Ye Cannot See Me

In the most recent general conference, Elder Benjamin M. Z. Tai told of how his family traveled to a remote area and slept under the sky. He related, “Clearly visible above us was the magnificent Milky Way, filled with innumerable stars and the occasional shooting star. While we marveled at the majesty of God’s creation, we felt a reverent connection to Him. Our young children, who had grown up in Hong Kong, had never experienced anything like this before. They innocently asked if we lived under the same sky back home. I tried to explain to them that it was the same sky, but air and light pollution where we lived prevented us from seeing these stars even though they were there.” Whether we see the stars above us or not, they are always there. At times in our lives we may feel strongly the presence of our Father in Heaven and the Savior in our lives, like seeing the stars in all their glory in a remote area. At other times in our lives the heavens may seem dark and overcast, and we may struggle to see their light in our lives. Like Joseph, we may cry out, “O God, where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place?” (Doctrine and Covenants 121:1) But if we do not perceive Their presence in our lives, that does not change the fact that They are there. Elder Tai also said, “If despite your best efforts life is overcast, if you feel that your prayers are not heard, or if you can’t feel God’s love, please know that your every effort matters and, as certain as the stars above us, that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ know, hear, and love you.” Just as the stars are always there above us, so to the Lord “looketh down upon all the children of men” always and He is “the same yesterday, today, and forever,” even when we can’t see Him (Alma 18:32, 2 Nephi 26:23).

            When the Lord taught Abraham in a glorious vision, He also used the stars to help Him understand the celestial realm. Abraham recorded, “And I saw the stars, that they were very great, and that one of them was nearest unto the throne of God; and there were many great ones which were near unto it; And the Lord said unto me: These are the governing ones; and the name of the great one is Kolob, because it is near unto me, for I am the Lord thy God: I have set this one to govern all those which belong to the same order as that upon which thou standest.” Kolob was a star representing the Savior, and Abraham further learned this from the Lord: “Therefore Kolob is the greatest of all the Kokaubeam that thou hast seen, because it is nearest unto me” (Abraham 3:2-3, 16). Kokaubeam is translated as stars in the same chapter, and like Kolob is the greatest of all the stars, so too is the Savior the greatest of all of the Father’s children because He is the nearest to Him. So, as we look at the stars and ponder on heavenly things, we should remember not only that They are always there but that the Savior is with the Father and invites us as well to draw near to Him. In His great intercessory prayer He prayed, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us….Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world” (John 17:21, 24). He seeks to bring us back to the Father so that we can be one with Him.

            Elder Tai related one other experience in which he connected the physical heavens to the Lord. He said, “A few months ago while traveling in Vietnam, my wife and I were on a flight that took off in a heavy storm. The turbulence was severe, and dark clouds, heavy rain, and lightning could be seen from our window. After a long and volatile ascent, our airplane finally rose above the storm clouds and emerged to this glorious vista. We were reminded once again of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and felt Their great love for us.” He shared a beautiful picture of the sun on the horizon, which like the stars is always there even when the storms of life stop us from perceiving Him. The heavenly lights which we see sometimes with ease and other times are hidden from our view should remind us that our Father in Heaven and His Son always watch over us, even when cannot see Them. As He declared, “But behold, verily, verily, I say unto you that mine eyes are upon you. I am in your midst and ye cannot see me; But the day soon cometh that ye shall see me, and know that I am” (Doctrine and Covenants 38:7-8).