The fact that we have all been pre-programmed to quite a large extent through our DNA is not in doubt. Studies of identical twins show that identical genetics produce similar results in each twin, and at the same periods in their lives. I believe that part of our struggle on earth is to overcome the negative DNA programming, thus being truly free. No longer programmed by carnal, natural instincts like animals, but to transcend into truly spiritual beings. “We shall overcome”.
This last point seems to show us that genes switch themselves on and off at foreappointed times. All of us, whether twins or not, get urges and desires and inspiration as we progress through life. For example, most youngsters have a good idea of what they want to do when they leave school. As a result, jobs of all kinds are filled, so keeping society rolling along. Imagine if suddenly nobody desired to be a doctor or teacher, scientist or actor. But they do, generation after generation.
Sometimes in later life, a person will make a complete change of career, and be very successful at it. What made them suddenly desire to give up their previous interests to devote themselves to something different?
The point I am making is that all this is not by accident, not unplanned or random, but rather we have been programmed to perform all the various necessary tasks required to build up this world, and to bring to pass the Divine Plan.
Of course our behaviour is also greatly influenced by environment and conditioning. A child might want to be a policeman “just like dad”. There has been a long-running debate over whether genetics or environmental factors are the primary influence of our behaviour (so-called nature vs nurture).
With all this, it is a wonder we have much freewill at all, but we do.
If someone is raised within a culture that is bigotted or sectarian, then children growing up will have this negativity rub off on them. They may feel hatred from an early age, without even knowing why. This is clearly nurture over nature for the most part. There may come a time when some of these people’s genetics change their attitudes, or the Holy Ghost teaches them truth, and realise they have been mislead into thinking and feeling the way they were brought up to.
Children raised by an alcoholic parent may have a drink problem themselves. This may be due to the environment the child is used to being in, where getting drunk is the norm, but genetics plays a far greater role than in the previous example. Scientists claim to have found an “alcoholic” gene. If someone has this gene, it will only affect them if they become used to drinking alcohol themselves. The person’s genetics will then be the main driving force to whether he or she becomes subjected to the full horrors of addiction.
By overcoming our negative, worldly traits, we can become spiritual, and therefore truly free from the carnal matters that bind us in doubt and misery.
I am confident that if scientists can trace back all of humanity through DNA, they will show us that we are all descended from two people, namely Adam and Eve.
All of humankind is one big family - literally - which is the reason we care for others, even putting our lives at risk for a complete stranger. This is a situation that cannot be answered by the theory of evolution. This is why divine instruction is to love our Creator and love our fellow beings, because we are made of the same stuff.