What do I have to do to harmonize the two theories?

	LDS Theology		Evolutionary Theory

1.	Age of the Earth	1.	Age of the Earth

	The exact age of the earth can't be determined from the scriptures; parts of the scriptural accounts are best interpreted figuratively.		There is an enormous volume of convincing data demonstrating that the earth is very old (at least in terms of human years) - 4.6 billion years.

	I will accept the scientific data as valid.

2.	My Relationship to God	2.	My Relationship to God

	I am a literal child of God; He is the Father of my spirit. This is a divinely inspired doctrine whose truth has been confirmed for me by the Holy Ghost.		No attempt is made to validate or invalidate this relationship. There are no data on this subject; the methods of science are not capable of generating this kind of information.

			I will defer to the epistemology of faith and accept the ennobling concept of my individual spirit and its divine origin.

3.	My relationship to the living organisms of the world	3.	My relationship to the living organisms of the world

	The scriptures do not disclose my physical/historical relationship to other living organisms.		The scientific data demonstrate a genealogical relationship through time for the plants and animals of the earth. The evidence is compelling.

	I will accept the scientific data as valid. This is also an ennobling concept which helps give meaning to my stewardship of the earth.

4.	My relationship to Christ	4.	My relationship to Christ

	I accept the inspired doctrines of the fall of man and the atonement of Jesus Christ.		There are no scientific data on this subject.

			I will defer to the epistemology of faith, accepting the doctrine of the plan of salvation.

5.	The origin of man	5.	The origin of man

	The spirit of "the man Adam" is different from that of all other creatures. How Adam was introduced into the world is not specified.		I accept the data for the existence of "proto-humans" (man-like creatures) pre-dating modern man.

	I will view Eden as an immortal site in an otherwise mortal earth.