My Very Handiwork

In this recent general conference, Elder Karl D. Hirst spoke about feeling the love of God in our lives. He suggested that while God’s love does not leave us, we do not always feel it. He said, “Perhaps you are wrestling with grief, depression, betrayal, loneliness, disappointment, or other powerful intrusion into your ability to feel God’s love for you. If so, these things can dull or suspend our ability to feel as we might otherwise feel. For a season at least, perhaps you will not be able to feel His love, and knowledge will have to suffice.” He suggested several things that we might try to feel that love again: “Birdsong, feeling the sun or a breeze or rain on my skin, and times when nature puts my senses in awe of God—each has had a part in providing me with heavenly connection. Perhaps the comfort of faithful friends will help. Maybe music? Or serving? Have you kept a record or journal of times when your connection with God was clearer to you? Perhaps you could invite those you trust to share their sources of divine connection with you as you search for relief and understanding.” Certainly the beauties of nature around us, if we really pay attention, can help us feel a connection with the Divine Creator who described the purpose of His creations to us this way: “The fulness of the earth is yours, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which climbeth upon the trees and walketh upon the earth; Yea, and the herb, and the good things which come of the earth, whether for food or for raiment, or for houses, or for barns, or for orchards, or for gardens, or for vineyards; Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart” (Doctrine and Covenants 59:16-18). If we pay attention to the wonders of creation around us, we will see that He has put so much in place indeed to both please the eye and gladden the heart. I love this thought by Elder Neal A. Maxwell, “On a clear night, you and I can see some portions of the Milky Way, but what if a view of sparkling stars occurred only once every thousand years? Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote of how then ‘men [would] believe and adore; and preserve for many generations the remembrance of the city of God which had been shown!’” Elder Maxwell continued, “No wonder the scriptures tell how wide and varied God’s witnessing to us is: ‘Behold, . . . all things are created and made to bear record of [God], . . . things which are in the heavens above, and things which are on the earth . . . : all things bear record of [God]’ (Moses 6:63; emphasis added).”

               A couple nights ago I was impressed by the beauty of a full moon on the horizon and how large it appeared floating just over the mountains. I remembered a discussion we had about this in my science class at BYU as my instructor explained that it is not know exactly why the moon appears to be larger when it is close to the horizon as compared to when it is high in the school. I looked it up and confirmed that indeed the cause for this phenomenon, called moon illusion, is still debated among scientists. Whatever the cause for our brains seeing the moon to be so large right over the horizon, it is part of the beauty of the night sky that should help us remember that the Creator has put the universe in order for us and that He wants it to “please the eye and gladden the heart.” As He put it in another revelation, “I, the Lord, stretched out the heavens, and built the earth, my very handiwork; and all things therein are mine” (Doctrine and Covenants 104:14). We are so blessed to have such a beautiful world around us, and time spent contemplating His creations can help us to connect with His love and plan for us.  

Recently across many parts of the world we were able to see the incredible “northern lights”, something that is more commonly only reserved for those in polar regions. One night last week as my wife learned through social media of a spot not too far from our house where people were seeing these colors in the sky, most of us jumped in the van and headed up the canyon to try to see for ourselves. And we did see the northern lights with a magnificent pink shade to the sky (in the dark of night) above the horizon that was even better when captured on the phone’s camera. Surely this was one small part of what the Lord meant when He said in our dispensation, “And it shall come to pass that he that feareth me shall be looking forth for the great day of the Lord to come, even for the signs of the coming of the Son of Man. And they shall see signs and wonders, for they shall be shown forth in the heavens above, and in the earth beneath” (Doctrine and Covenants 45:39-40). Looking back now, the night we went and saw these was October 7^th, one day after President Nelson declared, “The Lord is indeed hastening His work. Why are we building temples at such an unprecedented pace? Why? Because the Lord has instructed us to do so. The blessings of the temple help to gather Israel on both sides of the veil. These blessings also help to prepare a people who will help prepare the world for the Second Coming of the Lord! My dear brothers and sisters, in a coming day, Jesus Christ will return to the earth as the millennial Messiah…. servant. At His Second Coming, ‘the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.’ That day will be filled with joy for the righteous!” I do not think that it is a coincidence that these northern lights, seen in their incredible red, pink, purple, and green hues in majesty across the globe, were so visible right when the Lord’s prophet was urging us to prepare for the Second Coming of the Lord. And so, as we see all the beauties of the world around us, and especially those of the night sky, we should be reminded that now is the best time for us to prepare for His glorious return.