Sea grass found that is older than the earth

[_moksha]

Prof Carlos Duarte, from the University of Western Australia, said the seagrass has been able to reach such old age because it can reproduce asexually and generate clones of itself.

Knowing this should take some of the pressure off of those not married by age 25.

[_bcspace]

OP Title Fail. Plus:

Per D&C 77:6, which states in plain language that the earth is 7,000 years old.

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.

The verse says no such thing. In addition, LDS doctrine on this specific verse allows for a much older earth:

“‘The book which John saw’ represented the real history of the world—what the eye of God has seen, what the recording angel has written; and the seven thousand years, corresponding to the seven seals of the Apocalyptic volume, are as seven great days during which Mother Earth will fulfill her mortal mission, laboring six days and resting upon the seventh, her period of sanctification. These seven days do not include the period of our planet’s creation and preparation as a dwelling place for man. They are limited to Earth’s ‘temporal existence,’ that is, to Time, considered as distinct from Eternity.” (Whitney, Saturday Night Thoughts, p. 11.)
Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual-Section 77

Also:

While it is interesting to note these various theories, officially the Church has not taken a stand on the age of the earth. For reasons best known to Himself, the Lord has not yet seen fit to formally reveal the details of the Creation. Therefore, while Latter-day Saints are commanded to learn truth from many different fields of study (see D&C 88:77–79 ), an attempt to establish any theory as the official position of the Church is not justifiable.
Old Testament Student Manual Genesis - 2 Samuel 2 - Genesis 1 - 2 - The Creation

[_Samantabhadra]

These seven days do not include the period of our planet’s creation and preparation as a dwelling place for man. They are limited to Earth’s ‘temporal existence,’ that is, to Time, considered as distinct from Eternity.”

So is 200,000 years (or 4 billion years) a period of time or is it of eternal length?

Seems to me the quote is saying exactly the opposite of what you want it to say.
"Eternity" does not have duration. 200,000 years is by definition a duration of time. Therefore 200,000 years is not eternal, merely a long duration. Therefore you are wrong.

[_Chap]

These seven days do not include the period of our planet’s creation and preparation as a dwelling place for man. They are limited to Earth’s ‘temporal existence,’ that is, to Time, considered as distinct from Eternity.”

So is 200,000 years (or 4 billion years) a period of time or is it of eternal length?

Seems to me the quote is saying exactly the opposite of what you want it to say.
"Eternity" does not have duration. 200,000 years is by definition a duration of time. Therefore 200,000 years is not eternal, merely a long duration. Therefore you are wrong.

That seems to be a model of clarity and politeness, both desirable qualities on message boards.

If something is 200,000 years old, and therefore only came into being about 200,000 years ago, we are clearly talking about 'Time, considered as distinct from Eternity'. In time, things may have finite duration, and begin and end. I don't think anyone ever talks about eternity like that.

I predict either silence from bcspace, or flat contradiction unsupported by further argument. But maybe he will do better than that?

[_Buffalo]

Hey Buffalo, sorry about the derail.

Back on topic: I remember discussing the D&C 77 issue with apologists, and got something from them which was supposed to nullify it as a source of criticism. I think it was something to do with the 'spiritual' age of the earth vs the physical age, or some claptrap...

Anyone run into an interesting apologetic arguments for why this scripture (like many others) doesn't actually mean what the text says it means?

The apologetic response IS claptrap. The passage clearly says that the temporal, ie physical age is 7000 years. If they want to argue that the earth was around for longer as a "spirit planet" before that, that's fine, but it makes no difference here.

[_Buffalo]

These seven days do not include the period of our planet’s creation and preparation as a dwelling place for man. They are limited to Earth’s ‘temporal existence,’ that is, to Time, considered as distinct from Eternity.”

So is 200,000 years (or 4 billion years) a period of time or is it of eternal length?

Seems to me the quote is saying exactly the opposite of what you want it to say.
"Eternity" does not have duration. 200,000 years is by definition a duration of time. Therefore 200,000 years is not eternal, merely a long duration. Therefore you are wrong.

QFT

[_Drifting]

Here is Gods contribution to the thread...

 4 And the Lord said unto me, by the Urim and Thummim, that Kolob was after the manner of the Lord, according to its times and seasons in the revolutions thereof; that one revolution was a day unto the Lord, after his manner of reckoning, it being one thousand years according to the time appointed unto that whereon thou standest. This is the reckoning of the Lord’s time, according to the reckoning of Kolob.

31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Now we know Adam was circa 4,000 bc so.....six God days, plus time since Adam....equals.....yep, 12,000 years old.

[_Chap]

Here is Gods contribution to the thread...

 4 And the Lord said unto me, by the Urim and Thummim, that Kolob was after the manner of the Lord, according to its times and seasons in the revolutions thereof; that one revolution was a day unto the Lord, after his manner of reckoning, it being one thousand years according to the time appointed unto that whereon thou standest. This is the reckoning of the Lord’s time, according to the reckoning of Kolob.

31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Now we know Adam was circa 4,000 bc so.....six God days, plus time since Adam....equals.....yep, 12,000 years old.

You realize that stuff about what God said is hearsay, right? It may be doctrine that Abraham thought that is what God said to him about Kolob, but for the actual words to be doctrine God would have to publish them in an article in an official Church publication over his signature.

How many times does this kind of thing have to be explained to you?

[_Drifting]

You realize that stuff about what God said is hearsay, right? It may be doctrine that Abraham thought that is what God said to him, but for the actual words to be doctrine God would have to publish them in an article in an official Church publication over his signature.

How many times does this kind of thing have to be explained to you?

Well if you're going to split hairs about...

Technically, the doctrine is that Joseph thought that Abraham had wrote onto the papyrus that he thought that is what God said to him.

[_Chap]

...

Technically, the doctrine is that Joseph thought that Abraham had wrote onto the papyrus that he thought that is what God said to him.

Even better.

Doctrine is a wonderful thing (when you can actually locate it ...).