QUOTE: [Mormons] believe in “eternal progression,” for example, and that the universe was organized from pre-existing matter.

So unlike Hawking, they believe in a before – and how interesting that they talk of pre-existing matter. Not just your own concept of “pure energy”.

QUOTES: "Organisms change their environment, and the environment changes them — it is a case of “constant complexity.”
"Paraphrasing French philosopher Henri Bergson, the BYU biologist said there is no end goal in evolution.
“'There’s no direction in evolution; it is not trying to get somewhere,” Peck said. “The universe is making itself up as it goes along.”

DAVID'S comment: He makes it sound as if God is not in charge and is simply along for the ride.

In other words, watching with interest – as you once put it. Yes indeed, your God (if he exists) might deliberately have created a mechanism that would enable living organisms and life’s history to evolve autonomously. Fits in perfectly with what facts we have.