Genesis 1-2 (Moses 2-3): Beautiful Creation

“When you can dump a load of bricks on a corner lot, and let me watch them arrange themselves into a house—when you can empty a handful of springs and wheels and screws on my desk, and let me see them gather themselves into a watch—it will [then] be easier for me to believe that all these thousands of worlds could have been created, balanced, and set in motion in their several orbits, all without any designing intelligence at all.

“Moreover, if there is no intelligence in the universe, then the universe created something greater than itself—for it created you and me” (Bruce Barton in E. Ernest Bramwell, comp. Old Testament Lessons [1934 seminary course], 4).

It is absolutely amazing, how God created such a beautiful existence for us to live in. He created each and every one of us unique to another. Have you ever stopped to listen to the birds chirping, or the oceans tide washing upon the beach? Have you ever smelt the beautiful flowers or the fresh sent of pine needles? Have you ever watched the sunset or a shooting star fly through the sky? Have you stopped to feel the sand between your toes or the rain fall upon your nose? Have you ever tasted fresh fruit off a tree or honey straight from the hive? Gods creations are incredible, just think how intelligent he must be to create such a world of wonder and amazement. There is so much undiscovered, creatures and lands unknown. I am grateful for the Earth and the beautiful things all around. I am grateful for my body, which he created unique, in His own image....

"And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto Moses, saying: Behold, I reveal unto you concerning this heaven and this earth; write the words which I speak. I am the Beginning and the End, the Almighty God; by mine Only Begotten I created these things; yea, in the beginning I created the heaven, and the earth upon which thou standest.
"And the earth was without form and void..." (Moses2:1)

Day 1: Light (day) and Darkness (night)
Day 2: Organized the Heavens (firmament) and the Earth

Day 3: Earth and Seas (land/water)

Day 4: Sun, Moon, and Stars (greater light/lesser light)

Day 5: Animals (every living creature)

Day 6: Male and Female (Man in His own image)

Day 7: Day of Rest

"And while we may look at the vast expanse of the universe and say, “What is man in comparison to the glory of creation?” God Himself said we are the reason He created the universe! His work and glory—the purpose for this magnificent universe—is to save and exalt mankind. In other words, the vast expanse of eternity, the glories and mysteries of infinite space and time are all built for the benefit of ordinary mortals like you and me. Our Heavenly Father created the universe that we might reach our potential as His sons and daughters.
"This is a paradox of man: compared to God, man is nothing; yet we are everything to God. While against the backdrop of infinite creation we may appear to be nothing, we have a spark of eternal fire burning within our breast. We have the incomprehensible promise of exaltation—worlds without end—within our grasp. And it is God’s great desire to help us reach it." (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, You Matter to Him, Oct 2012 Conference) 

On the seventh day, God rested from all of his works...

"And I, God, blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it; because that in it I had rested from all my work which I, God, had created and made." (Genesis 2:3; Moses 3:3)

So, what does it mean to keep the sabbath day holy? 

President Spencer W. Kimble gave great counsel. He said, 

“The Sabbath is a holy day in which to do worthy and holy things. Abstinence from work and recreation is important but insufficient. The Sabbath calls for constructive thoughts and acts, and if one merely lounges about doing nothing on the Sabbath, he is breaking it. To observe it, one will be on his knees in prayer, preparing lessons, studying the gospel, meditating, visiting the ill and distressed, sleeping, reading wholesome material, and attending all the meetings of that day to which he is expected. To fail to do these proper things is a transgression on the omission side.” (The Miracle of Forgiveness, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1969, pp. 96–97.)

How much is it to ask, for us to give him one day of the week to worship and praise Him, to show our gratefulness, to repent of our sins and renew our covenants. He has done so much for us and I do everything I can to honor this commandment and show my love to Him by keeping the sabbath day holy. If we do this, we are promised great blessings; 

“Verily I say, that inasmuch as ye do this, 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.” (D&C 59:16) 

To have the benefit of all of God’s creations is a very significant promise.

-Sarah M.