A Devil's Gospel from Nephi?

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A Devil's Gospel from Nephi?

      Does the Book of Mormon speak of another gospel?  Did Nephi include the devil's gospel in his writing?  How did Lucifer seek to save himself?  Will he be successful?

      In 2 Nephi 24:12-14, we read, "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!   Art thou cut down to the ground, which did weaken the nations!  For thou hast said in thy heart: I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High.  Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit."

      In this passage Lucifer is very focused on himself.  He uses "I" five times - I will ascend, I will exalt, I will sit and I will be.  His goal is to be "like" God.  He is seeking his own glory rather that the glory of God.  Nephi prophesies that he will be brought down to hell in spite of his efforts to "ascend above the heights of the clouds".

      The ascending/becoming like God idea was also in the garden of Eden.  The serpent convinced Eve to eat of the forbidden fruit.  He said, "...in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." (Genesis 3:5)  Is this Satan's gospel - ascending higher and higher to become like God?  Did Nephi lay out the Devil's gospel?  Is this Lucifer's plan of salvation to the highest heaven?

      Isaiah 42:8 says, "I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images."

      Isaiah 44:6 says, "...I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God".

      Isaiah 44:8 says, "...Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any."

      Luke 14:11 says, "For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased;..."

Mormon Blood

      Christians have long held that the blood of Christ is sufficient for the forgiveness of sins.  1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  Joseph Smith and many Mormon leaders felt that the blood of Christ was NOT sufficient for the forgiveness of all sins.  Joseph Smith said, "In debate, George A. Smith said imprisonment was better than hanging.  I replied, I was opposed to hanging even if a man kill another, I will shoot him, or cut off his head, spill his blood on the ground, and let the smoke thereof ascend up to God; and if ever I ever have the privilege of making a law on that subject, I will have it so" (Joseph Smith, History of the Church 5:296).  A similar tone came from the First Presidency, "Brethren and sisters, we want you to repent and forsake your sins.  And you who have committed sins that cannot be forgiven through baptism, let your blood be shed, and let the smoke ascend, that the incense thereof may come up before God  as an atonement for your sins, and that the sinners in Zion may be afraid" (Jedediah M. Grant, September 21, 1856, Journal of Discourses 4:51).  He also said, "I say, that there are men and women that I would advise to go to the President immediately, and ask him to appoint a committee to attend to their case; and then let a place be selected, and let that committee shed their blood." (Jedediah M. Grant, 1856, Journal of Discourses 4:49).  Bruce R. McConckie bluntly said, "But under certain circumstances there are some serious sins for which the cleansing of Christ does not operate, and the law of God is that men must then have their own blood shed to atone for their sins" (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 1966, p. 92).  Joseph F. Smith agreed.  "But man may commit certain grievous sins - according to his light and knowledge - that will place him beyond the reach of the atoneing blood of Christ.  If then he would be saved, he must make sacrifice of his Own life to atone - so far as in his power lies - for that sin, for the blood of Christ alone under certain circumstances will not avail" (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation 1:134).  He continued by saying, "Joseph Smith taught that there were certain sins so grievous that man may commit, that they will place the transgressors beyond the power of the atonement of Christ.  If these offenses are committed, then the blood of Christ will not cleanse them from their sins even though they repent .  Therefore their only hope is to have their own blood shed to atone, as far as possible, in their behalf" (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation 1:135).  Brigham Young said, "It is true that the blood of the Son of God was shed for sins through the fall and those committed by men, yet men can commit sins which it can never remit" (Brigham Young, September 21, 1856, Journal of Discourses 4:54).
      It was recommended that some people go to the leaders voluntarily and have their blood shed for their sins.  Young stated, "There are sins that men commit for which they cannot receive forgiveness in this world, or in that which is to come, and if they had their eyes open to see their true condition, they would be perfectly willing to have their blood spilt upon the ground, that the smoke thereof might ascend to heaven as an offering for their sins; and the smoking incense would atone for their sins whereas, if such is not the case, they will stick to them and remain upon them in the spirit world. I know, when you hear my brethren telling about cutting people off from the earth, that you consider it is strong doctrine; but it is to save them, not to destroy them" (Brigham Young, September 21, 1856, Journal of Discourses 4:53).  He continued on to say, "I do know that there are sins committed, of such a nature that if the people did understand the doctrine of salvation, they would tremble because of their situation.  And furthermore, I know that there are transgressors, who, if they knew themselves, and the only condition upon which they can obtain forgiveness, would beg of their brethren to shed their blood, that the smoke thereof might ascend to God as an offering to appease the wrath that is kindled against them, and that the law might have its course.  I will say further; I have had men come to me and offer their lives to atone for their sins" (Brigham Young, September 21, 1856, Journal of Discourses 4:53-54).  Young rationalized the practice by saying, "Now take a person in this congregation who has knowledge with regard to being saved in the kingdom of our God and our Father, and being exalted, one who knows and understands the principles of eternal life, and sees the beauty and excellency of the eternities before him compared with the vain and foolish things of the world, and suppose that he is overtaken in a gross fault, that he has committed a sin that he knows will deprive him of that exaltation which he desires, and that he cannot attain to it without the shedding of his blood, and also knows that by having his blood shed he will atone for that sin, and be saved and exalted with the Gods, is there a man or woman in this house but what would say, 'shed my blood that I may be saved and exalted with the Gods?'" (Brigham Young, February 8, 1857, Journal of Discourses, 4:219).
