It is wonderful to see all the advances in science over the past 200 years. Humankind has come a long way in a relatively short period of time. Why? Recent scientific progress is a direct blessing of the restored gospel. We live in the latter days, the fullness of times, a time when, the apostle Paul prophesied, the earth would be full of truth. This includes spiritual and secular truth. Ours is a time when people dream dreams and have marvelous insights, a time when the Light of Christ is being poured out in abundance, enlightening people’s minds and giving them knowledge.

Such progress is not limited to science. It happens in other areas as well. I recently came across an example in economics. I thank Ryan for pointing out a book by economist and author Angus Maddison (1926-2010). In 2001 Maddison wrote a magnum opus looking at the economic prosperity of nations over the last 2000 years. Maddison found that several of the world’s economies made huge advancements after 1820.  (For more information on Maddison and his work, visit his website at http://www.ggdc.net/MADDISON/oriindex.htm or visit the website for the Groningen Growth and Development Center which he founded at http://www.ggdc.net/.)

Just one more example of remarkable progress that is tied to the restoration of the gospel.