"All Things Denote There Is A God"

“ALL THINGS DENOTE THERE IS A GOD”

The solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 was so much more than I had anticipated. The feeling as the moon gradually covered the sun was interesting, but when totality occurred, the feeling was one of excitement, of awe and of inspiration. On reflection, it was a spiritual experience. Why? Perhaps what follows will help to understand that.

Are solar eclipses proof of God?

By Eric Metaxas Published August 20, 2017 Fox News

On Monday something will happen in the U.S. that should startle — or at least perplex — anyone who gives it any thought. I am referring to the full solar eclipse you may already be anticipating. To be clear, thinking about what is about to happen has little to do with the sheer visceral experience of being amazed by it, as we must be. Before thinking about it, we should perhaps first simply goggle at it, at the monumental majesty of these monstrously large heavenly orbs, both of which we typically take mostly for granted.

Is it not remarkable that these ever-present objects — though separated by nearly one hundred million miles — should once in a very great while perform this curiously perfect dance? But to what end?

So this sort of thing doesn’t happen anywhere else in our solar system. But our planet has just one moon that happens to be just the right size and just the right distance from Earth.

But what might make us start to think a bit about this event is that this celestial pas de deux is being performed only for us.  Anywhere but here on this planet on Monday, the view of these two objects is nothing special. It is only what we see from our terrestrial vantage point that is special. It’s almost as though what we will marvel at was artfully arranged specifically for our benefit. Which brings us to the curious and startling part of the story.

About fifteen years ago an odd idea popped into my head.  Google was just a gurgling infant. But I happened to have a sturdy Brittanica nearby and I pulled out a dusty volume and quickly discovered the diameter of the sun. It is precisely 864,576 miles. The diameter of the moon was listed at 2,159 miles. I then looked up the distance from Earth to the sun, which varies slightly, but is generally given as 93 million miles. And then I found the distance from Earth to the moon. That varies slightly too, so the average is given as 239,000 miles.

Armed with these four figures, I did some simple math. I divided the sun’s diameter (864,576) by the moon’s (2,159) and got 400.452. If my strange hunch was correct, dividing the distance from the Earth to the sun (93,000,000) by the distance from the Earth to the moon (239,000) should give me something similar. It certainly did. My calculations yielded 389.121. And there it was. I stared at the numbers, amazed. Was the correlation in these ratios mere coincidence?

Of course what this all meant was simply that these immemorially ancient and vast objects, though as different in size as a single BB and a super gigantic beach ball — one that was over six feet in diameter — would from our perspective here on Earth seem almost precisely the same size.  So if they ever just happened to align in the sky, they would match up perfectly. Not almost perfectly. But perfectly, and bizarrely so.

What might be the odds of this just happening randomly? Almost all the planets in our solar system have no moons or many moons (Jupiter has 60) of incredibly varying sizes. So this sort of thing doesn’t happen anywhere else in our solar system. But our planet has just one moon that happens to be just the right size and just the right distance from Earth.

I found the precision necessary for all of this unbelievable. The more I thought about it, the more I knew that there was no way this could be a mere coincidence. It seemed almost planned. In fact, it seemed utterly planned, as all things of such precision must be.

To bring this closer to home, imagine holding a BB twelve inches from our face and then asking a friend to carry the six-foot diameter beach ball as far down the beach as necessary — until it appeared precisely the same size from our perspective as the tiny BB. Keep in mind our beach ball is six-feet in diameter while a normal large beach ball is less than two feet in diameter. Our friend would have to hike 400 feet before the giant beach ball and the tiny BB matched up in size. That’s about the distance from home plate to the centerfield fence in most major league baseball stadiums.

So can the sun’s and moon’s diameters — and distances from Earth — be merely coincidentally matched up this perfectly? Everything about it makes that seem ridiculous. But of course you can decide for yourself.

Three thousand years ago a man in Israel wrote:  “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” That man didn’t have a telescope or a Brittanica, but he saw something many of us today still do not see. He saw a God behind it all. It may be true that seeing a Grand Designer behind these breath-taking events requires what we call a leap of faith; but it may also be true that seeing mere coincidence behind them requires an even greater leap of faith. In my mind, much greater. But on Monday, you may be the judge.

Eric Metaxas is the author of several bestselling books, including "Bonhoeffer" and "Amazing Grace." His latest book is "If You Can Keep It: The Forgotten Promise of American Liberty" (Viking, June 14, 2016).

(http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2017/08/20/are-solar-eclipses-proof-god.html)

Supporting Scriptures

“...All things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and call things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator” (Alma 30:44).