      Brigham Young stated that this was a principal of love.  "Will we love our neighbor as ourselves?...suppose that he is overtaken in a gross fault, that he has committed a sin that he knows will deprive him of that exaltation which he desires, and that he cannot attain to it without the shedding of his blood, and also knows that by having his blood shed he will atone for that sin, and be saved and exalted with the Gods, is there a man or woman in this house but what would say, 'shed my blood that I man be saved and exalted with the Gods?' All mankind love themselves, and let these principles be known by an individual, and he would be glad to have his blood shed.  That would be loving themselves, even unto an eternal exaltation.  Will you love your brothers or sisters likewise, when they have committed a sin that cannot be atoned for without the shedding of their blood?  Will you love that man or woman well enough to shed their blood?  That is what Jesus Christ meant" (Brigham Young, February 8, 1857, Journal of Discourses, 4:219, 220).  Young also said, "I could refer you to plenty of instances where men have been righteously slain, in order to atone for their sins. I have seen scores and hundreds of people for whom there would have been a chance (in the last resurrection there will be) if their lives had been taken and their blood spilled on the ground as a smoking incense to the Almighty, but who are now angels to the devil, until our elder brother Jesus Christ raises them up - conquers death, hell, and the grave.  I have known a great many men who have left this Church for whom there is no chance whatever for exaltation, but if their blood had been spilled, it would have been better for them.  The wickedness and ignorance of the nations forbid this principle's being in full force, but the time will come when the law of God will be in full force.  This is loving our neighbor as ourselves; if he needs help, help him; and if he wants salvation and it is necessary to spill his blood on the earth in order that he may be saved, spill it" (Brigham Young, February 8, 1857, Journal of Discourses, 4:220).
      So what qualified as an unforgiveable sin?  Here are a few things that qualified for this law of Blood Atonement.
1. Murder - Brigham Young said, "Some of our old traditions teach us that a man guilty of atrocious and murderous acts may savingly repent when on the scaffold; and upon his execution you will hear the expression - 'Bless God! he has gone to heaven, to be crowned in glory, through the all redeeming merits of Christ the Lord.'  This is all nonsense.  Such a character never will see heaven." (Brigham Young, 1860, Journal of Discourses 8:61).
2. Adultery - Brigham Young said, "Suppose you found your brother in bed with your wife, and put a javelin through both of them, you would be justified, and they would atone for their sins, and be received into the kingdom of God.  I would at once do so in such a case; and under such circumstances, I have no wife whom I love so well that I would not put a javelin through her heart, and I would do it with clean hands" (Brigham Young, March 16, 1856, Journal of Discourses 3:247).
Heber C. Kimball said, "You hear us talk about it a great deal, and probably many do not believe one word we say, bu this people will never, no never, prosper to a high degree until we make a public example of -what?  Men, who have been warned and forewarned, but who will associate with the wicked and take a course to commit whoredom, and will strive to lead our daughters and our wives into the society of poor, wicked curses, with a view to gratify  their cursed passions; we will take them and slay them before this people" (Heber C. Kimball, 1857, Journal of Discourses Volume 4:173).
3. Apostacy - Heber Kimball believed that apostacy was deserving of Blood Atonement.  He said, "I have not a doubt but there will be hundreds who will leave us and go away to our enemies.  I wish they would go this fall: it might relieve us from much trouble: for if men turn traitors to God and His servants, their blood will surely be shed, or else they will be damned, and that too according to their covenants" (Heber C. Kimball, August 16, 1857, Journal of Discourses 4:375).  He went on to say, "Judas lost that saving principle, and they (the 11 Apostles) took him and killed him.  It is said in the Bible that his bowels gushed out; but they actually kicked him until his bowels came out" (Heber C. Kimball, December 13, 1857, Journal of Discourses 6:125-126).  Brigham Young said, "I say, rather that that apostates should flourish here, I will unsheath my bowie Knife.  Now, you nasty apostates, clear out, or judgement will be put to the line, and righteousness to the plummet.  Voices, generally, 'go it, go it.'  If you say it is right, raise your hands.  All hands up.  Let us call upon the Lord to assist us in this, and every good work" (Brigham Young, 1853, Journal of Discourses Volume 1:83).
4. Stealing- Theft could have been a part of the blood atonement doctrine.  Brigham Young said, "If you want to know what to do with a thief that you may find stealing, I say kill him on the spot, and never suffer him to commit another iniquity" Brigham Young, 1853, Journal of Discourses 1:108).
5. Covenant Breakers - Jedediah M. Grant said, "I would ask how many covenant breakers there are in this city and in this kingdom.  I believe that there are a great many; and if they are covenant breakers we need a place designated, where we can shed their blood....They are a perfect nuisance, and I want them cut off, and the sooner it is done the better....We have been trying long enough with this people, and I go in for letting the sword of the Almighty be unsheathed, not only in word, but in deed" (Jedediah M. Grant, 1856, Journal of Discourses 4:50).

