Real Intent

It has been declared anciently that in these latter-days, among the various tragedies that will come to the world, this has been said of the Earth’s people:

Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth.

A simple view of society in and outside the United States of America will show a vastly different world even 20 years ago. More and more we can see a shift in the morality and priorities of mainstream society to an attitude of eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die. Fear seems to have replaced peace in the tone of rhetoric and conversation, and media stories tend to focus on all that is wrong rather than all that is hopeful.

We tend to fear what we do not trust. Much of doubt and fear is influenced by something that is temporal in nature, as we should not trust in the arm of the flesh. We doubt things from the economy to the nature of jobs or relationships. Many don’t trust governmental leaders/politicians. University professors or secular teachers can cast doubt on perceived knowledge or belief. We can even doubt the goodness of others. In these cases we are still dealing with a spiritual lack of trust that gives way to doubt. Doubt fills the trust vacuum.

Doubt can be viewed as the result of lack of knowledge, or a lack of understanding of God and his plan. Doubt is more closely related to fear; fear of the unknown, or fear of risk. When we doubt we often feel powerless.

There seems to be a rise in fear, depression, debt and anxieties. What remedy is there in the gospel program to combat a perspective that is doubtful about what the future holds? (more…)

The Book of Mormon includes the following statement from Alma, the High Priest, to Korihor, the professed atheist :

The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all 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)

Alma lays out both a scientific and mathematical argument in this verse – speaking of the complexity of the creation and its intricate, “regular” operation as proof that God exists. In essence, he says,

“This could not be without a God to make it be.”

This seems simple to many people – that the creation itself, seen as encompassing all of which we are aware, testifies of a Supreme Creator. These people often can’t understand how is it not self-apparent to all. They think,

“Why can some people look around – or even study the intricacies of molecular biology and string theory and quantum physics and other astounding modern discoveries – and not see that it simply can’t be the result of random mutation from an origin that still is unfathomable to scientists? Why can these people not understand this, even when many of them are very good, moral people? We haven’t even scratched the surface of it all, and yet some can’t recognize it as a sign of a creator. WHY?”

(more…)