“...All things have their likeness, and all things are created and made to bear record of me, both things which are temporal, and things which are spiritual; things which are in the heavens above, and things which are on the earth, and things which are in the earth, and things which are under the earth, both above and beneath: all things bear record of me” (Moses 6:63).

45 The earth rolls upon her wings, and the sun giveth his light by day, and the moon giveth her light by night, and the stars also give their light, as they roll upon their wings in their glory, in the midst of the power of God.

46 Unto what shall I liken these kingdoms, that ye may understand?

47 Behold, all these are kingdoms, and any man who hath seen any or the least of these hath seen God moving in his majesty and power. (D&C 88:45-47)

As you seek peace in your daily life, I commend to you reading daily in the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Prayerfully reading this divine book will draw you nearer to Jesus Christ than any other book. As a companion scripture to the Bible, it will bring you peace and a nearness to the Savior that will bless your daily life with strength through trials and peace in troubled times.

You can read the Book of Mormon online at: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/title-page?lang=eng 

To receive a free physical copy go to: churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/requests/free-book-of-mormon

Here is a link to the Book of Mormon app on iOS and Android: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/learn/mobile-applications/book-of-mormon-app?lang=eng

Unanswered Questions

Introduction
We live in the "dispensation of the fulness of times" (D&C 124:41). More gospel truths are available in this day than any past age. This may lead some to believe that within the words of ancient and modern prophets are or at least should be the answers to all our questions. This is not the case. In fact, “Mortality was designed, in a manner of speaking, as the season of unanswered questions”(Lance B. Wickman, “But If Not,” Ensign, Nov. 2002, 30).

Lehi, in describing our life on earth, said: "Men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself" ( 2 Ne. 2:27, emphasis added).

In the words of scripture and of modern prophets, coupled with personal inspiration, we have all the knowledge we need to return with our families to God's presence. We are given what is needed to make good choices and thereby to steadily become more like the Savior. However, it is easy to fall victim to the thought that if we can't find the answer in our own way and in our time, that there is no answer and that the lack of an answer is proof that the gospel isn't true.

This is a trap set by the adversary. He knows that for those who aren't sufficiently strong in faith, humble and patient or who are asking the wrong questions, doubts will arise. Doubt, if left unchecked, will destroy faith.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf cautioned, "It’s natural to have questions... There are few members of the Church who, at one time or another, have not wrestled with serious or sensitive questions. One of the purposes of the Church is to nurture and cultivate the seed of faith—even in the sometimes sandy soil of doubt and uncertainty. Faith is to hope for things which are not seen but which are true (Ether 12:6). Therefore . . . please, first doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith. We must never allow doubt to hold us prisoner and keep us from the divine love, peace, and gifts that come through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ" (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Come, Join with Us," Ensign,  November 2013).

Why are there so many unanswered questions? An important insight is provided in these words of Elder Neal A. Maxwell: "[Brigham Young] was asked a question which bears upon our need to endure…: ‘Why are [we] left alone and often sad?’ His response was that man has to learn to ‘act as an independent being . . . to see what he will do . . . to practice him . . . to be righteous in the dark—to be the friend of God.’” (Neal A. Maxwell, If Thou Endure It Well, Chapter 7 footnotes.)

One of life's tests is to faithfully press on in spite of unanswered questions. The Lord wants to see what we will do to be true to what we know, while wrestling with what we don't know. If we refuse to move forward in faith until the we receive the answers to our serious questions, we have for that moment faltered in the test. To stick doggedly to that positon is to fail the test.

Why Haven't Our Questions Been Answered?

There are many reasons we may not have received answers to our questions. Let us consider a few of them.

Are We Asking the Wrong Question?

Perhaps we haven't received an answer because we haven't asked the right question. For example, when we are passing through adversity we might ask the question, "Why is this happening to me?" "The question 'Why me?' can be a difficult one to answer and often leads to frustration and despair. There is a better question to ask ourselves. That question is 'What could I learn from this experience?'" (Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Press On," Ensign, November 2004).

As we deal with a question, it would be wise to prayerfully ponder whether or not we have asked the right question. Perhaps we could go to the temple in search of a better question.

Are We Living the Gospel?

We cannot expect answers from God if we are not being faithful to the knowledge we have already received.

"Whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction" (1 Nephi 15:24). Doubts that kill faith can lead to spiritual blindness. Blindness to things of the Spirit leads to certain destruction. To receive an answer from the Spirit, we must be worthy.