      These teachings were familiar to many before the September 11, 1857, Mountain Meadow Massacre in Southern Utah.  (Many men at that time could remember when Joseph Smith was shot to death at the Carthage Jail.  Some men probably wanted to avenge his death.  They could remember the assassination of Parley P Pratt, a beloved Mormon leader.  The Baker-Fancher wagon train from Arkansas was headed to California.  Some have said that a man in the wagon train claimed to have the gun that killed Joseph Smith.  After a few gun battles, the travelers surrendered their weapons in exchange for safe passage through Utah.  Before the unarmed travelers left the state, about 120 of them were slaughtered.  Young children under the age of accountability were spared.  John D Lee, a body guard of Brigham Young, was charged in a court of law for this massacre and sentenced to death.  He was executed by a Utah firing squad on March 23, 1877.  He left behind 17 and 64 children.

Mormon Presidential Polygamy

Moroni's God

      Moroni had a vision of God.  He said, "For I know that God is not a partial God, neither a changeable being; but he is unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity." (Moroni 8:18)  Others have spoken of an ascending God.  Lorenzo Snow stated, "As man is, God Once was; as God now is, man may be."  Others have thought that God started as a spirit being who later became a man and ascended to godhood.  The God of Moroni did not have to ascend.  He has always been God.  He is the unchangeable being who has existed "from all eternity to all eternity."
      Moroni's God is the Great Spirit revealed by Ammon in Alma18:26-29:  "And then Ammon said: Believeth thou that there is a Great Spirit? And he said, Yea. And Ammon said: this is God.  And Ammon said unto him again: Believest thou that this Great Spirit, who is God, created all things which are in heaven and in the earth?  And he said: Yea, I believe that he created all things which are in the earth;..."  The exalted man that many people pray to did not create all things.  The exalted man did not create time and space.  He is limited to a physical body.  A physical body requires the existence of space to dwell.  It also requires time to exist in the created space.   The God of Moroni is not limited to a physical body.  He created physical bodies.  He created the time and space for physical bodies to exist in.  Before the beginning of time, he was God.  Before creation was created, he was God.  Moroni's God was revealed to the woman at the well in John 4:24, "God is Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."
      For those who worship an exalted man, their god is simply one god of many.  Their god is the offspring of a father god.  This father god is the offspring of a grandfather god.  Their father god is simple one of many.  Moroni's God is spoken of by the prophet Isaiah.  "To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One." (Isaiah 40:25)  "...I the Lord, the first, and with the last; I am he." (Isaiah 41:4)  "...before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.  I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour." (Isaiah 43:10&11)  "...I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God." (Isaiah 44:6)  God, who is onmiscient, made this statement in Isaiah 44:8:  "...Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any."  Isaiah 45:5&6 says, "I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me:...That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else."  Isaiah 45:21 says, "...there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me."  The prophet continues this message in Isaiah 45:18&22, Isaiah 46:5&9 and Isaiah 48:11&12.
      The exalted/ascended man is a god that shares his glory.  His father shared glory with him.  His father's father shared glory with his father and so on through many generations of gods.  The God of Isaiah the prophet does not share his glory.  Isaiah 42:8 says, "I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images."  Isaiah 48:11 says, "...I will not give my glory unto another."
      2 Nephi 24:12-15 speaks of a glory seeker that wanted to be "like" the Most High.  "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! Art thou cut down to the ground, which did weaken the nations!  For thou hast said in thy heart: I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High.  Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit."  God did not share His glory with Lucifer.
