One day in school I was given a worksheet. It said that dolphins long ago could walk or crawl on land. Is this statement true or is it evolution? — Jacob of Hendersonville, NC

Dear Jacob,

Your question about dolphins and evolution is very good. Some scientists who do not believe that God created the heavens and the Earth think that dolphins and whales evolved from land animals. They believe that a long time ago, some land animals went into the sea to look for food. Over a long period of time, their bodies changed into bodies more suited for the sea. These scientists say that such animals' hind legs disappeared and their front legs turned into flippers. Then, their nostrils moved to the tops of their heads.

Jacob, this is the theory of evolution. It is not true. There is no evidence that these changes took place. A dolphin's body is perfectly designed for the sea. For instance, powerful muscles seal up the dolphins "blowhole" while it is underwater. If it did not have this ability, it would drown. Also, dolphins have a sensitive system called "echolocation" (EK-o-lo-CA-shun), which helps them locate underwater objects in their path. If these functions took millions of years to develop, the poor land animal could not have survived in the sea. God created dolphins to live in the water (read Genesis 1:20-23).

Remember Jacob, just because something appears in a book that does not make it true.