"It is given unto many to know the mysteries of God; nevertheless they are laid under a strict command that they shall not impart only according to the portion of his word which he doth grant unto the children of men, according to the heed and diligence which they give unto him" (Alma 12:9, emphasis added). Obedience is the price for inspiration.

Are We Sufficiently Patient?

Elder Neal A. Maxwell defined patience as follows: "Patience is not indifference.  Actually, it is caring very much, but being willing, nevertheless, to submit both to the Lord and to what the scriptures call the 'process of time.'  Patience is tied very closely to faith in our Heavenly Father. Actually, when we are unduly impatient, we are suggesting that we know what is best—better than does God. Or, at least, we are asserting that our timetable is better than his" (Neal A. Maxwell, "Patience," Ensign, Oct. 1980, 28).

Elder Dallin H. Oaks shared the following pertinent insight: "Faith in the Lord is trust in the Lord. We cannot have true faith in the Lord without also having complete trust in the Lord’s will and in the Lord’s timing. As a result, no matter how strong our faith is, it cannot produce a result contrary to the will of Him in whom we have faith. Remember that when your prayers [questions] do not seem to be answered in the way or at the time you desire" (Dallin H. Oaks, “The Atonement and Faith,” Ensign, Apr 2010, 30).

Do We Have Real Intent?

To have real intent, we must be willing to do the Lord's will when we receive the answer. That was the case for Joseph Smith. He went to the grove to pray, so that he could learn which church was true and then join it. Are we willing to respond in that manner to the answers we receive from God? If not, the Lord will likely not give us the answers we seek.

"Faith in Jesus Christ propels us to do things we otherwise would not do. Faith that motivates us to action gives us more access to His power [inspiration]" (Russell M. Nelson, "Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives," April 2017 General Conference).

Conclusion

I suspect there are few of us who don't have unanswered questions I certainly do. The real issue is what we will do about them. I have chosen not to allow the questions for which I don't have answers to outweigh those for which I do.

I know that we have a living, loving Heavenly Father. I know that Jesus Christ is the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten Son in the flesh, the Savior and Redeemer of the World. I know the Book of Mormon is true; therefore I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God and that God has restored His gospel, His priesthood, and priesthood keys to the earth through him. This testimony, borne to me of the Spirit, outweighs by far any unanswered questions. Therefore, I know that in faith, with obedience and in the Lord's time everything else I need to know will be revealed.

In General Conference, President Thomas S. Monson quoted the following scripture three times: "He that keepeth [God's] commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things" (D&C 93:28). The Lord has promised the obedient that in due time they will have the answer to every question. "There hath not failed one word of all his good promise" (1 Kings 8:56). This I know is true.


As you seek peace in your daily life, I commend to you reading daily in the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Prayerfully reading this divine book will draw you nearer to Jesus Christ than any other book. As a companion scripture to the Bible, it will bring you peace and a nearness to the Savior that will bless your daily life with strength through trial and peace in troubled times. Here is a link to obtain a free copy of this book: churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/requests/free-book-of-mormon

Daily Book of Mormon Reading II

The following is a journal entry I recorded this morning (April 5, 2017). I share it in the hopes of encouraging us all to daily read and ponder the Book of Mormon. Doing so will certainly bless our lives and the lives of those around us.

This morning I read and pondered Mosiah 1:1 - 18. These few verses contain many messages. Here are some of them:

1. Verse 2: It is vital that parents exemplify and teach their children the truths of the gospel.
2. Verse 4: The scriptures are a vital element of that teaching, helping to ensure the faithfulness of their children and grandchildren and the following generations.
1. As President Ezra Taft Benson said: "Take time daily to read the scriptures together as a family. Individual scripture reading is important, but family scripture reading is vital. Reading the Book of Mormon together as a family will especially bring increased spirituality into your home and will give both parents and children the power to resist temptation and to have the Holy Ghost as their constant companion" (Ezra Taft Benson, Come, Listen to a Prophet’s Voice [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1990], 33.)
3. Verse 5: We must have the scriptures “always before our eyes.” I take this to mean that daily scripture study is vital.
4. Verse 6: Another key element of parents teaching children is to bear testimony to them of the truths of the gospel--for example, that Jesus is the Christ, the Book of Mormon is the word of God, Joseph Smith was called of God and the priesthood and priesthood keys have been restored to earth.
5. Verse 6: The most powerful witness of the truthfulness of the scriptures is contained in the words of the scriptures themselves. "Faith cometh by hearing [reading] . . . the word of God" (Romans 10:17).
6. Verse 7: Obedience to the commandments of God is critical.
7. Verse 12: Those who consistently obey the commandments are qualified to honorably bear the name of Jesus Christ throughout their lives.
8. Verse 17: If we are slothful in keeping God’s commandments and in following the promptings of the Spirit, we would be wrong to count on help from heaven. As President Gordon B. Hinckley put it: “We can so live that we can call upon the Lord for His protection and guidance . . . We cannot expect His help if we are unwilling to keep His commandments” (President Gordon B. Hinckley, “If Ye Are Prepared, Ye Shall not Fear,” Ensign, Nov. 2005).