      In Genesis 11:1-9, there were glory seekers who became very proud.  The story is about the tower of Babel.  Verse 4 says, "...Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name,..."  Perhaps God saw in their hearts that they were trying to become LIKE gods.  Verse 7&8 says, "Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they many not understand one another's speech.  So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth:..."  God did not share His glory with these tower builders.
      In the garden of Eden, the serpent came and tempted Eve with the forbidden fruit.  He gave her a promise of being like God.  He said, "For God doth know that in the day yea eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." (Genesis 3:5)  However, as a consequence for their sins, they were kicked out of their beautiful paradise, the garden of Eden.  God did not share his glory with Adam and Eve.
      In Luke 18:10-14, a pharisee felt exalted and proud.  He felt that he had ascended to a higher spiritual realm.  "Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.  I fast twice in the week. I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying God be merciful to me a sinner.  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."
      The God of Moroni does not share his glory.  He is the only true God!  He is the Great Spirit!  He did not have to ascend into godhood. He is the "unchangeable being" who is God "from all eternity to all eternity."

Helpful False Prophets

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     Why does God allow false prophets to influence the church?  Do they have any purpose in the world?  They deceive people and lead them astray.  Why doesn't God just get rid of them all and make life easier?
      Dueteronomy 13:3 says that they are a test to show where our heart is.  "Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD you God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul."  We often judge people on their outward appearance but God looks at our hearts.  Jeremiah 5:31 tells us of Israel's poor spiritual condition.  "The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?"  The Jews had fallen away from their God to follow the lies of false prophets and priests.
    In 1 Kings 22, false prophets were part of God's judgement on Israel.  The Israelite king Ahab wanted to go to war against the Syria.  About 400 prophets were prophesying victory for Israel.  Then the prophet Micaiah prophesied defeat for Israel.  In verses 19-23, Micaiah said, "...Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD:  I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.  And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?  And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner.  And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him.  And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.  Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee."  King Ahab went to war anyway and died in the battle.  Israel was scattered.  This was God's judgement on Israel for their wickedness.
      Some assume that God will not allow the possibility of his people being affected by false prophets.  Dueternomy 18:20-22 did not give the Israelite people such assurance but rather told them how to respond to false prophets. "But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.  And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?  When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him."
    These examples show us that God does allow false prophets and that they may have a purpose.  They can expose the heart of God's people as a test.  They can also be a part of God's judgement as in the case of king Ahab.
   

What is Anti-Mormon?

      What does anti-Mormon mean?  Is it someone who hates Mormons?  A young lady recently called me anti-Mormon and one who hates Mormons.  Was she right?

      Suppose two by-standers were watching a boat float down a river.  The first man said "everyone must choose the way that is right for himself.  Who am I to judge?"  So even thought he knew the people in the boat were headed to a 1,000 ft. waterfall which would be certain death on the rocks below, he put a smile on his face.  He simply said "Hope you enjoy this beautiful day on the river."  The second man appeared to be more contentious.  He was yelling at the folks enjoying their river ride.  He was jumping up and down hollering, "Get off the river.  You are going to die."  He didn't want anyone to die going over the deadly waterfall.  Which man hated the folks in the boat?  Did the nice, friendly man really care when he knew there was a dangerous water fall downstream?  Or did the loud, blunt, truthful man really care about the travelers?  Who was the real hater?  Which one really was concerned?

