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Show April 18, 1955 Elder Joseph Fielding Sxdth President, Quorum of the Twelve 47 East South Temple Street Salt Lake City, Ut Dear President Smith! Thanks for your letter of April 15, 1955. I am happy that you read my letter, which you refer to, as it expresses accurately my point of view. Considerinv the difference in traininr of the members of the Church, I never cease to marvel at the derroe of arreencnt found anon" helicvinr Latier-Lay-Saints. So far from being dis- turbed to find that Lrothor Tulna"o, Brother Widtsoc and yourself didn't always see scientific matters alike, this situation seems natural and as it should be. It will be a sad day for the Church and its members when the degree of disagreement you brethren ex- prcséed is not allowed. I am convinced that if the Lord required that His children understand His vorks before they could be saved that no one would be saved. t seems to no that to atru-rle for arreenent on scientific matters in view of the disparity in backrround which the members of the Church have is to put emehasis in the vronr nlace. In my judgment there is room in the Church ier peonle who think that the periods of creation were (a) 24 hours, (b) 1000 years, or (c) millions of years. I think it is fine to discuss these questions and for each individual to try to convert the other to what h thinks is rirht, but in cat- ters where apnureutly equally reliable authorities disagree, I prefer to rake haste slowly. Since we anree on so many thinrs, I trust we can amicablv disarree on a few. I have never liked, for examnle, the idea that many of the horizontally lyin: layers with their fossils are wreckage from earlier worlds. In any case, the Lord created the world and my faith does not hinge on the detailed procedures. Thanks again for your kindly, thoughtful letter. Sincerely your brother, Henry Eyring |