The Book of Mormon contains the word of God, it will draw us nearer to Jesus Christ than any other book. Reading and pondering its message and applying it in our lives will bring priceless blessings.

The Book of Mormon is available without charge: https://www.mormon.org/free-book-of-mormon.

You can read the Book of Mormon online using the following hyperlink: https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm?lang=eng.

In addition, there is a free app with which the book can be read on mobile devices: Gospel Library by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, available on the iTunes Store, Google Play Store, and the Microsoft Store.

Daily Book of Mormon Reading I

In his remarks on April 2, 2017, President Monson invited us to read and ponder the Book of Mormon daily. In doing so, he also made a promise: "I implore each of us to prayerfully study and ponder the Book of Mormon each day. As we do so, we will be in a position to hear the voice of the Spirit, to resist temptation, to overcome doubt and fear, and to receive heaven’s help in our lives."

This picture shows a verse that I read today that deserves some thoughtful pondering. It also reinforces what President Monson said.

"And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved" (Omni 1:26).

I know that what President Monson said is true. I read the Book of Mormon each day. However, I sometimes don't ponder it as well as I should. I am determined to do better. May we all "come unto Christ" daily through reading in and pondering that which we read in the Book of Mormon. As we do so, applying the impressions that come, we will draw ever nearer the Savior and obtain from Him the help that we need in our daily lives. That such may be our blessing is my sincere prayer for all of us.

Learning through General Conference

I want to share some thoughts on how to receive personal revelation through our experience in General Conference. We should approach General Conference seeking to learn the things the Lord would have us understand and do. We should ponder questions, the answers to which will bless us, our families, and those we seek to serve. The Lord may choose to give us impressions through His Spirit as we watch General Conference--especially as we participate in faith and with a desire to learn His will for us.

I invite us to all to prayerfully listen, carefully write down impressions that come and diligently take action on the impressions received. This is a pattern the Lord uses to bless our lives and through us the lives of those around us.

Below are steps our stake presidency has asked us to take in connection with General Conference. I will be following these steps. I commend them to you. As we follow them, we will be blessed.

• Prayerfully ponder questions you need to have answered and write them down prior to conference.
• Listen carefully during the conferences for the answers to your questions.
• Record the answers you receive.
• Write down what you . . . will do with the answers you received.

Quotes to Ponder and Apply

47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom  he is like:

 48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock (Luke 6:47 - 48).

These conferences are always under the direction of the Lord, guided by His Spirit (see D&C 46:2). We are not assigned specific topics. Over weeks and months, often through sleepless nights, we wait upon the Lord. Through fasting, praying, studying, and pondering, we learn the message that He wants us to give.

Some might ask, “Why doesn’t the inspiration come more easily and quickly?” The Lord taught Oliver Cowdery, “You must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right” (D&C 9:8). Conference messages come to us after prayerful preparation, through the Holy Ghost.

This principle is true for all members of the Church as we prepare to participate in ward, stake, and general conferences. We study out in our minds what we need and desire from Heavenly Father, and we pray to understand and apply that which we are taught. As the time for conference arrives, we sacrifice other activities, “lay[ing] aside the things of this world, [to] seek for the things of a better” (D&C 25:10). Then we gather our families to hear the word of the Lord, as King Benjamin’s people did (see Mosiah 2:5)...

When I take notes at conference, I do not always write down exactly what the speaker is saying. I note the personalized direction the Spirit is giving me. 

What is said is not as important as what we hear and what we feel. That is why we make an effort to experience conference in a setting where the still, small voice of the Spirit can be clearly heard, felt, and understood…

Oh, how we need general conference! Through conferences our faith is fortified and our testimonies deepened. And when we are converted, we strengthen each other to stand strong amid the fiery darts of these last days (see Luke 22:31-32). (Robert D. Hales, “General Conference: Strengthening Faith and Testimony,” October 2013 General Conference.)

He that asketh in the Spirit shall receive in Spirit (D&C 46:28).

