Posted by:
lurking in
(
)
Date: July 07, 2015 06:14AM
Before the development of scientific methods to date the age of the earth, Archbishop James Ussher published a chronology of earth history based on a literalist reading of the Bible:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ussher_chronologyMany fundamentalist Christians still follow this chronology.
The Mormon church take is a little different, though. According to Mormon theology, the 6,000 years relates to the earth's "temporal existence" between the "Fall of Adam" and the beginning of the Millennium (which will last another 1,000 years, for a total of 7,000 years).
From the Mormon scriptures:
"Q. What are we to understand by the book which John saw, which was sealed on the back with seven seals?
"A. We are to understand that it contains the revealed will, mysteries, and the works of God; the hidden things of his economy concerning this earth during the seven thousand years of its continuance, or its temporal existence." (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 77:6)
There is no official teaching in the Mormon church on the "age" of the earth. Mormonism leaves open the possibility that before the Fall of Adam, the earth could have existed a very long time. However, Mormon teachings are clear that before the Fall (less than 6,000 years ago), there was no death (or procreation) on the earth, which, of course, in itself is problematic:
“3. Mortality. Mortal life comes because of the fall. If there had been no fall, there would be no mortal life of any sort on earth. Mortal life is life where there is death. Death must enter the world to bring mortality into being.
“4. Procreation. Before the fall there was no procreation. … Adam and Eve, in their Edenic state, could not have children, nor, as we shall see, could any form of life when first placed on the newly created paradisiacal earth.
https://www.lds.org/manual/print/old-testament-seminary-teacher-manual/lessons-1-5/lesson-2-the-plan-of-salvation?lang=eng