The Moody Bible Institute presents ‘Dust or Destiny’; a ‘Sermon from Science’ with Irwin Moon (:19). This 1949 film presents an argument that Earth’s natural wonders are creations of a majestic singular God. The film was produced by the Moody Institute of Science (:28), a production arm of the Moody Bible Institute. MBI still exists today, and is a private Evangelical Christian Bible college in Chicago. It was founded by Dwight Lyman Moody in 1886. Most of the films made by MBI are pro-creationism and in fact can be seen to have an anti-science viewpoint. However they are also attributed with introducing science to fundamentalist Christians at a time when many espoused that the embrace of science led directly to atheism.

Flowers blossom on a tree branch (1:20) as the narrator begins by noting natural wonders. Man is cited as one of the most interesting (1:47). A gymnast practices (1:50). A switchboard operator changes over calls (2:55). Manmade machinery is compared to human joints (3:13). A diver flips off the diving board (3:19). Parts of the human body are highlighted including the human eye (4:09). A Leica III camera model is compared to the human eye lens (4:13). An ophthalmologist performs surgery (4:40). The eye lens is removed (4:49). The human ear is looked to (6:02). A pianist performs a tune (6:14). Piano keys when struck send out vibrations (6:35). A diagram presents how the ear interprets the tones played by the piano keys (7:35). A human ossicles is examined (8:35). A boy listens to a ticking watch (8:51). Adult and child ossicles are pictured next to one another (9:01). Studies are conducted at the University of Los Angeles (9:29) within the subbasement of the physics building (9:40). Surgery is performed on a human heart (10:40). Tank cars are used to detail the amount of blood a heart pumps out in a lifetime (11:06). A pigeon farmer tends to his flock (11:50). The film turns to display the intelligence in the bird’s navigation skills as they often fly unfamiliar routes with ease. He hand feeds a baby pigeon (11:58). The birds are readied for a 500 mile race (13:08). The Pacific Golden Plover (14:13) has two feather patterns in order to enable travel through various climates. A map route notes the bird’s migration route (14:44). Requirements for a passenger plane’s (16:47) navigation system are discussed. The environment of the bat (18:45). Bats are captured and taken to the lab at the MIS for close study (19:43). An orphan bat is fed (20:18). A bat shoots through an obstacle course with ease (21:07). One bat is blindfolded for another test (21:31). The scientist records sounds the bat is releasing as he flies (21:57). The sounds are played through the machine (22:28). Another test includes clamping the bats mouth shut (22:45). The creature drops to the floor (22:53). A swarm of bats spin outside a cave (23:33). Grunion fishers toast marshmallows over a flame (24:16). Fish bounce on the sand as the fishermen grab at them (24:49). Grunion flopping around (25:20) as they lay their eggs on shore. A cluster nests on land (25:36). An egg is carved out in the sand (26:50). A scientist in the photomicrographic laboratory of MIS (27:09) studies embryonic development. The microscopic view (27:48). The head and eyes of the fish become more visible (29:40). The grunion egg won’t hatch until the water reaches it (30:34). A microscope view shows the eggs hatching once hit with salt water (30:52). The right hour and wave must be chosen (32:40). A sign notes Point Joe and the wreckage of the SS Cecilia (33:24). Seedlings spring up from the water (34:09). A young boy opens a bean seed (34:25). Roots spread down naturally (34:53). A stem bends for sunlight (35:05). Two seeds are planted, one in the light and the other in the dark (35:49). Their growth is compared (35:59). The narrator discusses the matter of origin (37:17). The inner workings of a ticking watch (37:43). Narrator compares the watch to human origins (38:20).

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