When the Spirit is invited into a meeting, truth is communicated beyond what is said aloud (Elder Henry B. Eyring, "A Life Founded in Light and Truth," Ensign, July 2001, 13).

No Erasers

I have loved the Book of Mormon for a very long time. When I was working on my uncle’s farm in Burley, Idaho, I had a Sunday school teacher who inspired me to read from the Book of Mormon each day. Doing so further moved me to stand for the first time in sacrament meeting to share my testimony of the Savior, His gospel and the Book of Mormon.

Through the intervening years, my testimony has grown and my love of the Book of Mormon has deepened. I have continued to, “with joy,” as Isaiah and Nephi have both said, “draw water from the wells of salvation” in the Book of Mormon.

A number of years ago a verse from the Book of Mormon caused me to ponder for the first time the challenge writers of the Book of Mormon faced in engraving their words on metal plates. Today when we write a letter on a computer, we can easily correct our mistakes without leaving a trace. In fact, with spelling and grammar checking software, our mistakes are pointed out to us and can even be corrected without need for us to intervene. Such wasn’t the case for those who engraved the Book of Mormon.

Jacob said, "I cannot write but a little of my words, because of the difficulty of engraving our words upon plates" (Jacob 4:1).

Moroni shared a similar concern, “Lord, the Gentiles will mock at these things, because of our weakness in writing; for Lord thou hast made us mighty in word by faith, but thou hast not made us mighty in writing; for thou hast made all this people that they could speak much, because of the Holy Ghost which thou hast given them; And thou hast made us that we could write but little, because of the awkwardness of our hands. Behold, thou hast not made us mighty in writing” (Ether 12:23-24).

A few verses later, Moroni reinforced this thought in these words: “I have seen Jesus, and . . . he hath talked with me face to face, and . . . he told me in plain humility, even as a man telleth another in mine own language, concerning these things; And only a few have I written, because of my weakness in writing” (Ether 12:39-40).

If it was difficult to engrave the record in the first place, imagine how difficult it would have been, after engraving the words, to smooth the plate and write a corrected word or phrase. How did the writers correct their errors?

Here is the verse that caught my attention. It is Mormon’s observation concerning the Anti-Nephi-Lehies:

“And thus we see that, when these Lamanites were brought to believe and to know the truth, they were firm, and would suffer even unto death rather than commit sin; and thus we see that they buried their weapons of peace, or they buried the weapons of war, for peace” (Alma 24:19).

In this verse, Mormon took a practical approach. He superseded the original phrase with a corrected following phrase by using the connecting word “or.”

After noticing this verse, I did a word search on the word “or,” which led me to many other examples of corrections that were made. A few more examples follow.

“Wherefore, I, Nephi, did make a record upon the other plates, which gives an account, or which gives a greater account of the wars and contentions and destructions of my people” (1 Nephi 19:4).

"And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually" (Mosiah 5:2).

“And it came to pass when they had been in prison two days they were again brought before the king, and their bands were loosed; and they stood before the king, and were permitted, or rather commanded, that they should answer the questions which he should ask them” (Mosiah 7:8)

“But a seer can know of things which are past, and also of things which are to come, and by them shall all things be revealed, or, rather, shall secret things be made manifest, and hidden things shall come to light, and things which are not known shall be made known by them, and also things shall be made known by them which otherwise could not be known” (Mosiah 8:17).

“Now, when Amulek had finished these words the people began again to be astonished, and also Zeezrom began to tremble. And thus ended the words of Amulek, or this is all that I have written” (Alma 11:46).

I do not share this observation as a proof of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. I provide this insight to point out an internal evidence of the book’s origin as a text derived from accounts engraved on metal plates.

Empirical evidence is interesting but not vital in obtaining a testimony of the divine origin of this inspired witness of Jesus Christ. Such an assurance must come by the power of the Holy Ghost. The scriptures “came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:21). Therefore, the only way for us to be certain of their truthfulness, is to be moved upon by that same Spirit.

I urge everyone who reads what I have shared to accept the following invitation found in the Introduction to the Book of Mormon:

We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true. Those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost. (See Moroni 10:3–5.)

Those who gain this divine witness from the Holy Spirit will also come to know by the same power that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith is His revelator and prophet in these last days, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s kingdom once again established on the earth, preparatory to the Second Coming of the Messiah.

You can read the Book of Mormon online using the following hyperlink: https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm?lang=eng.

You can obtain a physical copy of the Book of Mormon by going to mormon.org. In addition, there is a free app with which the book can be read on mobile devices: Gospel Library by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, available at the iTunes Store, Google Play Store, and the Microsoft Store.