God’s Infinite Love

               You have probably noticed a theme in my blog if you have been reading it thus far. I really enjoy connecting the scriptures with our knowledge of “reality.” As we study the universe, God’s glory becomes mightier as our miniscule place in the universe puts His majesty into perspective.  Even with the evidence that we do have, I believe that we have not even scratched the surface of God’s creations. As it says in Doctrine and Covenants section 88, “…there is no space in the which there is no kingdom; and there is no kingdom in which there is no space…” I heard an interesting explanation of God’s power. “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." In essence, He created space. Space is three-dimensional, length width and height. Time is also three-dimensional, past, present and future. Another three-dimensional aspect of Gods plan is the trinity, God The Father, Jesus Christ The Son, and The Holy Ghost. With this “trinity of trinities” all of the universe is governed. However, God is not bound by time or matter, allowing him to manipulate it. Such a concept can be understood by a computer engineer. Even though he has control over his creation, the computer, he does not need to be inside the computer to govern it. It is much the same with God, the architect of the universe. For this reason, we should put our trust in him. We cannot comprehend his love, because his love is uncontained by the same dimensions that contain us. I hope that one day we may learn of the full extent of God’s many kingdoms, as infinite as his love for each of us.    

Intelligence

               The scriptures teach that the only thing that we get to take with us after this life is the intelligence that we gain. “Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection. And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come” (Doctrine and Covenants 130:18-19).

               It is often believed that science and religion do not coexist, that either you believe in scientific ways, or in God’s way. It is a notion that science often disproves God. I do not believe that this is the case. If we look from our perspective of limited knowledge, it is all too easy to doubt the existence of God. Man-made philosophies try to grasp the notion of an omnipotent being that controls the universe, but when they can’t, doubt sets in.

               I propose that the solution to this is to flip the perspective. Instead of attempting to prove a higher intelligence from a lower intelligence, what if we instead tried it the other way around? Besides, wouldn’t a higher intelligence completely understand the lower?  While the lower hardly comprehends the higher. I have learned that while science proves God, the correct perspective would be that God proves science. The moment we begin looking with this new perspective it becomes clear that behind all the complex processes in the biological world, it would certainly be impossible for every particle to come together to create a beautifully flowing universe in which even the tiniest of particles obey predetermined laws.

The reason I bring this up is due to my new understanding of the complexity of many instantaneous, but all too crucial biological processes that I have studied in my biology course. The smallest of things has then been contrasted with the largest of things in an astronomy course that I am also taking. I have developed a sense of awe and wonder at God’s creations. Even in a fallen state, they seem so perfect, from the atoms of our mind to the galaxies that it imagines. It is difficult to imagine matter in a celestial and exalted glory as that of the Father. 

Learning Along the Way

This week I was challenged to find an answer to a specific question. As many times in our lives, the important thing I learned wasn’t necessarily the answer to the question, but the things that I learned in my search for it. Often, we search for answers that have been subconsciously predetermined in our minds according to our human desires. This bias can limit our ability to recognize the answer when it is put before us by the Holy Ghost. Therefore, humility to accept that you may be in the wrong is required to feel the full guiding effect of the spirit. If you search relentlessly and don’t find an answer, it doesn’t mean there isn’t one, but rather that you haven’t recognized it. Maybe a self-evaluative humbling process would be beneficial.

After learning this, I was eventually able to find an answer to my original question, but give more value to the lesson I learned than to the answer that I found. This principle holds true to how God’s plan for us was designed. From the beginning to the end, the purpose of God’s plan isn’t to get somewhere or something, but who we become throughout that journey. What would be the point of putting an unpolished diamond on a ring? Similarly God doesn’t intend to put his unpolished children in the Celestial Kingdom. Many examples of this can be seen in the scriptures. How often has God sent his chosen prophets to the wilderness? The reason behind this isn’t because there’s something hidden in the wilderness that they need to find, but because the wilderness is a new, wild place, where his children can learn and grow. It is clear that in our lives God often takes us out of our comfort zone not to punish us, but because he knows where we need to be to become polished. 

Perfectly Dealing with The Father's Will

     Undeniably the most important doctrine, event and act of love that we could possibly talk of is the Atonement of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Being such a sacred topic, not many words are required to get a glimpse of God’s eternal love for us. In fact, words could not possibly teach us anything worthwhile of Christ’s atonement, for it is truly the spirit that conveys the sacred teachings of this important doctrine.

     I was truly struck and humbled by the spirit this week as I studied Jacob’s words in 2 Nephi 9, and studied the powerful touch of the spirit. Never had I reached so great an understanding of the suffering that occurred in our behalf. Try listing out all the pains, sorrows, temptations and trials that you have ever gone through. Even though Christ felt all of this, it amounts to an infinitesimally small and insignificant part of what He experienced. Never had I understood so clearly Mathew’s account of Jesus “[falling] on his face, and [praying], saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me…” The Son of God, falling on his face, overwhelmed with agony, being crushed under a symbolic oil press of sorrow, in this moment pleaded for mercy. There was no other way. As Christ came to this realization, he subjected himself not to his own understandable desires, but to his Father’s perfect will.

     Imagine an eternity in which there was no redemption? As Jacob puts it, “…this death of which I have spoken, which is the spiritual death… is hell.” How grateful I am for a savior that ultimately carried out the greatest challenge to ever arise in the eternities, the redemption of man. We will never reach a full understanding of the Atonement in this life, for our finite intellects could not possibly comprehend its eternal effects. Christ is The Son of God, sent in the flesh to die, and rise on the third day, so that we, may follow his divinely set path.