovering truth that includes measurable, testable and predictable hypothosies. Religion of any kind offers nothing that can be measured, nor any result that can be replicated, other than by chance.

Religion is strictly feeling-based; the more intently a religious person feels her church to be true, the more intently she believes it to be true. When scientists claim a religious foundation, you can be absolutely sure they’re not entirely credible among their colleagues. When they claim to find “knowledge” of a God in their work, they should also not enjoy credibility among their faith-based peers.

A beautiful book on this is “The Science of God,” by Gerald Schroeder. He gives an excellent Jewish perspective of how the Bible and the fossil record and scientific discoveries are highly compatible and support each other.