How Long Were the “Days” of
Creation?
(Gen. 1:5)
Three theories are accepted by various
Latter-day Saints as a possible answer to this question:
1. One day equals one day.
Some hold that each day of the creation was
the same length as under our present system of time. They believe that if man,
with his limited capacity, experience, and power can use greenhouses and
controlled conditions to put “years” of growth on young trees within a few
weeks, then God, with his capacities, could develop this earth through the
seven periods of creation within a week of our time.
2. One day equals one thousand years.
Many Latter-day Saints combine the creation
stories of Genesis and the Pearl of Great Price with a vision given to Abraham
wherein he was told that one revolution of the Lord’s governing star, Kolob,
was equal to one thousand years of earth’s time. (Abr. 3:4.) They suppose that
this same time relationship existed before the days of Abraham and before the
fall of Adam (and of the earth) and that each “day” of creation (according to
Kolob time) was a thousand years of our time. Based upon the first viewpoint
discussed (one day equals one day), if God has the power to complete a creation
stage within one day, he could also do it within one thousand years.
3. One day equals one time (of any length)
Some Latter-day Saints combine the various
creation accounts and note that Abraham used the word “time,” not “day,” to
summarize the events of each creative period. They also stress that only after
each stage or series of creative events were completed was I called a “day” or
a “time.” Thus, each period would not even have to be the same length of time,
but when one stage of the creation was completed I was called a “day” and then
the next stage was begun. (See Abr. 4:5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31; 5:2-3, 13.) The
name “day” or “time” was only given the work after it was completed. The term “day”
would thus not have to be a set length of time. It could be like our use of the
term “day” in the statement, “We live in a modern day and age.” Here “day” means the last number of years (even centuries)
of our time.
Some adherents of this third viewpoint also
suggests that geologists, earth scientists, and other specialists usually
recognize the same general sequence of events as recorded in the creation
story, but identify many thousands and millions of years for each stage.
Summary:
The Lord has not revealed in the scriptures
the exact length of time of the creation process. It is important to note what
questions of the creation he did answer. He did not tell us how long the
creation took, but he did emphasize who
created the earth—God, and why—for man
and woman so that they could achieve their immortality and eternal life.
Eventually we will know the answers to the questions of the creation, but for
now it is important to recognize who the creator was and why he organized this
earth and allowed us to come here. (Victor L. Ludlow, Unlocking the Old Testament [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company,
1981], 4-6)