    Lorenzo Snow said, "As man now is, God once was; as God is now, man may become."  Stop praying to an exalted man.  This is a false god.  Turn to the true God in Moroni 8:18.  "For I know that God is not a partial God, neither a changeable being; but he is unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity."  God was never a man.  He has always been God from "all eternity to all eternity."  Does quoting Moroni make me a hater or someone who cares?

      Some say there is no hell.  It is just a mental state.  2 Nephi 28:21-23 tells us where this lie came from.  "And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well - and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.  And behold, others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell; and he saith unto them: I am no devil, for there is none - and thus he whispereth in their ears, until he grasps them with his awful chains, from whence there is no deliverance.  Yea, they are grasped with death, and hell; and death, and hell, and the devil, and all that have been seized therewith must stand before the throne of God, and be judged according to their works, from whence they must go into the place prepared for them, even a lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment."  If I ignore the words of Nephi, does that make me a nice, responsible neighbor?

      Some people feel like repentance is a gradual process that may take years to complete.  Some hope to make a telestial or terrestrial kingdom without complete repentance. But we are not guaranteed tomorrow.  A car accident can quickly end our life.  Alma warned against procrastinating repentance.  Alma 34:31 says, "...now is the time and the day of your salvation;..."  Verse 33 says, "...do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end;...if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed."  Verse 35 says, "...if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power of you; and this is the final state of the wicked."  Is it being contentious to actually take the words of Alma seriously?

      If you have concern for someone's well being or eternal destiny, are you a hater or someone who cares?  Is it possible to be genuinely concerned, speaking the truth in love?  What say you?
      Matthew 7:13&14 says, "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."

      

A Pagan Mind

      How does a pagan mind think?  Here are five steps to paganism.

1. Deify Time   Time is a thing.  The Bible proclaims that all things have been made by God.  "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible,..."  (Colossians 1:16)  If God created time, then he is not subject to it.  The creator is not subject to His creation.  God exists outside of time because he has always existed.  To deify time, one can give time God-like qualities.  Specifically, one can say that time always existed like God.  Or you can say that time is infinite, without beginning or end - like God.
2. Deify Space   Space is a thing as well.  The Bible proclaims that God made all things.  Evolutionary models imply that time and space have always existed.  Evolution would be impossible, of course, if there were no space to evolve in or time to evolve in the space.  Space is often given God-like characteristics.  God has eternally existed.  Evolutionists imply that space has always existed and will always exist like God.
3.  Deify Nature   Genesis gives us the story of God's creation.  If you believe that God does not exist, then you can't believe that he created this world.  So something had to create our world.  Scientists often ascribe God's creative power to nature.  Evolutionists say that nature is like God in that it has the innate power to create life over millions/billions of years.  Many believe that nature is in a constant struggle to create the most superior, most fit specimens possible.  The second law of thermodynamics tells us that nature devolves or degenerates on it's own.  To make a tree evolve into a wooden table, we have to put creative energy into the process.  The tree does not make itself into a table from its own creative power.  Genesis tells us that God created matter and arranged it into everything in our universe.
4.  Deify Nature with Intellect  The Bible tells us that God has infinite knowledge and wisdom.  He is the ultimate designer.  He is the superior engineer - the finest creator in the universe!  Many try to ascribe a great creative ability to nature.  DNA research has shown that every living cell has a set of detailed plans of specific information.  There is a ton of planning that has gone into the creation of every single earthly creature.  Some scientist claim that nature, through natural selection, has the wisdom and knowledge for creating life.  Again, God-like characteristics are assigned to nature.
5.  Praise Nature   We should praise God for his magnificent creation - this world we get to enjoy.  Often, however, many would rather ascribe praise to nature for this magnificent earth we live in.  Here is the thinking:  Through millions of years nature has evolved this_____.  Or through billions of years nature has naturally selected this_________.  Some scientists think that nature, over billions of years, was able to accomplish the same thing that took God 6 days.  It takes great faith to be a pagan.  You must believe that time and space eternally existed.  You must believe that nature has great creative abilities.  You must believe that nature has the wisdom and knowledge to build DNA blueprints.  You must basically believe that nature is God.
      Our sun is a star.  Stars eventually burn out.  When our sun ceases to produce light and warmth, everything on earth will freeze and die.  If nature is your god, then your god is eventually going to die.